Addressing Economic Mobility for Black Men in St. Louis

In 2014, the public response to the death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Mo., and subsequent social unrest became a catalyst for St. Louis leaders to transform social and economic outcomes for Black communities. The Ferguson Commission Report (PDF) provided the framework to address core structural barriers that inhibit economic equity and to reimagine outcomes in St. Louis.

Sean Joe

For Sean Joe, the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis, it was important to elevate support for Black men within the pursuit of racial justice. Data show that Black men have historically experienced low economic mobility.For more on how Black men experience low economic mobility, see the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis’ February 2019 Brief Report “Social Mobility: The Necessary Focus of St. Louis Investment in Black Males (PDF).” The benefits of improving the mobility of Black men go beyond the African American community. Studies show that when a region values and creates paths to social and economic well-being for Black males, everyone benefits.

Joe launched HomeGrown StL (HGStL) at Washington University’s Race and Opportunity Lab in 2014 with the goal of improving the social and economic well-being for 60,000 Black males ages 12 to 29 years old in the St. Louis region by 2040. HGStL’s model is unique because it implements both systems-level and individual-level interventions using university-based translational research for community development outcomes.For more about translational research, see Cornell University’s Evidence-Based Living blog post “What Is Translational Research?” This systemic effort converts research into practical applications through community partnerships.

HGStL’s work is grounded in strengthening the overall ecosystem required for long-term upward mobility of Black males. This framework is comprised of work groups with participation from community leaders, service providers and institutional partners. The work groups focus on eight areas: housing, banking, financial capability, skills to jobs with livable wages, health, public safety, mentoring, and essential service, which encompasses legal and transportation. The work groups are overseen by a Regional Steering Committee.

In my role as a community development advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, I have the opportunity to serve on the Regional Steering Committee and to be a member of the Housing, Banking and Financial Capability work group. Through my engagement, I advise HGStL on strategic relationship building, policies and practices, and economic development.

Below, Joe and Esther Shin provide insights on the initiative as well as its strategy and goals. Shin is the president and CEO of Urban Strategies Inc., a member of the HGStL Regional Steering Committee and chair of the Housing, Banking and Financial Capability work group.

What was the catalyst for HGStL?

Sean Joe: The tragic death of Michael Brown further highlighted the long-standing disparities disproportionately burdening Black boys and young men in the St. Louis region. While community and civic leaders in St. Louis were used to having surface conversations around major issues, circumstances on the ground following the Ferguson unrests created an urgency for equitable and data-driven solutions around social and economic mobility. There was interest from the business community and strong institutional partnerships that created the perfect environment to launch HGStL.

What challenges is HGStL working to address?

Joe: HGStL is challenging the long-term devaluation of Black male labor in America. As a country, we have been struggling around this group of residents. For example, the overall unemployment rate in St. Louis for individuals between the ages of 18 to 29 years old was 7.2% in 2016 compared with 14.4% for Black men in this age group. In addition, income for young Black men in St. Louis has sharply declined since 1980.The statistics on unemployment and income for young Black men are for data ending in 2016 from the 2019 Brief Report “Social Mobility: The Necessary Focus of St. Louis Investment in Black Males (PDF).” The St. Louis community has decided to change that pattern and become a driver for transforming the trajectory of young Black men by making them better off than their parents and increasing their social and economic mobility. Our approach to this work is impact at scale through an organized collaborative space because no one group can do this work alone. HGStL is seeking intentional adaptive solutions around behaviors and policies when it comes to the well-being of Black males.

What qualities make HGStL a good example for transforming economic outcomes for Black males?

Joe: Strong university and community partnership that relies on robust community engagement, mutual trust, knowledge sharing and accountability makes HGStL a promising community of practice. St. Louis also has a population of Black males between the ages of 12-29 of manageable size, which makes it easier to achieve impact at scale. Most importantly, HGStL focuses on disparities and not swath of data.Learn more about HomeGrown StL in its 2021 report “Annual Regional Summit on the State of Opportunities for Black Boys and Young Men (PDF),” Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Esther Shin

Esther Shin: HGStL has the right partners and experts at the table and fosters cross-sector partnerships. While not reinventing the wheel, we want to improve on what is already working and take it to scale. At HGStL, we recognize that we are a part of a system and not a program. Our efforts and outcomes will affect the entire region, including institutions and organizations. We are not just looking at barriers but identifying and creating opportunities and connecting Black men to those opportunities.

What advice would you give other communities that would like to implement a similar model?

Joe: First, focus on the hopes and outcomes you want for Black males. Second, assess your capacity because investment at scale and long-term commitment are key drivers of this work. It took two to three years for HGStL to interview community partners and build trust.

Shin: Resources are not so finite, and without intentionality, we cannot bridge the wealth gap for Black males.

Notes

1. For more on how Black men experience low economic mobility, see the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis’ February 2019 Brief Report “Social Mobility: The Necessary Focus of St. Louis Investment in Black Males (PDF).”
2. For more about translational research, see Cornell University’s Evidence-Based Living blog post “What Is Translational Research?”
3. The statistics on unemployment and income for young Black men are for data ending in 2016 from the 2019 Brief Report “Social Mobility: The Necessary Focus of St. Louis Investment in Black Males (PDF).”
4. Learn more about HomeGrown StL in its 2021 report “Annual Regional Summit on the State of Opportunities for Black Boys and Young Men (PDF),” Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.