The Northside Independent Neighborhood Association (NINA) was founded in Dec. 2024 to meet a deep need in North St. Louis – an organization that unites the whole community to take power over all aspects of our lives. NINA was built from the strategy and leadership of APEDF President Ona Zene’ Yeshitela, and Uhuru Movement Leader Chairman Omali Yeshitela to uplift our neighborhoods, long neglected by the City and create a thriving, self-reliant black community once again. 

The need for NINA was made clear by the 10 month-long fight that the African People’s Education & Defense Fund, APEDF, had to make with the City just to get a permit to renovate a building that had been a restaurant for over 20 years, to house the Uhuru Bakery & Cafe, a program of the Black Power Blueprint in the African community on the northside of St. Louis in an area long defined as a “food desert”. 

This fight was ignited when a small, unregistered “neighborhood association” contested APEDF’s right to get the permit for renovation so that Uhuru Foods could bring healthy food to an area with no grocery stores or access to healthy food. Based solely on lies and slander, their opposition delayed the Uhuru Bakery from getting the permit for over nine months, costing APEDF tens of thousands of dollars in expenses and lack of revenue. 

Clearly we needed our own neighborhood association to fight for the interests of the community! 

NINA’s Purpose states that its goal is to “improve the current quality of life in North St. Louis, fostering a sense of community and advocating for the neighborhood’s interests to become self-determining, self-reliant and self-sustaining”. 

NINA broke down the false divisions created by the city where every section of the northside is divided into different wards, vying with each other for resources. NINA represents all neighborhoods on the northside, bringing everyone together, “to contend with the status quo that keeps our neighborhoods impoverished, hungry, unemployed, derelict and with no growth to serve our people”.  

Under the dynamic leadership of NINA’s President, Sealli Moyenda, NINA has been fighting fiercely and winning tremendous public support since its inception. It has built a strong membership, holding monthly public membership meetings since January, 2025, bringing together many community organizations and individuals. 

Since the EF3 tornado hit St. Louis on May 16th, devastating the northside and damaging over 5,000 buildings, NINA joined APEDF in organizing community relief, collecting and giving out free food, water, personal hygiene products, clothing and emergency supplies to the people. 

NINA went to all the City’s Town Hall meetings to demand that the City bring massive resources to the northside. President Sealli boldly spoke out about the fact that the City government was doing nothing for our people, weeks and now over 4 months after the tornado devastated our community. He was constantly in the news, and residents aired their demands and disgust for the lying politicians at the meetings, encouraged by NINA’s stand.

Megan Green, the President of the Board of Aldermen, quoted Sealli in the St. Louis Business Journal and in her newsletter, as well as in person at the August 26th NINA meeting, stating that she agreed with NINA’s position:
    “Crossing the Delmar Divide has never been starker… From the tornado we have the ability to do things differently; to not fall into the same patterns that created the disinvestment of the Northside to begin with… Everybody has to care about what is happening on the Northside.” 

NINA brought the community together for a powerful celebration of the people’s courage and tenacity in the face of the tornado damage with the Northside Community Block Party on August 2nd, supported by a grant from the Small Dollar Action Fund. Community organizations and vendors set up booths; Uhuru Foods & Pies gave away hot dogs and sweet potato pies, and children had their faces painted and played on the bouncy castle. Information was given out to the community on how to get funding for tornado damage and there was a dynamic program from the stage with music, drumming, singers and rappers, giveaways and speakers. 

APEDF presented a large donation to Erion “Prop-man” Johnson, who is building tiny houses for people who lost their homes. He brought his students, enthusiastic young Africans, who expressed their appreciation for their training in Youth Builders.

NINA is leading a united fight for genuine economic development and political power to transform the lives of African people in St. Louis! 

JOIN NINA! 

ninastl.org • info@ninastl.org • 314-246-0311