Dear Jorge ,

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the incoming executive director of Delmar DivINe, Yusef Scoggin.

Most recently, Yusef served as Chief Executive Officer of Covenant House Missouri, an organization offering housing, education, job training, mental health services, and more to help young people overcome the challenges of homelessness and transition to a more stable future.



Before that, Yusef was Director of the Department of Human Services for the City of St. Louis, and he also acted as Director of the Office of Family & Community Services for the St. Louis County Department of Human Services (you can read more about him in our official press release).

The common thread is that Yusef has dedicated his career to serving vulnerable populations and advocating for social justice, and he will use that dedication to great effect at Delmar DivINe. His first day will be Oct. 14, allowing for three weeks of crossover with me so that he can hit the ground running after my last day on Nov. 1.

Yusef Scoggin

I would like to recognize and thank the members of the search committee: Maxine Clark, April Mickens Jolly, Dr. Mary McKay, Sandra Moore, and Dr. Shilpa Thornton for the work they put in to make this a speedy and successful process. Thanks also to EMD Consulting for their exemplary effort on finding an excellent executive director in a short time.

Most importantly, please join me in welcoming Yusef to Delmar DivINe. I trust all of you will show him the same support and encouragement that I was blessed to have during my tenure.

Sincerely,

Jorge Riopedre

Executive Director, Delmar DivINe

Last month Washington University’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) held an open house for its EMPOWER program. This very special event celebrated the first year of what is already a hugely impactful endeavor.

EMPOWER is a free, 26-week program designed for qualifying St. Louis refugees. The English Language Program at CAPS merges language development with valuable workforce certifications. The program is specifically designed for refugees to help them unlock a pathway to the future.

Everyone who gathered at the open house heard a recap of the program since it launched this summer, all while enjoying a variety of foods from different cultures. But the highlight of the evening was hearing from three students.

For Diana Zribniak, EMPOWER is a family affair, as her parents are also enrolled in the program. Diana is from Ukraine where she was pursuing her medical doctorate in pediatrics. Unfortunately, she was unable to complete her residency due to the war. Now Diana is using EMPOWER to continue pursuing a career in pediatric medicine in the U.S. 

“I'm so happy to be here,” Diana said. “All the teachers, all the students are so friendly. We all have our goals, and mine is to be a doctor and help babies be healthy.”

Zahra Nazari is from Afghanistan where she was a prominent woman entrepreneur while also working for UNICEF and on U.S. embassy-funded projects focused on women in danger. Zahra and her family were forced to flee in the wake of the collapse of the Afghan government, and she finally arrived in St. Louis after spending a full year living on military bases in Germany, Washington, DC, and Indiana.

“The Taliban killed my seven uncles, my grandparents, and my older sister,” Zahra told the audience. “We were finally able to escape and go to the USA. And then I saw the WashU website about this EMPOWER program. And it has been a wonderful class, [helping us] start our professional journey. [The teachers] are amazing. I'm really very thankful to them.”

Fardin Rustami is also from Afghanistan. He was pursuing a promising academic and professional career as a representative in the Model United Nations and the now-disbanded organization Hope for Education and Leadership in Afghanistan, but the rising threat of the Taliban led to a loss of employment and uncertainty in the possibility of completing his education.

This situation, says Fardin, “makes having goals and dreams not easy. When I came [to St. Louis] I was searching for an opportunity to go and restart my education. So I joined this program. And it has meant a lot to me, the support from Mr. Andre [Mayers], Professor Katie [Blackburn Brown], and Professor Moira [Castillo-Schoewe]. Now my goal is to get my certificate and start in project management.”

Professor Blackburn Brown closed out the evening, saying, “I hope that we've convinced you that this small program has great potential to make a meaningful impact in the lives of immigrants and refugees in St Louis.” She also put out a call for volunteers. Anyone interested can find out more here.

Blueprint 4 hosted its 8th Annual Camp Summit in the Berges Family Foundation Conference Center at Delmar DivINe. People who work in after-school and summer programs came together for a breakfast celebration, professional development sessions, and networking with other out-of-school professionals.

The event served as an opportunity for learning and a source of connection for providers doing the hard work of supporting youth in our community. There were around 100 attendees representing out-of-school organizations across the St. Louis metro and beyond. The gathering also featured an appearance by St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page who issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 18th as Blueprint4 Day.

The summit was part of the many activities marking Blueprint4's 10th anniversary this year as it continues to connect families to the out-of-school programming kids need to thrive. The organization’s website offers a fast, free, and easy way to find after school, school break, college prep and summer break programs across the St. Louis region.

The Gephardt Institute for Community Engagement held its St. Louis Fellows Showcase, highlighting what the group of 40 Fellows learned and executed over the course of their 10-week internship with 31 nonprofit and civic organizations throughout the region.

Delmar DivINe's Berges Famiily Foundation Conference Center was packed with an energetic crowd of community partners, students, university staff/faculty, and student “fan clubs” that included many parents of the Fellows.

Following opening remarks from Washington University Provost Beverly Wendland, attendees heard from the Fellows and community partners about their partnership experience. Each Fellow displayed a poster providing an overview their work and some reflections on their summer learning.

“We were thrilled to host this event at Delmar DivINe!” said Stephanie Kurtzman, executive director of the Gephardt Institute. “It is a wonderful and vibrant space that is really meeting its mission as a connector of people who are invested in a thriving St. Louis.”

