Introducing the Ellendale Neighborhood Association Officers
We would like to formally introduce the new Association Officers.
Matt Sisul, President
Jacqi Kamp, Vice President
Joe Nea, Treasurer
Barry Marquart, Secretary
Angela Sebben, Communications Officer
Together, the Officers are proud to be a part of the renewal of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association and each hopes to serve the community well. While the Association is only in its new beginnings, the new Officers want to help lay the groundwork for a robust future of Ellendale and its residents.
Wouldn’t it be great…
…if the Association had an active membership and additional volunteers to support a wide variety of committees — to help grow the organization and further support the neighborhood?
… if Ellendale had the resources to offer home repair programs, youth after-school programs, or earned-income programs?
…if Ellendale had a concert series or movie nights in the park?
…if the former Wilkinson School building could operate in some capacity as a positive contributor to the neighborhood once again?
…if the intersection at Arsenal and McCausland were improved for safer flow of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic?
The Officers want to help make these resident suggestions, and more, a reality. And with continued support from its residents, one day, we can look around Ellendale and see the great community we live in, not just someplace we live.
Comments, suggestions, questions, and Neighborhood concerns can be submitted directly to the Officers by using the form on the ENA website’s Contact Page.
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Matt Sisul, President
(Emilie Street)
A Program Manager for the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration, Matt has lived in St. Louis for over 30 years. He and his family — his wife, Christine, their 14-year-old son, and their American Stafforshire Terrier adopted from Stray Rescue — have lived in Ellendale for the last three years. The family also has a sufficient supply of eggs for breakfast from their three backyard chickens.
Matt believes his work experience can help the Ellendale Neighborhood Association meet its potential. In his job with the CDA, Matt advises numerous non-profit neighborhood and housing corporations throughout St. Louis City, including the Southwest City Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (SCNIC) of the 24th Ward and the neighboring Linden Heights Housing Corporation of the 23rd Ward.
Matt feels a neighborhood organization is only as strong as its active members, and it is important to know that meetings can be a place to express concerns and become informed about issues and policies being considered that directly affect our area.
“But a good neighborhood,” Matt explained, “can also benefit from an appreciation of its history, social events to build relationships among each other as neighbors, beautification and cleanup efforts to promote pride in parks and related curb appeal, and quality interaction with similar organizations nearby.”
Matt is very proud of being elected President of the ENA. “I want to offer my leadership, but also encourage ideas from other members and support everyone’s efforts for the betterment of our neighborhood.”
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Jacqi Kamp, Vice President
(Ellendale Avenue)
A salon owner and St. Louis resident for over 30 years, Jacqi moved to Ellendale with her family in the Fall of 2014. One of the first things she looked for was a neighborhood association or community organization. “I had a hard time finding much,” Jacqi explained. “When I did find the ENA they were disbanding and I was disappointed.”
Jacqi has always felt a neighborhood association is good for the neighborhood — it keeps residents aware and a great way to meet residents as well.
Per a suggestion on Nextdoor.com by Lou Klaus (a former Ellendale Association Officer), Jacqi contacted Nancy Thompson at SLACO (the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations) to help set Jacqi on the road to rebuilding. “From there,” Jacqi recalled, “I was on a mission to help get the ENA back on its feet.”
With the support of her husband, Nathaniel, and her two children, River and Veyah, Jacqi began to spread the word and arranged an informational meeting at the Piccadilly on Manhattan in May, and then continued her efforts by volunteering on the Organizational Committee to determine the future of the ENA. “I didn’t expect to become an ENA Officer, but figured I might be thrown in the mix since I had been involved in the reorganization.”
Aside from diving into her new community and getting to know her neighbors, Jacqi enjoys yoga, spending time with her family, and renovating her new home.
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Joe Nea, Treasurer
(Lanham Avenue)
A St. Louis City firefighter for 13 years, Joe and his wife, Jenise, have lived in Ellendale for the last 17 years. Here they have raised four children: Tyler, 22, works at the USDA; Sakiya, 19, attends Hampshire College in Massachusetts; Carter, 19, attends Mizzou; and Zoren, 16, attends McKinley High School.
Joe has lived in St. Louis 24 years and when he is not playing hockey (once or twice a week), traveling, camping, or hiking, he is usually exploring this great city, attending local events, and enjoying being a foodie.
After moving to the Ellendale neighborhood Joe has always been a part of the Neighborhood Association and has attended meetings in their various locations in the past. “I have seen the Association’s up swings and the down swings,” Joe said.
When he heard people were interested in trying to renew the Association he was willing to help out in any way possible. “I love living here,” said Joe. “I hope we can build a tighter knit community by creating events that bring the neighbors together.”
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Barry Marquart, Secretary
(Commonwealth Avenue)
A science teacher at Lindbergh High School, Barry and his family have lived in the Ellendale Neighborhood for eight years, and St. Louis for the last fifteen years.
Barry has several interests, especially those he can do during the Summer months, including canoeing, fishing, camping, and athletics. He also enjoys music and coaches YMCA basketball. His family — wife of 16 years, Tiffany, 10-year-old son, Leo, and 8-year-old daughter, Amelia — also enjoy their Summers in Ellendale. The family also has a 4-year-old shepard-mix named Finley who they rescued as a puppy.
Barry served on the Organization Committee that was put together in May focused on determining whether Ellendale’s Association should be re-established. “I believe an association provides our neighborhood a critical voice within the City,” explains Barry. “It also helps build a sense of community within Ellendale.”
When meeting a resident for the first time Barry reminds them that the Neighborhood Association is inclusive to all neighbors and wants to provide valuable information about things going on within our neighborhood. Barry adds, “And we want to continue to make our neighborhood a great place to live by providing our residents with an influential voice to decision-makers in our community.”
Barry is enthusiastic about being an Officer in the Association and he hopes more people will join and see Ellendale grow and prosper. “Wouldn't it be great if people were eager to move into our neighborhood because of our strong voice within the City and reputation of dedicated residents who pulled together to build a sense of community and improved such things as sidewalks, parks, and even the River des Peres?”
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Angela Sebben, Communications Officer
(Ellendale Avenue)
A graphic design for over 16 years, Angela moved to St. Louis and to Ellendale in 2010. She married her husband, John, in their back yard in 2013 and together they have Noob, an 8-year-old short-haired red dachshund, and Nugget, a 4-year-old black and tan dachshund/miniature pincher mix they rescued from the St. Louis Human Society this Spring. Rounding out their household includes several turtles, a tortoise, and some chubby goldfish.
Angela, whose eclectic interests include helping her husband with his annual fund raising trivia night, listening to old radio shows, cooking, constructing do-it-yourself projects, and camping with friends, didn’t think twice about volunteering to get the ENA back on its feet. “Not since college have I ever lived somewhere that had a community organization I could join and contribute to. When I saw Jacqi’s flyer for an information meeting in May, I felt it was the right time for me to try to get involved.”
At first, Angela didn’t think she would become an Association Officer. “I just wanted to be on the Organizational Committee to help support other people to get the ENA back up and running so I could attend meetings,” Angela recalled. “But as we continued to meet, and I did more and more things to help, I had a feeling I might get a nomination, and I prepared myself for accepting it.”
Angela feels participation is the key to any successful group. “A lot of people can sit around a table and voice opinions and make suggestions, but if their participation stops there that’s where everything stops,” she explains.
The Communications Officer is a newly-established position in the Ellendale Neighborhood Association and Angela is proud to have been elected to it. “I hope if residents know more about what was going on in the neighborhood and the City, and, because they know about those things, they will want to help or participate.”