Wyman Center

02/10/2025

“Last year, we heard students say this was the place where I felt safe in school.”

Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is in over 30 states. And TOP teens - like those featured in this article from Roanoke, VA - are building communication skills; learning how to work as a team; and developing important connections and relationships with their peers.

Read this article to learn more about the incredible impact TOP is having on teens in this community, https://hubs.ly/Q035Hrb50

If this has you thinking about how you can support young people in YOUR community, here are a few ideas:
⭐ Make a gift to nonprofits in your area who are providing programs to teens. If you’re in Virginia, you can support Family Service of Roanoke Valley and have an immediate impact on teens in your area.
⭐Make a gift to Wyman. We offer three proven programs to teens in St. Louis, and two are replicated throughout the country. And we can’t do that work alone.
⭐Set aside time to connect with the young people in your life. Listen to them and provide them with support.
⭐If you work for a youth development organization, consider becoming a partner with Wyman to offer TOP or TCP to teens in your community.

TOP is based in group settings, designed to empower teens in our area.

02/09/2025

🏆Dreaming of getting away? Now's your chance with our Golden Ticket Travel Drawing! 🏆

Our Travel Drawing is offering an incredible opportunity to win one of four fabulous trips, including a trip to Kentucky's Bourbon Trail!

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail trip includes:
✨A getaway for two in Louisville, KY
✨3 days/2 nights at The Omni Louisville Hotel
✨A private 8-hour distillery tour in a chauffeured luxury sedan. The tour can be customized to YOU with the option to visit distilleries like Maker's Mark, Jim Beam, and Wild Turkey!
✨AND your hotel is walking distance to some amazing Louisville attractions, like the Louisville Slugger Museum and Mohammed Ali Center.

🔗Grab your tickets NOW at https://hubs.ly/Q0351VBT0! Tickets are $100 each or get 3 for $280!

🗒️The drawing will take place on April 5th during our Amplify Gala. Presence is not required to win. Restrictions apply; be sure to check out the contest rules on the webpage!

02/08/2025

Please join us in sending a big THANK YOU to our longtime community partner and 2025 Amplify Gala sponsor, Mutual of America Financial Group!

Mutual of America has been supporting Wyman’s mission and the young people we serve for over twenty years. They are also an incredible partner to Wyman staff, providing retirement resources, assistance, and advice. During our partnership with Mutual of America, they have consistently shown their dedication to supporting the present AND future workforces of our community.

We are so thankful to Mutual of America for their support of Wyman teens and our 2025 Amplify Gala!

At Wyman, our mission is to connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures and we work every day to make this a reality. We can’t do this work alone, and strong partners like Mutual of America, make our work possible.

02/07/2025

Are you ready to make a difference? 🌟 We're looking for a dynamic Events and Communications Associate!

If you...
✅Have a knack for storytelling
✅Love connecting with people
✅Enjoy coordinating impactful events
✅Have at least 1 year of fundraising or communications experience, and
✅Have a passion for Wyman's mission and commitment to working with young people
..This might be the job for you! Apply TODAY at https://hubs.ly/Q035PDQB0

02/06/2025

Looking for a new read? Check out the new blog series from our partners at Missouri State University! The 'Access and Success' blog series is published by the Office of Access and Success, which is responsible for scholarship partnerships and Bears Lead, a program dedicated to empowering first-generation and Pell-eligible students on their academic journey.

This inaugural blog highlights the amazing accomplishments of students this past fall - like 87 of their students earning a place on the Dean’s List!

You can check out their blog here https://hubs.ly/Q035G4ZC0

MSU Bears Lead

02/03/2025

February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and their role in our nation's history.

This year, the theme is "African Americans and Labor," which focuses on the various ways that work - free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary - intersects with the collective experience of Black people.

As the ASALH: Association for the Study of African American Life and History states, "Black people’s work has been transformational throughout the U.S., Africa, and the Diaspora. The 2025 Black History Month theme, 'African Americans and Labor,' sets out to highlight and celebrate the potent impact of this work."

