Monique Thomas
Executive Director
Monique Thomas is a woman uniquely driven by purpose and the calling of her faith. She has supported multi-million dollar change management and capacity-building initiatives in both the community and corporate setting. As the Executive Director for Cornerstone Corporation, she leverages her background in urban planning/policy and experience with regional systems-change efforts to fulfill Cornerstone’s mission to love the whole person by championing choice and dignity. She completed her BA at Cornell University and her MBA/MPH at Washington University in St. Louis. Her orientation to equity is based on John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Angela Mayes
Resident Champion and Operations Manager
Angela Mayes leads our Resident Services team, which includes all our asset and property management and anti-displacement services for families at Cornerstone Corporation. Prior to coming to Cornerstone CDC, she successfully performed eight years of national service through AMERICORPS, where she was a reading tutor, team leader, fundraiser, and mentor. Angela adds a lived experience to her advocacy and coaching work with residents as she recently transitioned out of low-income housing and public support just two years ago, completing two bachelor's degrees in Fine Arts while supporting her family. Angela was employed with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis as a Community Engagement Specialist, her duties included scheduling the mobile health van at community events, developing partnerships with community organizations, assisting in operation of food pantry, and fostering workshops to engage and educate residents in numerous topics ranging from healthy eating to homeownership. She also supported Mission: St. Louis as a Community Engagement Specialist and SkillUp Case Manager where she worked with ex-offenders to find stable employment, case managing women who needed supportive services, and facilitated classes on job training.
estelle nettles
Housing Empowerment AmeriCorps VISTA
As our new Housing Empowerment AmeriCorps VISTA, Estelle will work within our housing and social services to support the development and design of unique programming for Cornerstone residents that looks at infusing a healing-centered approach to housing stability based on her lived experience. She is a mother of two living children, a deceased son, a grandmother of 14, and a great-grandmother of three. She has extensive experience in customer service, compliance, and reporting having worked nearly 20 years in accounts receivables for a multinational communications firm. Estelle has a big heart, a willingness to learn, an open mind, and great faith in God. She is one of our resident foodies and is a new resident in the West End.
ANTWOINETTE AYERS
Community Development AmeriCorps VISTA
Antwoinette Ayers joins us as an East St. Louis native and a multi-hyphenate communications expert and storyteller. In addition to serving as the Volunteer Communication Director for I AM ESTL Magazine Foundation, she is a Committee Member for The Winstanley Development and Partner with SIUE Truth Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center. Antwoinette is also trained in Economic Development through Rise Community Development and is certified by St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Program by Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development, which will serve her well in her role as Community Development VISTA with Cornerstone CDC. She is a creative, and has also received training in Media and Diversity Inclusion Production from Continuity St. Louis. Antwoinette carries the deep belief that community collaboration is a necessity, despite religion, status, gender, or cultural background. This mother of one is committed to building the bridge and being the bridge, both locally and globally.
RONDA BRADEN
Special Assistant to Executive Director | “In the Black” Project Coordinator
Ronda joins Cornerstone CDC supporting general operations and administration, as the special assistant to our Executive Director. An entrepreneur and owner of R.Braden Enterprises, Ronda brings over 30 years of operations and supply chain management in healthcare, nonprofit/church administration, and government. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
APRIL WALKER
weCollab Lead Ambassador | Engagement Contractor
April Walker contracts with Cornerstone CDC as the Lead Ambassador for weCollab West End/Visitation Park Resident-led Reinvestment Plan. In addition to leading the engagement portion of the weCollab work, April also conducts workshops on Active Listening Skills, Appreciative Inquiry, Community Advocacy and Early Childhood Education focusing on Family Literacy.