Early Childhood Apprenticeship Accelerator Comes to St. Louis
St. Louis, MO – October 8, 2025, Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), on behalf of the Early Childhood Workforce Connector (ECWC), invite you to join us for a special free, in-person Early Childhood Education (ECE) event, ECE Registered Apprenticeship Accelerator: YWCA Metro St. Louis.
This event will spotlight the successes of YWCA Metro St. Louis a nationally accredited Head Start Program of Excellence that serves over 1,200 children across 21 centers in the St. Louis metro area. Many ECE providers struggle to recruit and retain early educators, leaving classrooms empty and families without care. In response the YWCA, under the direction of Stacy Johnson, Chief Early Education Officer and Head Start Director, launched YWCA Metro St. Louis Successful Pathways® Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program to build a sustainable pipeline of early educators. Two years later, the program is thriving. Classrooms are fully staffed, and they have a waitlist of eager apprentice candidates ready to begin their career in ECE.
“Early childhood professionals are the workforce behind the workforce. Without them, parents can’t stay employed and businesses can’t thrive. We are hosting this event to spotlight how YWCA Metro St. Louis has turned a staffing crisis into a success story through Registered Apprenticeship. This is about building a model that others can learn from and replicate,” said Tracey Carey, Executive Director of Midwest Urban Strategies.
Across all industries, from construction and manufacturing to technology and financial services, working parents rely on accessible quality child care to remain employed, making ECE providers the “workforce behind the workforce.” Yet, child care providers nationwide face a critical challenge: they can’t hire enough qualified early educators to meet demand. According to the University of Missouri Extension, businesses in Missouri lose about $951 million annually due to employee absenteeism and turnover caused by child care issues.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM (Meals Provided)
Location: YWCA Metro St. Louis Central Office, 1770 Belt Way Drive, St. Louis, MO 63114
Cost: Free
Registration: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/3fqyk3r
Space is limited; early registration is encouraged. Questions about the event, please contact: Kellie Landaker, 636-697-5911. kellie@midwesturbanstrategies.com
Event speakers include representatives from YWCA Metro St. Louis, Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment, Urban League of St. Louis Metropolitan, Inc., Midwest Urban Strategies, National Skills Coalition, Teachstone, the Early Childhood Workforce Connector, and Apprenticeships for America.
Event attendees will:
· Tour a YWCA Metro St. Louis Head Start Center
· Learn the fundamentals of Registered Apprenticeship and how it supports workforce development
· Hear from YWCA leadership and apprentices about their experiences
· Connect with ECE leaders and workforce stakeholders, employers, and community organizations
· See firsthand why ECE is the “workforce behind the workforce”
Event Organizer:
Midwest Urban Strategies is a founding member of the Early Childhood Workforce Connector (ECWC), in tandem with WRMA, Inc., and LPE Associates. ECWC advances a highly qualified and well-compensated early childhood education (ECE) workforce through technical assistance to support the development and expansion of ECE Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.
About Midwest Urban Strategies:
Midwest Urban Strategies, Inc. (MUS) is a leading workforce intermediary that convenes urban workforce development boards to drive economic opportunity and social mobility. MUS collaborates with workforce boards, government agencies, employers, and community organizations to develop innovative workforce solutions that address labor market needs while supporting underserved populations.