We encourage you to join us this month in celebrating with purpose.
⭐ Visit https://hubs.ly/Q034Bn3J0 to learn more about Black History and this year's theme
⭐ Explore your area for events throughout February. If you live in the St. Louis area, consider these events hosted by the St. Louis County Library (https://hubs.ly/Q034Bz0y0) or "Black History Month: Joy, Arts, Community" at the Missouri History Museum February 20th (https://hubs.ly/Q034zZH_0)

02/01/2025

Please join us in sending a big THANK YOU to our longtime community partner and 2025 Amplify Gala sponsor, University of Missouri-St. Louis!

Our partnership provides critical resources for young people as they navigate their postsecondary journeys. Wyman Leaders teens who attend UMSL receive admissions support along with academic and financial assistance, helping them navigate the transition into college and focus on earning their degrees.

We are so thankful to UMSL for their support of Wyman teens and our 2025 Amplify Gala!

At Wyman, our mission is to connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures and we work every day to make this a reality. We can't do this work alone, and strong partners, like UMSL, make our work possible.

01/30/2025

Drea joined Wyman in 6th grade and has participated in both the Teen Outreach Program and Wyman Leaders. One thing she has really valued during her time with Wyman are the relationships she built with her coaches. “It’s a different type of family. With the coaches, I can call them whenever. If I need a recommendation or something, I know they’ll come through.”

The skills Drea learned through Wyman - communication, leadership, and resilience - helped her excel in college and beyond. This past May, she graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in corporate communication and is now pursuing a master’s in higher education while serving as a Hall Director.

In the spirit of ensuring our entire community - including young people like Drea - can thrive, we want to remind you to create your free will and legacy. Estate planning allows you to make financial and healthcare decisions, designate guardians, and support your loved ones long into the future.

And by including Wyman in your plans, you can build a legacy that connects teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures for years to come.

Make your will today at https://hubs.ly/Q031628F0

FreeWill

01/28/2025

You are invited to Wyman's 2025 Amplify Gala!

Join us April 5th for an evening of amplifying youth voice, connecting with our community, and honoring some of our amazing alumni and partners.

Cocktail hour begins at 6PM at 18Rails at the City Foundry STL. We hope to see you there!

Become a sponsor or purchase tickets at https://hubs.ly/Q032h6ZR0

🎟️P.S. Don't forget our Golden Ticket travel drawing is BACK! We're only selling 100 tickets for the chance to win 1 of 4 incredible trips. Make sure to grab yours today at the link above! 🎟️

01/23/2025

Today, we are celebrating our partnership with the United Way of Greater St. Louis! Our partnership dates back to 1922. That's over 100 years of collaboration and creating long-lasting change for generations of young people.

We are honored to be one of the 160+ organizations that they are supporting in 2025. The funding we receive is crucial to providing our programs to over 3,000 young people in the St. Louis area every year.

Thank you, United Way, for your continued partnership! We are excited to continue collaborating this year and beyond!

01/19/2025

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day for everyone to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and celebrate the incredible leader and advocate that he was during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s.

One of our TOP partners, Community Youth Concepts, is hosting a day of service and celebration at King Elementary School in Des Moines, IA.

Students who participate in the Teen Outreach Program - delivered by Community Youth Concepts, will lead service projects for their community. If you're in the Des Moines area and want to join, reach out to [email protected] or 515-243-4292. More information about this and other events in Des Moines can be found at https://hubs.ly/Q0322STl0

If you want to learn more about Dr. King, his legacy, and why it's important for us to carry on his work today visit https://hubs.ly/Q0322Z4v0

01/18/2025

"We know that we have a lot of financial expertise to bring to the table for students as they navigate the financial aid process. We don’t have some of the same youth development leadership building skills that are a hallmark of the programming that Wyman does. And so, I think, that recognition that each organization has strengths, the respect that we have for one another is one of the biggest wins."

At Wyman, our mission is to connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures and we work every day to make this a reality. We also know that we can't do this work alone and effective community partnerships are an important source of support for young people.

Our scholarship partnerships in particular play a critical role in postsecondary access, affordability, and overall experiences for Wyman Leaders teens. Recently, we researched our scholarship opportunities on a deeper level and found that the strength of our partnerships is an outcome of the work these organizations engage in AND a predictor of how youth experience the support provided. Strong partnerships are characterized by close relationships, consistent and open communication, and mutual respect for each organization's expertise. Financial support from a partnership like this is most effective in supporting youth in their postsecondary journey.

