There’s something sacred about a table — four chairs, shared space, and the quiet understanding that what happens there can shift a life’s trajectory.
At the upcoming Women Leading the Way: Table for Four Luncheon, presented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, that table becomes a bridge. A place where lived experience meets leadership, and where possibility sits close enough for young people to touch.
“It’s not a gala, it’s not long and drawn out—but it’s beautiful,” said Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis President and CEO Brandon Williams. “The energy, the connections, the engagement… it’s one of the most impactful luncheons for women in leadership in this city.”
And when Khalia Collier walks into the Ritz-Carlton ballroom on April 22, she will serve as a reminder of how the institution helps young people realize their potential.
A former Club kid turned sports executive — and now a Boys & Girls Clubs of America Hall of Fame inductee — Collier represents what can happen when a young person is poured into early and consistently. Today, she serves as Vice President and Chief of Staff for the Dallas Mavericks. She is one of the youngest Black women in the league to hold an executive role. Her rise from St. Louis Club kid to women’s basketball team owner to NBA front office leadership is a roadmap.
“It’s about showing what’s possible,” Williams said. “When young people can see someone who sat in those same seats, walked those same hallways — it changes how they see themselves.”
That shift is exactly what Table for Four is designed to spark. The luncheon, curated by the Women’s Leadership Circle, has become one of the region’s most intentional rooms — a space where women leaders, mentors, and emerging talent gather not to perform, but to pour into one another.
This year, that energy is anchored by Collier — and amplified by two scholarship recipients whose stories reflect the mission in real time.
Toritseju Atsepoyi, a junior at STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley, is still adjusting to being recognized.
“I’m just living in the moment,” he said, calling from Springfield where he was competing at the Future Business Leaders of America state conference.
Through the St. Louis Internship Program, he secured an architecture internship with Arcturis — adding to a résumé that includes National Honor Society, JazzU and more than 50 hours of service. His work earned him the Flint Fowler and June McAllister Fowler Scholarship.
“Honestly, I didn’t feel worthy of the interview,” he said. “But this means I’m carrying a legacy. I’m making my mom proud, my community proud — and I’m making Dr. Flint proud.”
Legacy Jackson, a junior at Cardinal Ritter College Prep, has been building toward her moment for nearly a decade.
Founder of the nonprofit Little Legacies, she has logged more than 4,000 service hours and earned the Lifetime Presidential Service Award. This year, she receives the Joan Ellyn Silber Award — and she’ll spend her summer training at Debbie Allen’s world-renowned dance academy in Los Angeles. She is beyond excited about the opportunity, which places her in the lineage of young artists shaped by one of the most influential Black women in performing arts.
Jackson’s service centers access — from dance programming to outings for youth who rarely get the chance.
“I truly appreciate it, and I’m humbled by it, but I don’t care for recognition,” she said. “This is what we all should be doing.”
She paused before sharing a moment that stays with her. “One kid told me, ‘I pass Topgolf every day, but I never thought I’d go inside,’” she said. “That’s why I do this. I like seeing that outcome — putting a smile on someone’s face, especially when they might not have a reason to smile. I like being that reason.”
At Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, Jackson has found a space that mirrors her values.
“I like the community and how supportive my school is,” she said. “They allow every kid to have their own journey but still grow in the same space.”
As a second-generation student —she understands the weight and beauty of that tradition, even though attending was her own choice.
“It’s a place where Black students are allowed to shine,” she said. “And that’s important.”
Together, Atsepoyi and Jackson reflect a generation often underestimated — and a Club system designed to meet them where they are.
Proceeds from Table for Four support programs like SMART Girls and SLIP, which boast a 98% post-secondary success rate.
“The work we do every day is planting the seed,” Williams said. “Events like this are part of the watering.”
Collier’s presence will serve as a living example of what happens when belief shows up consistently.
For the young people in the room, she represents what’s possible. For the adults, she’s a call to action.
Table for Four is about alignment — and making sure the next generation doesn’t just have a seat at the table, but a voice that carries.
“This work never stops,” he said. “We’re building the next generation of leaders for this region.”
The future isn’t waiting. It’s already here — pulling up a chair.
“I hope people take away that they should be inspired by the younger generation,” Atsepoyi said. “There’s this idea that we don’t have the grit or the vigor—but we’re stepping into their footsteps and building on what they started.”
Women Leading the Way: Table for Four Luncheon will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis 100 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton. For more information, visit www.bgcstl.org