By Michelle Kim, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 St. Louis Fellow
Workforce Development Manager, Maurice Goree, leading a job skills training.
At Mission: St. Louis, Beyond Jobs is more than just a workforce program – it is a journey designed to equip individuals with the tools, confidence, and continuous support needed to build a sustainable future. The program connects participants to full-time employment through job training, coaching, and community support, with cohorts starting every three weeks.
Led by Maurice Goree, Workforce Development Manager, and Tiffany Whitted, Beyond Jobs Coordinator, the program serves approximately 100 participants each year, offering a full year of wraparound support. Many of those served are individuals who have faced significant barriers to employment. What sets Beyond Jobs apart is its unique yearlong support model – a holistic approach that walks with participants from initial intake to job placement and beyond. Program participants receive hands-on assistance with resume building, interview preparation and access to essentials such as bus cards and cell phones.
“The goal is not just job placement,” Whitted said. “It’s about helping people get to a better place than when they came in.”
“We don’t just match participants into a job and walk away. We stay connected – checking in, helping solve problems, and making sure they have the tools to succeed long-term. That kind of consistent support makes all of the difference,” Goree explained of Beyond Jobs.
Workforce Development Manager, Maurice Goree, helping a program participant during a training.
Beyond Jobs partners with a wide range of employers, including BJC, Mercy, Schnucks, GardaWorld, Panda Express, and continues to seek new partnerships with employers who are flexible, understanding, and committed to second chances. Roughly 30% of participants in a typical cohort find employment directly after completing the program, but for many, success also includes progress in stability, mindset, and long-term planning. In 2024 alone, Beyond Jobs had 141 participants, 60 jobs or trainings attained, and an average hourly wage of $16.35. For participants who are not able to secure a position immediately following the program, continued support in the form of curated job listings and training opportunities are provided.
The program currently partners with Prosperity Connection for financial literary services, and are working towards offering more in-house skilled training opportunities that lead to industry recognized certification. These enhancements reflect Beyond Jobs’ ongoing evolution and commitment to meeting participant needs in the best way possible. The program’s more recent partnership is STEM focused, hosting the Missouri Biotechnology Essentials Skills Training (MO-BEST) program in conjunction with BioSTL. Launching on September 2 of this year, the MO-BEST program is a hands-on training that will equip participants with foundational lab skills, introducing them to career paths in the biosciences. This continued growth and impact are made possible in part through funding from ) funds distributed by the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration (CDA).
“The CDA is very proud to support Beyond Jobs,” says Nahuel Fefer, Executive Director of the CDA. “The program brings together compassion, accountability, and strategic support, helping residents build the lives they deserve. Investing in people creates stronger communities, and Beyond Jobs is doing that work every day.”
Beyond Jobs is more than a stepping stone – it is a foundation for lasting change. By combining practical workforce development with compassionate, long term support, the program helps participants not only find employment, but rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
About the Community Development Administration (CDA): The CDA serves as the City of St. Louis’ hub for federal, state, and local funds, implementing the Mayor’s economic justice agenda. By funding public and nonprofit entities, the CDA supports a wide range of initiatives, including public services, affordable housing development, blight eradication, and other community development activities.