Below is a short synopsis of the many new exciting updates on our work, from a presentation introducing the new Transformative Services Department to the latest on Pagedale Town Center Homes.
A New Leap Forward for Change: Beyond Housing’s Transformative Services Department
On the morning of October 8 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Beyond Housing CEO Chris Krehmeyer and Chief Transformation Officer Jaclyn Belt were joined by Connie Taylor, Director of Community Engagement and Impact for Ameren for a presentation on an exciting evolution of Beyond Housing’s holistic model: the new Transformative Services Department (TSD).
The new department is designed to remove the barriers imposed by systemic poverty to help low-income St. Louisans achieve economic mobility more effectively—strengthening under-resourced communities and also the greater St. Louis region.
Introducing Senior Director of Philanthropy Dana Pownall
Dana Pownall was midway through law school when she recognized what kind of career she wanted to have—and it wasn’t in the legal profession. “I realized bringing people together and inspiring enthusiasm in them for a shared cause was more enjoyable to me,” she said. “By the time I graduated, I knew I was going to go into fundraising.”
As the head of philanthropy at Beyond Housing, Pownall is in her element. Her fundraising addresses a shared cause she and many St. Louisans are passionate about: a comprehensive approach to community development.
Second Cohort Completes Biz Smart Start Program
From May to July, the eight founders in the second cohort of Beyond Housing’s Biz Smart Start program spent 12 weeks learning the fundamentals of everything from marketing to financial management. They also received one-on-one mentorship from volunteers like Cortez Springer, a business strategist and owner of a digital marketing agency for minority-owned businesses.
“In this community, the push to entrepreneurship is often out of necessity,” explained Springer, who himself grew up in Wellston. “Making money is the priority. Founders may not understand all that entrepreneurship entails—and if your business is in fulfillment mode all the time, there’s no time to think about becoming more organized.”
Beyond Housing established the Biz Smart Start program in 2023 after a thorough exploration of what information would be most beneficial to newly established companies in the 24:1 Community, in keeping with its mission of providing comprehensive community development services.
Pagedale Town Center Homes Update
Construction on the $12 mililon Pagedale Town Center Homes project that broke ground last November is on target to be completed in early 2025. As of the end of September, 12 of the 36 homes were occupied.
“We are about 65% complete on the construction side and leasing the homes up just as quickly as they are finished,” said Beyond Housing Chief Operating Officer Deb Dombar. She expects general contractor Roanoke Construction to complete three or four homes each month through March 2025. Beyond Housing will continue to own and manage the homes once the project is complete.
Ten of the three- and four-bedroom homes are adjacent to each other on the site of the former Lincoln School along Robbins Avenue. The other 26 are distributed throughout the heart of Pagedale.
National-Level Attention for Our Comprehensive Model
On Sept. 25, Beyond Housing President and CEO Chris Krehmeyer was invited by the FDIC to present at its event “Expanding Access to Homeownership Resources to the Underserved in Missouri.” Topics included recent homeownership funding and resources, down payment assistance, homeowner education programs, legal services, and housing counseling—all of which are directly in line with Beyond Housing’s comprehensive approach.
The FDIC speaking engagement is one of many Krehmeyer has been offered this year at a national level. He has also been invited to present on “Economic Systems as a Structural Driver of Population Health” at a workshop in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Academy of Sciences; at a Baltimore Metropolitan Council lunch event during their visit to St. Louis; at the First Place: Global Leadership Institute in Phoenix; and at the Minority Depository Institution Symposium with the National Credit Union Administration in Washington, D.C. He gave the keynote address at a May symposium hosted by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance for an Affordable Nashville that was highlighted in this guest column for The Tennessean.
“Thanks to our collective unwavering commitment to our mission, we continued to get noticed by many across the country,” he said. “We are doing great work and continuing the push to garner the resources and partnerships we need to really prove out our model.”
KPMG U.S. Foundation Board Visits 24:1 Community with Focus on Education
The collaboration between Beyond Housing and the KPMG U.S. Foundation is a testament to the power of creating meaningful connections that blossom into something much larger. It all began with Dan Lawrence, a director based in KPMG St. Louis, who noticed how much Beyond Housing’s comprehensive approach to community development aligned with the KPMG U.S. Foundation’s focus on community vitality.
In August 2023, the Foundation made a three-year, $300,000 grant to Beyond Housing’s college and career readiness program, Viking Advantage, allowing it to expand its services in North St. Louis County. Earlier this year, KPMG employees had the opportunity to attend the Viking Advantage graduation celebration, which included more than 50 students who are going on to four-year colleges, community colleges, technical schools, or the military thanks to the program.
This August, Beyond Housing welcomed members of the KPMG U.S. Foundation Board to St. Louis so they could see both the needs of the community and the positive change Beyond Housing is driving firsthand.
The Three Leaders Behind the Successful Relaunch of Young Friends of Beyond Housing
There are countless opportunities for young professionals to meet like-minded people and have fun in service to a good cause. The Young Friends of Beyond Housing offers more. The newly relaunched group gives members an opportunity to better understand how a holistic approach to community development works and connects them directly with the local residents whose day-to-day lives are impacted by their work.
The three Young Friends leaders—Co-Chairs Arienne Groves and Nico Krehmeyer along with Event Liaison Burgandy Bosner—all have many volunteer experiences on their impressive resumes. They also understand their peers’ desire to give back in meaningful ways, the sense of powerlessness they sometimes feel as individuals, and how motivating it is for them to experience a combination of social fun and mission-driven learning.
Carter Commons’ Two Newest Restaurateurs Exemplify the Power of Perseverance
There was a celebratory atmosphere at the grand opening of A’Deans Kitchen and Vails Brothers Burgers, Shakes, and Fries when they launched their new eateries at Carter Commons in early August. The longtime restaurateurs behind the businesses—Kenneth Gregory II and Eric and Karen Vails, respectively—are industry veterans who have built a solid following despite some setbacks, and their fans came out to wish them well on their expansions.
They join two other establishments in the food hall, Adina’s Vegan Cuisine and The Drink House STL, in offering a variety of menu items and collaborating to create a welcoming environment at 6746 Page Ave. Here’s how each of the businesses evolved to reach their current success.