Leaders of the St. Louis Community Credit Union (SLCCU) made a presentation at Delmar DivINe to outline the community-oriented services it offers throughout St. Louis, including the branch on the campus of Delmar DivINe.

The credit union's Financial Wellness Director, Tim Clavin, took the group through the organization's financial wellness coaching program. He noted that they offer free checking accounts and free credit reviews.

Delmar DivINe branch manager Amanda Barbee discussed even more services, among them online and in-person financial resources, one-on-one coaching, and "second chance" accounts focused on people who have been unable to open a checking account at another financial institution.

She also mentioned the credit union's various community partnerships that can connect people to basic needs like supplemental food, diapers, and feminine products, as well as workforce development resources.

St. Louis Community Credit Union has over 57,000 members, two-thirds of whom are African American.

“We are so excited to see the continued growth at our Delmar DivINe location, which includes a 30% increase in number of visits year over year to date!" Patricia Parchmon, Chief Operations Officer for SLCCU, said.

Since the branch opened at Delmar DivINe, it has opened 841 loans totaling $1,687,171 and 113 new accounts.

September was an action-packed month for the Wisdom Café, featuring nine events, the most-ever in a single month! The turnout and enthusiasm for these activities continues to grow.



For three weeks straight, our Chess Club drew in strategists of all skill levels. It was a pleasure to watch participants challenge each other in friendly competition, with new friendships forming over the chessboard. The sessions also sparked thoughtful conversation, mental exercise, and some valuable practice.

And who says you can't be spontaneous later in life? Our improv session was full of energy, creativity, and laughter as participants discovered the joy of thinking on their feet. Seniors took the stage to build scenes on the spot, showcasing quick wit and playful spirit. The room was filled with joy from start to finish. 

Our fall celebration was a trip down memory lane where we asked the famous question loved by St. Louisans, “Where’d you go to high school?” The gathering gave participants a chance to reminisce about their school days and reconnect with others who shared similar experiences. It was a heartwarming afternoon full of good food and dancing, with a karaoke talent show. Vashon High School was recognized for having the most alumni members in the house, and participants signed a “yearbook” while sharing fun facts about their school days.  

Next we had a new edition of chair aerobics, a fun and accessible way for Café members to stay active. With music pumping and spirits high, participants enjoyed a guided workout tailored to all levels of mobility. The energy in the room was contagious, and everyone spoke of a desire to see fitness classes continue at Delmar DivINe.

Planning for the future can be daunting, but our estate planning session made it approachable. Attorney Alex Johnson guided the group through essential tips for ensuring that their assets and wishes are protected. The interactive Q&A format gave participants the opportunity to address personal concerns, leaving everyone feeling more prepared for the future.

September’s “Sex After 60” explored faith and sexuality. Our guest speaker, De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar, facilitated an open, informative discussion on intimacy with candor and sensitivity. It was a thoughtful and enlightening experience for the Café members.

As we look ahead to October, we have even more exciting events lined up! Get ready for Tai Chi, a three-part grief series with BJC, a Healthy Halloween food demo with HOSCO, two sessions focused on Medicare, more of our super popular chess sessions, and the all-new Wisdom Café Book Club.

Nonprofit staff members work constantly on hard problems and challenges, which can't help but build up stress. That's why Duo Dogs and Washington University helped everyone on the campus experience the comfort and relaxation of doggy companionship.

Kristen Burger from Duo Dogs brought in her touch therapy dog, Winston, to our coworking space, The Node, so that agency staff members could enjoy the calming presence of a furry friend.

Meanwhile, WashU's Community Engagement Office hosted Bear, Brookie, and Ernie who came to the campus courtesy of the WashU police department.

Duo Dogs and WashU were happy to provide this opportunity for everyone to have a doggone good time!

United 4 Children Lights the Way

Generate Health Promotes Well-being and Safety of Children

Generate Health facilitated a Safe Sleep training led by expert Lori Winkler of SSM Cardinal Glennon. This training, attended by nearly 20 professionals, is part of the Safe Sleep First Project funded through Missouri Children's Trust Fund.

The next training is Wednesday, Nov. 6 and is open to the public. Attendees will learn about the most recent AAP recommendations for safe sleep, as well as the local context and medical science behind the recommendations. You can secure your free ticket here.

Delmar DivINe welcomed its newest agency to the campus last month, Life Outside of Violence (LOV), which is coordinated by the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis.

LOV serves individuals between the ages of 8-30 harmed by gunshot, stabbing, or other blunt trauma after being seen for medical treatment at a partner level-one trauma center. To support healing, reduce incidents of re-injury, retaliation, and death, LOV provides participants with individualized community-based outreach, comprehensive case management, and clinical therapeutic services.

"As a hospital and community-based program, we are so excited to now have a shared collective home for our amazing team and participants IN the community at Delmar DivINe!” said Kateri Chapman-Kramer, Research Project Manager for LOV. 

“We partner closely with several other violence prevention and intervention programs and Delmar DivINe always rises to the top as a service and meeting location of choice. We trust that our growing vision to enroll and reach more participants in the LOV program will be supported by having residence at Delmar DivINe, in addition to our contributions as a program to the mission of transforming neighborhoods in the St. Louis area.”

Dr. LJ Punch

Stephen Westbrooks

Marcus Howard