Right now in the United States, a child’s socioeconomic status is a better indicator of college graduation than academic ability [2].
People in zip codes separated by only miles have an 18 year difference in life expectancy [3]. Not to mention differences in access to resources like healthy foods, safe spaces + convenient access to medical care.
Poverty impacts youth all over our city, about 40% of children in St. Louis are born into poverty [1]. Before a child can even speak poverty begins to shape their lives. As they grow it continues to create barriers to education throughout childhood + into young adult life. Without a high school diploma, hope for a brighter future continues to diminish.
With more opportunity for a quality education, graduation rates in our city rise + more people have access to a higher quality of life. Students who do not read well by the 3rd grade have 4x higher risk of not earning a high school diploma [3].
With more opportunity for employment, families stabilize + people live with purpose. High school dropouts face a lifetime earning loss of $260,000 [5].
Having greater income to access broader food choices + medical care helps people live more active + complete lives. Individuals below the poverty line are 3x more likely to die early than people who are well above the poverty line [3].
Employment and education leads to less crime + fewer incarcerations. Our city as a whole becomes safer. More than two-thirds of state prison inmates are high school dropouts [6].
When people are educated + employed, businesses have more solid workforces + families have more disposable income. It costs taxpayers an estimated $22,187 per year to house an incarcerated person in Missouri [7].
WHEN FAMILIES HAVE RESOURCES, KIDS GROW UP WITH HOPE + DREAMS FOR THEIR FUTURES. DEATHS DUE TO LIMITED ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AFFECT US ALL. IN ST. LOUIS, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THIS LOSS OF LIFE IN ONE YEAR IS $4.0 BILLION [4].
When we walk alongside people in our city, the return on investment is life change. That investment can transform an entire city
We empower individuals for social and economic growth through relationship and opportunity. With relationship in hand, we have made a strategic set of programs available to the people we serve. These programs work together to address critical stages in the cycle of poverty, like high school graduation + recidivism. We walk alongside people as they work their way through our programs, empowering entire families to break the cycle of poverty.
Our education, crime reduction, workforce development and housing programs work in tandem to fight poverty across a lifetime.
participants were connected to at least one resource in 2023. These resources lead them towards a successful path.
students in 3 city schools through Beyond School have increased their reading, math and social emotional skills.
given in financial assistance to make St. Louis residents’ homes safer and more code compliant through Healthy Home Repair and Minor Home Repair in 2023.
in savings to Missouri taxpayers
through lower recidivism
because of Beyond Jobs.
Understanding the cycle of poverty and the barriers it creates is one step. We have put together a short resource guide to continue the conversation and facilitate further learning. We invite you to read the resources collected here and reflect.
View the resource guide here.
Watch Katie Bench and Danielle Nygaard explain the history of poverty in St. Louis and how it has created lasting effects on our friends, families and neighbors. >>>
2] The American Psychological Association
3] 3rd Grade Reading Success Matters
4] For the Sake of All
5] Choices
OUR CITY TRANSFORMS
