Senior Director of Programs’ Message

For more than 150 years, Guardian Angel Settlement Association has existed to meet the evolving needs of its community. Today, community members from across the St. Louis area visit our Social Stability Campus to shop our client-choice pantry for groceries and our clothing closet for wardrobe and household essentials, all of which are available to our members at no cost.

However, in this moment when we are all experiencing the highest inflation hike in 40 years which has resulted in a disproportionate rise in living expenses, it is evident that a fresh approach is warranted to ensure the continued success, health, and well-being of our community.

This is why our Social Stability Campus is organizing an innovative, collaborative space with our Community Hub model. In addition to maintaining the services we have always offered, we have invited partner organizations to bring their programs and resources into our facility. Members can join us on-site for Financial Literacy with the St. Louis Office of Financial Empowerment, workshops about healthy relationships with Safe Connections, cooking demonstrations and nutrition classes with Missouri University Extension, water aerobics at the nearby Cherokee Rec Center, and so much more!

What we have learned from our long history of supporting our community is that we must do a better job preparing our members for the imminent changes of our time. Promoting self-sufficiency among our members by creating an ecosystem of care and social services, all accessible under one roof, removes barriers for our neighbors and allows them to not just survive, but thrive.

Zenique Gardner-Perry, Senior Director of Programs