Nineteen-year-old Da Resha Waller, of East St. Louis, has held tightly to her dreams and goals. 

“My case worker told me about the (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center) Building Future’s (BF) program to help build my credentials for the future,” said Waller. “She said the program was the kind I wanted for my future, which is to be successful and independent.” 

Waller graduated with a 3.2 GPA from Lovejoy Technology Academy in May. She started BF in October 2021 with a low GPA. 

“I had stopped out of high school in my junior year, because I was going through a lot of problems,” said Waller. “When I joined Building Futures, they were more than helpful. Mrs. Ora (Lockett) is a wonderful lady. She gives us a lot love. She is consistently helping people. They also check up on your well-being.” 

Waller went to summer school after her junior year in high school to get her credits up and also took two online courses. 

“Da Resha’s dedication and constant efforts towards accomplishing her goals were commendable,” said BF Program Director Lockett. “When I first met her, she was adamant about her next steps after high school. She made it known that her main focus was getting a better education and accomplishing her dreams.” 

“I’ve got a lot of goals in life,” said Waller. “For one, I’m going to be an entrepreneur in the beauty industry, making my own custom, handmade wigs.” 

I had some acquaintances who kept their hair done well. I started paying their hairstylist to do mine as well. I began to see the pretty start coming out in me. Then I started doing my own hair, and I found I was good at it.” 

Because of the stress and strain on her hands and wrists, Waller began investigating how to make her own wigs on YouTube and other video platforms, and soon the budding wigmaker was doing just that.     

“I learned to arch my own eyebrows, too,” she added. “If you put your mind to it, you can do it.” 

“I want to launch my LLC business by age 20,” she said. “I plan to receive grants and fundraising. I already have a vendor for my hair.” 

In the fall, Waller plans to attend Southwestern Illinois College for digital marketing, accounting and business in order to market her business online. Building Futures will continue to assist Waller academically with its paid incentive program.  This is offered to every BF student along their journey, as a means of academic support, so that every student can reach their accomplishments. 

In addition, Waller is enrolled in a welding class in Belleville. “Because one day I want to build my own house,” she said. 

“You can’t let anything break you,” Waller continued. “So, keep your head up.” 

Building Future’s goal is to equip young people with the ability to care for themselves without being dependent upon others. In addition, the program assists youth and young adults with identifying career interests, to develop a career path in a high-demand field and to improve their overall wellbeing. Building Futures serves 20-30 youths per year. Its services include career assessments, academic advisement, paid on-the-job training, paid training and placement, professional development, financial literacy, life skills, soft skills, community linkage, academic advisement, workforce development training and promotion of self-sufficiency skills.

Helping to equip those who have fought and done so much for their country is what makes Yasin Jackson’s job so rewarding. Jackson has been the program coordinator for the Veterans Upward Bound program for the past two years. 

“The best part of my job is being an advocate for veterans,” said Jackson. “My goal is to improve veterans’ access to information and services.” 

Jackson builds relationships with community partners through coordinated support actions. She counsels veterans regarding their educational benefits and career goals and creates an education plan. Once the plan is completed, she helps in accessing the veterans’ academic standing regarding their mathematic, writing and reading comprehension skills. Veterans who do not need educational guidance receive other services such as assistance in career planning or help with Veterans Affairs disability claims or employment assistance. 

“Veterans seeking employment often leave out valuable training and education from their resumes because they aren’t confident that they should list those skills for fear of being tested,” said Jackson. “Other times veterans tend to think they don’t deserve the higher positions at work, so they don’t even apply. Refresher training coupled with educational counseling is a great way for veterans to become confident in their abilities.” 

One of our newest participants has not attended school in four decades. Yet, he’s determined to refresh his skills and return to college. He is already an active community leader and wants to be set a good example to the youth he mentors,” she continued. “Since he started with us a month ago, he has improved in his writing and reading comprehension skills, but the confidence he exudes is the best part. We are so excited for him and the positive impact he will have on his community. I love watching people fulfill their goals, enhance their skills, and most importantly boost their confidence.” 

Veterans Upward Bound assists with the pursuit of vocational/technical, associate and bachelor degrees. The program provides supportive services to military Veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve to enable them to enter or re-enter a vocational/technical school or a two- or four-year college. The program is seeking veterans who want to further their education but need help navigating the enrollment process and finding financial assistance, those who need help in balancing work and family and those who are ready to take on the task of making life better for themselves and their families.

Tiana Montgomery recalls her school days of yesteryear, and the positive impact solid education and good mentors had on her. Today, she is markedly determined to help provide quality education to children in the Metro East. 

Montgomery joined the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s staff on June 13 as the new Project Success program director. 

“I’m extremely pleased to be here and came in ready to work,” said Montgomery, a K-8^th administrator for the past 20 years. 

Montgomery received her bachelor’s in elementary education from SIUE in 2003. She has a master’s of educational leadership degree and an educational specialist degree with a superintendent endorsement. The Alton native started out teaching in East St. Louis and then continued her career as an administrator in Alton, Shiloh and Edwardsville, where she worked as a principal before coming to SIUE. 

“I was at a point in my career where I was ready for a change, but I wanted to still help children and be in a leadership role,” explained Montgomery. 

“Also, being able to help at-risk youth reach their potential spoke to me,” she added. “I had a single mother, and she worked hard to care and provide for me and better herself. She earned a nursing degree. She was a superwoman.” 

It’s the characteristics of her mother and mentors like retired educators Debra Pitts, of Edwardsville, and John Cunningham, of Alton, that Montgomery said has helped mold her educational foundation. 

“They pushed me to do my best,” she illuminated. “They were open, honest and transparent with me. They wanted me to take the right path. But if I fell off, they were right there to help me back up. To this day, they still inspire me.” 

In looking at Project Success, the new director says now is a good time to reflect on the past and its solid history and successes. She’s also set to address the future to discover ways to enhance the program while inspiring each student to be their best self academically and socially.

“But we will do that with the mission of the children in mind,” said Montgomery, “because the children are the focus of the program. I’m also glad to say that the wonderful work that we do wouldn’t be possible if it were not for our wonderful staff and the collective effort of SIUE and other stakeholders.” 

The Project Success Program is a comprehensive after-school tutorial enrichment childcare program, which services children ages 5-14. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services funds the program. It is designed to serve children who are in protective custody and are referred by the Department of Children and Family Services caseworkers. The program provides services to children living within the St. Clair County and Madison County areas.

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