About Us

Dear Friends of Unleashing Potential,

The St. Louis region is experiencing a dynamic transformation, emerging as a hub for technology, innovation, and sports. With the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and new tech businesses setting roots in St. Louis, a strong foundation in STEM education is more important than ever. This exciting period of growth demands celebration and strategic investment in our future leaders. Unleashing Potential is committed to equipping our next generation to be integral contributors to this thriving ecosystem.

Quality School Age Services for out-of-school time for students and early childhood education programs are essential to this mission. Our after-school care and summer enrichment programs provide a safe and supportive environment where children can learn, grow, and explore their interests. These programs are critical for preventing negative behavioral incidences that youth often face, while also fostering academic success, social-emotional development, and leadership skills.

Our early childhood education program remains foundational to this mission. By providing high-quality care and education, we’re laying the groundwork for lifelong success, ensuring our youngest citizens are kindergarten-ready and poised to excel.

Through our STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and social-emotional learning, we ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and build essential life skills in children from kindergarten to middle school. These experiences are crucial for cultivating the innovative thinkers and problem-solvers our city needs.

Strengthening the parent-child bond is necessary for child development. We are dedicated to partnering with families through our Strengthening Resilient Families program to create supportive environments that nurture growth and success for all.

With your support, we can continue to build upon the strengths of our remarkable children and families by empowering them to shape a brighter future for St. Louis.

Yours in Service,

Darlene Sowell
President & CEO

Mission Statement

The mission of Unleashing Potential is to close the opportunity gap for children and youth by building on their strengths. We create educational and empowering experiences through early childhood education, after school programs, youth development and enrichment camps.

Vision

A St. Louis community where all children, youth and families live into their potential.

VALUES we believe in...

Respect for all

Unleashing Passion for respecting individuals while creating strong communities of inclusiveness, equity and fairness that empowers families and inspires children to their greatest potential.

Faith and Stewardship

Unleashing Power to advocate for social justice inspired by our faith-based legacy.

Quality Programs and Caring Staff

Unleashing Performance of dedicated staff to provide the highest quality of educational experiences for children and youth.

Resilience and Empowerment

Unleashing Possibilities by affirming the resiliency of the children, youth and families we serve; building upon their own strength and capacity to overcome challenges.

Media Policy

Only the chief executive, board president, board chair, or other individual(s) designated by the board are authorized to speak with the media. The chief executive and the board designate shall collaborate on message development and coordinate who will handle which press inquiries.

Employees, board members (other than the chair) and members acting in a capacity within a committee or a caucus shall not make statements, provide information for distribution, or provide background information unless specifically directed to do so by the chief executive and/or the board.

Provided that they have prior permission to do so from the chief executive or the board, employees, board members, and members acting in a capacity with a committee, or a caucus shall speak publicly on behalf of Unleashing Potential only in accordance with established public speaking procedures.

Fundraising Policy

Unleashing Potential values donor privacy and implements strict policies regarding the storage and destruction of confidential donor information. UP will not sell, share or trade our donors’ names or personal information with any other entity.

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Tom Stringer, Chair Community Volunteer

Jackie Dippel, Treasurer Partner Retired, KPMG LLP

Michael Green, Vice Chair Sales Manager/Enterprise Sales Busey Bank

Andrew Walshaw, Secretary President & CEO St. Louis Equity Fund, Inc.

Other Members

Suzanne Besnia Retired, Riezman Berger, P.C.

Staci Buckels AIM High St. Louis

Brian Caplan Boeing

Nicole Gore, J.D. Washington University in St. Louis

Mark Lenihan Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Dr. Julian Magee Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Rev. Deon McKenzie Immanuel United Church of Christ

Tai Oney St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Reginald Williams Education Equity Consultants

News See More

Unleashing Potential Receives $15,000 Grant from Bayer Fund in 2024

St. Louis, MO (December 10, 2024) – Unleashing Potential (UP) announced it received $15,000 in support from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. This grant will build a better future for nearly 700 under-resourced school-aged students from 6-14 years old through high-quality STEAM (science, technology, engineering, cultural arts, and math) out-of-school time (OST) afterschool and summer programs. Students served by UP primarily live in communities throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area that are experiencing financial hardships.