What's Happening at Employment Connection: July 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.

Connect with Employment Connection Networking Event

Chat, connect, collaborate, and build community at this exclusive networking event! Connect with the nonprofit leaders, business partners, elected officials, community advocates, and supporters who make our mission possible. Learn how we can all work together to build a stronger, safer, self-sufficient St. Louis community!

Employment Connection CEO Sal Martinez and other speakers will share the inspiring success stories of our clients, discuss the impact of our programs and partnerships across the Greater St. Louis region, and share what’s next for Employment Connection and the future of St. Louis.

Enjoy complimentary beverages and appetizers while you connect, donate, and make sure to enter our raffle to win prizes from our partners! To RSVP, visit bit.ly/connect-with-ec.

 

Green Jobs Update

Our current Green Jobs Program participants have been hard at work across St. Louis this summer, earning hands-on experience and beautifying neighborhoods! The team helped out at the VAL Garden and Marquette Park in Dutchtown, on the 10th Street Mall in LaSalle Park, and at the Johnnie Owens Memorial Garden in Old North, while also spending time in the classroom for Roots of Success and World of Work courses and preparation for safety certifications.

Our next Green Jobs training cohort launches in September! This paid training program provides hands-on experience and includes certifications and job placement assistance to help clients land a career in conservation, agriculture, landscaping, and other sustainable, environmentally friendly fields.

To find out more, contact Sal Martinez at MartinezS@employmentstl.org or (314) 333-5622. Interested applicants must contact us by Friday, August 29th, for consideration.

Solar Panel Installation Training Program

We also have our next Solar Panel Installation Training cohort launching soon! Participants receive hands-on paid training as they prepare for a career in a sustainable industry undergoing massive growth.

Classes begin on Monday, August 25th, at our Market Street headquarters. Interested applicants must contact us by Thursday, August 14th. Call or email Sal Martinez at (314) 333-5622 or MartinezS@employmentstl.org.

Senior Services Update

Our free mowing program for seniors over the age of 60 is back in full swing! Our teammate Calvin is doing a great job facilitating the program, and our seniors are happy with the professional landscaping services they are receiving. We also want to thank Team EC members Desiree and Christina for their hard work in assisting Calvin with the operation of this rewarding program.

Team EC believes in helping our seniors to “age in place,” and this program is a pleasure for us to operate! For more information, please contact Calvin at (314) 333-5627.

Healthy Blue funding announcement 

Thanks to our friends at Healthy Blue for their recent grant award! This new grant will support many of our wraparound programs. Healthy Blue also provided a training session for our managers, educating us on the wide array of services available to clients in the State of Missouri.

WIOA Updates

Our WIOA Team is helping youth get ready to head back to school! We're distributing free backpacks and school supplies and letting them know about the ongoing services provided by our WIOA program at our back-to-school workshops.

Dee Dee, Terrina, and Erica from our WIOA Team also visited the St. Louis County Juvenile Court Career Fair to engage with participants. Our WIOA Program is here to help justice-involved young people get back on track with education, training, support services, and employment.

Call us at (314) 615-6052 or email mccrays@employmentstl.org to learn more about our WIOA Program's offerings for individuals aged 14–24 from all backgrounds.

New Young Adult Services Program

Sal and Christina met with members of the City of St. Louis’s Circuit Attorney’s Office to celebrate the creation of a new program that will be funded by the City of St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention. Our new Young Adult Services program will provide second chances for individuals ages 18–24 who have been assigned to their Diversion Unit.

EC Out and About

Our CEO, Sal, was honored to have been asked to emcee the groundbreaking ceremony for the $26.2 million Marquette Homes development this month. This project, developed by Lutheran Development Group and Rise Community Development, will bring 52 units of affordable housing and commercial spaces to the Gravois Park and Dutchtown neighborhoods. Special invited guests at the event included Congressman Wesley Bell, Mayor Cara Spencer, 7th Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, and 3rd Ward Alderman Shane Cohn.

Our CFO, Nora, and our Director of Programs, Christina, attended the United Way‘s 2025 Campaign Leadership Conference this month!

Carlette, our DOCY Program Manager, attended the Office of Violence Prevention Kickback event in the Baden neighborhood!

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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