Our solution begins with relationship. 

We empower individuals for social and economic growth through relationship and opportunity. We believe individuals use their power and influence to break the cycles of poverty.

With relationship in hand, we have made a strategic set of programs available to the people we serve. These programs work together to address critical stages in the cycle of poverty, like high school graduation + recidivism. We walk alongside people as they work their way through our programs, empowering entire families to break the cycle of poverty.   

That solution is driven by a multi-generational approach to empowering people. 

Education, Workforce Development + Housing + Crime Reduction work in tandem to fight poverty across a lifetime.

OUR MISSION

Simply put, we empower individuals for social and economic growth through relationship and opportunity.

Since the beginning, our vision has not changed.  Even as Mission: St. Louis has grown, we have continued our desire to address systemic poverty + its deep rooted issues.  Over the last fifteen years we have developed into maturity as an organization + have figured out what we do well. We help individuals use their power and influence to break the cycles of poverty.

Education is key in breaking the cycle of poverty. It is a crucial component to laying a foundation for healthy families, communities + our city. Although our role in education has evolved, it has become clear to us that ultimate success is achieved when Beyond School is fully integrated within local schools.  We work hand in hand with schools to identify students that are falling behind or in need of additional resources.  Once we have identified those students we begin crafting an individualized plan for each student + work hard to make sure they achieve grade level by the time they start high school. We care deeply about the education of each child + look to integrate our models into other schools around our city.

WE MAKE SURE THERE IS A FOUNDATION FOR THESE STUDENTS TO BUILD UPON, + THAT THEY CARRY THEIR EDUCATION + WHAT’S BEEN INVESTED IN THEM TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

Because of our time spent serving students + families in our schools, we have been led to workforce development, primarily working with people 22-35.  Not only do we work to create a sustainable workforce, we stabilize that workforce by providing resources to break the barriers that keep men and women from maintaining prolonged employment.

We have refined this process over the last 15+ years. As we look forward to the future, our next step is to create a workforce + wellness center here in North St. Louis, thus creating a workforce pipeline that teaches soft skills (conflict resolution, effective communication, time management, financial responsibility), hard skills (on the job training, resumé building, certifications, apprenticeships) + entrepreneurship.  We have been teaching soft skills in Beyond Jobs + partnering with a variety of organizations to teach hard skills, bring in apprenticeship, certifications + other programs to the men we serve. By helping individuals obtain these skills, they are able to begin a sustainable career pathway.

We have to Make sure people have the right training to lead to full time
employment. but it doesn’t need to stop there.

We care deeply about economic development + the economic viability of North St. Louis. Through incubation + entrepreneurship, we continually refine our role in creating businesses + economic activity.  As we grow, we continue to perfect our models + strive to integrate into new schools + build new partnerships.  Through the workforce + wellness center we will be addressing trauma, mental health, legal services + public health inside of what we already do. 

Going forward, our mission continues to focus on creating relationships + stabilizing forces that keep families in the workplace.  We work to create a sustainable workforce that has a generational impact on the deep rooted issues of poverty that run throughout our city. Ideally, our models can be replicated throughout our city. 

Together, we're addressing needs that aren't being met, + dismantling the cycle of poverty faster than ever.