UMSL and FOCUS St. Louis partnered to host last May’s inaugural Start with Leadership Conference, which drew more than 400 attendees to the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)

The University of Missouri–St. Louis is partnering with FOCUS St. Louis to enhance leadership development, civic engagement and professional growth across the St. Louis region.

UMSL and FOCUS have finalized a three-year agreement to collaborate on leadership training initiatives for early- and mid-career adults already in the workforce as well as future leaders from the ranks of high school and college students.

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik (at left) welcomes attendees to last May’s inaugural Start with Leadership Conference before introducing FOCUS St. Louis President and CEO Yemi Akande-Bartsch (at right).

“Together, UMSL and FOCUS St. Louis are strengthening the region’s leadership pipeline,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement and an alum of FOCUS St. Louis’ Leadership St. Louis program. “By aligning our academic, workforce and civic development efforts, we’re creating powerful opportunities for high school students, college students and working professionals to develop the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead in a changing world.”

Under the agreement, UMSL and FOCUS will continue to co-host the Start with Leadership Conference that brought together nearly 400 working professionals from across the area for the inaugural half-day event last May in the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

They will also hold programming for the Youth Leadership St. Louis Program – aimed at area high school juniors – on UMSL’s campus, and the university will look to award UMSL Advanced Credit to participants for eligible curriculum delivered through the program.

UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center, meanwhile, will provide non-credit certificates and digital badges for participants in FOCUS St. Louis’ signature leadership programs, custom leadership programs and the Start with Leadership Conference.

“At FOCUS St. Louis, we believe that strong communities are built by strong leaders,” said Yemi Akande-Bartsch, president and CEO of FOCUS St. Louis. “Partnering with UMSL allows us to connect with even more people at different stages of their leadership journey, providing them with the knowledge, tools and support they need to achieve their goals and expand their impact in our region.”

The university and FOCUS will also continue to collaborate on the NextGen Leadership Program, which is being piloted this semester with 14 students from UMSL’s Pierre Laclede Honors College.

The program, which is led by Shalia Ford, FOCUS St. Louis’ senior director of leadership programs, is geared toward college students who are passionate about becoming civic-minded professionals. The program has been split into eight sessions and provides the participants with an immersive experience that helps them strengthen their leadership and communication skills, deepen their understanding of issues and civic engagement in the St. Louis region and connect with peers and local leaders.

“FOCUS has a continuum of programs for high school students, young professionals, and mid-career to senior leaders,” Ford said. “NextGen is an opportunity to serve another population who we knew could benefit from the FOCUS leadership experience. In this program, participants can really explore leadership and civic engagement, think about the change they want to see in their community, and be empowered to make it happen.”