• Night of the Living Traditional PR
• No Tricks, Just Treats: Organizations Making an Impact
• News You Can Use
• Cool Events
• Opportunities Await

Looking at the latest news isn’t always scary. When mission-driven organizations amplify their stories, advocate effectively, and streamline operations, their community impact grows exponentially. 

Strategic investments in advocacy and communications allow non-profits and service organizations to tackle essential work – from protecting voting rights and expanding career literacy to increasing educational access and mobilizing volunteers during disasters. Regional, forward-thinking leaders even help pioneer independent living solutions centered on dignity and inclusion.

Elevated visibility can help impactful groups recruit emerging leaders and scale their vital work. Across our clients, organizations are leveraging innovative partnerships to address pressing community needs. 

Much of our newsletter is designed to bring the impact to you. With that in mind, keep reading for the latest news, events, and opportunities making a real difference.

Arts, Entertainment, & Culture

• ​​Cyndi Lauper and Jennifer Hudson Team Up with The Muppets for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s First Holiday Overlay
• The First Film Production in Kansas City to Use Missouri Movie Tax Credits is Ready for its Premiere
• Ex-HBO Max and Legendary Execs Launch Twin Pines Entertainment, Studio Focused on Pro-Sports Movies and Series for America’s ‘Overlooked’ Heartland 

Tech & Science

• St. Louis native donates rare first-edition book to the Missouri Botanical Garden 
• New National Research Unveils Youth Uncertainty as well as Opportunity in the Age of AI

Agriculture, Environment, Energy, & Climate

• “It’s Just One Long Chain”: How Regenerative Farming Equals Tastier Food, Healthier Eaters, And Nourished Communities   
• UK launches One Health certificates connecting human, animal and environmental health
• Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and One Health Innovation District expansion aims to strengthen workforce pipeline

Education, Workforce, & Economic Development

• Woodhaven Breaks ground on Iris Home with support from the William Guitar Little Foundation
• A new strategy for St. Louis Public Schools to redevelop vacant buildings
• The 2027-2028 FAFSA Is Here Early: What’s New and When to File
• FAFSA Opened Early This Year—How It Can Help You Access Thousands In Federal Student Financial Aid
• City Gears Up to Foreclose on 500 Neglected, Tax-delinquent Properties
• Empowering Careers Podcast: National School Boards Association Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs
• 4 Ways to Rethink When Student Support Starts 

Business, Entrepreneurship & Development

• GSX 2026 Highlights: The Perimeter Knows No Bounds
• Greater St. Louis Inc. Partners with 39 North Innovation District to Build the Region’s Agtech Sector
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of KC is Building Big Futures with the Agilities

Health & Wellbeing

• Is Overland Park a Much Better Place for Women than KC? Here’s What I Found
• An early flu season means it might be time to think about a flu shot 

Leadership 

• The Seven: The Civic Culture We Are Creating
• Women lose ground in senior leadership at midmarket companies after decades of gainsThe Spark Prize 2026 Awardees

Civic Life, Democracy & Justice

• St. Louis Forms Legal Task Force to Help Tornado Victims
• City of St. Louis Launches Contractor Fraud Legal Task Force
• Missouri Adds New Paperwork Requirements to Food Assistance as Federal Penalties Loom
• Missouri Rejects Optional Hardship Exceptions to Medicaid Work Requirements
• Pa. election 2026: What you need to know about your Election Day voting rights
• Michigan ACLU warns Tuscarora Township about mailing absentee ballots late
• Some NC county election officials promoted conspiracies about 2020 outcome, Jan. 6 
• Talk of DOJ midterm ‘intervention’ unsettles advocates 
• Arizona early voting starts today amid fights over election rules

Potpourri

• Man Buys Car From Toyota Dealership. Then The Workers Shut The Gate: ‘We’re Locked In’
• Kansas City Loves its Apple Cider and Donuts. Here’s Where to Find the Best this Fall
• What Elmo Can Teach Kids About Being a Good Friend
• Every Generation’s Campus Rape Story Is New

10/21/26 — Introduction to Agilities™ Resources for Educators (Virtual)

Looking for career-building resources for your K-12 classroom or youth organization? Join The DeBruce Foundation for free tools and lesson plans for your students. This virtual session is for educators and those leading after-school programming. Together, we can help young people build bright futures! Learn more. 

