What's Happening at Employment Connection: January 2025

We’ve been busy at Employment Connection! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for all of the latest info on our programs and events. And if you're not already receiving our monthly newsletter in your inbox, click here to sign up.

2025 United Way Allocation

A massive thanks to our long-time partners at United Way of Greater St. Louis! Once again, United Way has provided essential funding that supports all of our core programs and services. In 2025, United Way of Greater St. Louis has committed well over half a million dollars to help us provide an important safety net for disadvantaged people in our community through our employment and training services, housing assistance, and programs for youth. We're proud to call ourselves partners of the United Way of Greater St. Louis for over 40 years!

WIOA Updates

This week, four young clients of our WIOA Youth Jobs Program start their jobs at Gamers Island LLC in Ferguson! Their Gaming for Glory workforce training program is a perfect fit for our WIOA participants as it provides hands-on work experience and opportunities to develop soft skills in a fun and exciting environment. Thank you to Gamers Island for your partnership, and best of luck to our WIOA clients!

We also want to congratulate our WIOA client Maurice, who just landed a truck driving position that pays $27 per hour! We are so proud of you!

For more information on how our WIOA program can assist young people find training and employment opportunities, please contact us at (314) 615-6052 or via email at mccrays@employmentstl.org.

World of Work Update

The first World of Work class of 2025 graduated in early January, with 30 clients completing our job readiness training program! Congratulations to our graduates on this big first step!

In 2024, we saw an increase of over 50% in World of Work enrollments and graduations. Nearly 900 clients completed the program last year, and we hope to help even more people prepare for work and success in 2025!

Welcome New Board Fellow Micheal Morrow

We're excited to welcome our new Olin-United Way Board Fellow Micheal Morrow! Micheal is pursuing his MBA at Washington University's Olin School of Business to expand his skills following several years working for General Motors. After graduating cum laude from Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla with a degree in mechanical engineering, Micheal climbed the ladder in GM's Manufacturing and Product Development divisions, even filing multiple patents for his work.

Micheal brings great talent and perspective to our organization, and we're looking forward to working with him over the next year! He will focus on growing our Green Jobs and Solar Panel Installation Training programs.

Micheal is pictured above seated between EC Board Members Kendra Moore (left) and President Richard Buckley (right).

New Sneak Preview of University Crossing Development

Check out the latest rendering for the University Crossing development in North County! Bywater Development Group and EC have teamed up on the transportation-oriented development (TOD) project to create 60 quality, mixed-income housing units easily accessible by public transportation at the North Hanley Transit Center. Additionally, EC will have a new satellite office within the development to serve tenants and the community-at-large. The total development cost for this project will exceed $18 million dollars’ worth of new public and private investment in this community.

MWS Is Hiring!

Looking for more than just a job? MWS can help! With full-time positions at a premier healthcare facility in St. Louis available now, you can get started on your path to an exciting and rewarding career in healthcare! Visit MWSstl.com to apply today or call us at (314) 333-5601 to learn more!

Now Recruiting for Our Next Green Jobs Training Cohort

Spring is around the corner, and there's no better time to hop into a career in the growing Green Jobs Workforce! Our Green Jobs Program offers paid training and hands-on experience that prepare clients for careers in sustainably focused enterprises like conservation, agriculture, landscaping, and more. Our next cohort launches soon. Contact Sal Martinez at martinezs@employmentstl.org or (314) 333-5622 to learn more.

EC Out and About

Sal recently traveled to the State Capitol to visit with State elected officials. Sal is pictured here with State Representatives Del Taylor (left) and Marty J. Murray, Jr. (right).

Carlette, LaCorsha, Christina, and Sal joined many of our friends from Dutchtown in attending the “Back to the 80’s” gala hosted by Gene Slay’s Girls and Boys Club at the Chase Park Plaza.

Christina, Sal, Sarah, and Patsy recently traveled to Scott Air Force Base to meet with members of the UNCOMN firm to continue plans on expanding our client services work. Thanks again to Filament LLC for linking our two organizations up via their annual Thinksgiving initiative!

There's much more going on at Employment Connection! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date with all of our programs and events in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Clair County.

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