Q&A’s

Hear from Recent Alumni

Lynn Lang of Restoration Matters

Tell us what your organization does:
We are dedicated to restorative practices – the science of relationships as a way to improve them by rethinking workplace policies and practices, school discipline, and transforming conflict.

What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months? 
Meeting so many new people and enjoying the exciting, dynamic vibe here!

What do you hope to get out of this experience? 
New collaborators, growth and expanded vision of our mission and how it fits into the community.

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?
“Quality relationships are your greatest asset, so invest in people.”

Arriel Bivens-Biggs of Young Biz Kidz

Tell us what your organization does:
Young Biz Kidz is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower young people by engaging and encouraging financial literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership in youth.

What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months? 
Being a part of the Entrepreneurial Community and having a cool place for the youth I work with to meet-up and network.

What do you hope to get out of this experience? 
Growing my database of resources and people to partner/ collaborate with.

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?
Look at the problem you want to solve and find a creative out of the box way to do it.  The world is waiting for your genius ideas. 

Luka Cai of SQSH

Tell us what your organization does:

SQSH is a grassroots, community-based organization dedicated to providing spaces and support for queer St. Louisans to thrive. Our mission is to serve and strengthen the LGBTQIA+ community in the St. Louis MO-IL Metro Area and beyond—by providing an empathetic listening ear, safe and reliable connections to identity-affirming resources, as well as education and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ concerns and needs.

What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months? 

I’m most excited about redistributing resources and opening high-quality co-working space to fellow queer & trans St. Louisans – and other marginalized communities!

What do you hope to get out of this experience? 

I hope to gain a sense of community, well-being, safety, and wholeness through integrating into the CIC’s physical and social spaces.

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?

I highly recommend reading this book because it is way more insightful than any advice I can give: “INCITE! The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex.”

Andrew Glantz of GiftAMeal

Tell us what your organization does:

GiftAMeal is a socially conscious marketing program for restaurants. Each time an app user takes a photo of their food or drink from a partner restaurant, we make a donation to a local food bank to give a meal to someone in need. Over 350 restaurants participate and over 915,000 meals have been provided so far. Over 80% of that impact has been in St. Louis, putting a dent in the hunger problem locally where 1 in 6 kids face daily food insecurity.

What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months?

I’m most excited about the innovative work environment that CIC provides. The mix of being in an adaptive, energetic space, surrounded by passionate, smart people makes CIC the ideal work environment. CIC makes it fun to come into work every day and it’s so nice to just have everything taken care of from printing to mail boxes to coffee.

What do you hope to get out of this experience?

I hope to continue to learn and grow GiftAMeal as we look to scale across the country, and tap into more great connections throughout the social impact ecosystem.

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?

Get out there and meet all the other amazing innovators in the community to get their advice! I’ve found that everyone is super friendly and willing to help in the ecosystem.

Chris Hill & Andre Walker of MANUP Global

Tell us what your organization does: 

MANUP Global is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. dedicated to improving the lives of families in urban communities, by encouraging and empowering young black men to become agents of change in their various communities. In our M3 (Making Men Matter) mentoring program young men begin a journey into an 8-week mentoring cohort where they are partnered with a personal mentor who is responsible for equipping them mentally, socially, educationally, and recreationally to become an active and responsible citizen. 

What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months? 

Being able to grow and develop through the social impact program itself, as well as connecting with other entrepreneurs/non-profits leaders who want to make a difference

What do you hope to get out of this experience? 

We look forward to partnering with other organizations and entrepreneurs to make a greater social and financial impact in St. Louis; creating a space for creatives in the St. Louis area to connect, learn, network & grow; and being able to facilitate long term change in the innovative space. 

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?

The impact you can make externally starts with the culture that you create internally, so prioritize achievement while creating a space for rest and wellbeing. Also, network, network, network!

Kalina Irving of Missouri Health Care for All

Tell us what your organization does:

Missouri Health Care for All is bringing together a community of passionate activists in our state to advocate for equitable health policies in Missouri, and to advance the broader movement for universal, single-payer health care in the United States. We want to live in a world in which every person has access to affordable, high quality, affirming, and responsive health care, no matter where they live or how much money they make. Specifically, we want to create a system of universal health care that provides comprehensive, holistic, and high quality care.

 What excites you most about being at CIC the next few months? 

Connecting with and meeting the variety of people and businesses that work out of CIC! 

What do you hope to get out of this experience? 

Learning new ways of conducting and growing aspects of our organization based on ideas and strategies from the other cohort members. 

What advice do you have for other STL organizations aiming to make a positive impact in the community?

Get out into the various communities so you are really connected to the people you are hoping/trying to help!