Over the next few months, we’ll be recognizing each awardee of our new Spark Prize with a feature article.
The Spark Prize is a $200,000 award for individuals with outstanding vision, commitment, and promise to improve health and well-being in Missouri. The award is an investment in future impact, giving recipients the freedom to use the funding in whatever way best supports them.
Kelly McGowan
“I’m the kind of person who believes local government doesn’t have to be boring – it can be the key to building healthier, more just communities.”
That belief fuels the work of Kelly McGowan, a public health strategist and community organizer whose journey has taken her from fitness education in Harlem to policy change in St. Louis. As the founder of Transform 314, Kelly is flipping the script on civic engagement using creativity, collaboration, and culture to help people see themselves as changemakers in their own neighborhoods.
Rooted in St. Louis
Born and raised in the city of St. Louis, Kelly grew up in communities shaped by historic disinvestment and persistent inequity. “I always noticed how just a few miles could mean a 10- or 20-year difference in life expectancy,” she says. “That’s not normal. That’s not by accident. And it pushed me to ask: how do we fix it?”
Her early work focused on wellness and behavior change, first as a Healthy Harlem Coordinator in New York, then as Wellness Director for the Gateway Region YMCA’s WEDO initiative (Women Empowered to End Disparities in Obesity). But over time, Kelly realized it wasn’t just about individual behaviors – it was about systems and environments. “We can teach people to cook healthy meals,” she says, “but if their neighborhood lacks access to food or safe streets, we’re not addressing the root cause.”
Transforming Civic Power
In 2022, Kelly launched Transform 314 to build deeper civic muscle in communities often left out of the decision-making process. “Local government is the least understood and most impactful layer of government,” she explains. “It affects your trash pickup, your streets, your schools – and yet most people feel totally disconnected from it.”
Transform 314 uses a unique “edutainment” approach to connect with younger, disengaged residents. The organization’s work includes animated videos, pop-up events, neighborhood campaigns, and monthly meetups focused on issues like street safety and infrastructure. “We bring people together across ages and backgrounds – and we make it accessible and fun,” she says.
Her ultimate goal? To create a scalable model that other cities and regions can adapt. “Why not a Transform 816 in Kansas City? Or a Transform 573 in the Bootheel?” she asks. “This work can go far.”
Being Awarded the Spark Prize
Kelly describes the Spark Prize as “transformational,” not just for her organization, but for her personally.
“I currently work a full-time job on top of running Transform 314,” she says. “This award is helping me breathe. It gives me space to plan, to hire, to dream bigger.”
She plans to invest in strategic growth, strengthen media and outreach tools, and deepen partnerships with local creatives. “We need to reach people where they are – and for a lot of folks, that’s through culture, humor, and authenticity,” she says.
She also sees the Spark Prize as a validation of the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unseen. “It can be lonely doing systems change,” she says. “You wonder if anyone notices. This award says: we see you. Keep going.”
A Vision for Missouri
Looking ahead, Kelly hopes to help Missourians across the state feel more connected to power and be more capable of changing it.
“I want people to know their local government, shape their communities, and see civic engagement as part of their wellness,” she says. “Because when people feel powerful, communities thrive.”
Her advice to other leaders? “Know your limits. Rest when you need to. But don’t stop showing up – even if it takes time to see the ripple effect. You never know when that one conversation, that one campaign, will change everything.”
