Finally having her own apartment has been a turning point for Saudah, elevating her atop a platform of renewed self-awareness and belief. She can see where she’s come from and where she’s headed, rising above the shadows of her past toward a life of hope and healing.

Rizia’s journey began with dreams of art and adventure, but life’s challenges brought her to a breaking point she never expected. Discover how St. Patrick Center’s Women’s Night Program became the foundation for her remarkable transformation — and how creativity, community, and coffee helped her rebuild her life, one step at a time.

From surviving displacement after Hurricane Katrina to becoming an advocate for homeless, foster and at-risk students in the St. Louis Public Schools, former St. Patrick Center client, Dr. Diedra Thomas-Murray embodies immense strength and resilience.

“Truly St. Patrick Center is ‘More Than A Soup Kitchen’ because there are times that people need more than just a meal. It is not just a handout, it is a hand up.