About Us

Friends,

The last two plus years have had its challenges and successes. Unleashing Potential has stayed the course in partnering with our families…because learning must continue! We have fought through the challenges of the pandemic and the “great resignation” to ensure that the children and families we serve have the best opportunities for their future.

The St. Louis region is on the cusp of major advances in the arena of technology, innovation and sports! These successes must be celebrated …Unleashing Potential is preparing our next generation to be significantly involved in these successes; their contributions, changes and improvements in our community are required for ALL!

UP’s success in early childhood education continues to be the cornerstone of the economy and prepares our babies for kindergarten and beyond, which is the key investment in the future of ALL.

UP’s success in generating a thirst for knowledge and capturing the imagination of our children from kindergarten through middle school with experiences in STEM, social emotional well-being and artistic expression is critical for our youth.

UP’s success in our summer programs has allowed children in our enrichment camps to thrive with an abundance of learning, field trips, and fun! “If they can’t see it, they can’t be it”!

UP’s success in connecting and partnering with parents makes the whole family better equipped for tomorrow!

With your support, we will continue to build on the strengths of our remarkable children and support their families.

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.

DEI Statement

Unleashing Potential is committed to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all aspects of our work. Building upon our mission, we believe that creating a truly inclusive environment for our children and families is essential.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community where all children and families feel welcomed, valued, and supported. We recognize that diversity and inclusion are not only moral imperatives but also critical components to achieving educational and social equity for all.

We are dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture that values, respects, and embraces diversity among our governing board, staff, volunteers, program participants, business and community partners.

We will work tirelessly to address and eliminate all forms of discrimination, including systemic prejudice and bias, and to promote understanding, appreciation, and celebration of differences.

We will work to create an environment where every child, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual and gender identity, faith tradition, ability, or socio-economic background, has the opportunity to thrive.

In all that we do, we will be guided by our commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We know that our success in achieving our mission depends on our ability to create a truly inclusive community, and we are committed to doing the hard work necessary to achieve that goal.

History

Unleashing Potential has a long and successful history serving children and their families in St. Louis. And, although the organization name, address and programs have changed over 100+ years, our dedication is still to bring educational and empowering experiences to St. Louis’ children and youth.

View Detailed History & Timeline

Staff

Unleashing Potential employs more than 60 staff members across 9 school locations in St. Louis City and County. Each team member is focused on discovering and unleashing the very best in each child served so they can reach their greatest potential.

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Tom Stringer, Chair Community Volunteer

Rev. Tom Baynham, Vice Chair Senior Pastor Friedens United Church of Christ

Jackie Dippel, Treasurer Partner Retired, KPMG LLP

Michael Green, Treasurer (May 2024) 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.

Brian Caplan Boeing

Nicole Gore Washington University in St. Louis

Rev. Deon McKenzie Immanuel United Church of Christ

Reginald Williams Education Equity Consultants

Financials

News See More

Unleashing Potential Receives $15,000 Grant from Bayer Fund

St. Louis, MO (January 5, 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 700 at-risk 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.