The Collective Work Foundation was founded in 2017 by St. Louis entrepreneur Kevin Bryant. His aim was to build a community support network aligned with Ujima - one of seven principles of Kwanza – to build and maintain our community together and to make our Brother's and Sister's problems our problems, and to solve them together. At the outset Kevin wanted to anchor Collective Work activities in a brick and mortar reality that presented a visual for the network that he was attempting to build. His initial focus was a thriving community with decent housing, a place to incubate aspirational businesses, and a place for learning and community interaction. Kevin’s aspirations became reality. His initial collaboration resulted in the Kingsway Development project, which includes the Elevation building at 4731 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. While Elevation is now hosting working businesses, it is still expanding – a work in progress. Meanwhile, Collective Work has entered its next phase of building community. It has expanded to include areas critical to a community’s well-being: Health and Wellness , Education, and Youth Development. It is constantly expanding to fulfill the needs of a vibrant community.

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In all instances, Bryant has selected Collective Work partners that mirror his dedication to Ujima. The people he has chosen to head the next phase include Steve Conley as Co-Executive Director and Global Director of Community Initiatives & Humanitarian Efforts and a Co-Executive Director Joyce Coleman. Steve and Joyce’s collective and individual relevant experiences are too numerous to list here; however, here is a small sample. Both have spent decades in business development, youth entrepreneurship, and doing pro bono work in education, health and wellness, and youth entrepreneurship throughout the U.S. Steve is a serial entrepreneur, the founder of Power of Nature Inc – a company that is dedicated to providing education about the power of plant healing, and The Well-Volution Network – a wellness revolution rooted in ancient wisdom, modern science, and a deep commitment to helping communities thrive. Joyce comes from the echelon of corporate management in a worldwide company, but also created a non-profit organization to serve the youth of her native Mississippi, and a customer service curriculum for higher education institutions in California. One of books she co-wrote is on collaboration, teamwork, and networking, as well as a memoir. Among their pro bono work Steve and Joyce have collaborated to develop youth entrepreneurship training, events that showcased entrepreneurship, a highly visible digital platform STEM DIGITAL VILLAGE for an HBCU STEM program, and much more collaboratively and individually. Steve and Joyce have already expanded Collective Work Foundation collaborations, and are working to ensure that all relationships are mutually beneficial, and most importantly, benefit the communities it serves.