In the wake of the recent tornado that displaced families across the region, already fragile safety nets are under even greater strain. Schools have closed, resources are stretched thin, and students navigating housing insecurity face mounting challenges.

Moments like this underscore the importance of investing in local leadership and community-driven solutions. Since its inception, The Opportunity Trust’s Reinvention by Community (RBC) has directed nearly $300,000 to people and organizations addressing pressing needs in St. Louis communities, in and out of schools. Now in its fifth grant cycle, The RBC initiative has awarded $27,000 in microgrants to six grassroots organizations supporting unhoused youth, at a time when their work is more critical than ever. Selected by a community-led committee of educators, parents, and a student, these grantees are leading targeted, actionable efforts to meet one of the city’s most urgent needs.

Meet the 2025 RBC Grantees

Six organizations were awarded grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, based on the scale, sustainability, and potential impact of their proposals.

Covenant House Missouri 
With their $10,000 Reinvention by Community grant, Covenant House Missouri (CHMO) will expand its education-focused services, which include HiSET prep, college advising, school enrollment support, and workforce readiness training. These offerings are critical in a community where 75% of youth arrive at CHMO not enrolled in school, and where the long-term cost of dropping out can total more than $130,000 in lost lifetime income. This grant will also support CHMO’s new Center for Economic Advancement, a hub that connects youth to post-secondary pathways and industry credentials—key stepping stones to economic mobility.

IFM Community Medicine 
IFM Community Medicine will use its RBC grant to support no-cost primary care services for unhoused and housing-insecure youth across multiple clinic sites in St. Louis, including Covenant House, Almost Home, Roosevelt High School, and Nahed Chapman New American Academy. The funding will help provide youth with accessible health care, ranging from physicals and chronic illness management to mental health referrals and medication access, directly within schools, shelters, and community centers. It will also allow IFM to connect young patients with community health workers who help address broader needs like housing, food, and transportation, supporting long-term stability and well-being.

 

Lafayette Preparatory Academy 
Lafayette Preparatory Academy (LPA) will use its RBC grant to grow its Family Support Program, which provides direct assistance to families experiencing financial, medical, or personal hardship. The funding will help cover essentials like food cards, utility support, uniforms, and extracurricular scholarships, ensuring that no student is held back by unmet basic needs. By reducing non-academic barriers, LPA aims to create a more stable home environment where students can fully engage in school and thrive within their community.

KIPP St. Louis Public Schools 
KIPP St. Louis will use its RBC grant to launch a targeted support program through its Wellness Center for families experiencing homelessness. The award will fund direct assistance for housing stability, including rental support, utility payments, emergency supplies, and transportation. These wraparound services will be paired with individualized case management to help families remain housed and keep students engaged in school. The program aims to stabilize at least 15 families, increase student attendance, and deepen KIPP’s network of community partnerships to sustain long-term family wellness.

 

Behavioral Health Response 
Behavioral Health Response (BHR) will use its RBC grant to strengthen its mobile crisis response and outreach services that support unhoused youth in St. Louis. Through programs like the Community-Centered Crisis Response Team (C3RT) and CARE Team, BHR meets youth and families where they are—whether at schools, in the community, or through 911 referrals—and connects them with mental health care, wraparound services, and housing support. The funds will help expand mobile unit hours, provide crisis de-escalation and stabilization, and ensure youth receive consistent follow-up care. This grant allows BHR to deliver immediate, trauma-informed assistance while laying the groundwork for long-term stability and well-being.

 

Gateway Science Academy 
Gateway Science Academy (GSA) will use its RBC grant to expand vital services that support students experiencing homelessness across its four campuses. Building on existing efforts like an in-school food pantry and laundry access, GSA will launch a backpack program to send food and essential supplies home with students each week, increase access to clean clothing through additional washers, and provide transportation support for unhoused families, covering gas, maintenance, and rideshare costs. The grant will also fund a stipend for a staff coordinator to oversee these initiatives, ensuring that students’ basic needs are met so they can focus on learning, attendance, and belonging.

Trusting the People Closest to the Problem

Since its launch, Reinvention by Community has remained committed to investing in community leaders and organizations providing real solutions for students and families in St. Louis. Every dollar invested is driven by the voices of those closest to the challenge—parents, educators, and students themselves.

This year’s grant cycle underscores what’s possible when community members are empowered to lead. The community-led RBC committee chose organizations based on the clarity and feasibility of their proposals, their track record of serving youth, and how closely their solutions reflected the needs of the communities they aim to support. In the wake of the May 2025 tornado, which deepened housing instability for many of St. Louis’s youngest residents, the need for responsive, community-driven solutions has never been more urgent.

As the city rebuilds, these organizations are not just addressing the crisis; they’re reshaping systems. The work stretches far beyond temporary shelter. It touches classrooms, cafeterias, churches, and community centers, demonstrating that real reinvention happens when we center the voices of those most affected.

With donor support, we’re enabling these leaders to drive change on the ground. Follow us on LinkedIn for updates on the RBC awardees and the progress they’re making across St. Louis.