While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work, Latosha Fowlkes began her career providing direct care for children involved in the child welfare system in Illinois and lived in a residential treatment center for children with mental health disorders. Passionate about her work, Fowlkes began to focus on gaining a great understanding of ways to support children through therapeutic interventions.
Fowlkes continued with her education and a career in providing counseling services to children before entering the nonprofit sector and operating a private practice. She now serves as the president and CEO of The Core Collective at Saint Vincent. “Since joining the organization, Latosha’s transformational leadership has elevated the organization to the next level,” said her staff.
The Core Collective at Saint Vincent (formerly St. Vincent Home for Children) is a nonprofit located in North St. Louis County. The organization is on a mission to make well-being the standard for St. Louis by improving healthcare for families, advancing socioeconomic equity and activating conscious leaders.
With Fowlkes leading the nonprofit, she is responsible for the oversite of a 110,000 square foot building and 22 acres of land that provide housing and other supportive services to older youth and families.
Since filling the CEO role in 2020, Fowlkes has increased the organization’s annual budget from $3 million to $4 million, has opened the Drop-in Center Program and was the driving force behind the agency’s revisioning process that was finalized in December 2022.
“Fowlkes is passionate about creating pathways to access healthcare and her team has recently partnered with Normandy Schools Collaborative, to provide therapeutic groups and individual and family therapy during school hours,” said her staff. “Latosha’s work is a testament to the power of community involvement, and she always pushes to create community partnerships to provide comprehensive care to youth and families.”
Her efforts have landed Fowlkes accolades such as the recipient of the 2023 BJC Excellence in Mental Health Award. “It is a dream to get up every day and do something you love that can impact individuals’ lives from generation to generation,” said Fowlkes. “It is purpose-driven work.”
However, Fowlkes believes that the success of any leader is not achieved alone. “Leadership is a balance of self-discovery, constant learning, agility, authenticity, support and relationship,” she said. “We take these daily risks because we believe through compassion, healing and trust, we will achieve our vision of becoming a thriving community that is invested in the transformational power of youth.”
For her commitment to the community and the organization, Fowlkes has been named a titan.
