A System of Youth Employment Programs

STL Youth Jobs serves as a system of employment programs for youth. We partner with local organizations that are skilled in workforce development and youth employment. Our program providers execute the STL Youth Jobs service model by implementing trainings and serving as the employer of record for our job seekers, hiring and training of Job Coaches who serve as mentors, and providing additional support resources. Learn more about the program provider leadership listed below. Current Program Providers include Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries, & the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP). Learn more about the program models exemplified in our Pathways.

Cynthia Wilson is employed with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. and has been for thirty-two (32) years holding the following positions: Secretary for Community Programs, Administrative Assistant for Community Organization and Special Events, Housing Counselor, Director of Housing, Division Operating Officer for the St. Louis County Division, Retention Specialist for Workforce Investment Act {WIA}, Project Manager for Jobs for Missouri Graduates (JAG) and is currently the Division Operating Officer for Workforce Development with oversight of the Save Our Sons Program, the Women Business Center, Entrepreneurship Center, Transition for Change, and STL Youth Jobs.

Urban League is our partner for Summer Work Experience (SWE) and Discover You programs.

First Job: Captain D’s
Valuable Takeaways: I learned that I did not want to stay in the fast food industry.

St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) powers the Career Accelerator Pathway (CAP).

Until SLIP decided to merge with Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) in September 2020, Shanise served as the Executive Director of SLIP and had directed SLIP’s programming for 18 years. She continues to spearhead implementing the SLIP model, along with driving a comprehensive workforce pathways program, for the entirety of BGCSTL. When Shanise is not engaging with the students of BGCSTL and SLIP, she is providing educational support, career counseling, and/or event coordination to a number of organizations.

First Job: Intern at Moser & Marsalek, PC through SLIP
Valuable Takeaway: Accountability with self-management is essential to one's career and personal development. Another key takeaway was ensuring that I was able to communicate my existing skillset as well as demonstrate my commitment to continuous learning.

Fathers and Families Support Center powers Summer Work Experience (SWE).

Leo Vinson is the Director of Fathers & Families Support Center’s (FFSC) Youth Leadership and Development Program (YLDP). In this role, he facilitates his staff to educate, empower and provide opportunities and resources to youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. Through group and one-on-one mentoring, the program fosters long-term relationships between mentors and mentees, with the aim of helping participants stay in school, increase academic achievement and motivation, while improving decision-making skills and increasing sense of self-worth.

First job: Chemistry tutor at Stanford University
Valuable takeaway: Know your worth and understand that your career path is not linear; it is always evolving.

Financial Partners

We proudly partner with the following financial institutions that assist with facilitating financial literacy training to our youth participants. Each participant receives training on smart spending habits, building credit, savings, and investing in their future. Participants are also given access to youth-friendly checking and savings accounts and direct deposit. With each paycheck, young people are equipped with tools to handle the responsibility of earning their own money.