We recently connected with Torie Nelson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Torie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

What is Black Rose STL

Black Rose STL creates initiatives to bring communities together by hosting events to bring motivation, knowledge, encouragement and awareness to underserved community.

Things I hope to accomplish in the community.

I truly hope to bring people together providing knowledge to underserved communities.

I feel by touching the heart of others will promote promise and major change.

The story behind the name Black Rose StL

The beauty of the rose expresses promises new beginnings and hope. The black rose represents the beginning of new things, major change and the birth of a new era. Black Rose STL host events to bring encouragement, motivation, knowledge and entertainment to the community. Black roses can inspire confidence by signaling the birth of a new era and can bring hope and courage.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In the corridors of equity and knowledge dissemination, I stand tall as a beacon of hope and empowerment. Born and raised in a modest neighborhood where access to information was a luxury, my journey has been a testament to resilience, determination, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of knowledge. As the founder and driving force behind “Black Rose STL,” a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing vital information to underserved communities, I dedicated my life to bridging the gap between information haves and have-nots.
My childhood was marked by the absence of resources that many take for granted. Growing up in a marginalized community, I witnessed firsthand the barriers that lack of information erected for individuals and families striving to improve their lives. Despite the challenges, my thirst for knowledge remained insatiable.

Founding Black Rose STL: After completing my education, I embarked on a mission to make a tangible difference in the lives of underserved communities. Armed with conviction and a clear vision, I founded Black Rose STL in 2020, an organization dedicated to democratizing access to information. Through partnerships with grassroot organizations, Black Rose STL set out to provide resources on crucial topics ranging from Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Domestic Violence and Teenage Homelessness.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I planned an event for August 10, 2024, to bring awareness to Mental Health and suicide prevention. I had speakers, entertainment, food, vendors and community involvement. On August 5,2024 just 5 days before my event, my daughter escaped a level 2 mental facility. She battles Schizophrenia and psychosis. She went into a manic state and felt like she wanted to be free, so during a smoke break she climbed onto a table and jumped the fence. She landed on her back and lost both shoes. She ran to the nearest gas station and jumped into a car with a stranger. That stranger then took off with my daughter inside of the vehicle. The driver was pregnant and scared. The orderly went after her but was unable to grab her before the car took off. The police were called, and a missing person report was issued. The facility contacted me, and my heart dropped. I cried and did not think I could go through with my event due to my daughter’s escape. My daughter had no ID, no money or no shoes. She was alone and in extreme danger and I remained helpless as I was 3 hours away from the facility. I contacted my event host and a few family members to tell them the devesting news. I contacted the police and highway patrol to give any information I could to help them find her. I did not sleep and cried all night long. A day had passed, and she had not been located. I called to speak with the police and as I spoke with them, I got a call stating she had been located. She was intoxicated and had been taken to a nearby hospital where her pulse and blood pressure were at elevated levels. She was given medication to prevent a stroke due to the mixture of medication and alcohol in her system. She stayed in the hospital until the day of my event, before being released back to the facility. I still went through with the event. During the event I explained to the audience what happened and why it is so important to provide resources to the community. So many suffer in silence, not knowing what to do or if help is available for themselves or a loved one.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn allowing people to tell me what was best for my daughter. Sometimes people are not up close to a situation and can’t see what you can see. People would tell me to allow my daughter to hit rock bottom, and she will turn around and get the help she needed. To allow her to face dangerous narratives to get her to understand that she was dealing with some mental challenges. My daughter hit rock bottom and could not make her way up from there she needed help. As her parent and now her guardian I did not give up on her. If I had of listened to people, my daughter may have not survived.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Blackrosestl
• Facebook: Black Rose STL

Image Credits

Thomas J Imaging