BUILDING FUTURES TEAM

Jay Reeves is an architect and builder who loves to teach and share his joy of making with young people. Prior to his role as Executive Director, Jay has been a long time Building Futures Board Member and Volunteer Instructor in our workshop. He is sometimes known as “The Wood Boat Guy” for leading our popular boatbuilding summer camps.

When away from our workshop, Jay is a principal at REVEL Architects serving commercial and residential clients and is active in shaping his neighborhood as the Chair of the Fox Park Development Committee.

Jay was first introduced to Building Futures when his two bright daughters began taking our Saturday Design Build Classes in North City and he has been committed to the organization ever since.

Felicia Kennedy has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master of Public Service for the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.

Felicia is an accomplished professional with more than 30 years of leadership experience. She has expertise in program and project management, program evaluation, facilitating community dialogues, grant writing/management, and youth leadership development.  Also, she served in the Peace Corps from 2018-2020 in the Republic of Georgia as an English teacher.

In the past, she has supported several youth focused leadership and development programs as either fundraising director, board member or strong advocate. Her life’s goal is to support youth development and success all over the globe. Building Futures is the perfect place for her to realize her life’s goal.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Morehouse College in Mathematics in 1990, then went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Education from Maryville University in St. Louis. While at Morehouse in Atlanta, Georgia, Eric worked closely with the math department as an office manager, and later became president of the Mathletes Club.

Eric was a classroom math teacher for over 30 years. He has worked in 5 different school districts, in 3 different states, and was even a robotics teacher for 10 years in Kirkwood, MO. It was at this time that he became adept at STEM concepts and Project Based Learning, and these topics have become a focus for him ever since. 

Eric has found a home at Building Futures in that most of what we do involves STEAM, and understanding how to create using the basic skills most students are currently learning. He has also made a proposal to the organization for the formulation of a Robotics Club that would meet a couple times a week, and then go off campus to compete in local competitions. 

Jonah received his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from The University of Findlay (UF) where he majored in Marketing and Economics. While at UF, he was the Station Head for the campus radio station and was actively involved in the Children’s Literature Museum.

Jonah has devoted much of his life to youth development as a teacher, instructor, mentor, and Summer Camp Director. He focuses on empowering youth with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for an ever-changing and evolving world.

Jonah continues to live this mission through Building Futures, connecting with the students and young people of our community, equipping them with the tools and skills to build a better future.

Noah is from St. Louis, MO. She studied Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville until 2018, IT/Cybersecurity at STLCC and NPower. She is currently studying Game Design. Noah has spent most of her life as an assistant coach, later Financial Manager, for a family dance team which started her love of working with children.

Noah started off as an artist, wanting to do fashion design and special effects make-up. Then she got exposed to programming in high school and made her first video game, combining her love of art with technology. She got her first chance to do so professionally while working at the Boys and Girls Club as an intern for their Teen Tech Center, teaching kids how to use technology for different artistic mediums. 

She knew she wanted to make a career out of teaching STEAM to youth which led her to Building Futures. She believes that STEAM education opens eyes and opportunities to fulfilling careers, new ideas and innovation.