Connections to Success

08/31/2026

Do you know a veteran in the Columbia, MO area who’s looking for work?

Connections to Success is offering free employment support, career coaching, job readiness training, employer connections, and other resources for veterans in Boone County. If someone comes to mind, we’d appreciate you sharing this opportunity with them!

Click the link below to connect with our Columbia, MO office:

https://connectionstosuccess.org/contact/columbia-mo/

Connections to Success’ Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program is 100 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through awards totaling $152,000.

Breaking down barriers for individuals and families to create a brighter future. 601 Business Loop 70W Suite 218 Columbia, MO […]

08/25/2026

While serving a 4.5-year sentence, Breonna made a commitment to create a different future for herself and her family. She invested in her growth, earning multiple certifications and enrolling in the Aspire 2.0 program, a partnership between the Department of Corrections, the Missouri Women’s Council, Missouri Enterprise, Partner for Better, and Connections to Success. Breonna earned multiple credentials in advanced manufacturing and completed our Personal and Professional Development training before her release.

Just days after returning home, Breonna walked through our doors ready to finish what she started. Her determination quickly stood out. Whether supporting classmates, leading an AI demonstration at Connect Night, or embracing every opportunity to learn, Breonna approached each challenge with confidence and purpose.

Today, Breonna is working as a production technician for a global company, and building a brighter future for herself and her seven-year-old sons.

Through hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities, Breonna has transformed her life and is creating the stability and future she has always envisioned.

Breonna’s story is a powerful reminder that a person's past does not define their future. With support, determination, and a belief in what's possible, transformation can happen.

08/19/2026

We are grateful to PSB Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for their generous investment in Connections to Success through a Member Impact Fund award! ❤️

This support will help us continue providing individuals and families with the tools, coaching, career development, training, and resources they need to overcome barriers and move toward greater economic stability.

Through our Pathways to Success programming, we work alongside participants to help them not only secure employment, but build the skills, confidence, and support systems needed to pursue meaningful careers and create lasting economic mobility for themselves and their families.

Thank you, PSB Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, for recognizing the importance of investing in people and creating opportunities for individuals to build stronger, more stable futures.

We are proud to have you as a partner in this work and grateful for your commitment to strengthening our community through meaningful investment and opportunity.

Together, we’re creating pathways to success and building brighter futures.

08/18/2026

We’re proud to spotlight Dr. Tyjaun A. Lee, a valued member of the Connections to Success Board of Directors and co-vice president.

Tyjaun has served on our board for four years and has been an active member of the Resource Development Committee, chaired our annual Tribute to Success - Kansas City, and helped introduce the organization to new partners in the KC area. Her leadership, passion for service, and commitment to creating opportunities for others make her an invaluable part of our organization.

As Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City, Tyjaun has dedicated her career to expanding access to education and supporting student success. With decades of experience in higher education and a longstanding commitment to serving underrepresented communities, she brings a unique perspective to our mission. Her belief in the power of lifelong learning and personal growth closely reflects the work we do every day, helping individuals build the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to achieve lasting success.

A longtime community volunteer and nationally recognized leader, Tyjaun has spent her career advocating for education, equity, and opportunity. We’re grateful for her leadership, her service, and the lasting impact she continues to make through Connections to Success!

08/17/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Parkside Financial Bank & Trust and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines for investing in Connections to Success through a Member Impact Fund award! ❤️

This investment will help us continue creating pathways to economic mobility and long-term stability for individuals and families in our community. Through our Pathways to Success programming, participants receive the coaching, career preparation, training, and wraparound support they need to overcome barriers, secure employment, and build a stronger future.

At Connections to Success, we believe that economic stability is about more than getting a job—it’s about having the tools, support, and opportunities to build a career and create lasting change for yourself and your family.

Thank you, Parkside Financial and Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, for believing in the power of opportunity and for strengthening our community through this meaningful investment. We are honored to put your support to work helping individuals move from barriers to possibilities and from employment to economic mobility.

08/14/2026

Did you know Connections to Success operates two Dress for Success network members? We're proud to support Dress for Success Kansas City and Dress for Success Midwest both working to advance women in the workplace by providing professional attire, workforce readiness tools, and a network of support.

Be sure to follow our new Dress for Success Midwest page to get the latest updates, including pop-up sale announcements, volunteer opportunities, and ways you can get involved!

Welcome to our new page!

Dress for Success Midwest advances women in the workplace through professional attire, a support network, and tools that help them succeed. We empower and support women on their journey to economic mobility.

On this page, you'll find:
Stories of the incredible individuals we serve!
Event updates, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved!
Pop-up sale announcements!
Relevant updates from Dress for Success Midwest, including office closures.

We're excited to be back! Unfortunately, we lost access to our previous page. We hope you'll follow along!

08/12/2026

Meet Bobby, the latest story in our Faces of Success series.

After spending more than 37 years incarcerated, Bobby completed our Personal and Professional Development training and then began the challenging but rewarding process of rebuilding his life in the community through our Pathways to Success program.

Through determination, hard work, and a commitment to personal growth, Bobby earned his driver’s license, secured employment with a local moving and storage company, and began truck driver training to continue building a stable future. Along the way, he has remained focused on responsibility, career development, and creating new opportunities for himself.

Perhaps most meaningful of all, Bobby has been able to reconnect with his children and grandchildren, rebuilding relationships and creating memories that were once out of reach.

Today, Bobby continues moving forward with purpose, proving that it’s never too late to create a new chapter and build a future filled with opportunity. We are proud to celebrate Bobby’s success and are excited to see what his future holds!

08/10/2026

Get ready to swing into action for a great cause! ⛳️🏌️

Our annual fundraiser, Swing for Success, hosted by our Young Professional Board, is back! Join us for an evening of tournament-style play, exciting prizes, Southwest Airlines raffles, a silent auction, food, drinks, and more!

Save the Date! October 18th from 4- 7 p.m. at the Midtown Topgolf in St. Louis, MO.

Ready to join us? Register today!
https://secure.givelively.org/event/connections-to-success/2026-swing-for-success-hosted-by-ypb

08/06/2026

Next up in our “Meet the Board” series: introducing Jeff Morris, Chief Digital Advisor at World Wide Technology, and our co-vice president.

Jeff has served on the board of Connections to Success for over a decade and chairs the Business Development Committee, helping strengthen our outreach and advance our mission. He brings thoughtful leadership and strategic insight to every initiative.

With more than 30 years of experience leading digital transformation and business strategy, Jeff has helped organizations across healthcare, retail, manufacturing, hospitality, and other industries create meaningful change through innovation. His expertise in business operations, AI and digital strategy, and organizational growth bring tremendous value to Connections to Success as we continue expanding our impact.

We are grateful for Jeff’s leadership, commitment, and passion for helping individuals and families achieve economic independence. Please join us in thanking him for his service and congratulating him on his new role!

08/05/2026

Do you know a veteran in the Columbia, MO area who’s at risk of homelessness and looking for work?

Connections to Success is currently recruiting participants for our Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, which helps eligible veterans prepare for and secure meaningful employment through:

• Career coaching
• Job readiness training
• Employer connections
• Supportive services

If you know a veteran in the Boone County area who is motivated to work and could benefit from this opportunity, please share this post or connect them with us.

To learn more, please contact our Columbia office:
https://connectionstosuccess.org/contact/columbia-mo/

Thank you for helping us connect with the veterans who could benefit most.

Connections to Success’ Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program is 100 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through awards totaling $152,000.

Breaking down barriers for individuals and families to create a brighter future. 601 Business Loop 70W Suite 218 Columbia, MO […]