News & Events

To learn more about A Seat at the Table, check out this video interview of Co-founder & Executive Director, Bob Stergos by STL Lifestyles host Joe Warmbrodt.

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Newsletter - November 2022

11/8/2022

November

2022

In This Issue

GivingTuesday, Nov. 29
Ferguson house residents
Generations Deep book launch

Congratulations Joe Lewis III
New Governing Board members
Advisory Board created

GivingTuesday is November 29

Early Donations Accepted!

Because two more young women will soon be moving into our Ferguson house, your GivingTuesday donations are needed more than ever. Your generosity helps us meet the educational/vocational, life & jobs skill, transportation, healthcare, counseling and spiritual developmental needs of our program participants.

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

Created in 2012, GivingTuesday was established as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past several years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. As one of our 2 annual fund-raising occasions, please consider giving to A Seat at the Table as part of your GivingTuesday donations!

Click HERE to learn of the impact A Seat at the Table has on the lives of our four Shaw neighborhood house residents...and why you should consider donating as part of your GivingTuesday efforts.

Click HERE to make a one-time donation or to schedule regular monthly donations of any amount. This is a great way for you to take a seat at the table with us! And, you don’t have to wait until Nov. 29 to donate. All donations from now thru then go towards our GivingTuesday totals!

Ferguson house updates

In case you missed our many social media posts, our Ferguson house Host Parents, Claude and Debbie Bennett welcomed in their first women residents over the past few months, Leonda (Lee) Smith and Jamia Jones, along with Resident Mentor Samoa Asigau.

Lee is a freshman at Harris-Stowe State University, majoring in Business Management. Lee also works part-time at Lowe’s and in her spare time, loves to listen to music.

Jamia, a junior majoring in Applied Visual Communications at UMSL, spends her free time reading, watching movies, singing and creating videos and art.

As prayer ministry leader at One Family Church and Senior Scientist at a major international healthcare diagnostic company, Samoa is uniquely qualified to provide additional mentoring for our Ferguson house residents.

(Above left): Resident Mentor Samoa Asiqau, Resident Jamia Jones and Ferguson house parent Debbie Bennett attending CeCe Winans concert at Church on the Rock.
(Above right): Ferguson resident Leonda (Lee) Smith preparing dinner for a family meal.

Generations Deep book launch
benefitting A Seat at the Table

On Saturday evening, ASATT Board President, mental health therapist and author Gina Birkemeier hosted her Generations Deep book signing at the Undivided Wealth Management Experience Center in Chesterfield. With the help of emcee Marc Cox, Gina shared her personal story and how it led her to write her best-seller book and new accompanying journal, both of which help readers identify and break the cycles of abandonment, abuse and trauma. Gina emphasized that this “cycle-breaking” relates so uniquely well to the mission of A Seat at the Table.

Interviews with A Seat at the Table Shaw-neighborhood house parents (and founders) Bob & Chrissy Stergos, as well as Ferguson house parent Claude Bennett and Resident Mentor Samoa Asigau explored their reasons for participation. Additionally, Bob & Chrissy shared updates on current residents, plans for organizational growth…including recruitment of additional St. Louis-area “host parents” (to take in 1 young person into their existing home) as well as establishment of A Seat at the Table homes in other cities around the nation, starting with Cincinnati and Kansas City.

If you are a Christian married couple interested in providing
a seat at YOUR table, please complete and submit an application which can be found HERE.

Congrats to Joe Lewis III

Well…we’ve come to that time when our first A Seat at the Table participant, Shaw house Resident Intern Joe Lewis III, is ready to transition out on his own into his first apartment. Joe’s calming, mentoring presence will leave an indelible mark upon all at our first A Seat at the Table home. We are forever grateful for Joe’s many contributions, as he led by example in terms of challenging himself to an increasing number of “adulting” experiences, including considerable manual labor both inside and outside our Shaw neighborhood home to prepare it for our other three current residents living with Host Parents Bob and Chrissy Stergos.

You can help with Joe’s transition to his new apartment by either donating the household items that the typical bachelor would need for his first apartment to simply contributing funds via our website. Be sure to select “Joe’s Apartment items” on the drop-down menu.

Welcome two new
Governing Board members

A Seat at the Table is thrilled to welcome Pastor David Hawkins and Tiffany Wild to the Governing board, joining current board members Gina Birkemeier (President), Carla Hayes (Secretary), Kate Sickles (Treasurer) and at-large members Bob and Chrissy Stergos.

