On Tuesday, January 31 from 5:30pm-7:00pm, the Gephardt Institute is thrilled to welcome Wesley Bell, Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri for a conversation on his civic journey.
Elected in 2018, Wesley Bell is the first African American to hold the office of Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri. He is the chief law enforcement official for Missouri’s most populous county with nearly a million constituents. Due to a vigorous grassroots campaign, Bell was able to unseat a 28-year incumbent by a 14-point margin.
Previously he represented hundreds of disenfranchised clients as a Special Public Defender in St. Louis County. He also has led his own criminal defense practice and served as a criminal justice professor and municipal court judge. As a Ferguson City Councilman from April 2015 to December 2018, he helped to negotiate and implement the City of Ferguson’s consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Bell earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law and Bachelor of Arts from Lindenwood University with the help of student loans and scholarships. He was raised in North St. Louis County and attended Hazelwood Public Schools. His police officer father and civil servant mother instilled in him a deep appreciation for law enforcement and public service.
Speakers:
- Wesley Bell, Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County, Missouri.
Civic Cafe is a weekly event series that occurs every Tuesday evening at Stix House, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Each night fits the theme of either a Skill Building session, Democracy Dinner, or Civic Storytelling event. Students of every level and discipline are invited to attend. Learn, eat, and meet other civically-minded individuals.
A Civic Café Civic Journey Spotlight aims to connect students with local civic leaders. Local civic leaders will share the story of how their life experiences shaped their path and led them to the type of civic work they do now as well as their perspective on civic engagement and social change. Civic Journey Spotlights offer students real-life examples of how to get involved in social change, a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and a chance to reflect on their own civic pathways, values, and commitments.
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