It started with a desire to do more. It has grown into a model of teamwork. And it has real results.
Each year, Regions’ Annual Community Leadership Collaboration Forum brings in nonprofits and community leaders from Greater St. Louis to focus on one goal: to create cooperation that benefits everyone. This year, a $25,000 grant was offered to encourage and support these partnerships.
“Let’s break down those silos,” said Mike Hart, Regions’ Market Executive in St. Louis. “Let’s work together for the same big-picture goal.”
For Shawntelle Fisher of SoulFisher Ministries, the forum provides a chance to talk about second-chance employment, sharing her vision to potential employers and organizations like Regions looking for ways to help.
“We can’t do what we do without funding,” Fisher said. “Without funding we can’t have the quality programs, events or collaboration that make true collaboration possible.”
True collaboration was made possible when SoulFisher was awarded the $25,000 grant to support its Second Chance Program in partnership with the University of Missouri-St. Louis. SoulFisher provides the expertise in preparing participants to reenter the workforce, and UMSL brings its expertise in hiring and its network of employers.
“She sets people up to be successful when they come to us,” said James Hertel, Human Resources Executive Director at UMSL. “And, then, we’re in a position where we can do the additional support required to get those folks in the door and be successful with us.”
That’s just one example of how bringing community leaders together can affect an entire region.
It’s not a Regions event. It’s a community event powered by Regions.
Mike Hart, Regions’ Market Executive in St. Louis
“If you think about Regions’ priorities, the way we really achieve maximum impact is to have people who walk alongside us,” Hart said. “We talk about priorities, we talk about why we align priorities the way we do, and we look for opportunities where constituencies can work together.
“It’s not a Regions event. It’s a community event powered by Regions.”