Starting in the 1990s, Bosnians began to move to America in search of a new home and new opportunity following the breakup of former Yugoslavia and the brutal war it accompanied. The Bosnian community in St. Louis grew to an estimated 70,000 at its peak. South St. Louis City quickly transformed to include Bosnian grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, cafés, and several other businesses.
Parents worked hard and pushed their children to pursue education in hopes of giving them a better life and better opportunities. As a result, among the community who arrived in America with nothing but the clothes on their backs, you will now find doctors, lawyers, engineers, professors, business owners, and many other professionals.
Recognizing the struggles and lack of mentorship many of these first-generation college graduates faced, Amina Selimovic, Vedada Becirovic, and Asmira Alagic founded St. Louis Balkan American Connection. STLBAC is a non-profit organization formed in 2021 for the purpose of connecting developed Balkan American professionals from various disciplines through the role of mentorship to members of the community. STLBAC’s goal is to assist in the advancement of young individuals in the education system and professional domain by fostering long-lasting mentorship connections, promoting networking, holding seminars and workshops, providing scholarships, and helping students find the resources they need to thrive. STLBAC provides students with resources on how and where to apply for college, internships, grants, and scholarships, as well as resume building, writing personal statements, and interviewing.
GOT Law Associate Attorney Najla Hasic is a first-generation college graduate and attorney and serves as STLBAC’s legal advisor and mentor for those individuals pursuing a career in law. She recalls the challenges she faced in choosing a career, applying for colleges, declaring a major, studying for the LSAT, and applying for law schools and is determined to help the future generation of Balkan-American lawyers navigate these hurdles.
To date, STLBAC has recruited 135 mentors and has awarded $10,500 in grants. On July 3, 2024, STLBAC was selected by St. Louis CITY SC and Enterprise to attend a match in the Enterprise Community Corner. Enterprise Community Corner organizations are selected by CITY and Enterprise for making St. Louis a better place to live through four areas of impact: youth development, community investment, health & wellness, and arts & culture. 56 STLBAC members attended the game and watched CITY earn a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes at CITYPARK!
For more information about the organization or if you would like to help, please visit stlbac.org or contact Najla.