Regional Business Council

TO UNITE AND ENGAGE MEMBERS TO ACT ON HIGH-IMPACT BUSINESS, CIVIC AND PHILANTHROPIC AFFAIRS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ST. LOUIS REGION.

QUALITY OF LIFE: TO GIVE BACK TO THE REGION THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH, PROSPERITY, AND GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE REGION.- PROVIDED $105,000 TO SIX ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OVER 8,000 YOUTH IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER ACADEMIES FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS, FREE EYE-GLASSES FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUTH AND CYBER SECURITY APPRENTICESHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE SKILLED WORKFORCE.- SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS SPONSORED THREE NON-PROFIT LEADERS TO ATTEND THE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT FOR NONPROFIT LEADERS COURSE THROUGH THE OLIN BUSINESS SCHOOL AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY: TO DECREASE VIOLENT CRIME IN THE REGION BY PROVIDING PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT AROUND A STRATEGY OF ENFORCEMENT, PREVENTION, AND INTERVENTION. - HELD A SUCCESSFUL CLEAN UP, BUILD UP NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EVENT IN THE HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IN ST. LOUIS CITY TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. THE IMMENSE 10-BLOCK PROJECT SITE INVOLVED OVER 30 LOTS AND INCLUDED THE DEMOLITION OF DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, CLEARING TREES AND DEBRIS FROM ALLEYWAYS, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS INCLUDING IMPROVEMENT OF STREETSCAPES, INSTALLATION OF A COMMUNITY GARDEN, PAINTING 30 CONCRETE PLANTERS, AND PLANTING 1,300 FLOWERS AND PLANTS. THE PROJECT IN HYDE PARK INCLUDED COLLABORATION WITH AN SVP PARTNER FOR THE FIRST TIME, DREAM BUILDERS 4 EQUITY.- HELD THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL CLEAN UP, BUILD UP IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY IN THE CASTLE POINT NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE REQUEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS. RBC BROUGHT TOGETHER 25 ORGANIZATIONS IN JUST 9 WEEKS TO TARGET 30 HOMES AND REVITALIZE A MILE-LONG RESIDENTIAL CORRIDOR KNOWN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENT CRIME. RBC ALSO ORGANIZED IMPROVEMENTS TO LEWIS & CLARK ELEMENTARY IN THE RIVERVIEW GARDENS SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH CENTER, AND COMMUNITY GARDEN.- INVESTED $250,000 IN THE URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS TO SUPPORT ITS DIVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROGRAMS LIKE SAVE OUR SONS, THAT HAVE DIRECTLY ENGAGED HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTH CITY NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH 74 TOTAL GUN VIOLENCE DE-ESCALATIONS, 2,366 PARTICIPANTS IN THE URBAN OPIOID TRIAGE AND OVER 100,000 COVID VACCINES AND BOOSTERS DISTRIBUTED OVER THE LAST YEAR. 99% OF SAVE OUR SONS GRADUATES RECEIVED PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.- INVESTED $60,000 TO FUND THE SEARCH FOR A PERSONNEL DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, A CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS HIRING A QUALITY POLICE CHIEF. THE SEARCH WAS SUCCESSFUL, WITH THE ST. LOUIS CITY MAYOR SELECTING A QUALIFIED AND WIDELY RESPECTED INDIVIDUAL TO BE THE CITY'S NEXT DIRECTOR. WHILE RBC HELPED FUND THE SEARCH TO FILL THIS IMPORTANT POSITION WITHIN CITY GOVERNMENT, IT HAD NO ROLE IN THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES.- LED PRIVATE SECTOR EFFORTS TO RAISE OVER $10 MILLION FOR THE METROLINK SECURE PLATFORM PLAN TO UPGRADE EVERY STATION IN THE REGION WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FENCING AND CAMERAS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY.- PROVIDED FUNDING TO THE ST. LOUIS POLICE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT THE CADET PROGRAM AND FUNDS FOR NEW EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY, SPECIALIZED OFFICER TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS THAT HELP REDUCE CRIME AND KEEP OUR OFFICERS SAFE.- FOCUSED ON REGIONALISM, WORKING TO FACILITATE BETTER COOPERATION BETWEEN ST. LOUIS CITY AND COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS. PUBLIC POLICY: TO ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT EQUITABLY IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE THE REGION. - CONTINUED RBC EDUCATION SESSIONS, MEETING WITH KEY LAWMAKERS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE KEY ISSUES THEY ARE WORKING ON.