Amanda Rhodes

“I am a lifelong St. Louisian. I have always known about my ancestors and the way their history has shaped my life. It was not until I arrived at the Brown School and the Buder Center that I really got to celebrate this history.

The pain that comes with the history had stopped my family from talking about it. Now I am able to see others around me that have strong connections to their tribes. They are proud. They have their own pain, but they are proud. My connection to the Buder Center and the AI/AN community in St. Louis has been one of the best opportunities for personal growth.

I am working on becoming proud myself. I am working to understand the pain and embrace the power of my identity. “