The Insider 12.18.13

Recent visitors to Forest Park saw poetry growing on trees, thanks to a citywide poetry project and art installation co-created by local artists Henry Goldkamp and Mallory Nezam. The Poetree Project asked St. Louisans of all ages to submit handwritten poems to be attached to trees at the southeast corner of the Saint Louis Art Museum and ‘harvested’ by visitors, who were encouraged to mail them to friends or strangers in pre-stamped envelopes provided at the event. “The project was inspired by our belief that all people are poets who have stories and perspectives to share,” says Nezam, founder and director of STL Improv Anywhere. Goldkamp is creator of Fresh Poetry Ink and project manager of What the Hell is St. Louis Thinking, a participatory art project that made the pages of Time magazine.

Dr. Berton Moed, chair of orthopaedic surgery at Saint Louis University and an internationally recognized expert on pelvic trauma, recently received an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Founded in 1784, RCSI’s mission is to develop health care leaders who make a difference worldwide. The fellowship, presented by RCSI president Patrick Broe, is the organization’s highest honor.

Teri Griege of Creve Coeur hasn’t let Stage 4 colorectal cancer slow her down. The retired nurse is an in-demand inspirational speaker, an athlete training for the Tokyo Marathon, and the subject of a book, Powered by Hope, coming out in March. As if that’s not enough, she got a hug from Ellen DeGeneres while attending a recent taping of The Ellen Show in Los Angeles, and was interviewed for the show’s Good News blog. DeGeneres admires Griege’s efforts to inspire those who are fighting colon cancer.

St. Louis’ own Devon Windsor lit up the runway at the recent Victoria’s Secret fashion show. The MICDS alum (’12) worked many times with T&S fashion team Suzy Bacino and Suzy Gorman when she was just starting out. She has had a great year on the international scene, modeling for Chanel, Jason Wu, Calvin Klein and Prabal Gurung. Parents are Lisa and Charlie Windsor of Ladue.

Pictured: Teri Griege and Ellen Degeneres