THINKSGIVing news
Wings of Hope + Ameren
We’re entering our seventh decade as a nonprofit and many of our long-time volunteers are almost as “experienced” as we are. How might we ... attract younger and more diverse volunteers to work with and learn from our current amazing team?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re entering our seventh decade as a nonprofit and many of our long-time volunteers are almost as “experienced” as we are. How might we ... attract younger and more diverse volunteers to work with and learn from our current amazing team?
NONPROFIT: WINGS OF HOPE
INNOVATION PARTNER: AMEREN
“Feeling great about the progress we are making and have loved getting to know the team and work that WOH does!”
“At a time when the world needs to be lifted up, Thinksgiving was the perfect catalyst to bring together the energy, collaborative nature and can do attitude of our Ameren and Wings of Hope team to tackle real challenges. I know the same is true for the other teams. Thinksgiving helped all of us soar to new heights.”
THE WORK
— graphic designed by Beckett Buckley, 5th Grader at George R. Robinson, Kirkwood School District
Consuming Kinetics Dance Company + Caleres
As a nonprofit dance company, we’ve always taught our students in person. Lately, we’ve mixed Zoom with outdoor engagements, but winter is coming. How might we … find ways to help donors, clients, and students feel comfortable returning to our spaces for classes and events or deliver them virtually in more creative and effective ways?
THE CHALLENGE: As a nonprofit dance company, we’ve always taught our students in person. Lately we’ve mixed Zoom with outdoor engagements, but winter is coming. How might we … find ways to help donors, clients, and students feel comfortable returning to our spaces for classes and events or deliver them virtually in more creative and effective ways?
NONPROFIT: CONSUMING KINETICS DANCE COMPANY
INNOVATION PARTNER: CALERES
“2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, and this project really grounded us around how community organizations like Consuming Kinetics Dance Company are being impacted. Our team included executives from marketing to finance to logistics. Arica and her team were open to the ideas and the collaboration was inspiring. Our ideas were captured beautifully by Kirkwood high school student Gracie Buckley. We can’t wait to see them come to life. We’re thankful for the opportunity to work on such an important initiative.”
THE WORK
—graphic by Gracie Buckley,
Kirkwood High School Senior
STEMSTL + Clayco
We’re a workforce-focused nonprofit founded by several of our city’s most civic-minded entities. How might we … become known as the go-to resource that connects teachers and students with future-focused employers designing jobs for the new economy?
THE CHALLENGE: We’re a workforce-focused nonprofit founded by several of our city’s most civic-minded entities. How might we … become known as the go-to resource that connects teachers and students with future-focused employers designing jobs for the new economy?
NONPROFIT: STEMSTL
INNOVATION PARTNWER: CLAYCO
Artists First + Cannonball
We used to deliver art-centered programs to young people, veterans, and people with disabilities in our now-unavailable studio before COVID. How might we … help our amazing artists tell their stories, share, and sell their art in creative, virtual-friendly ways?
THE CHALLENGE: We used to deliver art-centered programs to young people, veterans, and people with disabilities in our now-unavailable studio before COVID. How might we … help our amazing artists tell their stories, share, and sell their art in creative, virtual-friendly ways?
NONPROFIT: ARTISTS FIRST
INNOVATION PARTNWER: CANNONBALL
THE WORK
—graphic designed by Elyse Lewandowski, Student at St. Louis University
Transparent USA + Cortex
We are a nonprofit supporting parents raising transgender children, with chapters in ten states and a high demand for growth. Our volunteer leadership is passionate but spread too thin. How might we ... scale our organization to attract the right talent and leverage community partners to become the nationally recognized resource for these families?
THE CHALLENGE: We are a nonprofit supporting parents raising transgender children, with chapters in ten states and a high demand for growth. Our volunteer leadership is passionate but spread too thin. How might we ... scale our organization to attract the right talent and leverage community partners to become the nationally recognized resource for these families?
NONPROFIT: TRANSPARENT USA
INNOVATION PARTNER: CORTEX INNOVATION COMMUNITY
“It’s a great way to get involved and give back to the STL community in a way that leverages collective intellectual resources.”
“I am super excited to partner with Cortex! We would have never been able to do this on our own.”
THE WORK
