Hello Joe’s Place Community,
As I step into the role of board president, I want to thank Facundo Oyenard for serving as board president over the past year. Facundo’s passion for serving the MRH community, spreading the word about Joe’s Place across the community, and strengthening the Joe’s Place alum program has helped move the organization forward during a very challenging period.
When I joined the board in November of 2019, I couldn’t imagine the challenges and changes we would experience individually and as an organization. As we step into 2023 and reflect on the past year for Joe’s Place, it has been a year of renewed focus, rebuilding, and renewed engagement.
Renewed focus: In the summer and fall of 2022, the board met in person to review and update the strategic plan for Joe’s Place. For many board members, this was the first time to connect and meet the full board in person. We explored our personal “Why’s” for serving on the board and, more specifically, the “Why” for Joe’s Place in the MRH community.
The spirit of the prior strategic plan was maintained but updated to reflect the community’s current needs better. Our new mission statement, which informs and directs the rest of the strategic plan, has been updated to the following:
Mission: Joe’s Place offers unhoused students in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District a caring home environment that supports them for high school graduation, self-sufficiency, and positive transitions into their adult lives.
Rebuilding: Our rebuilding began with the hiring of Angela and Brandon Marty to serve as house parents for the 2022-2023 school year. At the beginning of the school year, the house was home to the Marty’s and two students. We currently have three students in the house. The board is excited to continue the partnership with Angela and Brandon as we move into the 2023-2024 school year.
Physical rebuilding has occurred with several improvements to the house thanks to generous donations and from grants from supporting organizations.
- The refrigerator and dishwasher were replaced in the kitchen after the existing appliances stopped functioning.
- Landscaping in the front yard was updated with help and guidance from Karen Nickel of Private Gardens and plant donations from Lou at Garden Heights Nursery.
- An egress window was added to a room in the lower level of the house, adding a third student bedroom to the house. This increases the potential student capacity to five students.
- House parent Brandon has lent his technical skills to upgrade the internet connectivity and security for the house.
- Angela and Brandon have painted several areas of the house. This has highlighted the need to paint the interior of the home (more information in this newsletter!).
- Backyard drainage, grading and support wall improvements are in process as a result of flooding in late summer 2022 that caused significant damage to the lower level of the house.
The board itself has been rebuilding as we welcomed the following new members to the board in the past year:
Katy Benoit, Community Volunteer
Scott Boyle, Pharmacy Supervisor at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Rachel Goltzman, Office Manager, TROCO Custom Fabricators and School Board Member, MRH School District
Renewed engagement: Now that masks are more an exception than a norm, the board has been meeting in person instead of virtually. We also started meeting monthly instead of quarterly to keep momentum and focus on the organization’s initiatives.
Over the next few months, we are planning opportunities for the Joe’s Place community:
- Socially: Meet socially through a “Dine and Donate” opportunity on April 27 at Llewellyn’s Pub in Webster Groves and an Open House later this summer at the house.
- Volunteer: Volunteer in person with the house painting project,
- Support: Support the organization through an Amazon Wish List for the house or by hosting a community fundraiser.
There are many of our community members I have not had the opportunity to meet. I hope to meet many of you through our upcoming events and service opportunities. I’m also always available to meet for coffee or lunch – please reach out if you’d like to connect and discuss Joe’s Place.
Joe’s Place is a home for our students because of the caring community that supports its mission and understands the importance of Joe’s Place in strengthening our community. Your support makes this house a home. Thank you for your continued engagement and support.
Best regards,
Stacey Kelley
Board President