A crowd of enthusiastic CAASTLC supporters gathered at Alberic Construction Company on Friday evening, October 16, 2009. Everyone was there to participate in the second annual Green Jazz Gathering, which is a ‘green-themed’ event presented by CAASTLC’s Board of Directors and is a celebration of various CAASTLC partnerships supporting CAASTLC’s dedication to energy conservation, education and services that provide awareness of how environmental issues affect the welfare of the community as a whole. Expanding on last year’s event, guests participated in a silent auction with a fabulous sundry array of donated items. This year’s auction was co-chaired by Board members Jessica England and Rose Eichelberger. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous feast of fish and vegetable hors d’oeuvres, fruit, cheese and beverage refreshments created by Steve Wallace Catering during the auction bidding. Musical entertainment was provided by Tony Simmons Entertainment whose smooth mellow tones set off and completed the ambiance of the evening’s festivities.

One of the evening’s highlights was a video presentation of a child’s perspective of environmental responsibility and what we can do to protect the environment. CAASTLC Executive Director, Merline Anderson and outgoing CAASTLC Board Chair Michael Crayton welcomed everyone and reaffirmed CAASTLC’s commitment to the challenge of providing energy education to the low-income community and opportunities for more “green jobs” for all citizens of St. Louis County.

CAASTLC Community Relations Committee Chair Ethel Teasley is already gathering resources and recruiting volunteers to assist in next year’s event. CAASTLC’s Board feels that CAASTLC is growing and becoming ‘greener’ along the way.

On September 15, 16 and 17, 2009 AmerenUE provided $3 million to help needy customers in the state of Missouri get a fresh start managing their utility bills. The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC) was designated to manage the Clean Slate funds for St. Louis County. Monday morning September 15, hundreds of desperate clients, delinquent electric bills in hand showed up at CAASTLC’s front door. The parking lot was over flowing, traffic backed up, and staff had to park off site to make room for the frantic crowd. The CAASTLC staff familiar with handling people in crisis moved quickly with professional handiness and compassion to process as many people as they could as long as the funds held out.

CAASTLC received $367,688 to help distressed residents of St. Louis County and in less than three days 995 clients were served at CAASTLC. By midday on Wednesday, September 17, the funds in the Clean Slate Program had been cleaned out.

“Our goal is to reach customers who literally have to choose each month between paying utilities and paying for food, medicine or other essential services, “said Warner Baxter, AmerenUE president and chief executive officer. “It is part of our ongoing efforts to listen, respond and deliver to our customers—especially our most vulnerable customers, who are experiencing significant challenges during these difficult economic times.”

CAASTLC staffer Christine Watts, who is a client service representative working frontline with those in need, said ”I felt sorry when the funds ran out for those we could not help, because there are just never enough funds for the need that we see in this community.”

CAASTLC continues to present Job Fairs free and open to the entire St, Louis community coordinated through the Job Placement Program. Job Fairs give individuals coming through CAASTLC’s Job Placement program an opportunity to find immediate employment. Clients become more marketable through preparative training. Education and employment are major building blocks toward self-suffiency. All clients enrolled in the job readiness program are required to complete a four-day job training course before they are eligible to be referred to a job. All program participants seeking employment are interviewed to determine their personal needs and to identify any problems that may not be immediately obvious. Basic computer skills are taught as well as G.E.D. test preparation.

CAASTLC’s most recent Job Fair held in August was an overwhelming success. The next Job Fair will be held on December 3, from 1-4 pm at the Overland Community Center. There will be a variety of employers who will be participating including: Enterprise Car Company, Regions Bank, Kelly Services, Mid East Area Agency on Aging, First Student, Mary Kay, St. Louis County Government, Drury Plaza Hotel, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Department of Labor, YWCA Head Start/Early Start, Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Community College, Avon, Convergys Corporation, and more.

Watch our website for more information about the employment program and job opportunities.