St. Louis is taking charge in redeveloping neighborhood by neighborhood! Targeting areas like the North and South side of St. Louis City. Talk about a positive shift of traditional structures!
NewCities Team Up with St. Louis Development Corporation to present St. Louis as a New Urban Champion
The New Urban Champions initiative gives St. Louis a voice to share many stories revolving around systemic issues in urban planning and equity. Building a community of collaboration and finding solutions should highlight consistent growth within St. Louis as well as improve the quality living!
St. Louis Community Credit Union Creates Gateways to Banking Careers
St. Louis Community Credit Union is more than a credit union. They’re a leader and voice for social justice in the financial services world and across St. Louis neighborhoods. They exist to increase the standard of living and better the lifestyle of their members, staff, and the communities they serve.
That’s why they decided to co-found the Gateway to a Banking Career program in 2018 with Carrollton Bank and Enterprise Bank & Trust to create more equitable access to careers in the financial sector.
The Gateway to a Banking Career program has two goals:
Offer individuals a pathway to career options within the financial services industry
Build a more inclusive and diverse workforce within banks and credit unions
Since launching, four cohorts and a total of 46 people have successfully completed the program. Of those who completed the program, 42 self-identify as African American (35), Latino (2), or immigrants (5) to the United States.
Participants learn how to pursue a successful career in the financial services industry. Training covers essential elements like customer service best practices, banking products and services, personal financial wellness, resume writing, business etiquette, and interview skills.
“Not only did this program get me ready for the Credit Union professionally, but also gave me a boost of confidence with my personal goals. I was made aware that there’s no limit to my talent, and all I had to do was show up and show out!
Tammerah J.
2018 Gateway to a Banking Career Participant”
Everyone who successfully completes their two-week training receives a stipend, guaranteed job interview with at least one of the participating financial institutions, and ongoing encouragement post-program. To date,19 participants secured employment at a financial institution, while numerous others were able to secure employment opportunities at other employers.
Banks and credit unions do not traditionally partner to produce joint programming, much less develop a job training program. However, St. Louis Community Credit Union, Carrollton Bank, and Enterprise Bank & Trust shared a common commitment to building a diverse and inclusive financial workforce and have long-standing relationships.
“Not only did this program get me ready for the Credit Union professionally, but also gave me a boost of confidence with my personal goals. I was made aware that there’s no limit to my talent, and all I had to do was show up and show out!” said Tammerah J., participant in the 2018 Gateway to a Banking Career program.
St. Louis Community Credit Union partners with Employment Connection, Connection to Success, and the International Institute, among others, in order to connect area residents to the program and opportunities in banking careers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit St. Louis, the Gateway to a Banking Career program transitioned to a virtual format!
St. Louis Community Credit Union is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI). Through caring service and education, St. Louis Community Credit Union provides the residents of the St. Louis region with safe, affordable and accessible financial services and products. For more than 75 years and counting, they have been serving residents of St. Louis City and those of Franklin, St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri; as well as St. Clair, Madison, Monroe and Jersey counties in Illinois.
St. Louis Community Credit Union is a Low-Income Designated credit union and is one of the largest Minority Depository Institutions in the United States (per the National Credit Union Administration).
St. Louis Community Credit Union is a member of the St. Louis CDFI Coalition, a partnership among eight CDFIs that offer an array of capital, development, and consulting services and share a common mission to empower a comprehensively healthy St. Louis community through support for nonprofits, small businesses, and communities facing disinvestment.
Prosperity Connection Partnered to Provide COVID-19 Rental Assistance in 2020
Screenshot from Prosperity Connection’s 2020 year-end newsletter
Prosperity Connection partnered with Wells Fargo, PNC Foundation, Equifax Foundation, & U.S. Bank Foundation to support 179 renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with forgivable rent assistance. Renters referred by partnering nonprofit landlords had access to up to $2,000 in forgivable loans to cover multiple months of rent.