Pastor Hawkins, a founding Board member of A Seat at the Table, returns after a 2-year break while he was in the midst of a capital campaign for his church, Living the Word church in Collinsville, IL. Born the youngest of 11 sons and one daughter, David knows more than most what it is to share one’s space…to provide others a seat at the table! David received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Master of Arts in Theology from Covenant Seminary.

David’s passion for not letting any experience, good or bad, go to waste, led him to author his Amazon #1 best-seller Dips, Disruptions and Destiny, a guide to getting yourself out of what life got you into.

Tiffany Wild works as a mental health therapist at Chesterfield Counseling Associates after recently earning a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary. Tiffany’s extensive nonprofit work includes 10+ years of Board tenure with Kidsmart, serving as Chairperson of Development and Operations during her Executive Committee term. Additional experience includes serving as a Youth Leader Volunteer at The Crossing church and well as a Point Woman Mentor at Firstlight.

A business owner and entrepreneur at the likes of Eat Fit Go, Energy Partners in Conservation and Fortified Consulting, Tiffany brings a unique blend of business acumen and nonprofit experience to the A Seat at the Table board team.

A Seat at the Table
Advisory Board established

In addition to our Governing Board, A Seat at the Table has recently established an Advisory Board to gain even more input and advice from experienced business, civic, church, ministry, legal and nonprofit leaders.

Advisory Board members will meet approximately once per quarter with either Executive Director Bob Stergos or a member of the A Seat at the Table Governing board to discuss important organizational challenges and opportunities. They will each serve 3-year terms, renewable as their schedules permit. Their input and influence will be of tremendous help to A Seat at the Table. Intial Advisory Board members are shown below, with an embedded link to their LinkedIn profile or other background articles.

John Alexander

Debbie & Claude Bennett

Ronda & Jamarcus Smith

Pete Woods

The mission of A Seat at the Table

The mission of Seat at the Table is to help at-risk 18 to 25-year olds better transition into adulthood by providing parental presence and community support via residential mentoring in a Christian family environment.

We'd love to hear from you!

Do you know of individuals, companies or foundations for whom serving the under-resourced would be a common passion? Or, do you have an email address for someone whom you think would like to hear about A Seat at the Table? If so, please contact us HERE and let us know those names and/or email addresses! We are always looking to talk to those who have a similar heart to reach across racial and economic divides in our city and beyond. Our goal is to have A Seat at the Table chapters in major cities around the country!

Also, if you have questions about A Seat at the Table, contact us HERE as well. We want to hear from you!

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Generations Deep - book launch / Benefit

10/3/2022

A Seat at the Table supporters: join us Saturday, Oct 22 in Chesterfield, as we update you on ASATT happenings in conjunction with our board president Gina Birkemeier's Generations Deep book launch: https://tinyurl.com/akunhz6x.

We’ll provide the food, drink, music, stories and prizes!

Be sure to register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/421097653417

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NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2021

12/23/2021

December

2021

Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!

To all of you who have contributed, prayed, volunteered…and stepped in to just be part of the A Seat at the Table story, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Together, we’re making a way for promising young people to launch successfully into adulthood. We’re collectively providing a safe family environment from which young men…and soon, young women, are provided the necessary resources, mentors and love to make their way in life!

(Above): A Seat at the Table (L to R): Chrissy Stergos, Dhu'Shawn Allen, Joe Lewis III,
Jamel Williams (aka Santa), Bob Stergos, Larry Hearn

2021 Was a Year of Great Growth

Thanks to the generosity and involvement of many of you, here were some of the highlights of our year:

Jamel Williams, Larry Hearn and Dhu’Shawn Allen all completed very successful semesters at Harris-Stowe State University, Missouri Baptist University and St. Louis Community College respectively!

A special A Seat at the Table shoutout to volunteer math tutor Carla Griffith, whose weekly tutoring sessions helped our guys do well in math classes!

Resident Intern Joe Lewis III transitions at the start of 2nd semester from a part-time Ferguson-Florissant elementary school teacher aid to full-time employment at Bermuda Elementary!
Traveling in our donated Dodge Grand Caravan GX (again, many thanks to our special donors!), we were able to travel to Memphis and Chicago for exciting and informative vacations!

Jamel, Larry and Dhu’Shawn are all working part-time while being full-time students:
- Jamel as LOVEtheLOU “Link” program coordinator
- Larry as library assistant at MoBap
- Dhu’Shawn as Journey Kidz store manager!
Volunteers helped us transition our backyard into an inviting gathering space

Extraordinary donations helped us secure our 1st women’s home (in Ferguson)!
Conducted a very well-attended Ferguson open house in November, so that many could meet our new women’s home host parents, Claude and Debbie Bennett
A Crossing church women’s small group donated Christmas decorations and numerous housewarming gifts for our new Ferguson home for young women
Talented handyman and ministry leader Mark Verslues and his assistant Brandon helped prepare our women’s home in Ferguson for occupancy in early 2022.

