★ About SMPHR

A community of leaders.

The leading professional association for multicultural HR leaders in St. Louis. Connecting professionals, building community, opening doors.

★ Our mission

We grow the next generation of multicultural HR leaders in St. Louis — through mentorship, candid roundtables, and a community that opens doors.

SMPHR is dedicated to promoting inclusion within the HR profession. By connecting multicultural professionals, we empower our members to build meaningful relationships that support their career success.

We focus on two things: developing our members through individualized and chapter-wide learning, and increasing the visibility of multicultural HR leadership through real collaboration with St. Louis-area community, professional, and corporate partners.

★ A place for all

Multicultural means all of us. Every culture, every background, every story has a place here — and everyone who believes HR is better when everyone has a seat at the table is welcome, whatever your own background.

Everyone is welcome at SMPHR — whether you work in HR, lead a company, practice law or finance, or simply care about building a more inclusive workplace. You don't need a particular title or background to belong; you just have to believe that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and given the chance to lead.

★ Our focus

Two goals, one community.

Everything SMPHR does ladders up to two strategic priorities for our members and the St. Louis HR community.

01

Member skill development

Continue developing our members through individualized and chapter-wide learning — mentorship, Power Hours, roundtables, and skills sessions built for working HR professionals at every stage.

02

Community outreach & visibility

Increase visibility and branding in the community by building collaborations with community organizations, professional groups, and corporate partners — expanding representation across the profession.

★ Our values

Five words. Five commitments.

Five principles drive everything we do — the way we mentor, the way we convene, the way we treat each other.

  1. 01

    Inclusion

    We see the person, not just the title. We go beyond job descriptions to understand each other's stories, backgrounds, and aspirations.

  2. 02

    Respect

    We meet each other where we are — whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro — ensuring everyone feels valued and encouraged to grow.

  3. 03

    Professionalism

    We raise the bar together. We show up prepared and engaged, and lift each other up to achieve excellence in everything we do.

  4. 04

    Collaboration

    We're better together. By sharing ideas and resources, we spark innovation, transforming challenges into opportunities through the power of relationships.

  5. 05

    Empowerment

    We turn potential into action. We provide the tools and encouragement for every member to step outside their comfort zone with confidence.

★ Leadership

The leadership team that shows up.

SMPHR is run by working HR professionals — practitioners, not consultants — who volunteer their time to make this community what it is.