Young Friends of Beyond Housing

A stronger, more equitable St. Louis starts with you.

Transforming our world for the better is not possible without the talent, energy, and passion of young leaders helping to lead the way.

The Young Friends of Beyond Housing is a dynamic group of individuals between the ages of 21 and 40 who are committed to fostering a stronger, more equitable, and prosperous St. Louis—once and for all.

To receive more information about Young Friends of Beyond Housing, please fill out our interest form.

To join Young Friends today please make your donation of $50.

Make a difference

Building up the next generation of leaders through volunteerism, fundraising, networking, and advocacy to advance the transformative work of Beyond Housing.

June

NeighborWorks Week

Each year, volunteers and staff of NeighborWorks America organizations like Beyond Housing come together with community residents and leaders to clean up and beautify sidewalks and greenspaces to foster community pride.

August

Beyond the Backpack

Beyond the Backpack is a back-to-school event that provides students and families with school supplies and additional resources to help students make a strong start to the new academic year. These resources are a blessing to low-income families working hard to meet basic needs.

June/July

Freedom School

Freedom Schools® which is a part of the Children’s Defense Fund provides youth with summer and after-school academic enrichment designed to nurture lifelong learners, encourage civic engagement and social action, and celebrate every young person’s potential and profound impact on the world.

November/December

Holiday Friends

Low-income families are particularly affected by the rising costs of food, housing, utilities, and more. Holiday Friendsensures that children have holiday gifts and that families are not forced to choose between Christmas gifts for children and paying for rent, food, or utilities.

Advocate for a better St. Louis for all

In addition to volunteering, members:

• Attend quarterly meetings and networking events

• Engage personal and professional networks to support Beyond Housing’s mission

• Seek out event sponsorship opportunities

• Make an annual membership donation to Beyond Housing of $50

Benefits

• Exclusive newsletters and updates

• Invitation to exclusive Beyond Housing events

• Dear Lou T-shirt

• Networking and mentorship opportunities

Young Friends Leadership Team

Burgandy Bonser

Chair

Burgandy Bonser is skilled at building high-performing teams, with a focus on inclusive, engaged work cultures. As a Strategist & Coach with High Five Strategies, she guides growing organizations to shift from intuition to operating with intention. Burgandy partners with leadership teams to bring their strategies to life and keep them on track. As a Hogan Certified Consultant, she takes team potential to the next level, unlocking growth and transforming possibilities into results.

Raised in St. Louis, Burgandy has a deep love for the community. Before working as a Strategy Consultant, she was the Director of Philanthropic Initiatives at the Regional Business Council and supported nonprofits through capacity building. Burgandy sits on the Board of Seed St. Louis, which focuses on the Region's food equity. She also volunteers at The Youth and Family Center to support events and provide professional team-building workshops. When not working or volunteering, Burgandy spends time outdoors hiking, kayaking, or finding the coolest new playground to visit with her son.

Adrienne Groves

Vice Chair

Adrienne Groves, Associate Director of Development at the University of Missouri–St. Louis has over 9 years of experience in education and community-focused roles. She has worked at UMSL since 2018 in different roles, and is inspired by the work the university does for its community within North County and the whole St. Louis region.

Before moving back to St. Louis and joining UMSL, Adrienne served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Omaha, NE with a college-access program. This is where she found her love for higher education, and the drive to be a part of making college success accessible and equitable for all.

Outside of her profession, Adrienne enjoys spending time in nature, exploring new and familiar places, with friends, family, her dog Josh, and her Little Sister, as part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Working within the 24:1 footprint, and her passion for community development, led her to Beyond Housing, and she is excited to be a part of the Young Friends.

Rukiya Anthony

Membership Committee Chair

Rukiya Anthony is a St. Louis native and nonprofit professional with several years of experience in women and children's social services. Raised in a family that prioritized community-driven values, Rukiya was taught the importance of responsibility, respect, and service to others. Throughout her career, she has gained invaluable knowledge and expertise in the nonprofit sector. Currently, Rukiya serves on the board of her neighborhood association, where she actively contributes to the community development committee. Through this work, she connected with Beyond Housing and is excited to help elevate the visibility of the Young Friends. During her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, reading, and concerts.

Nico Krehmeyer

Marketing Comittee Co-chair

Nico Krehmeyer, Project Coordinator for the Community and Economic Development team at Midwest BankCentre, is a beacon of service excellence, with a profound dedication to community empowerment at his core. From his early days volunteering with Beyond Housing to his current role at MBC, Nico has consistently exemplified an unwavering commitment to uplifting St. Louis communities.

In his role at Midwest BankCentre, Nico has been a driving force behind transformative projects aimed at enabling community revitalization. Nico spends hundreds of hours a year supporting and coordinating community-facing events connected with the Bank’s work in Community and Economic Development and Financial Empowerment. This includes working with the City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office and the City Treasurer’s Office College Kids initiative, a nonprofit on which Nico sits on the advisory board, and which offers a savings program where every student in a St. Louis Public or charter school receives a college savings account with a $50 deposit to grow.

It also includes working with refugees and immigrants arriving in St. Louis in partnership with the International Institute of St. Louis, the Afghan Chamber, and Oasis International. Nico has also facilitated numerous Bank-sponsored events and partnerships with the 24:1 Community and North St. Louis County, including the Small Business Academy, a well-received program that educated local entrepreneurs and small businesses on how to obtain capital and build their businesses.

Nico is a key driver of transformative projects aimed at fostering community revitalization. His daily engagement in supporting nonprofit clients, organizing financial empowerment events, and cultivating regional partnerships reflects his tireless efforts to uplift individuals and neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis region. Nico's collaborative approach extends to his work with governmental offices and nonprofit organizations, where he actively promotes financial empowerment and inclusion.

Tepra Wells

Marketing Comittee Co-chair

Tepra Wells is a passionate and driven marketing professional with a proven track record of success in developing and executing impactful campaigns. As the founder of That's Tepra Media Co., she helps businesses, events, and festivals elevate their brand presence through authentic and engaging digital storytelling.

Tepra's expertise lies in understanding her clients' unique needs and crafting compelling narratives that resonate with their target audience. Her experience spans various industries, including non-profit organizations, education, and the arts. She thrives in collaborative environments and is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections with clients and colleagues alike.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Tepra is an active community member and volunteer, committed to making a positive impact in the St. Louis region. She is a strong advocate for equity and believes in the power of storytelling to inspire change.

When she's not crafting marketing strategies, you can find Tepra traveling the world, attending local events, or spending time with her loved ones.

Fun Facts about Tepra: Her favorite plant is a tree, she dreams of visiting Kenya, and she would like to act in a film one day.

Kat Matus

Events Committee Chair

Katherine (Kat) Matus is a public and global health leader with over 10 years experience working across the private and public sector including federal, state, and local governments, non-profits, foundations, universities, international development agencies, and ministries of health to address disparities and advance equitable solutions. Kat has a breadth of experience in strategy development, cultivating partnerships, strategic communications, policy development, program implementation, project management, and fundraising.

Kat holds a Master in International Public Health from the University of Sydney and Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Healthcare Ethics from Saint Louis University.

Outside of work, you can find Kat spending time with her husband, Konstantin, and their sweet pup, Timone, enjoying all that St. Louis has to offer, singing in a local choral group, traveling as often as possible, and always looking to discover a new restaurant, coffee shop, or wine bar.