Our History
1994
AmeriCorps St. Louis (ACSTL) was established under the administration of the American Youth Foundation with two programs: 1) the Public Safety Program, which addressed community problem solving and neighborhood stabilization around targeted elementary and middle schools, and 2) Education Corps, which addressed early childhood literacy needs of elementary students. Both programs were nationally competitively funded in each year of their existence. In earlier years, the Public Safety Corps (now known as the Emergency Response Team) operated as a volunteer fire department. Members were trained in basic emergency response skills and mobilized across the program when needed.
1995
ACSTL responded to the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City by providing donation management.
2000
An independent group of local, civic, and business leaders committed itself to sustaining the efforts of AmeriCorps St. Louis, formerly St. Louis Partners AmeriCorps, and legally incorporated it as a 501(c)3 organization named Partnership for Youth, Inc., d.b.a. AmeriCorps St. Louis.
2001
Responded to September 11 terrorist attack in New York City.
2005
Responding to Hurricane Katrina helped ACSTL realize the need for a fully dedicated, highly trained emergency response team with quick reaction capabilities. ERT initiated its first long-term disaster recovery commitment in Pass Christian, Mississippi, operating as a Volunteer Recovery Support Base for 2 years.
2009
The emergency Winter Warming Shelter at ACSTL opened at the urgent request of the St. Louis City Department of Human Services due to a shortage of shelters within the city. It has operated every winter since then.
2011
In response to the Joplin tornado, ACSTL leveraged around 150,000 volunteers that performed 1 million hours of service, generating $17.7 million toward state and local cost share with FEMA. ERT operated a Volunteer Recovery Center for 2 years.
2017
Using best practices and lessons learned from the Missouri 2015 flood response, ACSTL helped develop and implement the FEMA VALOR model to provide critical assistance to vulnerable survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico.
Additionally in 2017, Program Director & Founder Kathleen Becherer retired nearly 25 years at AmeriCorps. Kathleen is a dedicated, life long public servant, and we wish her the best in her retirement.
2019
AmeriCorps St. Louis celebrated a quarter century of National Service!
2020
After 26 years at AmeriCorps St. Louis, and a life time of public service, ACSTL Founder and Executive Director Bruce Bailey retired, and now resides in Oregon with his wife and fellow organization founder Kathleen.
Bruce was succeeded by Kenan Ender, the organizations Program Director, and alumni of the program.