Lived in seven St. Louis neighborhoods before I started high school. A a child, I hardly noted any difference in the quality of Life and resources between these places, was loved, protected, and nurtured in each one. All these neighborhoods - all My neighborhoods, were home. UR Welcome is a dedication to the beauty in my upbringing to acknowledgement of the struggle and the deep resilience of a city made of communities that won't give up. UR Welcome is an invitation to use strengths of our diverse communities to address our city's delicate needs. I hope this organization can begin to bridge the social and physical gaps that keep St. Louisians apart. UR Welcome is my personal gift to a city that kept me safe, happy, and entertained. May this be a contribution towards a Greater-more unified St. Louis where strangers become neighbors, and every community feels like home
We're going to need a bigger table! During the hot summer months, meals and care packages to the unsheltered go a long way. Add meal-sharing, social connection, and storytelling, and the heat doesn't seem so bad. Nourishing Narratives provides unhoused individuals with opportunity to eat and share their story with other St. Louisians as part of a digital project to reduce stigma and promote empathy related to homelessness. This program aims to bridge the gap between the housed and unhoused, reminding us that St. Louis is home to us all.
Fee for service program that organizes and facilitrates commuinty service opportunities for corporations and groups in the St Louis Community. Increased social cohesion and commuinity engagement ensures every St Louis neighborhood a great place to be
Many older individuals face social isolation, which can have a negative impact on their well-being. Kindness Knock tackles this by creating a system of regular check-ins by neighbours A friendly volunteer knocks on the door of an older adult who might not have many visitors. They spend some time chatting, perhaps share a cup of tea, and offer to pick up a few groceries on their way home. This simple act of kindness can make a world of difference for someone who might be feeling lonely or isolated
Improve St. Louis communities by 40% through direct service, volunteer involvement, and community projects by 2030.
Establish St. Louis Community Partnerships (Jan 2025)
- Pilot Planning for Kindness Knocks (door-to-door check-ins) and UR Weekly Welcomes (community gatherings)
- Possible Extension: Nourishing Narratives Pilot Program (unclear)
- Complete Documentation for 501(c)3 Designation (non-profit status) - Develop program framework
- Secure initial funding and partnerships
- Develop and test community service projects focused on neighborly interaction (e.g., checking in on isolated individuals, hosting community gatherings
Launch Kindness Knocks and UR Weekly Welcomes programs
- Begin recruitment and training of 100 volunteers - Increased community engagement
- Initial direct service to a limited number of homes
-Analyze the effectiveness of the pilot program aimed at supportingsocial responsibility through volunteer involvement
- Implement Kindness Knocks and UR Weekly Welcomes programs across targeted communities
- Expand Kindness Knocks and UR Weekly Welcomes programs
- Recruit and train an additional 200 volunteers
- Implement first round of community service projects (e.g., park clean-up) - Strengthened community connections
- Increased direct service to more homes
2027 - Further expand Kindness Knocks and UR Weekly Welcomes programs
- Recruit and train an additional 200 volunteers
- Conduct evaluation and refine programs based on results
- Implement additional community service projects - Measurable improvements in community safety and social responsibility
- Ongoing direct service to a significant number of homes
- Maintain and refine existing programs
- Explore opportunities for program replication in other areas
- Celebrate achievements and milestones - Achieve or surpass 40% improvement goal
- Greater St. Louis communities
Advocate for city-wide adoption of similar programs.
Continued progress towards the 40% community improvement goal
2030 - Ongoing program maintenance and adaptation
- Potential for further expansion based on success - Sustainable positive impact on St. Louis communities
Secure additional funding and resources based on progress.
Improved safety and reduced crime through increased community interaction