- SUPPORTED PROPOSITION 1 IN ST. LOUIS CITY WHICH WAS A BOND ISSUE FUNDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. RBC CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN, WHICH WILL NOW ENABLE THE CITY TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES. PROPOSITION 1 PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY WITH 84% OF THE VOTE.K-12 EDUCATION: TO INVEST IN THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR REGION BY ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE REGION, ESPECIALLY DISADVANTAGED YOUTH. - FUNDED THE URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS, ($50,000) FOR THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT FOR ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE CLEAN UP, BUILD UP WORK IN THE CITY.- FUNDED THE OPPORTUNITY TRUST ($25,000) TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON BEST PRACTICES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON STUDENT OUTCOMES.- SUPPORTED THE COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT PROP S CAMPAIGN WITH $15,000, WHICH SUCCESSFULLY PASSED A BOND ISSUE TO REHAB SCHOOLS AND FACILITIES IN THE ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEM. THE FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR FACILITIES WORK INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO AIR QUALITY, LEAD REMOVAL, SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS, HVAC, ROOF REPAIRS, AND BATHROOM UPGRADES. EVERY ONE OF THE MORE THAN 60 SCHOOLS AND BUILDINGS IN SLPS WILL BE TOUCHED IN SOME WAY BY THESE UPGRADES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND REPAIRS.- PROVIDED MORAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE RIVERVIEW GARDENS SCHOOL DISTRICT ($32,500), WHICH IS THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI. FUNDS SUPPORTED BUILDING CLEANUP, THE NEW HORIZON CAMPAIGN, AND SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE HR PROCEDURES, SUCH AS HIRING AND RECRUITING NEW TEACHERS.DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE A GLOBALLY DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND MINORITY-FRIENDLY BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THE REGION CAN COMPETE AND THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES. - COMPLETED THE FIRST COHORT OF THE BLACK EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES BY PAIRING 20 RBC MEMBERS WITH 20 CEOS OF BLACK-OWNED COMPANIES FOR ONE-ON-ONE COACHING AND MENTORING, WITH PARTICIPANTS RECEIVING ACCESS TO ADVANCED COACHING TOOLS AND RESOURCES INCLUDING PRO BONO LEGAL COUNSEL. - HELD THE FIRST RBC INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT INITIATIVE PITCH CAMP EVENT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RBC COMPANIES TO SPEND MORE OF THEIR CORPORATE DOLLARS AT LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES. RBC MEMBERS AND THEIR PROCUREMENT TEAMS HEARD 5-MINUTE ELEVATOR PITCHES FROM CEOS IN OUR BLACK EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE WITH HOPES OF MAKING PROFITABLE CONNECTIONS. THE SUCCESSFUL EVENT RESULTED IN A NUMBER OF SOLID BUSINESS CONNECTIONS AND PROMOTED A MORE INCLUSIVE REGIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.- SUPPORTED THE VERY ASIAN FOUNDATION THROUGH DONATIONS AND APPEARANCES AT VARIOUS EVENTS INCLUDING OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS AND A VERY ASIAN FOUNDATION HAPPY HOUR.- SUPPORTED THE ST. LOUIS ASIAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THROUGH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUPPORT OF THEIR ANNUAL DINNER AS A SPONSOR.- COLLABORATED WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF ST. LOUIS THROUGH SUPPORTING THEIR ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM AND INVITING THEIR MEMBERS TO ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.- SPONSORED THE ANNUAL URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS DINNER. THIS DINNER HOSTS OVER 1,000 GUESTS EACH YEAR. - SPONSORED THE NAACP OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS ANNUAL DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY. - HOSTED THE ANNUAL FAITH LEADERS LUNCHEON OF ST. LOUIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS. THIS IS A JOINT VENTURE THAT ALLOWS LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE AREA TO COME TOGETHER AND REFLECT ON THEIR COMMUNITY IMPACT FOR THE YEAR.