Collaborative Receives Grant to Study Home Repair Needs of Older Adults in St. Louis City
Photo by Jessica Rogen, via UMSL
Exciting news about home repair in the City of St. Louis! The Community Innovation & Action Center at UMSL received a grant from the RRF Foundation for Aging to conduct a study of the home repair needs of older adults in the city of St. Louis. Congrats to the grant partners: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO), Rebuilding Together St. Louis, the St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative, Mission: St. Louis, St. Louis Senior Fund, & the St. Louis Community Development Administration.
Logan University Partners with St. Louis County to Deliver Chiropractic Care
Chesterfield-based Logan University, a private chiropractic and health science school, is teaming up with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health to advance chiropractic care for residents. Partnership will be supported by the St. Louis Regional Health Commission!
Photo Credit St. Louis Regional Health Commission
CBN Members Partner on Senior Housing Project in Bevo Mill
Image published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and provided to them by Midwest BankCentre; design is by fellow CBN member Rosemann & Associates.
Midwest BankCentre is donating its current property at the intersection of Gravois Avenue and Morganford Road, land worth $1.6 million, to Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC for a 53-unit affordable housing project, Crossroads Senior Living at Bevo Mill. TGNCDC is also aiming to work with the Missouri Housing Development Commission, St. Louis Affordable Housing Commission, St. Louis Community Development Administration, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, and fellow CBN members the St. Louis Equity Fund and U.S. Bank on the project’s financing package. If the project receives approval for tax credits and other financing assistance, it’s slated to be complete by the end of 2022.
Neighborhood Leadership Fellows Graduates 2020 Cohort
The Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (NLF) recently graduated their 3rd cohort of fellows! Take a moment to read the stories of all 22 graduating members in their 2020 Yearbook.
The mission of Neighborhood Leadership Fellows is to increase and amplify the voices of North St. Louis City and North St. Louis County residents at the civic decision-making tables in order to produce more equitable regional policies for neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Leadership Fellows is a nine-month advanced leadership training for community leaders that provides hands-on training during a curriculum emphasizing:
Educational Workshops on policies, new research and innovation that promote equitable neighborhood development (housing, education, economic development, public safety)
Tactical Trainings on communication, followability, organizing
Positional Power Trainings for boards, commissions, committees, and public office
Collaborative Learning through dialogue, discussion, and presentations among fellows and experts
Mentoring and Networking with other civic leaders and peers
Neighborhood Leadership Fellows is an advanced leadership training program of UMSL, MU Extension and the St. Louis Promise Zone-St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
Read more about the Neighborhood Leadership Academy 2020 Fellows in their 2020 Yearbook!
HomeScreen Partners with Employment Connection to Create New Landlord Database for Non-Profit Social Service Providers
HomeScreen, an initiative of Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC, and Employment Connection are partnering to create a database of landlords who are willing to work with local nonprofits to help those most in need of housing by the end of this year. Landlords using HomeScreen will have the opportunity to list their available rental units exclusively to non-profit social service providers (SSPs) at no cost.
CBN Members Working Near Cherokee Street Profiled in Next City Article
Photo by Anne McCullough
Next City’s recent article “Are You Planning to Stay?” spotlighted several CBN members working near Cherokee Street, including Dutchtown South Community Corporation and Cherokee Street Community Improvement District. The article is an excerpt is from Main Street: How A City’s Heart Connects Us All by Dr. Mindy Thompson Fullilove, which was published in September and documents Dr. Fullilove’s visits to Main Streets in 178 cities across 14 countries.
Dutchtown South CC & DeSales CD Team Up to Provide COVID-Safe Fall Soccer
Dutchtown South Community Corporation and DeSales Community Development are partnering up through the Southside Rec program to bring small-group soccer training to Marquette Park this fall! To keep this activity COVID-19-safe, soccer teams will be limited to 8 kids and won’t play other teams. Instead, they’ll have weekly practices and a scheduled time on Saturdays to scrimmage their own team.
Register your child(ren) to participate here, or contact Abby Miller (abby@desalescd.com) with questions!
