Cool Valley Mayor Viola Murphy never dreamed that she would one day visit the White House to present her work in North St. Louis County.
“It was an indescribable feeling knowing the president has recognized the efforts of Beyond Housing and 24:1 in North County,” Murphy said. “The feeling that someone is looking at our group and wanting to know how they can bottle that – it was a great honor.”
Murphy was part of a 17-member delegation of North County political, educational and civic leaders who were invited by the White House Office of Neighborhood Revitalization on April 12 to tell their story of working together for community development.
Murphy talked about how 24 mayors represent the Normandy School District, and through Beyond Housing’s 24:1 initiative the municipalities have collaborated on issues of economic development, health care, housing and transportation that can be barriers to providing a quality education.
“If one of us fails, we all fail,” Murphy said. “The 24:1 is a fearsome group of people, and we are not going to let each other fail.”
The White House officials were surprised at how much the collaboration has accomplished since 2009, when Beyond Housing secured a five-year, $3 million funding commitment to support 24:1. White House officials said it was the most extensive collaboration among government and education leaders that they had seen in the country, according to Normandy Mayor Patrick Green.
“I am sitting in the White House with presidential staffers, who are mentioning the City of Normandy and saying that we are doing something unique,” Green said. “And they are seeing it as an example to use in other places around the country.”
Murphy told officials that once they started working together, they discovered they had similar goals. Now they collaborate to bid out materials and maintenance of equipment. For years, the various cities have tried to cooperate on trash collection. Through 24:1, they’ve been able to do that.
“They saw how we have built trust in a real meaningful way and not an over-simplified way,” said Chris Krehmeyer, executive director of Beyond Housing.
In 2011, the 24:1 initiative first appeared in a White House publication. Since then, Beyond Housing representatives have kept in touch with the president’s staff.
“People hear about your work before it sinks in at home,” Krehmeyer said. “We hope we will continue to garner more support in the St. Louis region.”
Normandy Superintendent Stanton Lawrence gave a presentation on the progress the district has made through the initiative, along with their own internal work. The district has started using data-driven benchmarks to chart academic progress.
“Without the 24:1 work, it would have been difficult to gain progress,” Lawrence said. “We had an obligation to address issues that stood as barriers to our children.”
Joe Jovanovich of Beyond Housing presented on the youth impact continuum, a cradle-to-careers initiative. Representatives from University of Missouri – St. Louis spoke on their partnership with the Normandy schools and the various municipalities.
Vinita Park Mayor James McGee talked about the home-repair program, which gives grants to residents to make up to $25,000 in repairs. Through Beyond Housing, Vinita Park was able to give out $300,000 in grants to 47 applicants.
“The initiative has benefited our city greatly in every area you can think of,” McGee said.
Beyond Housing, in partnership with organizations that provide services and support, has facilitated more than $38 million in community reinvestment activity and more than $2.5 million in residential rehabilitation.
The group that traveled to Washington, D.C. included the mayors of four North County municipalities (Murphy in Cool Valley, McGee in Vinita Park, Green in Normandy and Kevin Buchek in Bel Nor); Mike Jones, a trustee in Bellerive Acres; Pine Lawn City Administrator Brian Krueger; Ed Hillhouse, executive director of the East West Gateway Council of Governments; and two officials of the Normandy School District, Lawrence and Shelia Williams, school board president.
There were also leaders from two non-profit agencies – Dave Hilliard, president of the Wyman Center, and Becky James-Hatter, president of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater St. Louis – as well UMSL professor Todd Swanstrom and a four-person team from Beyond Housing led by Krehmeyer.
“We are part of a bigger picture that might be helpful throughout the country and not just our backyard,” Green said. “It makes you proud.”
