Ferguson Youth Initiative FYI

?? **A Heartfelt Thank You!** ?? We extend our sincere gratitude to our incredible friends at **Scholarship Central** and **Homegrown STL** for stopping by Backbay last Friday to #supportouryouth. Your visit was truly helpful, and we deeply appreciate your support and collaboration. Together, we are making a positive impact on our community, and we look forward to continuing this journey of empowerment and growth.

My Scholarship Central will visit the Ferguson Youth Initiative Backbay to help Youth identify scholarship opportunities. High School Juniors, Seniors and their parents are invited to sign up at https://lnkd.in/ggwNbbUv #supportouryouth

???Exciting Update from McCluer High School!??? On Thursday, October 17th, we proudly hosted Lesson #3 of our?Next Steps Job Readiness Program. This session was all about practical skills and professional growth. Our students learned the art of tying a necktie and honed their elevator pitches with the guidance of esteemed local professionals: Dart Ford?from Enterprise Bank & Trust Dr. Alyce Herndon?from Onyx Business and Print Center Dr. Lana Kelly Hillard?from Washington University in St. Louis Brandace Allen?from B Juiced in Ferguson Morgan Casey?from I Dream Ent. The enthusiasm and dedication shown by our students were truly inspiring. They embraced the opportunity to learn and grow, and their performances were outstanding! ?? A huge thank you to our guest professionals for their invaluable support and to our students for their hard work and commitment. Together, we’re building a brighter future! ??

Last week we were able to #supportouryouth inside and outside the classroom On Tuesday, we offered a resume and professional dress workshop to students at McCluer High School. Thank you to Dave Fisk Tony Schnell Mary Kay Severtsen and Mark Caplinger On Friday, we partnered with Priory High School and Maryville to offer an E-Sports tournament. Thank you TEGNA for funding our E-Sports program. This week we will return to Mccluer High School for the 3rd session of our Next Steps program.

We are excited to announce our upcoming TopGolf fundraiser. ?? Date: September 30, 2024 ?? Time: 6:00 PM ?? Location: Top Golf Midtown 3201. Chouteau This event is not only a chance to enjoy a fun day of golf, but also an opportunity to come together and raise funds to #supportouryouth. All proceeds will go towards Ferguson Youth Initiative, continuing the mission that Gail Babcock was so passionate about. Highlights of the Event: Top Golf games and competitions Raffle prizes and giveaways Refreshments and snacks We hope to see you there! Let’s make this a memorable day in honor of a remarkable individual.

Last week on #ThrowbackThursday we shared a collage from 2017 when we partnered SSM Health to offer Job Readiness programming to teens 15-19. One of the former participants commented "best opportunity ever". These are the types of results that make each day rewarding. We are always looking to partner with area employers and organizations to empower teens in Ferguson and the surrounding communities. Please let us know if you're interested in partnering.