Celebrated birthdays and numerous family meals with friends and organizational supporters
Raised $40,000+ from Give STL Day (in the spring) and GivingTuesday (in the fall)
Secured a $20,000 grant from The Brown Sisters Foundation, pending our raising $40,000 by Oct. 31, 2022 from NEW donors or INCREASED donations (vs same period last year) from existing donors. You can donate HERE to help us meet our goal.
Attended the likes of The Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Gardens and several events in nearby Tower Grove Park

Continued regular church attendance, book/bible studies and church volunteer efforts
Secured enough vehicles for each resident to get to and from school and work on his own
Joe, Jamel and Dhu’Shawn will be attending an upcoming CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) conference in Indianapolis next week
All our guys continue to grow a healthy community of believers and mentors that will help them transition well into independent living!

Please share this email with individuals, churches and organizations whom you believe would support our mission of providing a family home and resources for promising young
18 to 25-year olds!

The mission of A Seat at the Table

We'd love to hear from you!

Also, if you have questions about A Seat at the Table, contact us HERE as well. We want to hear from you!

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GivingTuesday - Thank You!!!

12/1/2021

1 Comment

Thank you ALL who donated to A Seat at the Table in yesterday’s GivingTuesday! Your more than $20,000 in donations will help equip our new family home in Ferguson for promising young women. Please also consider becoming a MONTHLY SPONSOR as well at www.aseatatthetable.org/donate.

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Newsletter - November 2021

11/17/2021

November

Donate Here for GivingTuesday 2021

2021

A Seat at the Table family home
in Ferguson for young women

October 19 was a BIG day for A Seat at the Table! Thanks to generous donors, we purchased our 2nd St. Louis-area home, a 7-bedroom, 5 1/2-bath gem in Ferguson, complete with a finished basement and large sunroom.

Into that spacious home, our new host parents, Claude and Debbie Bennett, will begin to gradually welcome in nominated and selected young women who have demonstrated outstanding character and determination to do well in life despite a previous lack of resources or stable housing.

Claude is a highly sought-after ministry leader (Heaven on Earth ministries), as well as a real estate broker and investor. Debbie has an extensive career in the healthcare field that includes 27 years in respiratory care. She holds a Masters of Education Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Crossroads Counseling.

They have three adult children and four grandchildren. Please join us in welcoming Claude and Debbie...and the young women soon join them!

Challenge-Match Grant & GivingTuesday Nov. 30

This year's GivingTuesday (Nov. 30) is so important for A Seat at the Table, as our operating costs will almost double with the establishment of young women's family home in Ferguson. So even your early donations can help address those increased expenditures.

Even more significantly, if we can raise $40,000 by Oct. 31, 2022, we will earn an ADDITIONAL $20,000 via a challenge-match grant from The Brown Sisters Foundation! Grant funds will be specifically used to address the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of our participants.

So, please share this email with individuals, churches and organizations whom you believe would support our mission of providing a “family” and resources for promising young 18 to 25-year olds!

Please invite others to learn more about A Seat at the Table and GivingTuesday by directing them to www.ASeatAtTheTable.org and www.givingtuesday.org.

Early donations are accepted: you (and others) can even donate now (ahead of actual GivingTuesday of Nov. 30) by visiting www.aseatatthetable.org/donate.html and selecting “GivingTuesday 2021” from the drop down menu of giving choices.

The mission of A Seat at the Table

We'd love to hear from you!

Also, if you have questions about A Seat at the Table, contact us HERE as well. We want to hear from you!

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2nd STL-area home for A Seat at the Table

10/20/2021

Oct. 19, 2021 was a BIG day for A Seat at the Table! Thanks to generous donors, we purchased our 2nd STL-area home: a 7-bdrm, 4 full & 1 half bath 2-story in the north county community of Ferguson. Highlights include: a finished-basement with a second kitchen, spacious family room and a large sunroom. We’re excited to soon welcome in 4 young WOMEN to live with a phenomenal set of host parents! Check back soon for more details on our host parents and in-coming young women!

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NEWSLETTER - MAY 2021

5/4/2021

May

2021

In This Issue

Give STL Day needs
Landscaping team effort

Resident Interviews
Benefit Concerts coming soon!

May 6 Give STL Day priorities:
a used van or SUV,
and a second home!

