Connections to Success

10/09/2026

What helps people build a more stable future? Often, it starts with the basics: affordable housing, employment, education, training, access to resources, and trusted relationships.

Connections to Success Life Transformation Coach Paul Dow recently spoke with KOMU 8 about some of the barriers people can face in building a stable future – and why having someone to help connect the dots can make such a difference.

For Paul, meaningful change starts with showing up, building relationships, and helping people find the resources they need to move forward. We’re proud to be part of the Columbia community, and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation.

Read the full story from KOMU 8: https://www.komu.com/news/columbia/columbia-groups-say-trust-stability-are-key-to-executing-violence-reduction-recommendations/article_42a67e27-94e8-449f-863b-fe2e729222e4.html

10/08/2026

Today is DAF Day, and we’re proud to be part of this nationwide celebration of donor-advised giving.

If you have a DAF, consider recommending a grant to Connections to Success. Your support helps provide the training, career development, coaching, and resources individuals need to overcome barriers, find meaningful employment, and build greater economic stability for themselves and their families.

Learn more about giving through a donor-advised fund: https://connectionstosuccess.org/get-involved/donate/

09/29/2026

Our next Face of Success is Tyrone Hill, who is writing a new chapter after almost three decades of incarceration.

At 47, Tyrone participated in our intensive, 60-hour Personal and Professional Development training. He began to see qualities he had developed through years of perseverance in a new way. Patience and persistence had helped him navigate difficult circumstances, and he now realized those very qualities could become strengths in the workplace.

Tyrone credits Connections to Success with helping him identify strengths he hadn’t always known how to name. He says the training “helps you see your soft skills clearly and recognize what your true strengths really are.”

Today, Tyrone has maintained steady employment while reaching other milestones that once may have seemed out of reach: securing housing, getting a vehicle, and reconnecting with his family.

And now, Tyrone is sharing his story with an even wider audience. He was recently featured in the Kansas City Globe, where he wrote about his journey, the support he received from Connections to Success, and the role of community partners like Bank of America in helping create pathways to opportunity.

We’re grateful to Tyrone for sharing his experience, and to Bank of America for supporting the work that helps make stories like his possible!

09/23/2026

Our Faces of Success series continues with Irasa Downing, this year’s recipient of the Lambert Legacy Award.

For more than 30 years, Irasa has dedicated her life and her career to helping others reach their full potential. As a respected retired executive at Edward Jones and longtime supporter of Connections to Success, she generously gives her time, talent, treasures, and wisdom to strengthen organizations, develop leaders, and create opportunities for others to succeed.

Guided by faith, compassion, and a deep belief in the potential of every individual, Irasa's impact extends far beyond the workplace. Through her leadership, volunteer service, and commitment to community, she has inspired countless people to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose.

As Brad and Kathy Lambert shared when presenting the award, “Irasa’s legacy is not only seen. It is deeply felt in every life she has touched.”

We are honored to celebrate Irasa and her extraordinary legacy of service, leadership, and impact!

09/15/2026

Our next Faces of Success profile is one that has deep roots and a lasting impact – not just for the individual, but for our organization.

Robin Morgan came to Connections to Success in 2006, looking for a second chance and a new direction after incarceration. Through our Personal and Professional Development training and other support services, he found the confidence, tools, and opportunities to begin the process of rebuilding his life. It took time and effort, but he persevered and found long-term employment – as well as hope and healing.

Fun fact: Robin stayed at the job Connections to Success helped him find for 20 years. It was his first job out of prison, through a temp service at a call center – which he ended up managing with a team of over 60. When they restructured, he happily said it was perfect timing so he could focus more deeply on his ministry. He even received the White House’s Honor of Hope recognition for the state of Missouri!

Today, Robin pastors the Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Kansas City, mentors individuals through prison ministry, and is the first former participant to serve on the Connections to Success Board of Directors. He serves on our Business Development Committee and leads our mentor initiatives in Kansas City as a volunteer.

Robin has described his transformation as having a “ripple effect” – one life changed, creating opportunities for countless others. Twenty years ago, Connections to Success helped Robin begin writing a new chapter. Today, he’s helping ensure others have the chance to write theirs.

09/12/2026

Changing lives starts with creating opportunities. We are proud to be part of this important work, helping women returning to their communities build the skills, confidence and support network needed to create long-term success. 💙

09/10/2026

Meet our Young Professional Board Chair, Elizabeth Taylor!

Professionally, she is a Senior Strategic Services Administrator at Commerce Bank, where she partners across multiple departments within the Consumer Segment and Strategic Services teams. She enjoys solving problems, building connections, and creating structure that helps teams be more effective.

Elizabeth was introduced to Connections to Success by Becki Feldman, and as she learned more about the organization's mission and impact, she quickly became passionate about supporting its work. What started as an introduction evolved into a meaningful opportunity to serve alongside a group of dedicated professionals committed to helping individuals achieve economic independence and long-term success.

Why Connections to Success?
"I believe everyone deserves access to opportunities that help them reach their full potential. Connections to Success equips individuals with the resources, confidence, and support needed to overcome barriers and build a brighter future. Being able to play a small part in that mission is incredibly rewarding."

09/09/2026

Seeing one person succeed is powerful. Creating that kind of change consistently is the bigger challenge.

Kayla* came to Connections to Success facing challenges that made stability feel out of reach. Through our Pathways to Success program, she gained the tools, momentum, and support to move forward – and ultimately secured stable employment, earned her GED and associate’s degree, and purchased her first home.

Her story shows what can happen when a program goes beyond getting someone a job to helping them build lasting economic independence.

But sustainable change doesn’t happen by accident. It requires structure, long-term support, and measurable outcomes – and it doesn’t have to be built from scratch.

As a Pathways Partner, organizations gain access to the tools, training, and support they need to adapt the Pathways to Success model to their own communities. The model is designed to integrate into existing programming while providing ongoing guidance and training from the Connections to Success team.

That’s the foundation of the Pathways to Success model, and it’s what we’re helping partners around the world bring to the communities they serve.

Read the full story below to see how a proven model can help organizations create lasting change – without starting from scratch.

*Name and identifying details have been changed.

Kayla* wasn’t looking for a program – she was trying to hold her life together. Raising a teenage daughter without […]

09/07/2026

Our offices will be closed today for Labor Day. We will reopen with our regular hours on Tuesday, September 8th.

08/31/2026

Do you know a veteran in the Columbia, MO area who’s looking for work?

Connections to Success is offering free employment support, career coaching, job readiness training, employer connections, and other resources for veterans in Boone County. If someone comes to mind, we’d appreciate you sharing this opportunity with them!

Click the link below to connect with our Columbia, MO office:

https://connectionstosuccess.org/contact/columbia-mo/

Connections to Success’ Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program is 100 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through awards totaling $152,000.

Breaking down barriers for individuals and families to create a brighter future. 601 Business Loop 70W Suite 218 Columbia, MO […]