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Our Story

Founded in 2008, DEAF, Inc. is a deaf-centric, community-based nonprofit organization located in St. Louis, Missouri. Dedicated to promoting communication access, DEAF, Inc. serves the deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, and hearing community. We are committed to empowering individuals through a range of programs and services tailored to your needs. We believe in creating a supportive, accessible and inclusive environment for all. Whether you're seeking resources, support, or simply a sense of community, this is YOUR place.

Sarah Prechtel: A white woman sitting at a table.  There is a low, brown shelf in the background with a white wall and cream curtains. She is signing, "Advocacy" and looking away from the camera. She's wearing a green dress.

Our Team

De Linda Brite: White woman with short greyish/brown hair and glasses. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

De Linda Brite

Director,

Community Programs

Leslie Brown: She has long brown hair with bangs. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Leslie Brown

Lead Interpreting Coordinator

Kirsten_Website.jpg

Kirsten Collier

Interpreting Coordinator

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Daymion June

Community Advocate

Marena Kaminsky: A white woman with shoulder length, dark blonde hair. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Marena Kaminsky

Manager,

Interpreting Department

Debbie.jpg

Debbie Kendall

Community Educator

Lydia Kline: She is a white woman with long, wavy blonde hair. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Lydia Kline

Interpreting Coordinator

Rachel Koch: She is an asian woman with her black hair in a pony tail. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Rachel Koch

Staff Interpreter

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Rebecca Lackey

Staff Interpreter

Matthew Lieberman: He is a white man with short black hair. He is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Matthew Lieberman

Administraive Assistant

Tony Nitko: He is a white man with short white, curly hair. He is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Tony Nitko

Director,  Marketing

Sarah Prechtel: She is a white woman with long, straight brown hair. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Sarah Prechtel

Executive Director

Hope Shrake: She is a white woman with shoulder length black hair and glasses. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Hope Shrake

Media Specialist

Roberta_Website.jpg

Roberta Thompson

Interpreting Coordinator

Devon Whitmore: He is a black man with short curly black hair. He is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Devon Whitmore

Community Advocate

Stephanie Wilcox: She is a white woman with long curly hair and glasses. She is smiling at the camera with a black polo shirt with DEAF, Inc. Logo. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Stephanie Wilcox

Community Advocate

DEAF, Inc. is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. Our vision and mission reflect our fundamental belief that all people belong and deserve equity and inclusivity. Our strength comes from our diversity and we celebrate the visible and invisible qualities that make each person unique, including race, gender, age, sexuality, ability, religion, national origin, gender identity, and other identities. We commit to aligning our culture, business practices and the services we provide to be a beacon of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all people.

 

At DEAF, Inc.:

 

  • We will foster and maintain a safe environment of respect and inclusion for staff, volunteers, and members of the communities we serve.

  • We will educate our staff to be social justice advocates, creatively providing support services and environments that reflect the diversity of our communities and elevate cultural awareness.

  • We will ensure fair and inclusive access to our facility, programs, resources, and services, and ensure that all of our policies and practices are inclusive and equitable.

  • We will advance and build our workforce by assessing hiring practices and developing performance reviews to attract, retain, and develop talented staff from diverse backgrounds.

  • We will address intergroup disparities in areas such as representation and service outcomes.

  • We aspire to attract and build a diverse volunteer, donor, and advocate base.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Forrest Booth Jr.: He is a black man with a small beard. He is wearing a blue button up shirt. He is smiling at the camera. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Forrest Booth Jr.

President

Director since 2021

Ante Colić: He is a white man with short black hair. He is wearing a dark blue suit. He is smiling at the camera. The background is a grey wall with decorative squares.

Ante Colić

Vice President

Director since 2021

David Wasserman: He is a white man with short brown ahir. He is wearing a black suit with red tie. He is smiling at the camera. The background is a grey wall with decorative squares.

