What did the Elk volunteers do?
We continued to host career fairs in November and December to introduce students to careers in social services and in automotive fields. We hosted a field trip in to a hands on career day in October and a second field trip in December to Davlan Engineering and Shillington Box. Both of thesse fields trips allowed the students see the trades that had been highlighted in career in actual working situations. The Elk volunteers helped organize the career fairs and the field trips.
What were the project’s goals? Did the project accomplish these goals? Why or why not?
The three goals of this grant were 1. introducing trades to students, 2. having the students experience these trades through field trips, and 3. mentoring the students as they transition from high school to the work force.We were able to actually get students to experience what it would be like to work is the construction or engineering/manufacturing trades. The students were very engaged in these field trips and this engagement by the students had not been experienced previously. This is the second part of the goals of the grant and now the Lodge hopes to continue building on this momentum to have more field trips and to develop the final aspect of the grant mentoring these students as they transition from high school to the work force. This has taken a entire year as we gained the confidence of the students that we were serious about helping them. As students from the inner city, the students have a reluctance to trust people will actually continue with their promises and we have finally turned that corner.
What part of the project has the lodge been most proud of this year?
The part of the project that has been most rewarding is gaining the confidence of the school and the students that St. Louis #9 Elks were interested in them and wanted them to succeed. This was the biggest obsticle to being successful. The number of organizations who have participated in the career fairs was also rewarding. Please see the uploaded letter of appreciation from Lift for Life Academy and their reaction to the program.
Tell us an anecdote about the project this quarter. This could be a story about someone who was helped, a story about a volunteer, or another story of impact.
To support our success, we would relate two stories. During the field trip to the construction trades event, one student really felt he had an interest in the construction laborors union and has already applied and been accepted into a training program to start after graduation. He proudly wears the shirt provided by the Elks promoting the construction trades to school to tell everyone he has found his passion.The second story happened as the result of the field trip in December to Shillington Box. Two students after touring the the facility on the field trip immediately asked for applications to apply for jobs after graduation.
These events show the grant is having an impact on the students at Lift for Life Academy.
How much in funds will the Lodge have leftover as of December 31?
$8843.53 is remaining at the end of December 2022. The application for extension has been prepared and submitted to Meaghan Morris.
Q3 Report submitted by Jane Schnettler on Sep 29, 2022 1:10 PM.
St. Louis Elks Lodge #9 and Lift for Life Academy held it’s second Impact Grant partnership with it’s Career Day focusing on promising careers in the Construction skilled Trades. Members from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1, St. Louis Painting & Decorating Foundation, and St. Louis Carpenters Apprenticeship Program spoke with more than 50 high school students. Approximately 30 of these students will now visit two construction sites to learn more about the construction industry.