Image by DeSales Community Development & Dutchtown South Community Corporation
DSCC, DeSales, & Partners Team up to Provide Free Summer Art Kits to Kids
Dutchtown South Community Corporation, DeSales Community Development, Cherokee CID, & Cherokee Street Reach have partnered to provide the SouthSide Arts Virtual Summer Program, which is offering free art kits to children ages 6-12 from Juneteenth through July 25.
Dutchtown Hosts Neighborhood Drive-In Movie Night
Dutchtown community organizations came together to host a socially-distant drive-in movie night for neighbors! This was thanks to a partnership between Downtown Dutchtown and numerous other partners including CBN members Dutchtown South Community Corp & Habitat for Humanity St. Louis.
Habitat for Humanity was able to use their large wall and parking lot to host the showing of Independence Day. Residents wore masks when outside of their cars and even set up a pedestrian area as well.
This collaborative event was also an opportunity for residents to buy food from local businesses, register to vote, and learn about neighborhood resources!
To watch a video to learn more about the Dutchtown neighborhood, click here.
Take a look at photos of the event from Downtown Dutchtown & Cross Grand below!
DeSales Community Development to Continue Food & Essentials Drives Through Summer
DeSales Community Development has been arranging a food drive and distribution program with the help of community donations, a grant from the Horizon Foundation, support from the Messiah Lutheran Church, and DeSales AmeriCorps interns. Through August 3, the program is accepting donations of essentials that can be dropped off at the Messiah Community center (2801 Magnolia Ave) between 9am and 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
North Newstead Association Collaborates with Partners to Deliver Fresh Produce to Neighbors
Photo by North Newstead Association
North Newstead Association has been working with Invest STL, Fairground Neighborhood Revitalization Organization, Wellston Loop CDC, Lewis Place and Fountain Park Neighborhood Association, St. Louis Metro Market, and Urban Harvest STL to deliver fresh, nutritious produce to neighbors in the Fairground, Wells-Goodfellow, Fountain Park, and Lewis Place neighborhoods.
Photo by North Newstead Association
Photo by North Newstead Association
Horizon Housing Foundation Finds New Ways to Support Housing Properties & Residents Amid COVID-19
Horizon Housing Foundation has found creative new ways to help the housing properties they support and the residents who live there during the COVID-19 crisis. They’ve partnered with Bring Me A Book St. Louis to ship books to school-aged residents and are partnering with Oasis Institute to create virtual peer discussion groups for seniors. HHF has also been providing food, books, essential supplies, and more:
644 Meals provided
821 Food boxes
3,910 Books for kids
333 Essential kits
140 Activity kits for seniors
44 Activity kits for kids
DeSales Community Development Hosting a Food & Essentials Drive
DeSales Community Development is hosting a Food and Essentials Drive to support LifeWise STL's food distribution program. They’re collecting donations of nonperishable items and cleaning products. Donations are being accepted May 4-13.
Park Central Development Launches Kindness Groceries Program to Deliver Fresh Food to Families and Seniors
Park Central Development, in partnership with the Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation and Missouri Foundation for Health, is working with City Greens Market to provide no-contact fresh grocery deliveries to families and seniors in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood. The Park Central team is working to partner with additional organizations ti provide groceries to residents in the Academy/Sherman Park and Fountain Park Neighborhoods.
Photos by Park Central Development
DSCC Tenant Rights Coordinator Discusses Tenant's Rights with CREA
Dutchtown South Community Corporation’s Tenant Rights Coordinator Myisha Johnson recently spoke with the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency about tenant’s rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tenant rights education & organizing at DSCC was funded in part by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the City of St. Louis.
Prepare STL Campaign Coordinates COVID-19 Outreach to Under-Resourced Neighborhoods
The St. Louis Regional Health Commission—in partnership with the St. Louis City Department of Health, the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, and the Missouri Foundation for Health—has launched a unified communications & outreach campaign to help spread the word in vulnerable and under-resourced neighborhoods about what COVID-19 is, how to stop the spread, and how to survive the shutdown physically, emotionally, and economically.
