partner in inspiring programs like these.”“ I would like to thank Civic Progress for their historic donation of $ 245,000 toward the construction of the Community Empowerment Center of Ferguson. This building, like a phoenix rising out of the ashes, will serve as a beacon of hope to Ferguson residents in the aftermath of the crisis,” said Linda Harris, senior vice president of administration and compliance, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.“ We are proud to say that this building will house Save Our Sons, an employment program that has already helped over 200 men find jobs. In addition, the Community Empowerment Center will also offer services from the Salvation Army, Provident, Better Family Life, the University of Missouri Extension and the Lutheran Church of Missouri-Synod.”
“ This contribution from Civic Progress is an investment in a model that embodies the paradigm shift in social service resource delivery. This model will bring immediate and long-term stability in our more challenged neighborhoods,” said James Clark, vice president of community outreach, Better Family Life.“ The Better Family Life Neighborhood Alliance, when brought to scale, will place 50 Outreach Workers and 25 Case Managers in position to serve individuals and families residing in neighborhoods under social direst. It will address the most pressing need for resolve in the St. Louis metropolitan area, which is the escalating culture of crime and violence.”
“ Over the past few years, UMSL faculty have worked with community members and a number of school administrators to develop a new leadership program. With a consortium of school districts, including Riverview Gardens and Ferguson-Florissant, we envisioned a program that would offer authentic learning opportunities for school leaders,” said Dr. James Shuls, assistant professor educational leadership and policy studies, University of Missouri – St. Louis.“ The goal has always been to help build a bench of school leaders who will be change-agents in their schools and the community. We thank Civic Progress for joining us in this mission.”
“ As youth unemployment is higher than any other working-age group, this lack of connectedness to employment has dire consequences for our region’ s young people and our economy. It is critical that the business community play a leading role in the investment of our future workforce,” said Hillary Frey, executive director, STL Youth Jobs.“ The generosity of Civic Progress and its member corporations will not only provide immediate summer employment to our city’ s at-risk youth, but it also will enable these young people to learn the skills that are needed to fill critical workforce gaps. This investment signifies a strong commitment from the business community to improving opportunities for our at-risk youth while also increasing economic growth for our region.”
Civic Progress will be investing in organizations that are working on recommendations from the Ferguson Commission’ s Forward Through Ferguson report as part of its mission to create a stronger region. The organization’ s four-year, $ 2 million commitment is in addition to the volunteer efforts and employee support that its respective companies have already provided to help revive and strengthen the St. Louis community.
The Urban League thanks the Boeing Company for its sponsorship of the St. Clair County Employment Program! The Urban League Employment Services program provides free job skills training, resume building, mock interviews, employment referral and career fairs to local residents. # ULSTL hosts job fairs that reaches over 5,000. The fair promotes jobs from over 90 employers in the St. Louis and St. Clair County region.
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