Tamyka Perine Appointed as New Executive Director of the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance
ST. LOUIS, MO (August 26, 2024) – The Steering Committee of the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance (GECA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Tamyka Perine as the new Executive Director. Bringing over a decade of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Tamyka’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the Alliance’s mission to unify and strengthen early childhood care and education across the St. Louis region. Tamyka is GECA’s third Executive Director since the organization’s founding in 2021.
Tamyka Perine joins GECA with a proven track record of transformative leadership and dedication to fostering diversity and equitable opportunities within organizations. She has previously led significant growth initiatives as the Executive Director of LEAD STL, where she managed a strategic rebranding that doubled the organization’s operating budget and expanded its programmatic reach from 30 to over 300 students annually. Her leadership was instrumental in amplifying the organization’s mission and enhancing its community impact.
Before her tenure at LEAD STL, Tamyka served as the Director of Development at City Academy, boosting fundraising efforts and expanding community engagement. Additionally, her consultancy, Prestige Consultants, LLC, has provided strategic guidance to numerous local and national nonprofits, enhancing their operational and developmental strategies.
As Executive Director of GECA, Tamyka will focus on collaborating with families, community partners, policymakers, and educational practitioners to lead initiatives that unify and strengthen early childhood education systems across the region, ensuring all children, regardless of background, have access to high-quality care and education.
“I am honored to step into the role of Executive Director at the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance. Together, we will champion the crucial cause of early childhood education, ensuring that every child can thrive from the very start. Our commitment to nurturing young minds during their most formative years is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of our entire region.”
Tamyka is also an active community volunteer and serves on several boards including Ready Readers and Almost Home. She is an Associate Board Member of COCA and continues her volunteerism through mentoring young girls and coaching young women of color entering the nonprofit workforce.
Tamyka holds a degree from Alabama A&M University and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the Optimist Club of St. Louis, and several other community and professional organizations.
Under Tamyka Perine’s leadership, the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance looks forward to a new chapter of growth and community engagement, ensuring that the youngest members of the St. Louis community receive the best start in life.
About the Gateway Early Childhood Alliance
The Gateway Early Childhood Alliance is committed to advancing high-quality early childhood care and education for all children in the St. Louis area. By collaborating with various stakeholders, GECA aims to create a cohesive and inclusive system that supports the developmental needs of every child. The Gateway Early Childhood Alliance is fiscally sponsored by the St. Louis Community Foundation. For more information, please visit www.gatewayearlychildhoodalliance.org.
About the St. Louis Community Foundation
The Foundation is a nonprofit with approximately 800 charitable funds and total assets of more than $550 million. Each fund represents a unique charitable giving partnership between nonprofit recipients and an individual, family or business. The St. Louis Community Foundation inspires purposeful philanthropy that connects the community and donors to build and preserve a more equitable and vibrant region, now and forever. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit stlgives.org.
For more information, contact:
Emily Baumann
Communications Manager
ebaumann@stlgives.org or (314) 880-4591
