Welcome to the Goal Getters' Club!
A space for readers, learners, families, and everyone who wants to grow together.
Never Like Easy
Featured Goal Getter: Dr. Kendra Holmes, PharmD
President & Chief Executive Officer, Affinia Healthcare
Dr. Kendra Holmes serves as President and CEO of Affinia Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the most vulnerable of the St. Louis region. Her historic appointment, effective January 1, 2023, makes her the first woman and first Black person to lead the organization in its 117-year history.
Dr. Holmes began her career at Affinia in 2003 as a pharmacist and held several leadership roles—Director of Pharmacy Operations; VP of Clinical Services; and Executive VP & COO—where she managed pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, nursing, WIC, maternal-child health, behavioral health, security, and services for individuals experiencing homelessness. She also led Affinia through the latest Joint Commission survey, resulting in a Gold Seal for Ambulatory Care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Holmes spearheaded Affinia’s robust response: she expanded testing, led vaccine drives, enhanced outreach to underserved communities, and implemented telehealth services—ensuring equitable access during a public health crisis.
Under her leadership, a new state-of-the-art Ferguson Health Center was launched—providing expanded primary, behavioral, and dental care to address long-standing health disparities in North St. Louis County.
Dr. Holmes earned her BS and PharmD at the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, and completed the Community Health Centers Executive Management Fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
In 2024, Dr. Holmes was honored nationally by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) with the Elizabeth K. Cooke Advocacy MVP Award, recognizing her leadership in advocating for over 31 million health center patients nationwide.
Her extensive local honors include: – St. Louis College of Pharmacy Distinguished African American Alumni Award
– St. Louis American Foundation Excellence in Healthcare Award
– St. Louis County NAACP Outstanding Healthcare Service Award
– City of St. Louis Quality of Life Award
– YWCA Leader of Distinction in Health
– St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Business Women
– FOCUS St. Louis “What’s Right with the Region” Award, Promoting Community Health & Well-being
Dr. Holmes is also a board director for the Missouri Primary Care Association. She has led Affinia Healthcare to national recognition, including HRSA Community Health Quality Recognition badges and Patient-Centered Medical Home status.
Dr. Holmes continues to champion health equity, operational excellence, and compassionate community-based care—building on decades of service and leading Affinia into a bold new future.
Goal Getter Challenges
Creativity & Storytelling
Maya Walker explored creativity through musical theater, where performance, timing, and expression all come together. Like many forms of storytelling, theater blends structure and imagination—helping build confidence, communication skills, and discipline that carry into other areas of life.
These Goal Getter worksheets invite students to explore how creativity, storytelling, and collaboration can shape ideas into something meaningful—just like Maya did on her journey as a student, athlete, and creator.
Watch a clip from the Shuler-nominated Matilda musical Maya performed in and see how creativity comes to life on stage.
Collaboration & Creative Projects
Creativity doesn’t happen alone. Maya worked with her neighbors and brothers to create videos and stories inspired by books they read together. By sharing ideas and working as a team, they turned stories into engaging visual projects.
One example is Lightning News Network, inspired by Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. (Watch the first two minutes for a quick look.)
Choose your grade level below to download a free worksheet. Complete the activity, then take part in the Goal Getter Challenge by creating your own short video or project that shows your thinking and creativity in action.
Want to see more? Explore additional projects at selfderekted.com.