Community Activity & Support

In 1999, as the 20th anniversary of Ki Aikido training in St. Louis approached, St. Louis Ki Aikido began a planning process to become a greater community resource. We set out to introduce larger numbers of children and adults to the practices and benefits of Aikido and Mind & Body Coordination; to make better use of the training experience of our teachers and the dedication of our volunteers; to be a benefit to the whole St. Louis metropolitan community.

This planning resulted in the employment of Mark Rubbert as our first full-time staff member in August 2001. With assistance from the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, we set up an on-the-job training program in nonprofit management for our "new" executive director to help mold St. Louis Ki Aikido into a true community resource.

Key elements to the direction of St. Louis Ki Aikido are:

• Develop our Board of Directors, expanding to include diverse community representation
• Continuation and expansion of the WellChild Ki-Aikido Program
• Building our capacity as an organization
• Expanding the participation in our regular Aikido Programs
• Developing a program for older adults
• Further develop our Collaborations & Memberships

Collaborations && Memberships
St. Louis Ki Aikido looks to work with and through a number of organizations to improve and make better use of our resources. We are working to use our resources in a way that complements the work of others and improves the community at large. Below is a list of organizations we have, or are currently working with.



Neighborhood Houses
Collaborating on after school programs (WellChild Aikido)

Aiki-Extensions
Established in September, 1998 to support and bring together those who apply the principles of the Japanese martial art of Aikido in a socially constructive way.

Skinker-Debaliviere Community Council
Our main location is in the Skinker-Debaliviere neighborhood, which has one of the oldest and most active neighborhood organizations in St. Louis.

Edgewood Childrens Center
Where we operated our first WellChild Ki-Aikido pilot program

St. Louis For Kids
Member

Missouri Department of Public Safety
Juvenile Justice Advisory Group
The WellChild Ki-Aikido program began in 2001 with Title II startup funding from the US Dept. of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. It was provided through a grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the state Juvenile Justice Advisory Group.