Our History
Born as a project of Missouri Jobs with Justice (MO JwJ), Bread and Roses united community activists and union members with an art exhibit in 2003 that spurred dialogue around social justice themes.
Sixty artists submitted work for the first art exhibit, many of them union members and community activists that had not shared their artistic talents so publicly before. One of the most exciting parts of developing the exhibit was the participation of many non-traditional artists – a house painter who takes photos, a postal worker who writes music, single mothers who were facing Medicaid cuts, victims of police violence, factory workers who had lost their jobs overseas.
As a leader in Missouri JwJ, Joan Suarez continued to develop the Bread and Roses project and lead its establishment as an independent non-profit in 2015. Under her leadership, Bread and Roses Missouri built their Youth Initiative and the Workers’ Theater Project, including The Workers’ Opera. On this foundation of arts and activism, Bread and Roses Missouri has built strong momentum.
Joan Suarez is now Founder Emeritus, and in early 2022, Bread and Roses added its first full-time Executive Director, Emily Kohring, and a Youth Programs Coordinator, Luisa Otero Prada.
We are making a significant, positive impact in our communities today.
Values
Artistic expression as a Right
Action
Creativity
Connectivity
Dignity of Labor
Economic Equity
Empowerment
Racial Justice
Purpose Statement
The purpose of Bread & Roses is to amplify and elevate the stories of working people through art, performance, and activism.
Board & Leadership

Emily Kohring
Executive Director

Gwen Moore
Co-Chair, Council of Advisors

Dr. Janae Alfred
Board Member

Joan Suarez
Founder Emeritus & Co-Chair, Council of Advisors

Shannon Duffy
Board Member

Shelton Solafleur
Board Member

Laura Stefacek
Board Chair

Sherrie Hall
Past Board Chair

Roseann Weiss
Board Member

Luisa Otero Prada
Youth Programs Coordinator

Mary Barber
Board Secretary

Lynn Maupin
Board Member
Council of Advisors
Bread and Roses Missouri values our Council of Advisors, an esteemed group of activists, organizers and art leaders who provide their expertise and wisdom as Bread and Roses Missouri plans programming and strategy for continued growth and success.
Joan Suarez, Co-Chair
Gwen Moore, Co-Chair
Joan Beuckman
Mark Bielicke
Joan Bricetti
Molly Fleming
Danny Gonzales
Percy Green
Sue Greenberg
Malaika Horne
Brenda Jones
Earline Jones
Rhona Lyons
Sukanya Mani
Karla May
Cassandra Medley
Donnie Morehouse
Nina Needleman
Diana Oleskevich
Elizabeth Pickard
Julie Terbrock
Christopher Worth
Bronwen Zwirner
Donate
At Bread and Roses Missouri we rely on our donors, funders and sponsors to support the events, workshops, exhibits and performances that give voice to the struggles of working class people. Fair compensation for labor is a core value and we are proud that we pay every teaching artist, creative and performer that works with us. Art IS labor, and it is work that deserves fair compensation.
We invite you to join us in creating arts and humanities experiences that make a tangible difference in the lives of working families.
To donate by check:
Bread and Roses Missouri
5585 Pershing Avenue
#170A
St. Louis, MO 63112
To offer an in-kind gift or find out how to sponsor an upcoming Bread and Roses MO event, contact us at director@breadandrosesmo.org