FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RedKey Realty Leaders Announces Second "Elevating St. Louis" Event, Exploring How Storytelling and Perception Shape Regional Growth

Featuring a discussion with Jody Sowell, President of the Missouri Historical Society, and Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis

St. Louis, Mo. – Following the success of last year's inaugural event, RedKey Realty Leaders will host the second installment of its Elevating St. Louis series-- Elevating St. Louis: The Story We Tell. The Future We Build.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Vue 17 (1034 S. Brentwood Blvd, 17th Floor). Doors open at 9:00 a.m., with coffee served. The event is open to the public, and media are encouraged to attend.

The Elevating St. Louis series highlights research results gathered in collaboration with Washington University and connects that data with the lived experience to examine how civic identity, perception, and storytelling influence who chooses to come, stay, and invest in our region. In particular, the June event explores "How does the story we tell about St. Louis shape its future?"

Grounded in research on population growth, housing demand, and regional momentum, the event will feature a discussion moderated by Jill Butler, CEO and Founder of RedKey Realty Leaders and Nate Johnson, President of The Real Estate Solutions Group at Redkey Realty Leaders, as well as two important regional voices shaping the narrative of St. Louis today:

• Jody Sowell, President of the Missouri Historical Society and a leader behind the I Am St. Louis initiative—a collaborative storytelling effort with Nine PBS designed to highlight the people, places, and moments that define the region
• Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis, the region's official destination marketing organization, focused on elevating St. Louis's image, attracting visitors, and driving economic growth

Through this discussion, attendees will gain insight into how storytelling initiatives, tourism strategy, and lived experiences intersect with data-driven trends to influence talent attraction, investment, and long-term regional momentum. "If last year's event focused on the data behind growth, this year is about what shapes the decisions behind that data," said Butler. "How people perceive St. Louis—and how we tell our story—has a direct impact on our future."

Highlights of the event include:

• Insights grounded in research on housing, migration, and regional growth
• A deeper look at how civic storytelling builds connection and pride
• Perspectives from leaders working to elevate St. Louis's national image and economic momentum
• Real discussions around attracting talent, investment, and long-term growth

The Elevating St. Louis series is designed to foster meaningful, cross-sector dialogue and inspire collaborative action to strengthen the region as a place to live, work, and invest. Those interested in attending must RSVP at https://ElevatingSTL.eventbrite.com as soon as possible. Space is limited to 150 guests.

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About RedKey Realty Leaders St. Louis
Founded in 2012, RedKey Realty Leaders is the number one independent real estate agency in St. Louis. Locally owned and fully agent-focused, RedKey provides top-tier client service while nurturing the professional growth of its agents through training, coaching, and dedicated support staff. The brokerage has consistently outperformed the market in both sales volume and value and is consistently named a top-25 real estate company by The St. Louis Business Journal and recognized as a Top Workplace in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. RedKey attracts top real estate agents who are passionate about serving their clients and strengthening the communities where they live and work.

With offices in Chesterfield, Clayton, Tower Grove, and Lake St. Louis, RedKey combines deep real estate expertise with a collaborative, supportive environment for agents. For more information, visit www.redkeystlouis.com or call 314-692-7200.