Overview: Senator Karla May is marking the conclusion of her 16-year career in the Missouri Legislature with a high-stakes community strategy session on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in St. Louis. Rather than hosting a ceremonial farewell, the event brings together civic leaders, policy experts, and clergy to tackle recent Supreme Court redistricting fallout, critical state ballot amendments, and neighborhood advocacy strategies.
Senator Karla May Concludes 16 Years in the Missouri Legislature With a Community Strategy Session on Redistricting and Power
16 Years on the Frontlines: Why This Conversation Changes How We Move Forward
Power rarely gives up ground without a fight. Anyone who has spent five minutes watching how policy gets hammered out in Jefferson City knows that real change does not happen through press releases. It happens when leaders stay in the room, take the hits, and build coalitions brick by brick.
After 16 years inside the Missouri Legislature, Senator Karla May is stepping back to reflect, regroup, and hand the playbook to the community.
This is not a polite retirement party. It is a working strategy session designed for community leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates, and residents who understand that our local future hangs on what we decide to do right now.
The Voices Shaping the Room
When you bring together people who have actually organized the streets, funded campaigns, and built grassroots trust, the dialogue shifts immediately from theory to execution. Senator May will be joined by heavy hitters who have spent decades anchoring St. Louis leadership:
- Bishop Michael F. Jones dives into the intersection of faith and public leadership, exploring how moral clarity holds elected officials accountable when political pressure peaks.
- Lew Moye traces the early personal roots and grassroots grit required to build durable civic power from the ground up.
- Rodney Boyd breaks down the mechanics of the legislative process, giving an insider look at public policy, negotiation, and how laws actually survive committee rooms.
- Adolphis Pruitt focuses on legacy, economic mobility, and what succession planning looks like for the next generation of St. Louis builders.
The Real Stakes: Redistricting and Ballot Amendments
Two issues dominate this gathering, and both will define Missouri’s political map for the next decade.
- First: redistricting. The recent Supreme Court rulings reshuffled how lines are drawn, and the ripple effects land directly in our neighborhoods. Starting at 1:30 PM, Richard Von Glahn leads an early deep-dive into what these boundary shifts mean for representation, local resources, and voting strength. When lines move, funding formulas follow. Knowing how to read the map is the difference between having a voice and getting cut out of the room.
- Second: ballot amendments. Missouri voters consistently use direct democracy to bypass legislative gridlock, but the fine print can make or break our communities. An open Q&A will unpack current amendments on the table, cut through the jargon, and show exactly how each proposal impacts household wealth, civic rights, and regional growth.
Event Logistics
Show up ready to connect, challenge assumptions, and leave with real insight.
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Location: 4811 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
- Pre-Program Reception & Redistricting Talk: 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM (Light refreshments served)
- Main Program: 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Bring your questions, bring your neighbors, and grab a seat at the table.
#KarlaMay #MissouriPolitics #RedistrictingMatters
