Karen Kalish, 65, founder and director of Cultural Leadership St. Louis, Books & Badges, Teacher Home Visit Program and the Estelle W. and Karen S. Kalish Foundation. Her card reads 'serial social entrepreneur."

FAMILY • Divorced twice with no children. Three cats: Lucy, Ethel and Jake. Karen is the eldest of three children born to the late Ralph Kalish, a patent attorney, and the late Berta Schield Kalish. Her siblings are Nan Goodman, 63, a professional volunteer in Los Angeles, and Ralph Kalish Jr., 60, an attorney here with Husch Blackwell. She has five nephews.

EDUCATION • Clayton High School, class of 1963. St. Louis University, B.A., history and philosophy, 1967; Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, Master's in Public Administration, 2000.

---

What is the common thread among the programs you have founded?

Underdog support? Leveling the playing field? Ending racism? Literacy for all? I am a member of the lucky sperm club, and I believe that to whom much is given, much is required. I grew up with a lot of privilege and I developed a comfort with people who are oppressed and an outrage about racism. I know I have a choice but I don't feel like I have a choice about this. I feel like it's a calling except that Jewish people don't have callings.

When did you leave St. Louis and how long were you gone?

I moved to Washington the day after I graduated from SLU — the very next day. I taught first grade in Fairfax County, Va., and then I taught third grade at Sidwell Friends School. I was gone for 34 years. I came back in 2001.

Where else did you live?

I lived in Chicago, Boston and D.C. several times.

What were you doing in all those cities?

For many years I was a consumer and investigative reporter for CBS-TV in Washington. I also did a talk show for them — I interviewed Marcel Marceau, Julia Child and Averell Harriman, among others. I have the greatest story about Julia Child. She wanted to do something with an eggplant and I brought one in from home. It had a tiny brown spot and she picked it up and said, "You expect me to cook with this?" and she hit me over the head with it and it cracked apart. She sent me a Cuisinart afterward.

Where did you go from there?

I left in 1978 to do the same sort of thing for ABC-TV in Chicago. I stayed for five years, and then I went back to Washington to be the reporter-producer for "Entertainment Tonight."

You also started your own company, Kalish Communications. What sort of business was it?

I started it in 1987 because people kept calling me to ask about what they should do when they had to go on TV. Since I had been the person sticking the microphone in other people's faces, they wanted my advice on how to talk to the media without putting their feet in their mouths. I also taught clients how to write and give speeches and presentations.

What brought you back?

I'm not sure. I was living in Cambridge. I stayed a second year at the Kennedy School as a non-degree student, and when that was over I was thinking I would move back to Chicago, which is probably my favorite city. But then it just hit me that I had to move back to St. Louis.

Why did you start the Cultural Leadership program here?

I had founded Operation Understanding DC and thought a program like that was needed in St. Louis. I started it in 2004 and we're getting ready for our seventh session. I'm also going to leave the program. It's time.

What are you going to do?

I want to focus on the Teacher Home Visit program. I'd like to take it national.

What is that program about?

It's about teachers going to the homes of their students to get parents involved in their children's education. It's not a new idea. There is proof that it raises the academic achievement of students in low income and underperforming schools.

You are involved in so many things — what do you do for fun?

Everything. My house is fun. You can't come in here without smiling. I like to go shopping, but I made a deal with myself to donate an equal amount of whatever I spend to charity. Guilt-free shopping.

What was the last, best book you read?

A book online — "Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison. It's about some of the social and intellectual issues that African-Americans faced in the early 20th century. I really enjoyed it.

Your vehicle?

I have two — can I say just one of them? It's an orange Mini Cooper convertible, 2008.