St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods. Often those neighborhoods are anchored by a beloved place where residents gather to organize events, celebrate special occasions, or simply be together. For the North St. Louis neighborhood bounded by Interstate 70 and Natural Bridge Road to the north and south and Grand Boulevard and Kingshighway to the east and west – an area that’s home to about 25,000 people – the Wesley House Association (WHA) has served all of those roles and more since 1903. In conjunction with the Missouri Historical Society, WHA is celebrating its long history of service to the region with the event Welcome Back to the House, which will take place on Tuesday, August 21.
“To me, the most important function of Wesley House is to be a support to the residents,” said Tiffany Jackson, the WHA’s interim executive director. “To continue to provide programs and services that revitalize the youth, seniors, and families that make up this community.”
Though Jackson makes the mission sound easy enough, the scope of what Wesley House does is enormous. The organization’s youth services include an after-school program for kids ages 5 through 17 that focuses on academic achievement, positive peer relationships, and avoiding high-risk behaviors. For seniors, WHA promotes healthy living and social interaction through exercise classes, education, and programming, and it provides transportation to medical appointments. Services and programs for the broader community include employment and housing assistance, free access to its computer lab, and affordable computer classes.
The Wesley House is also a hub for volunteerism. It’s a place where citizens can work in its food pantry or help with mailings. It’s where elected officials hold monthly meetings and neighborhood associations puzzle through solutions.
“We are fortunate to be able to provide space for these groups to address pertinent issues that affect the community,” Jackson said. “It is an honor to work in a place that serves as a platform for civic awareness, engagement, and planning. Many important decisions and plans have been made in this building.”
Jackson said that WHA has reinforced her belief in the power of community – and how critical services and programs from neighborhood-based organizations like Wesley House are for residents.
“In my first week I met many residents who wanted to stop in and donate items, provide information for activities and events in the neighborhood, or just drop in to say hello,” she said. “I have always believed that programs aimed at addressing the needs of its participants – built on evidence-based outcomes and delivered by skilled staff – would succeed. Wesley House has added to my belief that the programs and services would be even more successful if they were offered with dedication, compassion, and a strong sense of hope. Many of the staff and board members are residents of the community and have a sincere interest in making sure the organization fulfills its mission.”
Though the WHA has touched hundreds of thousands of lives over the last 115 years, Jackson said its Welcome Back to the House event is for all people – whether they have been a part of WHA’s past or are interested in becoming a part of its future.
“We would love for the individuals and families who have benefited from WHA’s programs and services to come out and share their experience. We would also love for those in the community who aren’t as familiar with our services to come and hear about the rich history of Wesley House, gain information, and make connections to our current services and programs.”
Jackson hopes people will leave filled with optimism and inspired by the power of community, just as she has been.
“Working with an organization with such rich history, a reputation of providing support and resources to the community, and a skilled and devoted staff and board gives me a great sense of pride and hope for the community and other underserved communities as well,” she said.
Welcome Back to the House takes place at the Wesley House Association, located at 4507 Lee Avenue, on Tuesday, August 21. Greetings and refreshments begin at 1:30 p.m., and the event starts at 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public. To learn more about WHA, call (314) 385-1000.