Don’t forget, this Thursday, May 6, is Give STL Day, an annual date when you can donate to the participating St. Louis nonprofit of your choice. We hope you remember A Seat at the Table this week, as early giving is now open!

You can donate here: www.givestlday.org/ASeatAtTheTable.

===================================

With our 4th resident moving in by early June, we have an immediate need to secure a used van or larger SUV, as we just won’t be able to fit our 4 guys plus our host parents into our small Kia Soul.

So, if you know of anyone or a dealer willing to either donate or offer a good buy on a used van or SUV, please email Bob Stergos,
Executive Director: bstergos@ASeatAtTheTable.org.

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As we mentioned in our last newsletter, we’re also hoping for sizeable donations towards our 2nd A Seat at the Table home, as we had a generous couple recently step forward with a donation of 50% towards that 2nd home (which will house 3 to 4 young women with our second host set of parents). So, whether you can donate $50 or $5,000 (or more), any and all giving to A Seat at the Table as part of this Thursday’s Give STL Day will be very much appreciated and put to good use!!!

Landscaping volunteers transform our first home!

A team of Crossing church Outreach volunteers and others worked tirelessly Saturday morning, May 1 on landscaping ‘round our Shaw neighborhood A Seat at the Table home. Working with our 3 current residents, Joe Lewis III, Jamel Williams and Larry Hearn as well as host parents Bob & Chrissy Stergos, the group brought to life the landscaping plan from designer Alice Tucker of True Garden and our Shaw neighborhood.

First, they did the hard work of removing overgrown honeysuckle trees and thorny bushes. Then, they planted azalea and “heavenly bamboo” bushes in the front and side yards.

In the backyard, they alternated plantings of arborvitaes and Rose of Sharon bushes along the interior our new fence, while also planting a lilac bush, sugar maple and flowering dogwood tree to provide much-needed shade. A special plaque honoring Oliver Bacott, the late father of co-founder Chrissy Stergos, was subsequently placed at the base of the new flowering dogwood (as the dogwood was his favorite tree). A similar plaque will likewise be placed by the new sugar maple tree to honor our house donor’s deceased son.

We are honored by all the hard work from the volunteers and grateful to The Crossing for organizing the effort. We can’t wait to (safely) host backyard gatherings with our hard-working volunteers to celebrate their beautiful landscaping effort. What a great environment they created for our A Seat at the Table residents! We are blessed!

Interviews reveal the impact
of A Seat at the Table

Recently, with the help of interviewer Henry Wynd and videographer Brian Mongoven (both Youth Crossing standouts in their younger days!), we recorded thoughts from our current three A Seat at the Table residents, Jamel Williams, Larry Hearn and Resident Intern Joe Lewis III, as well as from co-founders and host parents Bob & Chrissy Stergos.

These excerpts will give you an idea of the impact A Seat at the Table is having on all their lives…and a preview of what, with your help, we can also do for the 3 to 4 girls who will move into our second A Seat at the Table home:

Watch the interviews via the links below:

Jamel Williams: https://youtu.be/4E9A6TA1Ccc

Larry Hearn: https://youtu.be/pSOw_s6vqtY

Joe Lewis III, Resident Intern: https://youtu.be/NkzLgBqoCqA

Chrissy Stergos, Co-founder & Board member: https://youtu.be/ZFlmiVkyLkk

Bob Stergos, Co-founder & Executive Director: https://youtu.be/AAlBJ25ToI4

Benefit Concerts Coming Soon!

As COVID-protocols allow, we’re hoping to resume hosting small-gathering outdoor benefit concerts with some of our favorite musicians. Among the musicians offering to perform is our Sean Coray, for whom the mission of A Seat at the Table is especially relevant. You see, at a time in his later teen years, Sean became part of the Stergos family, one of the “adopted” sons of A Seat at the Table co-founders Bob & Chrissy Stergos…and brother to the four Stergos sons.

To hear Sean’s music will be an especially poignant reinforcement of our mission. Look for more details to come over the next few weeks, but for now, watch and listen to what magnificent musical talents emerged as Sean was able to become a valued part of a family that loved and championed him during those crucial young adult years:

“Who’s Gonna Love You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCzTIW3NKjs
“Vivid Memories” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiyk7EBzWCM
“Cool Breeze” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpYrdFmbaP0
“Lose My Cool” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtzCvbubCko

The mission of A Seat at the Table

We'd love to hear from you!

Also, if you have questions about A Seat at the Table, contact us HERE as well. We want to hear from you!

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Interviews reveal the impact of A Seat at the Table

5/4/2021