WORKFORCE & TALENT DEVELOPMENT: TO ADDRESS THE GAPS IN THE POST-SECONDARY WORKFORCE BY SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS AND INITIATIVES THAT PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS REQUIRING SPECIALIZED TRAINING SUCH AS IT, HEALTHCARE, MANUFACTURING AND THE TRADES. - CREATED A SKILLED WORKFORCE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT INITIALLY TARGETED APPROX. 350 STUDENTS IN THREE DISTRICTS BUT SINCE EXPLODED IN POPULARITY WHICH CAUSED US TO EXPAND AND CUSTOMIZED THE PROGRAM TO MORE THAN 10,000 STUDENTS REPRESENTING TEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. - TARGETED 17 PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, REPRESENTING ROUGHLY 160,000 STUDENTS THAT INDIRECTLY INFLUENCED OVER 3,000 STUDENTS THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH OVER 340 EDUCATORS AND DIRECTLY REACHED 450 STUDENTS AND 180 COUNSELORS, EDUCATORS, PRINCIPALS, AND SUPERINTENDENTS.- ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN 25 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS IN 4 TARGET SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALONGSIDE STL.WORKS INDUSTRY SECTOR PARTNERS IN HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY, PUBLIC SAFETY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND THE TRADES.- INCREASED INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS BY A TOTAL OF 126 PARTNERS AND 96 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN ADDITION TO INCREASING INDUSTRY SKILLED PROFESSIONAL SPEAKERS FROM 30 TO 75.- CREATED A 6-WEEK MENTORING PILOT FOR 15 SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, RECRUITED A COUNSELOR WHO SERVED AS THE PROGRAM LIAISON, AND PAIRED STUDENTS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL MENTORS AT 6 PARTNERING COMPANIES (BJC, MCCARTHY, AT&T, BOEING, PARIC, AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY FIRE & POLICE DEPARTMENT) FOR SKILLED CAREER EXPLORATORY ACTIVITIES WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED INTO SKILLED TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH OUR PARTNERS.- CONDUCTED A 2021-22 POST-SURVEY WITH OVER 75 EDUCATORS WITHIN 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MEASURE OUR IMPACT DURING THE CONCLUSION OF THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR THAT YIELDED POSITIVE RESULTS; EDUCATORS REPORTED BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT SKILLED CAREERS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A 4-YEAR DEGREE.- SUPPORTED, PARTNERED, AND ENGAGED WITH 9 INITIATIVES: GLOBAL CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY, JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT, OPPORTUNITY TRUST, SLU, RUNG FOR WOMEN, MASTERCARD AND URBAN LEAGUE (SAVE OUR SONS), ST. LOUIS COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER'S CAREER PATHWAYS, (AMICSTL) AND WYMAN.- ASSISTED WITH ORGANIZING A TRADES CAREER FAIR AT HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY, NORMANDY, AND JENNINGS HIGH SCHOOL THAT EXPOSED OVER 350 SENIORS TO VARIOUS SKILLED CAREER PATHWAYS, NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTIONS, AND/OR POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.TO ATTRACT, RETAIN AND DEVELOP A HIGHLY SKILLED, DIVERSE WORKFORCE IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION BY PROVIDING VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.- CONTRIBUTED TO THE RETENTION OF DIVERSE TALENT IN THE REGION THROUGH THE MENTOR NETWORK PROGRAM BY PAIRING 130 COLLEGE STUDENTS (50% OF WHOM IDENTIFY AS AN ETHNIC/RACIAL MINORITY) WITH BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS IN THE REGION, INCLUDING 25 NEW MENTORS THIS YEAR. - COLLABORATED WITH THE ST. LOUIS MOSAIC PROJECT TO HOST A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR LOCAL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. - HOSTED THE ANNUAL MENTOR NETWORK KICK-OFF PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR MENTORS AND PARTICIPATE IN A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION.- GREW THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK TO OVER 4,500 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTED THE LEADERSHIP 100 MEMBERS AND THEIR SERVICE WITH 83 MEMBERS SERVING ON 149 DIFFERENT REGIONAL BOARDS.- HOSTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXERCISES FOR THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO INTERACT WITH CORPORATE LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.- HOSTED NETWORKING EVENTS TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK TO MEET WITH LOCAL PRESIDENTS AND CEOS.

PHILANTHROPY: TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF GIVING AND INVOLVEMENT OF RBC MEMBERS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED WAY AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.- DISTRIBUTED $100,000 BETWEEN 35 ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THROUGH THE IT'S OUR REGION FUND.- ALLOCATED $100,000 TO AID THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF ST. LOUIS AND THE ST. LOUIS AREA FOODBANK FOR DISASTER RELIEF DURING HISTORIC FLOODING.- RAISED OVER $14 MILLION FOR THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN THAT SUPPORTS OVER 1 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION.