What's Happening at Employment Connection: March 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.

Spring Into Employment!

EC's Career Services Team hosts our annual Spring Job Fair on April 9th at our Market Street Headquarters! Job seekers are invited to come meet employers who will be interviewing candidates and potentially hiring on the spot! Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to learn about our many services to help them get and maintain employment, including our World of Work job readiness training.

The Spring Job Fair runs from 10am to 1pm on Wednesday, April 9th, at 2838 Market Street. Dress sharp and bring copies of your résumé!

Spring Break with DOCY

Spring Breakers joined our Dutchtown Opportunity Coalition for Youth Team over their break to make the most of their time off with activities at Thomas Dunn Learning Center including rock climbing, video gaming, art projects, and sports. They also took field trips to Forest Park, where they hiked, rode paddleboats across the lake, and visited the Zoo and the History Museum. We had a great time exploring, with special thanks to Chris Geden and the team at River City Outdoors!

Green Jobs Update

Our current cohort of Green Jobs clients have been hard at work this spring, with no shortage of opportunities to get hands-on and learn how to manage green infrastructure! In addition to continuing their Roots of Success curriculum with Richard Reilly of Missouri Botanical Garden, they have also had many on-site visits across St. Louis.

Above, participants help prepare beds at Fresh Starts Community Garden in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood under the tutelage of master gardener Ms. Rosie Willis. The team also visited Beyond Housing's headquarters in Pine Lawn to help plant and maintain the bioretention basins surrounding their offices with the help of Beyond Housing's Director of Forestry and Community Conservation, Joseph Oelke. The basins and rain gardens in the area catch stormwater at the source and alleviate pressure on storm drains, reducing sewer backups in the surrounding area and avoiding contamination and the need to treat the stormwater.

Dutchtown Beautification Team

Our Green Jobs clients also joined our Dutchtown Beautification Team crew leader Ronald to refresh the native plantings in the bump-outs along the Louisiana Avenue Calm Streets corridor through the neighborhood.

Ahead of the assistance, Ronald has been busy performing routine garden and landscape maintenance at Marquette Park and the Virginia Avenue Pocket Park and clearing winter debris from the bump-outs, where he ran into Dutchtown Main Streets and Allies of Marquette Park volunteer Nate Lindsey. The Dutchtown Beautification Team is a joint effort of Employment Connection and Dutchtown Main Streets with funding provided by the Community Development Administration.

MWS Is Hiring!

Managed Work Services, our social enterprise staffing agency, is hiring for hospital housekeeping positions in St. Louis City. These jobs can lead to permanent employment with great pay, benefits, and opportunities for advancement. Call (314) 333-5601 or visit MWSstl.com to apply now!

World of Work

Our wonderful World of Work graduates continue to complete our job readiness training program at an outstanding rate! Beginning in March, these clients have been led by our new Lead Facilitator, Tyrese, pictured above standing third from left. We're delighted with Tyrese's leadership and proud of our graduates!

Through the end of March, 220 clients have graduated from World of Work. Enrollment continues to increase, with an average of 19 clients participating every week. We're excited to see so many people take this important first step to self-sufficiency and success!

Legal Resources Fair

Thank you to all of the attendees at March's Legal Resources Fair here at Employment Connection HQ! With the assistance and expertise of our great partners, many of our visitors were able to resolve outstanding parking tickets and warrants, and we shared opportunities for second-chance employment with the help of our programs.

University Crossing

The University Crossing transit-oriented development project adjacent to the North Hanley Metro Station is close to breaking ground! The development is a partnership between Bywater Development Group and Employment Connection that will provide brand-new mixed-income housing and commercial space at this crucial transit hub. The development will also feature a new satellite Employment Connection office to better serve our North County clients. Designers are creating a fresh brand for the project, and the updated renderings are looking great!

WIOA Update

Our WIOA Team hosted the first of a series of Roads to Success Academic and Career Expos in March, with two more events scheduled in April. WIOA connects Missouri residents ages 16–24 with opportunities for employment, education, resources, and other assistance to help them start young adulthood on the right track.

Attendees at our first event got to learn about the many services offered by WIOA and Employment Connection, and many of our visitors went home with attendance prizes!

Spots remain for the events on April 9th and April 16th at the MO Jobs Center at Northwest Plaza. Call Robin Jackson at (314) 615-6053 or visit bit.ly/wioaroads to register.

United Way Donation

Big thanks to the United Way of Greater St. Louis! We received an in-kind donation of much-needed file cabinets! Our maintenance specialist Dennis sprung into action to help bring the equipment to our Market Street headquarters to be utilized by our Managed Work Services Team.

EC Out and About 

Director of Programs Christina attended the Mid-Year Partner Convening with ARCHS, a dedicated supporter of Employment Connection's programs!

Carlette and LaCorsha of our DOCY Team met with staff from our partner organizations, Thomas Dunn Learning Center and Gateway Region YMCA, to plan more great programming for South Side youth as summer vacation gets closer!

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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