10/22/26 — United WE Institute Forum: Caregiving at Work in Kansas (Virtual)

The United WE’s “Caregiving at Work” Institute Forum, sponsored by AARP, brings together employers, community leaders, and caregivers to explore practical solutions for supporting working caregivers. The virtual forum will share research, resources, workplace strategies, and real-world examples to help make caregiving a workforce priority in Kansas. Learn more. 

10/23/26 — Spirits in the Garden (St. Louis, MO)

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Spirits in the Garden is an adults-only Halloween-themed event featuring tastings from local and regional distilleries, wineries, and breweries. Guests can enjoy live music, a costume contest, pumpkin carving, tarot readings, haunted tram rides, and more for a festive evening in the Garden. Learn more.

10/31/26 — Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden Reopens (Washington, D.C.)

The Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden reopens to the public on October 31 with an expanded display featuring 60 monumental sculptures, a widened entrance from the National Mall, and a new underground passageway connecting directly to the museum. The redesigned space will also include a west lawn for rotating exhibitions, opening with three works by artist Yoshitomo Nara. The updated garden offers visitors a new way to experience contemporary sculpture in the heart of Washington, D.C. Learn more.

10/1/26 – 11/1/26 — SHOCKtober at Screenland Armour (Kansas City, MO) 

Screenland’s annual scary movie marathon, spanning all 31 days of October plus a bonus film on November 1, returns for its 15th year. Along with new releases, Screenland screens old and new classics, from The Wolfman to Halloween to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Costumes are optional; silencing your phone is not! Learn more. 

11/4/26 — Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live (Columbia, MO)

Filled with music, laughter, and imagination, this all-new musical stage adventure brings the beloved Fraggle Rock characters to life at Jesse Auditorium. Based on the Emmy-winning Apple TV series, the live show features fan-favorite songs, walk-around Fraggles, puppet-sized Doozers, a giant Gorg, and imaginative new creatures from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. This family-friendly experience invites audiences of all ages to celebrate the nostalgia and wonder of Fraggle Rock. Learn more.

11/6/26 — PDI: State Aid and Workforce Pell Updates (Virtual)

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development will share updates on Missouri state financial aid programs, including Access Missouri, A+, and Bright Flight, as well as Workforce Pell. This virtual workshop is designed for counselors, college advisors, financial aid staff, scholarship providers, and community organization employees interested in learning more about financial aid opportunities. Learn more.

11/7/26 — Art of Home Gala & Auction (Grandview, MO)

Flourish: A Furniture Bank’s annual Art of Home Gala & Auction celebrates the power of home while raising funds to provide free furnishings to Kansas City families transitioning out of crisis, housing insecurity, and poverty. The evening will feature dinner, inspiring stories from Flourish families, and live and silent auctions, while showcasing Flourish’s newly expanded warehouse space and its growing impact in the community. Learn more.

11/8/26 — MIZZOUMADE Holiday Market (Columbia, MO)

The Mizzou Alumni Association will kick off the holiday season with its annual MIZZOUMADE Holiday Market at the Reynolds Alumni Center. The free, family-friendly event will feature shopping from more than 35 Mizzou alumni and student-owned businesses, along with holiday photos with Truman the Tiger, a seasonal craft led by Mizzou alumni artist Adrienne Luther, and children’s story time featuring Mizzou alumni authors. The market is open to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more. 

11/10/26 — Legal Office Hours for Entrepreneurs (Virtual)

Presented by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, this virtual legal clinic offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to speak one-on-one with an attorney for a 30-minute session. Registration is required, and the program is open to adults seeking legal guidance for their business. Learn more.

Hired Up Missouri job board: Hired Up Missouri

Openings at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Openings at Missouri Botanical Garden

Openings at Flourish: A Furniture Bank

Openings at Greater St. Louis, Inc.

City of Washington, DC: DC Government Careers

City of St. Louis: Current Job Openings

City of Kansas City: KCMO Career Center

Scholarship opportunities: My Scholarship Central

Careers at the Jim Henson Company

The Rome Group job board: Non-Profit Career Board