What happens when someone stops waiting for community to be built somewhere else and decides to bring the resources home?
In Episode 6 of STL Hustle Insider, Cortez Hustle sits down with Devon Moody, founder of The 89th Collective, for a conversation about East St. Louis, small business, family legacy, motherhood, village-building, ownership, innovation, and creating space for people who need to know they belong.
Devon shares how growing up as the youngest of ten, the daughter of a cobbler and a cosmetologist, shaped her understanding of entrepreneurship from an early age. Small business did not just inspire her. It helped pay for her life, sent her to college, and taught her how deeply local enterprise can impact a family and a community.
This episode is for entrepreneurs, community builders, creatives, consultants, business owners, parents, students, and anyone who believes innovation does not have to be disconnected from the neighborhood. It can be rooted in it.
In This Episode
Cortez and Devon talk about:
- Who Devon Moody is beyond the business title
- Growing up as the youngest of ten with seven older brothers
- Being raised by a cobbler, a cosmetologist, and a family of entrepreneurs
- How small business paid for Devon’s life and opened doors for her
- Lessons from her father, mother, and grandmother
- Treating everybody with dignity, regardless of title
- East St. Louis pride, East Boogie, and the City of Champions
- Starting a candy store at 10 years old
- Turning skills into opportunities through clothes, hair, papers, taxes, and service
- Attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Navigating a predominantly white institution as a Black woman
- The importance of the “Black House,” CBSU, and safe community spaces on campus
- Relaunching a student retention program and seeing mentees complete degrees
- Becoming pregnant senior year and still finishing school
- Why village is everything, but village must be reciprocal
- Asking for help without shame
- The origins of The 89th Collective
- Why timing mattered for opening a co-working and community business space
- Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day in 2025
- Serving thousands of people across generations in the first year
- Why Devon calls The 89th Collective a legacy launch pad
- Honoring her grandmother as the “original CEO mom”
- What community-rooted innovation means
- Why innovation can be as simple as improving a process or solving a problem
- Why Black entrepreneurs should not only create, but own
- Moving from fear to ownership
- Why it is okay to serve community and build wealth
- Devon’s Top Five All ESTL recommendations
- Her final word to people who think they do not belong
Featured Guest
Devon Moody
Founder, The 89th Collective
Devin Moody is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, a mother, daughter, consultant, community builder, and founder of The 89th Collective.
Her work is rooted in helping people improve their quality of life by learning how to monetize their gifts, build legitimate businesses, access resources, and connect with community. Through The 89th Collective, Devin is building a legacy launch pad for entrepreneurs, creatives, youth, business owners, and community members in East St. Louis and the surrounding region.
Guest Links
Episode Sponsors
The 89th Collective
This episode was recorded at The 89th Collective Studios in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The 89th Collective supports entrepreneurs and business owners with space for classes and workshops, business mailbox services, community connections, networking, memberships, and access to resources.
Music Attribution
Break music mentioned in this episode:
00:00 - Welcome to STL Hustle Insider
00:34 - Who is Devin Moody?
01:21 - Growing up in East St. Louis
01:42 - Youngest of ten and daughter of entrepreneurs
02:42 - Business lessons from family
03:10 - Treat everybody with dignity
04:41 - Growing up with older siblings
06:05 - East St. Louis, East Boogie, and City of Champions
06:45 - Starting a candy store at 10
07:29 - East St. Louis High School and student life
08:41 - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
09:29 - Navigating a PWI as a Black woman
10:18 - The Black House, CBSU, and safe spaces
12:29 - Student retention and the power of community
13:53 - Becoming pregnant senior year
16:11 - Building a village as a college student
17:56 - Asking for help without shame
20:14 - Break and music from Latif
21:00 - Welcome back from The 89th Collective Studios
21:45 - Why East St. Louis needed this ecosystem
22:12 - The early vision for a co-working space
23:30 - Timing, obedience, and bringing resources home
24:20 - Opening The 89th Collective on 618 Day
25:28 - Serving thousands of people across generations
26:19 - Gratitude after the first year
26:38 - Honoring Devin’s grandmother and the original CEO mom
28:10 - Community-rooted innovation
29:19 - Ownership, culture, and Black entrepreneurship
30:00 - Serving community and building wealth
31:45 - Moving out of fear and into legitimacy
32:29 - Owning the systems around what we create
33:44 - Devin’s Top Five All ESTL
34:09 - Personal Touch Boutique
35:00 - Delicious food truck
35:30 - Eastside Chop Suey and St. Louis-style rice
36:53 - Big Mama’s BBQ
37:26 - Skate King / Skate City
38:17 - Freestyle: You belong
39:25 - The 89th Collective address and contact
40:25 - Closing words from Cortez Hustle
About STL Hustle Insider
STL Hustle Insider is a St. Louis podcast and local media platform hosted by Cortez Hustle and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC.
The show spotlights the people, businesses, creatives, nonprofits, leaders, entrepreneurs, and movements building St. Louis from the inside out. Through real conversations and local storytelling, STL Hustle Insider brings attention to the builders, visionaries, and community movers shaping the future of the region.
Legal Disclaimer
STL Hustle Insider is produced and owned by iHustle Media Group LLC. All show content, including video, audio, graphics, branding, and related media, is copyrighted property of iHustle Media Group LLC unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed by hosts, guests, sponsors, advertisers, or contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or official position of iHustle Media Group LLC, STL Hustle Insider, its partners, affiliates, or sponsors.
Content shared on this show is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, medical, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on anything discussed.
Mentions, interviews, sponsorships, advertisements, products, services, events, or resources featured on STL Hustle Insider do not automatically constitute an endorsement, guarantee, or warranty by iHustle Media Group LLC.
By watching, listening to, sharing, or engaging with STL Hustle Insider content, you acknowledge that iHustle Media Group LLC is not responsible for any actions, decisions, outcomes, or results based on the information presented.
© iHustle Media Group LLC. All rights reserved.