In the St. Louis region, as in other metropolitan areas across the country, the problems of racial inequality, segregation, poverty, and crime persist. Most troubling is the fact that these problems tend to be concentrated in our urban core – the City of St. Louis and the inner-ring suburbs of St. Louis County. Even the casual observer can see that much of the region’s “core” area is marked by decaying neighborhoods, a declining tax base, poorly distributed resources, ongoing job losses, and a corresponding loss of population. An estimated 30% of the core’s population is living in poverty.

“Leveraging the competitive advantages of inner-city St. Louis and improving the economic vitality of these areas will benefi t the entire region as demand for goods and services increases.” Every citizen has the right, and the responsibility, to take part in the democratic process, to become aware of the issues that affect him/her, to identify solutions, and to develop relationships with the policymakers who can bring about change. This is the core philosophy of Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU).
St. Louis Inner City Competitive Assessment and Strategy Project Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, September 2000