A healing home

BY WENDY TODD

The Core Collective at St. Vincent, formerly known as Saint Vincent Home for Children, will continue to provide a safe space for young people in need

created to meet the evolving needs of the St. Louis community.

“We decided that our new vision must honor the unique qualities of our founding years in that it must be holistic, service-enriched, intergenerational and transformational, so that our collective impact influences multiple generations.

“We’ve all experienced some form of trauma that has pushed us to our breaking point. Transforming into a healing hub will create a safe place that offers security and instills the concept of community healing.” access to the nonprofit’s chapel, pottery room, music studio, chef’s kitchen, gymnasium and a green space which includes a soccer and football field and walking track.

While changes are still occurring, some expanded services include increasing the age of service for its transitional living and street outreach programs to 26.

There is also a drop-in service that lets youth utilize laundry facilities, a “teaching kitchen”, game room, gym and other amenities. Youth who attend drop-in also receive a hot meal.

Core Collective at Saint Vincent’s updated mission strives to provide more than a bed and a meal. It endeavors to address the whole person in the hopes to assist youth and families in their journey to achieve personal wellness and socioeconomic stability.

With a new year often comes declarations of new beginnings. This rings true for The Core Collective at St. Vincent, formerly known as Saint Vincent Home for Children, an organization in Normandy that has been assisting youth and providing a host of mental health, housing and transitional services since 1850.

The nonprofit, which serves over 500 people per year, has undergone a rebranding and has expanded services to accommodate more youth and community members by improving healthcare for families, advancing socioeconomic equity and activating conscious leaders. The name, Core Collective, represents collaboration with the community. The new vision for the organization is focused on fostering healing and well-being, including helping community members secure housing.

Latosha Fowlkes, CEO of the organization stated that the refreshed mission was

“Previously, our cutoff was age 19,” Fowlkes said. “We will no longer place a hardship on our youth to be independent by the time they are 19. This expansion addresses the need for accessible housing for youth who are aging out of the foster care system and need additional services and opportunities to reach their full potential.”

The nonprofit will also utilize its land to build more affordable and intergenerational and mixed income housing including youth, their families and additional members of the community. Also, community partnerships will assist in transforming the nonprofit’s 100,00 square foot space into a holistic “healing hub.”

In implementing a holistic approach to well-being and healing, there will also be community

“We aspire to adapt and progress alongside our community,” Fowlkes said, “to meet their evolving needs.”