A Legacy of Leadership at the Partnership: Waheed & Kimbrough

ARCHS Executive Director Wendell Kimbrough and Khatib A.F. Waheed pose at ARCHS Office

Khatib A.F. Waheed and Wendell E. Kimbrough met recently to discuss archiving Caring Communities original records, pamphlets, briefs, videotapes and booklets. They also discussed the possibility of an anniversary event to re-connect former Caring Communities staff, former, students/families, partners, state officials, community leaders and supporters; and creation of a Caring Communities website.

Waheed was the original Director of ARCHS when it was launched in 1998; it was initially named the St. Louis Community Partnership. The name was later re-named Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS). The initial goal was to link the community partnership with Caring Communities and align resources for the Caring Communities Program. Kimbrough is the current Executive Director of ARCHS, Since both men have led ARCHS they have a running joke about being the "Big Heads".

Caring Communities is Missouri’s ambitious cross-system reforms initiative. The work grew from several community and state initiatives. Two similar initiatives were launched in the late 1980s which gave a cohesive shape and direction to the state’s approach. St. Louis Walbridge Caring Communities Program demonstrated the importance of neighborhood-based efforts linked to schools.

Governor Mel Carnahan established the Family Investment Trust as a state-level entity in 1993. The name of the organization was changed to Family and Community Trust (FACT) by executive order of Governor Bob Holden on April 2, 2001. The Family and Community Trust’s charge is to provide leadership in collaboration with Caring Communities Community Partnerships to measurably improve the condition of Missouri’s families, children, individuals, and communities; and to encourage collaboration among public and private community entities to build and strengthen comprehensive community-based support systems.

William "Bill" Dent, Executive Director of Family and Community Trust (FACT) spearheaded the meeting between ARCHS and Caring Communities. He said his vision is "...developing community-based supports and services, the aim is to enhance the well-being of children, which is inseparable from the well-being of their families and the stability and economic viability of the communities where they live."