SAGES Bridging Gaps of the Heart, Head, & Hand | LEADING for IMPACT

Society Needs Hope! SAGES Severs Gaps

Mentorship, Hope, Empowerment : A Pathway Through the Mental Health Crisis

Across the country, young people are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and uncertainty about their futures. In her thought‑provoking Aeon essay, Carol Graham argues that two powerful — and often underestimated — tools can help turn the tide: mentorship and hope.

Graham’s research highlights that while access to mental health services is critical, it’s not enough on its own. Many young people, especially those from underserved communities, need trusted guides who can help them envision a future worth striving for. Mentors provide more than advice — they offer connection, encouragement, and a living example that success is possible.

She points to evidence showing that when young people believe their lives have purpose and possibility, they are more resilient in the face of challenges. Hope, in this context, isn’t wishful thinking — it’s a skill that can be nurtured through relationships, goal‑setting, and consistent support.

Why This Matters to SAGES: Severing the Gap

At SAGES, we see these truths in action every day. Our programs are built on the belief that mentorship is not a luxury — it’s a lifeline. By pairing youth with committed mentors, we help them develop the confidence, skills, and vision they need to navigate both personal and professional challenges.

We also recognize that hope is contagious. When a young person sees someone who believes in them, it changes how they see themselves. That’s why our work doesn’t just focus on academic or career pathways — it’s about building a foundation of belief that fuels long‑term success.

Your Role in the Solution

The youth mental health crisis is complex, but as Graham’s essay reminds us, solutions don’t always have to be complicated. You can be part of the change:

Volunteer as a mentor.
Support programs that connect youth and young adults with role models, professionals, coaches and mentors.
Share stories of hope and resilience in your own community.

Read the full Aeon essay here and below. Join us in creating pathways of possibility for the next generation.

Top Recent Innovative Initiatives (Snapshots)

🌟 Co-Creator, Champion, Senior Advisor, & Consultant 🌟

Since its inception in 2019, Dr. McCoy helped the Regional Business Council create, grow, and champion its workforce development initiatives and STL.works for awareness, engagement, and real-world work experiences for youth, young adults, and beyond in careers that don't require a degree for over 15,000 of youth, youth adults, school administrators, educators, counselors, CTE leaders, nonprofit leaders and more, with over 150 businesses in the region.

https://stl.works

🌟 Senior Advisor & Champion🌟

With Daugherty Enterprises and Foundation, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. That’s where Dr. Art McCoy comes in.

As Chief Impact Champion, Dr. McCoy brings a visionary blend of strategic leadership, equity-driven action, and deep expertise in education for AI and avatar powered training and non-profit leadership experience for governance and strategic planning. The mission is community empowerment and uplifting underserved populations' aging-well initiatives and supports for great physical, spiritual, and mental health.

https://daughertyenterprises.com/team

🌟 Advisor & Consultant🌟

From the start, 2015, to 2025, Dr. McCoy advised Clayco owners and executive team in the creation of CCDI and its success, while continuously supporting CCDI leaders, its student pipeline, activities, growth to over 500 secondary and post-secondary participants in construction career development.

https://ccdi.org

🌟 Co-Creator, Strategic Advisor, & Consultant 🌟

Since 2019, Dr. McCoy helped St. Louis Police and Fire Chiefs and leadership teams create, continuously grow and fund C.A.P.L.E. -- Careers and Pathways in Law Enforcement -- and the First Responders Camps/Academies serving over 500 youth and work-ready young adults for insights and inroad into careers with the St. Louis County Police Department and Fire Departments of Hazelwood, Eureka, Fenton, and more.

www.stlouiscountypolice.com

🌟 Strategic Advisor & Consultant 🌟

Dr. McCoy Supported the CEO, Board, and executives of AstrumU to expand this innovative AI technology platform for education, government and workforce applications to provide student's career pathway navigation, scores of corporations with data analytics, and education's continuous improvement across America.

www.astrumu.com

🌟 Co-Creator, Consultant, & Advisor 🌟

From the start in 2019 to 2023+, Dr. McCoy helped Daugherty Business Solutions CEO and executive leadership create and scale Access Point and select its students. and higher education partners and corporate partners for computer coding/tech training, hyper-care & mental health support, and the employment of up to 300 young adults and secondary students with $50,000 or more living-wage careers in technology at Mastercard, Edward Jones, Bayer, EverNorth, and more.

www.accesspointprogram.org

🌟 Co-Creator, Co-Author, Consultant, & WashU School of Medicine Hermann Center Advisor 🌟

Dr. Art McCoy serves as a strategic partner and consultant to Washington University’s Families First and THRIVE initiatives, a groundbreaking preventive intervention program led by renowned psychiatrist Dr. Joan Luby. He is also a community advisor to the Hermann Center for Child and Family Development. Designed to support emotional development in young children and their caregivers, Families First and THRIVE are implemented in collaboration with St. Loius area school districts. This evidence-based coaching program focuses on 4–6-year-olds and their parents, offering tools to strengthen emotional resilience, reduce behavioral challenges, and enhance parent-child relationships.This department leads one of the largest and longest studies of emotion development and emotion disorders.

https://eedp.wustl.edu

https://hermanncenter.wustl.edu/hermann-center-committees

Democracy is not a spectator sport! Being an engaged citizen means you’re participating in the process of self-governance in your community and country. Voting is just the starting block. Consistent civic engagement is the peak. As a WashU Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2025 Awardee, Dr. McCoy champions this cause as well of leading as if your life, legacy, and liberty depend on it; because they do. At the Gephardt Institute, we challenge you to go beyond voting by building your “toolbox” of civic engagement strategies and skills, participating in civic dialogue, and engaging in the public policy process. The Gephardt Institute is non-partisan. You can bring your “why” or clarify it through our programs, and we’ll teach you the “how.”

https://gephardtinstitute.wustl.edu/people/art-mccoy/

🌟Distinguished Research Fellow & Strategic Advisor – Saint Louis University 🌟

School of Education & Geospatial Institute | PRIME Research Center

In 2020 to date, Dr. Art McCoy made history as the first Distinguished Research Fellow of the School of Education and only the third to hold such a title across Saint Louis University with Chairman of the Board at Planet Federal Former NGA CEO Robert Cardillo, and Former Boeing CEO and President of AMICSTL Dennis Muilenburg.

Dr. Art McCoy's appointment reflects a deep commitment to advancing innovation, equity, and excellence in education and workforce development. In this esteemed role, Dr. McCoy served as a strategic partner and senior advisor to the University President, Deans, and research leaders—guiding regional and national partnerships, cutting-edge research initiatives, and transformative workforce programs.

Key Contributions:

Advisor to the PRIME Research Center: Supported pioneering studies in education, equity, and geospatial intelligence.
Consultant to the Geospatial Institute: Helped align research with real-world applications in workforce readiness and national security.
Strategic Guidance to University Leadership: Advised on institutional strategy, partnership development, and innovation pipelines.
State & National Impact: Facilitated collaborations, workshops, and keynote addresses that bridged academia, industry, and government to create scalable solutions for workforce advancement research, education, student pipelines and community engagement.

SAGES Bridging Gaps of the Heart, Head, & Hand | LEADING for IMPACT

SAGES Bridging Gaps of the Heart, Head, & Hand | LEADING for IMPACT

Society Needs Hope! SAGES Severs Gaps

Mentorship, Hope, Empowerment : A Pathway Through the Mental Health Crisis