Mission: St. Louis
- Primary Cause
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building
- Secondary Cause
- Employment
Since 2006, Mission: St. Louis has been empowering people to transform our city. We fight poverty in the city of St. Louis through an approach built on empowerment, not charity, and building relationships. This approach has a deep, lasting impact – we walk alongside people as they gain skills and resources to transform their lives, thereby creating change in their families and neighborhoods. Our core programs, Beyond School and Beyond Jobs, create educational and employment opportunity, which are two key resources that are essential for an individual to be able to break the cycle of poverty.
Our Beyond School program partners with local schools to provide additional learning time during after school hours for students 4th-8th grade. For each month in our program, students make three months of reading growth, empowering them to get back on track for success in high school and beyond.
Beyond Jobs is a three-part initiative made up of Job & Leadership Training, Revive Thrift Shop and Hire St. Louis. By creating opportunity for work, people are equipped to be leaders in their workplaces, families and communities. While only 16% of men are working when they come into our programs, five months later more than 73% are employed. As people find purpose through work, they can work their way out of poverty, gain positive support networks and rise as leaders in their communities.
Mission: St. Louis
The mission of Job & Leadership Training (JLT) is to empower men from under-resourced communities to become leaders in their families, jobs and communities. Through a combination of classes, internship and mentorship, our students are able to address roadblocks that would prevent them from becoming successful members of their community.
Each session begins with an 8-week intensive boot camp course that focuses on job training, financial literacy, and manhood. Each student interviews for and obtains an internship that allows him to apply the techniques and skills that he has gained through training. Personal mentorship allows students to set obtainable goals.
Employment gives us purpose, helps us grow and helps us care for the people that depend on us. When a person is employed, they are less likely to commit crime, less likely to be in poverty and more likely to be healthy. Through training, internships and a community of support, men are empowered to transform their lives.
Mission: St. Louis
A year ago, DeAndre lost his wife to cancer. After this tragic loss, this single father of two twin girls went above and beyond in order to find himself a worthwhile job. DeAndre became our first JLT student to intern at and be hired by our longtime partner, BJC HealthCare.
Due to the strict hospital system requirements, we had been unable to find an internship opportunity at BJC that worked for our students. But DeAndre was willing to do the work to make that possible. He was placed as a Linen Supply Tech and worked hard to prove himself. He even quit smoking cold turkey in order to fulfill BJC’s nicotine-free policy.
DeAndre is currently still employed through BJC. Him and other graduates continue to have a relationship with Beyond Jobs as they work towards a successful future. JLT students work hard hard to rewrite their stories. When given opportunity, our students are able to thrive as leaders in their neighborhoods.
Mission: St. Louis
Beyond School: As a Beyond School volunteer, you will work directly with the students with anything from math and literacy and homework help, to leading sports activities, making crafts and more. You will be trained to deliver individualized assistance, ensuring structured academic time is impactful. Email jaci.pringle@missionstl.org for info.
Beyond Jobs Mentors: You’ll be helping students learn to become leaders in their workplaces, families and communities. You will meet with your student once a week for 8 weeks to help them set and achieve goals focused on employment, family and personal development. Contact amy.primm@missionstl.org for info.
Beyond Jobs Meals: On Mon. and Thur. evenings we provide dinner for the students. The meals offer a time for community building as students and volunteers develop relationships over a meal. We need volunteers willing to either cook a meal or purchase food from a local restaurant. Contact cami.kasmerchak@missionstl.org for info.
Mission: St. Louis
Suggested Donations
- Make a free throw for books for our youth. ($10.00)
- Make a lay-up for professional clothing for our Beyond Jobs students. ($25.00)
- Make a three-pointer to help fund new enrichment activities for Beyond School. ($50.00)
Funding Needs
Donating will help Mission: St. Louis expand our three core initiatives to exponentially impact our entire community.
Beyond School is working directly with students and their families, to break the cycle of poverty through education. Funds will help us increase enrichment opportunities for the students outside of the classroom
Beyond Jobs works with the men in our community to fight unemployment. Donations will assist in bringing more mental health resources to the men as well as providing more job training opportunities.
Beyond Charity serves the entire community, including seniors and community members through our home repair program, AMP. Increased funding will allow us to complete more home repair projects and improve home maintenance throughout our neighborhood.
