Sunny sIDe Up: Building Knowledge, Community, and Camaraderie

On August 26th, Ashrei hosted our very first Sunny sIDe Up Volunteer Continuing Education Breakfast for Photo ID Volunteers. This new series is designed to give volunteers ongoing opportunities to learn more about the communities we serve, deepen relationships, and strengthen the bonds that make our work possible.

The focus of this kickoff session was on understanding the local agencies that refer people to the North City Photo ID Project. About 60% of our guests are referred by other St. Louis organizations, making these partnerships essential to our impact.

We were honored to welcome Trey Graves, Case Manager at Living in Victory (LIV), a sober living and respite house, as our guest speaker. Trey shared powerful insights into the challenges his clients face—barriers like lack of housing, health care, or employment—that prevent them from rebuilding their lives after incarceration or substance use disorder.

LIV provides safe housing, structured support, and trauma-informed care for men and women in recovery. Trey described their respite house program, which offers a 30-day recovery environment where clients receive therapy, peer-led support, daily meals, and help accessing essential services. For many, this is the first time they are truly heard and cared for.

One of the biggest barriers LIV clients face is the lack of identification. Each week, LIV sends 3–4 men to our North City Photo ID Project for help obtaining a birth certificate and photo ID, documents that unlock critical opportunities like medical care, employment, housing, and a sense of dignity. As Trey put it, “Through partnerships with organizations such as the Ashrei Foundation, we give the clients a continuum of care that allows them to exit our program standing on their own two feet and prepared to live their lives to the fullest.”

The morning ended with meaningful discussion and reflection, underscoring how essential community partnerships are to this work. Sunny sIDe Up will continue as a regular series, giving our volunteers the chance to grow together, learn more about those we serve, and celebrate the impact we make as a community.

Join our amazing Photo ID Volunteers! More info here.