After a sudden injury left her unable to support her family, BioSTL’s Education to Workforce program helped Alexa discover a new career path in St. Louis, one built on stability, purpose, and opportunity.
Discovering a New Home in St. Louis
When Alexa Plant first passed through St. Louis on a family trip, something clicked. Although she had lived in Colorado her entire life, the energy and character of St. Louis felt instantly familiar.
“This place is gorgeous,” she remembers saying, not knowing that the moment would shape her future.
Her family soon moved to Ferguson, where Alexa took a bartending job at the local VFW. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was intentional. She wanted to learn the community from the inside out.
“Honestly, it was the best way to get to know this place,” she says. “People gave me great advice.”
A Promising Job Turns Into a Crisis
With encouragement from a regular, she applied to the U.S. Postal Service, quickly landing a stable job. For a while, everything worked.
Then it didn’t.
A sudden injury left Alexa unable to meet the physical demands of the role. Her hours were reduced to two per day, nowhere near enough to support her family. As the sole provider, she was terrified.
Finding SLATE — and a Lifeline to BioSTL
Driving home one afternoon, Alexa noticed a billboard that read: “We can help you find a job.”
Overwhelmed and desperate, she pulled off the exit and called the number for SLATE (St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment). A staff member listened carefully, recognizing her resilience and potential.
“You seem like the right kind of person for this,” he told her. “There’s a program I want you to try — BioSTL.”
Alexa had never heard of BioSTL.
She just knew she needed help. So she made the call.
And BioSTL called her back.
Starting a Career in Bioscience Through BioSTL
Alexa joined a new cohort of Bio Boot Camp, taught by St. Louis Community College and funded by BioSTL, a free training course that teaches lab and biomanufacturing fundamentals–essential skills for entering the bioscience workforce in St. Louis.
Even without a science background, she showed up every Friday for six weeks.
“I was always discouraged from science because I struggled with math,” she says. “But BioSTL made me feel like I could actually do this. They wanted us to succeed.”
Through the program, she:
received a full tote of lab supplies to practice hands-on skills
earned five industry-recognized certifications
developed core laboratory techniques and bioscience knowledge
built relationships with staff who encouraged and believed in her
For Alexa, it wasn’t just training; it was the first time in years she felt capable, supported, and seen.
From Program Graduate to Essential Community Worker
At BioSTL’s graduation resource fair, local employers connected directly with participants. One employer saw Alexa’s dedication, warmth, and experience supporting vulnerable populations — and offered her a position.
Today, she works on an outreach team providing critical support to individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and crisis in St. Louis. She offers supplies, referrals, Narcan, and compassion.
She has administered CPR.
She has reversed overdoses.
She has shown up for people who had no one else.
Back to School and Building Her Future
And now she is back in school — pursuing her associate degree in Public Health at St. Louis Community College. She’s studying psychology, sociology, and human services.
In December, Alexa earned an important certification.
“I am now a Certified Peer Specialist in the state of Missouri,” she shares proudly.
Her entire life has changed.
“Eight months ago, I didn’t know how we were going to make it,” she says. “Now I’m working full-time, I’m in school, and I’m building a career I love.”
Why Community Support Makes Stories Like Alexa’s Possible
BioSTL’s Education to Workforce programs are made possible by the generosity of donors and partners who believe in expanding opportunity across St. Louis. Their support ensures that talent exists everywhere — and that opportunity can, too.
When you support BioSTL, you help people like Alexa gain access to:
free job training
hands-on lab skills
industry-recognized certifications
pathways to bioscience and public health careers
You help open doors to stability, dignity, and bright futures.
Thank you for making stories like hers possible.