This group was founded in February 1 2016 by Susan Gobbo and Danielle do Olival. They led together this group until August 17 2018, when Dani decided to leave the group to pursue new opportunities.
This group is sponsored by St. Louis Mosaic Project, a regional initiative within The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and the World Trade Center St. Louis. Any international ethnicity is welcome to join us. We started this group because we are foreign, expat spouses, who have been through the acculturation process in USA and other countries. We are experienced and culture-sensitive and would love to ease your acculturation process. Whether you are here for a short-stay, or have already been here for a long time, we look forward to meeting you. We offer fun social interactions between friends and at small gatherings to exchange our experiences and help you live better in the St. Louis area.
If you sign up to be a member of the St. Louis International Spouses Meetup Group you can also benefit from the membership of the St. Louis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. under our group.
To learn more about our activities and events, please click here
Susan Dealis Gobbo is from Brazil and's all about bringing people together and fostering cultural understanding. Her move from Brazil to the U.S. was a major life shift—she went from a successful career in healthcare to becoming a standout social entrepreneur. Susan found her true calling in helping international women rebuild their identities and thrive in their new communities. She's all about connection and empowerment.
She founded several initiatives in the St. Louis area aimed at supporting international women, including the St. Louis International Spouses/Expat Women Group (2016) and co-founded the St. Louis International Mentoring Program (2017) and the Immigrant Professional Women Network Group (2022). These programs were designed to help women from diverse backgrounds integrate into their new environments.
In addition to her community work, Susan has contributed to four books: “Welcome to the USA – You’re Hired” (2021) and “Owning Your G.R.I.T. – Growth, Resilience, Intention, and Tenacity” (2021), 50 Shades of Lipstick Leadership (2024), Calladitas Rising: Remaining Your Power, Strength, and Voice (2024). Her efforts have earned her numerous accolades, including the St. Louis Mosaic Project Award (2018), the Women of Achievement Multicultural Enrichment Award (2020), the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis Chairman's Champion Award (2021), Mary T. Hall Honoree Diversity by United Nations Association of the United States of America (2022) and the Community Advocacy Award from the International Institute of St. Louis (2023).
Susan is part of the boards and steering committees at different organizations bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to the table, mainly with the international community. Susan’s work has significantly contributed to the economic and cultural growth of St. Louis, where she now lives with her family. She is committed to ensuring that others feel the same sense of belonging. Her Latina heritage, alongside the support of her husband, daughter, and friends, inspires her daily. Through her dedication and vulnerability, Susan continues to uplift and empower others, ensuring no international woman feels alone during her transition to a new country.
Ines Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of one, her family moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil. At the age of sixteen, her family moved to Canada where she completed her high school education and started a Bachelor's degree in English Literature at York University. Ines is an avid learner about health and nature. She completed a technical course in Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2010 and she loves and supports upcycling and everything that is related to nature preservation. She speaks Korean, Portuguese, and English. Her passion for writing prompted her to write her first novel "Unspoken-Efil," which she self-published in 2008 and it is available on Amazon. In 2017, Ines and her husband moved to St. Louis and during a Brazilian Consulate event in which she volunteered, she first met the head organizer and International Spouses Consultant, Susan Gobbo and her husband Mauricio. Whenever time permits, Ines supports and helps Susan to coordinate some of the events with the St. Louis International Spouses. Ines is a full-time real estate agent with Keller Williams in Kirkwood, Missouri and she is eager to welcome and support any newcomers in our area!
Our cultural ambassadors are members of our group who support our group helping to welcome and connect our members, hand out our questionnaires and assist our events. Our Cultural Ambassadors: Frances Pires, Juddy Park, Maria Balogh, Marina Malkina, Meire (May) Ferreira, Pei Downey, Qian (Emily) Yang, Sinem Fisonoglu, Meghana Agaligurki, and Mireya Rivas.
This group of moms meets weekly to plan and execute activities for kids around the St. Louis area: Ana Barran, April Espejo, Stephanie Volpato, Larissa Galdini, and Giselle Renosto