From the costumes and lights to the music and thrill of competition, there’s a glitz and glamour unlike no other when it comes to a dance competition. Every year, Independence Center uses that excitement to make a big impact with Dancing with the St. Louis Stars. A fundraiser like no other, it features community leaders and professional dancers, hitting the dance floor in a choreographed competition—all for a worthy cause. The event benefits Independence Center’s mission to support adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Founded in 1980, the nonprofit provides a spectrum of services to help members develop the necessary skills to succeed in society and lead productive lives.
This year’s Dancing with the St. Louis Stars is Jan. 24 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Independence Center executive director Patricia Holmes notes that guests can expect an evening of inspiration and entertainment, including dazzling performances and commentary from the judging panel as well as emcee Damon Arnold. “It’s amazing to see how St. Louis leaders turn into incredible performers every year,” she says. “The competition also will include one of our members, who will share the story of their struggle and perseverance. We’re excited to have them represent us.”
Independence Center operates under the Clubhouse model, a form of psychosocial rehabilitation that focuses on strengthening an individual’s abilities rather than treating them as a patient with an illness. It’s structured to mirror the expectations of a workplace, and members are responsible for helping operate it and perform a variety of tasks. “Those diagnosed with a serious mental illness are often told what they can’t do—it can be a discouraging moment,” Holmes notes. “The Clubhouse model encourages individuals to bring their skills and strengths to a community who understands what they are experiencing.” One of 370 Clubhouses globally, Independence Center is the second largest in the world and the only one in the St. Louis region.
Independence Center provides its members a variety of services. The nonprofit offers support for health care, education, employment, housing, finances and more. It is at the forefront of programming for mental illness, including being one of only three agencies in the state of Missouri with a Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis team. The initiative offers team-based, recovery-focused treatment for young adults. Holmes adds that Independence Center also is working on expanding its affordable housing options for members. “One cannot be expected to find and keep a job or continue their studies when they have no place to lay their head at night,” she says. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe, clean home.”
For Independence Center, the support of St. Louisans is more important than ever. As a community mental health center, the nonprofit relies on Medicaid and government funding for around 87% of its operating budget, and in 2025, it was impacted by cuts at both the state and federal levels. “We could not accomplish what we do without the support of donors,” Holmes says. “Mental illness has no bias. It affects all facets of society. We offer hope to those who feel they have nowhere to turn. With Independence Center, they find belonging.”
Independence Center is a community-based rehabilitation program for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Its Dancing with the St. Louis Stars fundraiser is Jan. 24 at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Pictured on the cover, clockwise from top left: Brad Liebman, Adam Marles, Katie Drew, Jeff Wade, Anthony Galloway, Stephanie Oliver. For more information, call 314.533.4245 or visit independencecenter.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at the top: Dancing with the St. Louis Stars 2025
Photo courtesy of Independence Center