Building Empowering Connections – Meet Tandra Parks

Learn about our work as you get to know members of our team! Each team member plays an important part in our overall mission, helping families realize their dreams and achieve economic independence.

Tandra Parks
Volunteer and Mentor Coordinator
St. Louis Region

Building Empowering Connections

From developing community partnerships to onboarding new mentors, Tandra Parks has spent the last year and a half building empowering relationships in the St. Louis Region as our Volunteer and Mentor Coordinator. She helps volunteers find tangible ways to combat poverty and expand opportunities for people coming from challenging circumstances like incarceration, long-term unemployment and homelessness. 

Tandra has worked in the social work field for more than 20 years and has experience serving as an advocate for children. In her current role, Tandra’s work continues to impact the next generation as she helps parents connect with volunteer-led services that support career growth and economic mobility.

Opportunities to Engage

One key way volunteers support transformational change is by serving as a mentor. Tandra leads new mentors through a mentor training and matches them with an alumni from our Personal and Professional Development Training. Mentors check in regularly with their mentee to provide encouragement and support as the mentee works toward their goals. This can be life-changing for both the mentor and mentee as the relationship grows. Tandra has helped onboard nine new mentors this year, and more are always needed! 

Tandra also coordinates mock interview volunteers who help our participants build their confidence and interview skills in a supportive setting. So far 32 mock interviewers have engaged this year! Mock interviews take place on a frequent basis, so please reach out if you’d like to get involved! 

New Partnerships in Response to COVID-19

When COVID-19 first brought economic hardship to the St. Louis area in March 2020, Tandra and our Community Outreach Coordinator, Angie Moore, jumped in to help. They worked with the St. Louis Area Foodbank to organize drive-through food distributions at our offices. Hundreds of families have received healthy meals through the mobile markets so far. 

These volunteer-driven events have also deepened our partnerships with local groups like the Junior League of St. Louis and Element Church. As we pool diverse resources and abilities, we’re better able to meet local needs.

We’re thankful for each of our volunteers and partners and are thankful to have Tandra on the team!

October 2020 Update: Tandra has transitioned to a new role with us – she now serves as our Human Resources Generalist!