The St. Louis Arc | Empowering People With Disabilities https://slarc.podbean.com Our core values of respect, collaboration, and empowerment drive everything we do. 

Our mission is to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to lead better lives by providing a lifetime of high-quality services, family support and advocacy. We work hard to provide the kind of individualized services that can really help make a difference to an adult… to a child… to a family. Services provided are designed to maximize choice and to support people, as they build quality lives within the St. Louis community.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:28:49 -0600 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Business:Non-Profit 1440 episodic St. Louis Arc St. Louis Arc No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22146807/St_Louis_Arc_Cover_2.png The St. Louis Arc | Empowering People With Disabilities https://slarc.podbean.com 144 144 The Nexus: St. Louis Arc's New And Innovative Apartment Community The Nexus: St. Louis Arc's New And Innovative Apartment Community https://slarc.podbean.com/e/the-nexus-st-louis-arcs-new-and-innovative-apartment-community/ https://slarc.podbean.com/e/the-nexus-st-louis-arcs-new-and-innovative-apartment-community/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:28:49 -0600 slarc.podbean.com/3e49581b-fe82-309e-92b7-8a74fbe3d197 Most families don't lose hope in one moment. It fades slowly, while their son or daughter sits at home, capable of more, unsure how to get there. This episode is a clear-eyed look at what it actually takes to bridge that gap and why the St. Louis Arc has spent over a decade building the answer.

In this episode of the St. Louis Arc Podcast, host Justin Henderson sits down with President & CEO Mark Keeley and VP of Support Services & Strategy Stephanie Scott to explore the Nexus, an inclusive independent living community coming to Richmond Heights, Missouri. This isn't just a building. It's a structured, person-centered pathway for neurodiverse young adults aged 21 to 30 to build the life they actually want.

This conversation is for families who sense their loved one is ready for more, and for anyone who believes that real inclusion means more than proximity. It means belonging, contribution, and independence earned through the right support at the right time.

Mark and Stephanie walk through what the Nexus will actually look like in practice: the nine pillars of independence, the teaching kitchen, the one-to-three year residency model, and why getting families to shift from directing to advising may be the hardest part of all.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Founding Story of the St. Louis Arc

04:26 What the Nexus Project Actually Is

05:55 Ten Years in the Making and Why Now

06:43 Who the Nexus Will Serve

08:30 Timeline and Opening Date

09:56 The One-to-Three Year Residency Model

12:00 The Building: 50,000 Sq Ft, 48 Apartments, and a Teaching Kitchen

15:20 Why the Richmond Heights Location Was Essential

16:02 Key Partnerships and Funding

17:38 The Nine Pillars of Independence Curriculum

23:08 Programs Available to Residents

28:05 Helping Families Let Go

29:25 How the Nexus Will Elevate St. Louis

31:08 What the Nexus Looks Like in Five to Ten Years

 

Connect with the St. Louis Arc:

Visit the St. Louis Arc website

Contact the St. Louis Arc

Learn more about or inquire about the Nexus by emailing thenexus@slarc.org

Follow the St. Louis Arc on Facebook

Follow the St. Louis Arc on Instagram @stlouisarc

Subscribe to the St. Louis Arc on YouTube @stlouisarc

 

Host Justin Henderson is a podcast host and advocate connected to the St. Louis Arc community. In this series, he explores the Arc's programs, people, and vision for a more inclusive St. Louis, one story at a time.

]]> Most families don't lose hope in one moment. It fades slowly, while their son or daughter sits at home, capable of more, unsure how to get there. This episode is a clear-eyed look at what it actually takes to bridge that gap and why the St. Louis Arc has spent over a decade building the answer.

In this episode of the St. Louis Arc Podcast, host Justin Henderson sits down with President & CEO Mark Keeley and VP of Support Services & Strategy Stephanie Scott to explore the Nexus, an inclusive independent living community coming to Richmond Heights, Missouri. This isn't just a building. It's a structured, person-centered pathway for neurodiverse young adults aged 21 to 30 to build the life they actually want.

This conversation is for families who sense their loved one is ready for more, and for anyone who believes that real inclusion means more than proximity. It means belonging, contribution, and independence earned through the right support at the right time.

Mark and Stephanie walk through what the Nexus will actually look like in practice: the nine pillars of independence, the teaching kitchen, the one-to-three year residency model, and why getting families to shift from directing to advising may be the hardest part of all.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Founding Story of the St. Louis Arc

04:26 What the Nexus Project Actually Is

05:55 Ten Years in the Making and Why Now

06:43 Who the Nexus Will Serve

08:30 Timeline and Opening Date

09:56 The One-to-Three Year Residency Model

12:00 The Building: 50,000 Sq Ft, 48 Apartments, and a Teaching Kitchen

15:20 Why the Richmond Heights Location Was Essential

16:02 Key Partnerships and Funding

17:38 The Nine Pillars of Independence Curriculum

23:08 Programs Available to Residents

28:05 Helping Families Let Go

29:25 How the Nexus Will Elevate St. Louis

31:08 What the Nexus Looks Like in Five to Ten Years

 

Connect with the St. Louis Arc:

Visit the St. Louis Arc website

Contact the St. Louis Arc

Learn more about or inquire about the Nexus by emailing thenexus@slarc.org

Follow the St. Louis Arc on Facebook

Follow the St. Louis Arc on Instagram @stlouisarc

Subscribe to the St. Louis Arc on YouTube @stlouisarc

 

Host Justin Henderson is a podcast host and advocate connected to the St. Louis Arc community. In this series, he explores the Arc's programs, people, and vision for a more inclusive St. Louis, one story at a time.

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