Read our full blog at https://hubs.ly/Q032kkHp0

01/16/2025

💕As we kick off 2025, start with a simple act of care: creating your will. Our partnership with FreeWill helps you protect your family, finances, and the organizations - like Wyman - that you care about. Start the new year off with peace of mind using this free resource to get started: https://hubs.ly/Q0315Fmz0

01/15/2025

Please join us in congratulating Nicki Thomson for celebrating 10 years with Wyman this week!

Nicki joined Wyman in 2015 as our Research Analyst on the Research and Learning team and currently serves as the Senior Director for Research and Learning.

Over the last 10 years, Nicki has been an integral part in expanding and improving our research processes, measuring and sharing our outcomes, and using our results for quality improvement. She has performed research into each of Wyman's programs and the impacts that they have, presented her findings at numerous conferences, and published multiple studies and blogposts about Wyman's work.

Her dedication to Wyman and the young people we serve shows up in her work every day and she shares that her is "because of Wyman’s culture of learning; because of working with colleagues who are talented and passionate about empowering teens; and because of the opportunity to work toward a mission I believe in."

Congratulations Nicki on an amazing 10 years!

01/14/2025

Are you ready to turn your travel dreams into reality? Here’s your chance!

Our Golden Ticket Travel Drawing is BACK and offers an incredible opportunity to win one of four fabulous trips WHILE supporting Wyman!

🎟️ Ticket Sales: We’re only selling 100 tickets, so act fast! Grab yours for just $100 each or take advantage of our best deal - get 3 tickets for only $280!
📅 Important Date: The drawing will take place on April 5th during our Amplify Gala. Don't worry if you're not able to join us in person; you can still win big!
🌏 Choose Your Adventure: The lucky winner will select one of four trips and has up to 18 months to use their prize.

Learn more about each trip and get your tickets TODAY at https://hubs.ly/Q032g00V0

01/13/2025

Our mission at Wyman is to connect teens to their voices, their strengths, and their futures. One way we do this is by creating impactful opportunities and experiences for teens.

We connected with Wyman Leaders alum and new Wyman Board member Jalen Mathis this fall and he spoke about how impactful some of his experiences at Wyman were.

"We stayed at SEMO to experience that college life. As a high schooler, I'm sitting here in college dorms realizing and being able to step into this future reality and seeing it at a younger age which allowed me to become more comfortable with that transition. Having built those relationships with my peers and being in this new environment together is kind of what helped me be able to tackle life's biggest jumps."

If you're looking for more inspiration, visit our YouTube channel https://hubs.ly/Q032fHWJ0 to hear more from Jalen and other alumni.

01/12/2025

Please join us in congratulating Wyman alum Chris 'Skywalker' Dailey II on his appointment to the City of St. Louis Board of Health!

Chris is proud to be a servant, scholar, and leader in our community. In addition to his recent appointment to the Board, Chris serves at Affinia Healthcare, The BRIC (Bullet Related Injury Clinic) in the Delmar DivINe, and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs here in St. Louis, MO. In addition, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and is a student leader at Logan University, where he will graduate this spring with his Doctorate of Chiropractic.

Chris took his oath this week for the Board of Health, and Christina and Allison were honored to join him, his family, and other supporters for this amazing accomplishment. Chris' commitment to service in the community as well as his incredible perspective, vision, and dedication to the well-being of his community will be invaluable on the Board.

Congratulations, Chris!

01/09/2025

"Now, I’m graduating college a year early. No debt. I have a whole career set up outside, and I’m like, okay, I made all the right connections and they gave me the resources to be successful post-secondary and into my professional life."

Wyman is committed to ensuring strong outcomes for youth, learning from our experiences, and centering the voices and perspectives of those we serve in our learning activities. Because of this commitment, we have been exploring the scholarship opportunities offered to Wyman Leaders through our partnerships and how those have shaped postsecondary experiences.

What did we find?
✅ Wyman offers a variety of scholarship opportunities that result in critical support and strong postsecondary outcomes for young people.
✅ Scholarship partners are focused on addressing the challenges of college affordability and emphasize the importance of funding flexibility.
✅ Wyman Leaders alumni & current youth stress the importance of financial support to their educational pursuits and future financial stability.

Read our full blog at https://hubs.ly/Q031vBvK0 to learn more about the critical role our partnerships play in the postsecondary experiences of Wyman Leaders.