What's Happening at Employment Connection: April 2026

Happy Spring! Check out what's blooming at Employment Connection!

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, 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.

Green Jobs Graduation

Team EC is celebrating the graduation of our largest cohort of Green Jobs clients ever! Almost 40 clients tried out for our seventh cohort, with 24 participants selected to complete the 8-week training module. Kudos to Shantel, our Manager of Green Jobs, for her great leadership!

Thanks to all of our funders, trainers, and community partners who make this wonderful program possible, and thanks to the many employers who arrived to interview our graduates immediately after the ceremony!

Young Adult Services

Johnny, a client of our Young Adult Services Program, has been accepted into the Solar Panel Installation Training program! Ahead of the program beginning soon, Johnny has also completed a week of training at GAF, where he gained basic roofing skills. He's already received job offers, and with a solid set of skills under his belt, he'll be on the path to career success soon! We are so proud of Tammy, our Manager of Young Adult Services (pictured above in pink), for her outstanding work!

Disaster Recovery Assistance

The Missouri Housing Development Commission has made disaster recovery funds available to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County affected by the May 2025 tornado. Call our office at (314) 333-5627 for more information on accessing assistance. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

World of Work Update

Our World of Work job readiness training program continues to grow by leaps and bounds! Through April, 459 clients have completed World of Work—an astonishing year-over-year increase of 56 percent! We're also delighted to report a record-high completion rate of 93 percent. We're proud of the hundreds of clients who are taking this key first step to overcoming barriers and starting down a path to success, and grateful for our dedicated team who help guide them along the way.

For more information about World of Work, call us at (314) 333-JOBS [5627].

Managed Work Services

Joshua worked for St. Louis Public Schools until a rare primary immune deficiency made it unsafe for them to work in a school environment. Facing rising medical debt and other challenges, Joshua turned to Employment Connection. Many of Joshua’s former students had worked with Employment Connection, so Joshua was already familiar with the World of Work job readiness training and other programs.

After completing World of Work, Joshua applied for jobs in the BJC Healthcare System through Managed Work Services, Employment Connection’s staffing agency. Joshua took a position in environmental services at Barnes-Jewish West County, a long bus ride from their apartment Downtown. But after 90 days employed via MWS, Joshua was able to secure a permanent position and transfer to Barnes Hospital in the Central West End, just a short MetroLink ride from home.

With the support of Employment Connection and MWS, Joshua was able to overcome a series of personal challenges and find a great job that accommodates their medical needs.

For more information about Managed Work Services and available positions, visit MWSstl.com or call (314) 333-5600.

North City Corridor Services + Green Jobs Cleanup

Charles, our Manager of North City Corridor Services, and Shantel, our Manager of Green Jobs, collaborated along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive by organizing a cleanup and canvassing the neighborhood with info about Employment Connection's programs, including those available at our new satellite office at 5504 Natural Bridge in North St. Louis. 

For more information about programs offered at our North City Corridor Services office, contact Charles at HatleyW@employmentstl.org or (314) 499-7209.

To learn more about our Green Jobs program, contact Shantel at TownsS@employmentstl.org or (314) 333-5619.

Thanks to Our Volunteers

Volunteers from the United Way of Greater St. Louis joined us at our Market Street headquarters for Unite With Us Days, a community‑wide volunteerism effort taking place April 10–24 during Global Volunteer Month. The volunteers helped us organize our Client Marketplace and Clothing Closet and tackled some cleanup and organization tasks in our basement. Thank you to the volunteers and the United Way's ongoing support and partnership!

We were also visited once again by volunteers from Mercy. They helped clean and re-pot our courtyard beds, added new mulch to the flowers around our sign, sorted through clothing donations, and helped our Green Jobs clients prepare résumés ahead of their graduation and job fair the same week. Thanks to Mercy and their volunteers for sharing their time and talents!

Senior Services RFP

We're seeking contractors for our Senior Services Program! Experienced contractors can apply to provide lawn mowing and weed trimming for St. Louis City seniors to help them keep their homes well-maintained and up to code.

Click here for the detailed RFP and application.

This contract may be financed in part or wholly through an allocation of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds from the U. S. Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis's Community Development Administration. EOE M/F/D/V

Out and About

Calvin ran into 11th Ward Alderwoman Laura Keys at a recent community event!

Carlette represented the Dutchtown Opportunity Coalition for Youth at the Virginia Avenue Spring Fling block party!

There's much more going on at Employment Connection! Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, 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.

If you're not already receiving our monthly newsletter in your inbox, click here to sign up.