About Tina “Sweet-T” Pihl

Tina Pihl, affectionately known as Sweet-T, has an indomitable spirit and an unparalleled drive that has allowed her to be an extraordinary achiever in the face of adversity. She has lived a unique constellation of experiences that have made her a trailblazer and a lightning rod for truth that cuts through our common shadows and deeply held barriers. As an adoptee of Caribbean heritage and white parents, she crosses multiple socially opposing identities, constantly gaining an intimate understanding of where they collide and where they divide.

She is a brave community builder who is relentless at bringing the best out of all of us. For over twenty years, she has worked in underserved and disadvantaged communities, in the field of housing, community and economic development. She is passionate about providing equal access to resources for everyone, in order for us to all have an opportunity to thrive.

Leader.

Executive Director of nonprofits.

Co-Chair of the St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative – Anti-Displacement Working Group.

Leadership St. Louis 40.

Activist.

Organizer on issues such as: gun safety; displacement and affordable housing; mobility for all and voter registration.

Connector & Facilitator.

An adoptee with white parents and four Black siblings.

Diversity, equity and inclusion trainer; Board Member of NCCJ-STL, which promotes inclusion for all.

Scholar.

Yale University, B.A. Architecture.

MIT, M.A. Urban Studies & Planning.

Achiever.

2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Qualifier – women’s freestyle wrestling.

High School All-American – Soccer.

Urban Planner.

15+ year veteran in housing, community and economic development; worked on the nations’ largest urban in-fill redevelopment projects in the U.S. (4,800 acres), home now to over 30,000 residents.

Social Entrepreneur.

Co-Founder, Habitat Bicycle Challenge, raised roughly $2.4 million.

Facilitated a prototype design for a homeless hotline app.

Neighbor.

Seven-year resident of Forest Park Southeast (FPSE); former President of FPSE Neighborhood Association; co-organized SLACO’s Neighborhoods United for Change in FPSE.

Pioneer.

Piloted urban design initiative, Active Living by Design – promoting active living, healthy eating and walkability in Denver.