"Spirit and Energy" of Caring Communities Celebrated

Dr. Kelvin Adams, keynote speaker for the 36th Commemorative Caring Communities Celebration, said it had been many years since the State of Missouri dared to launch the bold and compassionate experiment known as Caring Communities.  "It wasn't just a program -  it was a movement," Dr. Adams said. 

 

"Connecting and Remembering Caring Communities" was the distinguished theme of the celebration held recently at the Better Family Life Center, 5415 Page Blvd.  Alderlady Shameem Clark-Hubbard, D-10th Ward, served as the exuberant Mistress of Ceremony; Cheryl D.S. Walker, Esq., Gentlemen of Vision Rites of Passage and Ngoma In Motion (NIM) highlighted the evening’s entertainment.  

 

In addition to celebrating the 36th Caring Communities Anniversary, three legacy projects were launched that evening:

• Archival repository (https://collections.shsmo.org/manuscripts/saint-louis/s0731) with historical data, state records, clippings, best practices, videos, photos, electronic files and national reports placed in the State Historic Society of Missouri;

• Digital videography with select CCP state partners, former staff, and community members interviewed; and

• CCP website (https://stlouiscaringcommunities.com) and a Facebook page to connect former students, parents, constituents and supporters to reflect on their involvement and share milestones.  

 

Originally the CCP celebration was scheduled for May 16th, but that was the same day as the destructive tornado which tore across Saint Louis. Dr. Adams described that day as “heart wrenching” but said that three days after the storm, the St. Louis Community Foundation, of which he is President and CEO, worked with the City of St. Louis to raise over five million dollars to support the city’s neighborhoods impacted. ​He reflected on the overwhelming response by agencies who distributed water, food, cleaning supplies and neighbors helping each other board up windows or remove debris.   

 

Dr. Adams said the core spirit of Caring Communities was demonstrated citywide. "We saw, in the ashes of tragedy, the very spirit of Caring Communities. And if we needed any reminder - it is this: that spirit is needed now more than ever."

 

Walbridge Caring Communities was founded in 1989 as a highly acclaimed school-based, public-private partnership initially located at Walbridge Elementary School in the city’s Walnut Park neighborhood. Khatib Waheed was co-architect and director of Walbridge Caring Communities Program. The pilot program was initially funded by Danforth Foundation, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Department of Health, Missouri Departments of Elementary & Secondary Education, and the Missouri Department of Social Services. A performance evaluation at Walbridge led to rapid programmatic expansion.  

 

Dr. Adams summarized the overall impact of Caring Communities. At its peak, Walbridge Caring Communities expanded from one to twenty program sites to provide school-based intervention and prevention services for students and their families. The State of Missouri introduced this an innovative way of helping students and families in undeserved communities.

 

​Adams asked pointedly, if the St. Louis Caring Communities was so successful then why did it end?  "I call it the politics of change. Too often, the politics of change does not build up what good - it tears it down. Great and meaningful programs, programs that touch lives and strengthen communities, can be lost, not because they fail but instead fall victim to shifting priorities, new leadership, or political agendas." 

  

​​Needs of students and families in under-represented communities grew in the early 2000s, but state-level support decreased. ​Instead of speaking about Caring Communities in the past, Dr. Adams said it should be viewed in a future-ready framework. “We should turn memory into movement. Turn legacy into leadership. Turn pain into possibility and build with the urgency that our children deserve. Connecting, Remembering and REVIVING Caring Communities.”

 

Dr. Adams served as the Superintendent for the Saint Louis Public School District for 14 years providing oversights for approximately 19,000 students and 3,500 employees. He retired in 2022 as the third longest serving superintendent of the St. Louis school district.

 

Wendel Kimbrough, the retiring CEO at ARCHS, received an award from William “Bill” Dent, CEO at Family and Community Trust for his outstanding leadership at ARCHS.  Khatib Waheed, Elam King III and Veronica Banks received awards from ARCHS for their work and contribution to Caring Communities. ​Support for the celebration was provided by the Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS), Family and Community Trust (FACT), Better Family Life (BFL), Missouri Health Board (MHB), Racial Equity Learning Exchange (RELE), and St. Louis ARC.