David Wasserman

Secretary

Director since 2021

Valerie Mondesir: She is a black woman with long brown hair. She is wearing a green top and white necklace. The background is plain grey.

Valerie Mondesir

Treasurer

Director since 2023

Linda Baker: She is a white woman with short brown hair and glasses. She is wearing a green necklace and a dark red top. The background is a grey wall with decorative squares.

Linda Baker

Director since 2023

Michael Boyd: He is a white man with short brown hair. He is wearing a black suit with a patterned tie. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Michael Boyd

Director since 2023

Robert Crowell: He is a white man with white, short hair and glasses. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a bright red tie. He is smiling at the camera. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Robert Crowell

Director since 2023

Becky Davis: She is a white woman with blond hair pulled back, she has bangs. She is wearing glasses. She has a dark blue jacket over a light blue striped button up shirt. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Becky Davis

Director since 2023

Laura Shapiro: She is a white woman with long, curly brown hair. She is wearing a bright pink blouse. She is smiling at the camera. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Laura Shapiro

Director since 2023

William Sheldon: He is a white man with white short hair. He is wearing a black suit with a patterned green tie. He is smiling at the camera. The background is grey with decorative squares.

William Sheldon

Director since 2020

Art Silverman: He is a white man with short white hair and glasses. He is wearing a dark blue suit with a patterned purple tie. The background is grey with decorative squares.

Art Silverman

Director since 2023

Board of Directors

Career Opportunities

Joining DEAF, Inc. means being part of a team with a singular opportunity to uplift the deaf, hard of hearing and DeafBlind community in the St. Louis Metro area. Our workforce, driven by our mission and values, is committed to empowerment, awareness, and building a sustainable framework for communication and equitable access as well as inclusion.

If interested, please submit your resume, cover letter and a completed DEAF, Inc. application. Send contents to careers(at)deafinc.org for consideration.  

Independent Contract Opportunities

Join our team as an Independent Contractor! DEAF, Inc. is looking for certified and qualified ASL interpreters and ASL Instructors to collaborate with us. If you're interested in partnering with DEAF, Inc., please reach out to us at careers(at)deafinc.org.

Annual Reports

At DEAF, Inc., we prioritize transparency and accountability in all our operations, ensuring that grants and donations directly support our programs and services. We invite you to explore our annual reports for more information. 

IRS Form 990
2023 [pdf]
2022 [pdf]
2021 [pdf]
2020 [pdf]
• 2019 [pdf]

 

Support Our Mission

Your contribution goes beyond breaking communication barriers for deaf, hard of hearing and DeafBlind individuals; it empowers them to thrive in mainstream society. 

 

DEAF, Inc. is dedicated to offering diverse and affordable educational and supportive services, addressing communication challenges faced by children and adults in the deaf, hard of hearing and DeafBlind communities. Your gift makes a meaningful impact. 

 

Donate securely today to help us continue our vital work.​​​

In advance, we express our gratitude for your generous support. Your contribution enables DEAF, Inc. to positively impact the lives of countless individuals in the deaf. hard of hearing and DeafBlind community and their families. 

About DEAF, Inc.

Mission

The mission of Deaf Empowerment Awareness Foundation, Inc. is to Empower, raise Awareness, and bridge a sustainable Foundation of communication and equal access for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and the Hearing communities.

Vision

The organization’s primary vision is to provide services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Hearing individuals, and the community as a whole to ensure effective communication and cultural awareness. This purpose is accomplished through a meaningful unity of community outreach, training, education, advocacy, media, visual arts, and interpreting. The vision reflects a strong sense of community where the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and Hearing communities are empowered and aware of the importance of equal access to all.

Of, By, For and With the Deaf

DEAF, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded by deaf individuals. DEAF, Inc. provides high-quality interpreting services at low cost in an effort to bridge the communication gap between the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind and Hearing society. Any net income generated from our services is reinvested into programs promoting awareness of issues related to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind communities.

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