By Steve Miller

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‘SUCCESS’ from cover

Urban League’s generous donation. She also recognizes the importance of young Black males being able to create their own financial stability and how looking the part plays a role in getting a job.

“Having professional attire is a mind changer,” Clincy said. “It allows them to not only think about the next level, but actually see themselves at the next level. This is a life-changing moment for them. They can now confidently visualize themselves fitting into any environment. Some of these students have never owned a suit, so the way they feel and look is a game changer.”

Coupled with the provision of suits, the BMA Academy participants also receive educational resources, mentoring and professional guidance including how to succeed in an interview. The initiative aims to provide the critical support to help prepare high school students academically for the transition into college and offer life skills.

“The BMA program is important because it is a student-support program that meets the students where they are to eliminate any barriers that will hinder their academic success, Clincy said. “Our goal is to increase the matriculation and graduation of underrepresented and underprepared students. BMA creates an environment of success and empowers them to be the best. Our motto says, ‘academic excellence is no accident,’ so we look individually and holistically at what the students need in order to be successful.”

High school students in the BMA Academy were presented with suits to participate in career day at SLCC.

Submitted photo

COMMUNITY VOICES:

By Steve Miller

Pallottine Center and Team Rubicon Form Unlikely Alliance

Team Rubicon, a national veteran-led disaster-relief organization, dispatched one of its North Branch teams to St. Louis on Aug. 1, and the group’s home base was at Pallottine Renewal Center. For 16 days, the team’s Operations Center coordinated St. Louis metro area recovery efforts from the St. Vincent’s Conference Room at the retreat center’s campus. The team included 24 people from 11 states including Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, California, New Jersey, Florida and Massachusetts.

“Our recon team heard about this place from a local YMCA so we reached out to see if we could make it work,” said Carol McCoy, Team Rubicon incident management staff. “And it was amazing. Once we saw the place and the accommodations available to us, honestly our only concern was spoiling the team for the next op. This is the Taj Mahal compared to where our teams typically stay.”

St. Louis area residents in communities such as Ellenwood, University City and Ferguson received help from Team Rubicon; during their time in St. Louis, Team Rubicon served more than 60 area homes and families. In flooding conditions like many in the region suffered, the main task is “mucking out” the damaged and saturated materials from the residence.

“St. Louis proper has done an incredible job in helping us get stuff done,” said Carl Adams, Incident Commander from Indiana. “They’ve provided dumpsters and heavy equipment to haul off materials, and that makes the job go faster. That, in turn, allows us to help more people and that’s why we’re here. It’s all about hope. People just don’t know what to do next.”

According to Pallottine Executive Director Marillyn Webb, this unique opportunity to house Team Rubicon’s veteran-led teams is exactly what PRC wants to be for the military community in North St. Louis County.

“One of our goals is to be a veterans’ hub in North County,” said Webb. “The experience we had hosting Team Rubicon is a perfect example of how we want to be available to serve our veterans as well as the community. It was a win-win-win all around.”

A major side benefit to the recovery work TR did while it was dispatched to St. Louis was the relationship built with the PRC team. In addition to working side by side and essentially co-habitating for the better part of three weeks, there was an unmistakable bond build between not just the organizations but the people involved.

Due to that close connection, some members of Team Rubicon known as ‘Sawyers’ – basically hard charging chainsaw experts – volunteered to remove some dead trees on the Pallottine campus. This work saved the center thousands of dollars. In addition, TR team members will be returning to Pallottine later this year to provide the necessary labor to complete PRC’s low-ropes course.

“It cannot be overstated how blown away we have been by Team Rubicon, its people, their hearts for service and how they have blessed us here at Pallottine,” said Webb. “Their willingness to return and give their time to help us finish the low-ropes course is a Godsend. That service is helping us reach our vision of providing this challenge course for North County.”

Team Rubicon, started in 2010 after the 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, recognizes veterans’ unique combination of training, spirit and experience to serve communities large and small across the globe before, during and after natural disasters. That heart to serve dovetails perfectly with the Pallottine Retreat & Conference Center’s mission to be a place of hope and renewal.

Pallottine Retreat and Conference Center, set on 83 picturesque acres in North St. Louis County, offers guests a wide variety of meeting spaces, overnight accommodations, a heated pool, a gymnasium, low ropes course and two private retreat houses. The center is a Catholic-owned non-profit organization, but it is ecumenical in nature. All are welcome at Pallottine.

Submitted photo

Team Rubicon, a national veteran-led disaster-relief organization, dispatched one of its North Branch teams to St. Louis on Aug. 1, and the group’s home base was at Pallottine Renewal Center.

Steve Miller is the Assistant Director at Pallottine Retreat and Conference Center.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.