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We Live Here Acknowledgements

“We Live Here” is a podcast that shares stories about race and class from St. Louis and beyond. Episodes range from investigative accountability pieces to story-based reflections with a focus on everyday people interested in racial equity.

St. Louis Public Radio serves a broad and diverse region. After we experienced a significant spike in engagement throughout our coverage of the Ferguson uprising, STLPR determined we needed to do more to shine a light on stories that impact African Americans in our own region. From this, STLPR developed "We Live Here," a podcasting project with the explicit goal of examining race in St. Louis with an emphasis on stories from residents, organizers, and researchers.


The Team

Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano

Autentico Co-Host

Before creating the We Live Here Auténtico Podcast, Gabriela worked as an educator, diplomat, community advocate, business counselor, restaurant owner, marathon runner, author, co-founder and small business owner.

Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico and inspired by her own experience growing up as an immigrant in the United States, Gabriela has a passion and commitment to help others.

Now back in St. Louis, Gabriela finds her voice helping small business owners achieve their dreams as the Executive Director at the Center for Emerging Technologies and Director of Entrepreneurship at CORTEX. Through her podcast, Auténtico, she empowers and showcases bilingual Latinx professionals and small business owners and through her work at the BALSA Foundation she promotes social equity and prosperity

Gabriela holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Missouri - Columbia and an MBA from Lindenwood University. She just graduated from the 2021 Leadership MO class and is most proud of raising amazing children who inspire her to help make the world a better place.

Alejandro Santiago Ortega

Autentico Co-Host

Alejandro Santiago Ortega is a foreign attorney and community advocate.

Alejandro received his J.D. from Universidad Anáhuac in Oaxaca, Mexico. After graduating law school, Alejandro did a Master’s Degree in U.S. Law at California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. Alejandro has worked for non-profits and law firms in many areas including real state, immigration, mediation, and contracts.

He also volunteers for several organizations in the St. Louis region, looking to create meaningful change in the community. Alejandro is committed to improving the quality of life for all in the region.


Alejandro Santiago Ortega es abogado extranjero y defensor comunitario.

Alejandro recibió su J.D. de la Universidad Anáhuac en Oaxaca, México. Después de graduarse de la facultad de derecho, Alejandro hizo una maestría en derecho estadounidense en la Facultad de Derecho de California Western en San Diego, California.

Alejandro ha trabajado para organizaciones sin fines de lucro y bufetes de abogados en muchas áreas, incluyendo bienes raíces, inmigración, mediación y contratos.

Alejandro también es voluntario de varias organizaciones en la región de St. Louis, buscando crear un cambio significativo en la comunidad. Alejandro está comprometido con mejorar la calidad de vida para todos en la región

Jade Harrell

Executive Producer

Jade Harrell is the Director of On-Demand and Community Partnerships. She started at St. Louis Public Radio in 2018 as an announcer. Her passion for community and storytelling matured at iHeart Radio, where she was host and producer of legacy community affairs program, Sunday Morning Live for over 13 years.

Brent Jones

Data Visualization

In the past five years, Brent has shot photos of the Pevely Dairy fire and flooding in Cairo, Ill.; compiled data on St. Louis' hottest days and whitest Christmases; edited a 30-minute video on music in Iraq, and designed a 150+ page ebook.


Special Mentions / Musicians


Previous Contributors

Jia Lian Yang

Host and Producer 2019-2021

Lauren Brown

Host and Producer 2019-2021

David Kovaluk

Illustrator and Visual Communications until 2021

Tim Lloyd

Host and Producer 2015-2020

Carolina Hidalgo

Photographer 2016-2019

Ashley Winters

Host 2019

Alona Sistrunk

Producer 2018

Andrew Warshauer

Collaborator and Co-Producer Season 4 Paved over Histories

Kameel Stanley

Host and Producer 2015-2018

Emanuele Berry

Host 2015

Susannah Lohr

Illustrator 2015