Update 1:

The St. Louis Chapter

Founder: Gace Gibbons

Hi, my name is Grace Gibbons. I’m 17 and a junior at Alton High School, forty-five minutes outside of Saint Louis. Chloe reached out to me about contributing to her team’s website, and after reading about the impact her team has made on refugees in the LA area, I felt inspired to do the same. I’m the Managing Editor for my school newspaper, The Redbird Word, (found on my portfolio, here), and I also had an internship at The School of the New York Times in New York City, (my final project here), where I learned how to write with integrity and accuracy, while strongly emphasizing curiosity. These skills, along with my passion for seeking truth in a clouded democracy, will hopefully be an asset to Teens at the Door.

In my free time, I enjoy journaling, reading, going for walks with my dog, Theo, and playing the flute. I’m a part of the Marching Band at my school called The Marching 100 and I’m also in orchestra. Some of my favorite tv shows are Gilmore Girls, The Crown, and How to Get Away with Murder.

I started this project with the intent of connecting with teenage refugees in the greater Saint Louis area. I am passionate about sharing their stories because ever since Oct. 7, I’ve been thinking about the power of freedom of expression. I hadn’t realized beforehand how much of an impact speaking out against the US’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could have. But then it dawned on me that our voice is a source of power for those who are deafened by missiles and fallen rubble. Ever since, I’ve felt helpless in my efforts to support the innocent civilians who have been inhumanely targeted in Palestine. I’ve watched videos about Israel's involvement in the Gaza Strip since 1967, and the unjustified persecution, harassment, and persecution ever since.  I’ve seen videos of Palestinian children playing soccer one moment, and falling to the ground the next to shield themselves from airstrikes. I’ve seen camera footage of reporters asking the US President about a possible ceasefire, with a response of absolute mockery. I hope that by being a comfort to refugees, I can help them feel a sense of belonging and freedom. I want to better understand the world around me, and to continue speaking up for those who can’t. I think raw truth has a lot of impact, and it is an intention of mine to search for that.