Founder's Story

Stephanie Acon

As founder of Finally Safe, professionally I come from a Legal background and am a published author, aspiring filmmaker, at-risk youth mentor and advocate, and have partnered with various urban mentoring organizations, as well as spoken as a keynote speaker at the 2015 St. Louis Job Corps Graduation, where i was awarded an achievement plaque from the staff and students. Around that time, I also published my 3rd book. Proud of my achievements, my goal was to make my first movie, and make that my career… but God had other plans.

In 2019, I founded Finally Safe to support the holistic development of disenfranchised male adolescents.  But the journey started in 2018, after I lost my best friend to cancer, and when I began volunteering routinely in the St. Louis City Juvenile Detention Center on the city’s Northside.

Initially, I didn’t know what to expect. I just went in by faith, and began to not only speak…but teach the youth in that facility based off my past and present experiences. I knew that I came from a similar background as them, and I knew I had a story to tell…and I knew that it was relatable to theirs. Although a lot of my insight into the culture came from my own personal childhood experiences as an at-risk youth, much of it also came from my lifestyle as a young adult. So immediately, the kids and I bonded. And throughout my work, I have gained not only the privilege of working with these kids… who are “at-risk” youth, and juvenile offenders—but have obtained the advantage of understanding their backgrounds, culture, lifestyles, and experiences. I now recognize them individually as children in need of guidance and support. 

Eventually, I took my mentorship and advocating a step higher when I made the life-altering decision to become guardian/custodian of a 15-year-old male mentee and juvenile offender, whose mother passed away and father and relatives were unable to provide adequate care. I rendered my one-bedroom loft downtown, surrendered my time, and dedicated my energy to offer assistance, guidance, discipline, structure, and support to this particular youth on a fulltime basis. I developed a change module and as part of its agenda, I moved into a two-bedroom home in the area of one of the State’s top School Districts in order to provide the child with a change of climate, home stability, and fresh opportunity at education in a safe and diverse atmosphere. The youth’s enrollment in the District provided assessments and a superb IEP Program developed and supported by SSD experts. With distractions minimized, the result was astounding.

The child’s grades went from failing to A’s across the board. In addition, his faith and value for life increased, and inner conviction, self-awareness, and accountability heightened. Also, trust for authority improved. As well, the youth’s hygiene, self-care, and confidence inclined—and, there was a noticeable shift in his overall behavior. Admittedly, persistence and positive activities had to remain prioritized, and consistency was key, but the effects were profound. It was as if innocence had been restored in a child who’d practically raised himself, and survived the harsh realities of life on the streets, with little to zero adult care or supervision.

Although, the guardianship was temporary, the practice was enough to leave a lasting impact on both the lives of the juvenile resident and myself. In conclusion, myself and other mentors began to log similar at-risk youth; noting the outcome of those individuals without consistent support and an appropriate plan in place verses those with. In logging the outcome of youth who were underserved, the patterns and observations were severe. Since that experience, I went on to look for programs, and alternative school and residence options, for other youth that I mentor… those in the justice system, those who have special needs, and those who have parental loss. But, over and over, I came across hurdles, hesitation, and unavailability. The service gaps for this demographic are real, and it revealed the need and vision for Finally Safe. So, this why I started it. I had to…for them.

The programming is not punitive-based but rather a response to the health crisis, the education and literacy crisis, and social causes of the crime culture and delinquency issues that are affecting an entire generation. Especially the boys. 

So now, I introduce you to Finally Safe. Why it’s here… and where it’s going.

But also I want you to know a little bit about me… and why I am here.

It’s a call to the MISSION and to the PURPOSE. And I will not fail.