In the News

Featuring R.A.A.!

Below are news items and comments featuring R.A.A.! and the work that we do.  Thanks to all for their support and acknowledgements!  It’s wonderful to know that we are touching lives in a positive way!

If you have comments that you’d like to share with us, please do.

TESTIMONIAL:  I cannot thank R.A.A. enough for the care and commitment they showed towards me while I was trying to figure out my life after losing both my job and my husband in short order last year.  Ms. Rose was compassionate, but would not allow me to wallow in self-pity and helped me realize skills I didn’t know I had.  I’m in a different career field now and I love it! Enrolling in the L.E.A.P. program was one of the best decisions I ever made! – K. Williams – Aug. 2017

KUDOS:  I’m so glad R.A.A. is in my neighborhood and Ms. Diana was outside that day I was walking past!  Being able to go in and not only use the computer without getting kicked off, but to get help with it  and my job search  was great!  I’d already been through a few job readiness programs with no luck, so I really wasn’t expecting much when you looked at my resume and said, “Umm, no, we gotta fix this! I  think you’re having trouble getting pass File 13 with this one.”  The way you helped me revamp my resume to  include not just my work history, but other skills I have and activities I’d done that I didn’t even think would matter to an employer, gave me a new way of seeing myself.  And I just love how Ms. Diana made sure I looked at the job board and gave me encouragement whenever I saw something on it that I wanted to apply for.  I really like the job I got and for the first time in a long while, I feel positive about my future career!   I can’t thank you and your staff enough for taking time with me and not treating me like a pest or another statistic or box to check off.  And don’t worry, I’ll still be dropping in from time to time when I’m off, to say hi and to see if I can help you guys with anything. You can’t get rid of me that easy! (smile) – Les – Oct. 2015

KUDOS: Rose, I was SO impressed with the R. A. A.! Health Fair on Saturday!  There were lots of vendors and so many people!  You didn’t let the rain stop you, and all the problems that cropped up you handled. (Constant overheard comment:  “Where’s Rose?”)  I can’t believe you’ve done this seven times, now.  It’s so much work, I’m sure I’d probably quit after doing one!  I enjoyed meeting my “healthy bites” co-worker (Heather?  I don’t have her card in front of me and I’m terrible at names) and I had time to cruise the tables during the afternoon to see the array of information available.  The whole thing was quite an accomplishment, and you should be very proud of yourself!  Congratulations on another successful health fair! – Fran – May, 2015

ARTICLESt. Louis housing group get accolades for advocacy work – March, 2015

ARTICLE:  Housing group wins national award for Midland States Bank pact on lending to minorities – March, 2015

TESTIMONIAL:  “I grew up very poor, and in the past, my attitude towards money was, spend it on what you want now because you won’t have any later. My association with R.A.A.! Committee has forced me to re-examine my relationship with money and look at it in a new and more mature way. I pay more attention to when I’m spending, and write things down –there’s no more mysterious “Where did all my money go?”!  I’m finding that when I’m aware of what I’m spending money on, I seem to retain more of it for our needs.

I’m teaching my son, who is 9, a whole new method of dealing with money now. He has spending money of his own, and also puts percentages of each allowance into short term savings, long term savings, “taxes”, and best of all, to charity. He thinks about what he is spending money on, and makes his decisions based on real choice instead of impulse, and is able to make a small difference in the world through his charity donations.  I feel R.A.A! has given me the tools to make my son’s life better financially and by learning to be a caretaker for himself and others.”

ARTICLE:  “New Employment Resource from Ready, Aim, Advocate!” – Feb. 23, 2010

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  R.A.A.! is proud to be listed as one of the “Trusted Community Resources” on KETC Channel 9 Facing the Mortgage Crisis web site, http://stlmortgagecrisis.org.

TESTIMONIAL:  “I was homeless on Sunday but thanks to Ms. Rose and her team of angels by Wednesday I was sleeping in my own apartment!  They even helped me with furniture and groceries!  I’ve since been able to focus more on school and getting my life back on track.  R.A.A.! is definitely a blessing in disguise in more ways than one!  Thanks for the support and encouragement you continue to give me!” – F.S.

KUDOS:  “I’d never heard of R.A.A.! until I attended your meeting and I have to say, I’m impressed!  I look forward to working with you more.  Keep doing great things! – D. Stanton