October 29, 2026
ST. LOUIS — For Dr. Donte Kara, receiving the 2026 Community Champion of the Year Award from Behavioral Health Response represents more than a professional accomplishment. It is a reminder of the people who shaped his life, the communities he continues to serve and the responsibility he believes comes with leadership.
Kara, an educator, principal and community advocate, received the recognition for his commitment to mental health awareness, community outreach, youth empowerment and service to Behavioral Health Response, commonly known as BHR.
In an exclusive interview with VOTP News STL, Kara reflected on the significance of the award, the barriers preventing underserved communities from accessing mental health services and the personal experiences that continue to influence his work.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor, but more than anything, it’s a reminder of why I do the work that I do,” Kara said. “I’ve never been particularly motivated by recognition. I’ve always been more interested in impact.”
Kara explained that the recognition arrives during a particularly reflective period of his life, one shaped by personal loss, family and a deeper examination of what it means to make a difference.
He believes meaningful change does not always require large initiatives or widespread recognition. Sometimes, it begins with one person.
“I’m not trying to change the entire world. I’m simply committed to doing the work for one,” Kara said. “One person, one family, one student, or one conversation at a time.”
Addressing Mental Health Beyond the Crisis
Behavioral Health Response is a nonprofit organization providing mental health support, crisis intervention and counseling services. The organization describes itself as Missouri’s largest provider of 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline services.
According to BHR, its crisis hotline answered 80,219 calls during fiscal 2025, reflecting the significant demand for accessible mental health assistance.
For Kara, supporting the organization is about more than connecting individuals to services. It is about recognizing the humanity of those seeking assistance.
“People deserve access to support, dignity, and compassion, regardless of where they are in life or what circumstances brought them there,” Kara said.
He explained that mental health conversations sometimes become overly focused on diagnoses and treatment outcomes while overlooking the experiences of people struggling with difficult circumstances.
Kara described his vision for helping individuals move beyond trauma and hardship through a philosophy he calls “HEALED Futures.”
“A healed future doesn’t mean someone will never experience hardship, grief, disappointment, or trauma again,” he said. “It means that what happened to them no longer has to determine everything that happens next.”
His perspective also extends to the challenges facing underserved neighborhoods throughout St. Louis.
While stigma remains a concern, Kara emphasized that the barriers preventing residents from seeking mental health treatment are often more complicated.
He identified transportation limitations, insufficient insurance coverage, financial challenges, inflexible employment schedules and a lack of culturally responsive providers as significant obstacles.
Kara also pointed to historical experiences that have contributed to distrust of health care systems within certain communities.
“We have to move beyond simply telling people that help is available,” he said. “We have to ask ourselves whether that help is accessible, culturally responsive, affordable, and delivered in a way that preserves the dignity of the person receiving it.”
He believes mental health awareness should become part of everyday conversations within schools, churches, barbershops, workplaces and family gatherings, rather than receiving attention only when someone experiences a crisis.
Recognizing Potential in Young People
Kara’s background in education has also shaped his philosophy of leadership and community engagement.
He explained that working with students taught him an important distinction between an individual’s potential and their demonstrated performance.
“Sometimes the student who appears disengaged is actually discouraged,” Kara said. “Sometimes the student who is constantly getting into trouble is looking for attention, connection, or a sense of belonging.”
Kara acknowledged that his own educational journey included periods of uncertainty and a lack of confidence.
He said those experiences helped him understand why young people sometimes need additional encouragement, meaningful opportunities and adults willing to recognize abilities they may not see in themselves.
Through his involvement in educational initiatives, mentorship and professional development opportunities, Kara has worked to expose students to possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances.
He believes exposure to higher education, positive role models and new environments can help students develop a broader understanding of what they can accomplish.
However, Kara emphasized that providing encouragement should not come at the expense of personal responsibility.
“Supporting young people doesn’t mean removing every obstacle or lowering expectations,” he said. “It means giving them the tools, guidance, encouragement, and opportunities necessary to meet those expectations.”
For Kara, effective leadership involves creating the conditions in which young people can recognize their abilities and determine their own futures.
A Family Foundation and a Grandmother’s Lasting Influence
Although the Community Champion award recognizes Kara’s professional contributions, some of his most meaningful reflections centered on family.
Photographs from the celebration show Kara standing alongside his father and sister, sharing a milestone he described as significant for more than just himself.
Kara said his father consistently encouraged him to build something meaningful, remain accountable and strive to accomplish more than the previous generation.
One lesson, in particular, has remained with him throughout adulthood.
His father encouraged him to become better than he was, not because of any personal shortcomings, but because he believed each generation should build upon the achievements of the one before it.
Yet Kara said one of the most influential people in his life was his grandmother, who raised him.
“She taught me the importance of being myself, treating people with dignity, and never allowing my circumstances to become an excuse for how I treated others,” Kara said.
He described her as someone who did not require professional titles or public recognition to make a difference.
Instead, she demonstrated service through consistency, compassion and her willingness to help others.
Kara revealed that his grandmother died earlier this year, a loss that has prompted him to think more deeply about what people leave behind.
“Losing her this year has made me think even more deeply about legacy,” he said.
Her influence, he explained, remains present in his commitment to supporting families, encouraging students and helping people navigate difficult circumstances.
A Legacy Measured Through Others
As Kara considers the significance of being named Community Champion of the Year, he said the recognition reinforces his belief that leadership should be measured by its impact on others rather than personal accolades.
He hopes his contributions will be reflected in the lives of individuals who discovered new opportunities, received needed support or developed confidence because someone believed in them.
“Legacy is what continues to live in other people because you were here,” Kara said.
He explained that he does not necessarily need future generations to remember his name. Instead, he hopes people remember how he treated them, the opportunities he helped create and whether their lives were positively affected by their interactions.
For Kara, that is the true measure of a life dedicated to service.
“And if, years from now, someone can say, ‘He saw something in me when I couldn’t see it in myself,’ then I think I will have done something worthwhile with my time here.”
Mental Health Resources: Individuals experiencing emotional distress, mental health challenges or a suicidal crisis can call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
VERY NICE. GOOD WORK.