Refugees and immigrants are achieving financial independence, thanks to this St. Louis nonprofit
In 2010, Terri Stipanovich’s trip to the impoverished Somali region of East Africa inspired her to make a difference in the lives of countless women by helping them earn a living wage. “We witnessed young women forced into marriage … and even sex trafficking,” Stipanovich says. “It affected me deeply, and I wanted to create something that would go beyond my efforts.” The St. Louis native founded The Collective Thread after recognizing an opportunity to empower women with one valuable skill: sewing.
The nonprofit began with a small sewing school in Ethiopia but quickly expanded into another location in the Central West End to provide a similar opportunity for immigrants and refugees in St. Louis. Four years ago, the St. Louis location moved to the heart of the city’s historic Garment District on Washington Avenue. Operating as the Midwest region’s only independent cut and sew factory, The Collective Thread provides free on-the-job skills training to residents of underserved communities, including those referred by partners such as the International Institute of St. Louis, a local immigrant and refugee service provider.