ST. LOUIS — It was a day focused on unity and community in downtown St. Louis. Thousands came together for the Urban Expo Back to School and Community Empowerment Festival Saturday.
The annual free event has everything families need to get ready for the start of school and for Saint Louis Public School students, that's only one month away.
This year's expo started with something new. People came together on Chestnut St. for a unity walk hosted by US Bank and organized by the Federation of Block Units.
Michael McMillan, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis President and CEO said they look forward to this event every single year.
"We're all working to make sure that this remains the biggest event of its kind in the entire state of Missouri," he said.
The yearly back-to-school event is a partnership between Saint Louis Public Schools and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
McMillan said it's all about making sure families are ready for when that first bell rings.
"People are able to get all of this in a one-stop shop, it makes life so much easier for them because everybody's busy with their jobs and trying to raise families and take care of kids and trying to do everything that they have to do in their day-to-day life," he said.
The free festival had everything from backpacks to books and haircuts to manicures for the kids to housing and energy assistance for the adults, according to McMillan.
"It's about giving them everything they need to be able to go back to school, but then also give them other resources so that they can improve their lives," he said.
According to McMillan, between the job fair Friday and the back-to-school fair Saturday, they're expecting to serve 25,000 people.
"People are going to have a great weekend here in downtown St. Louis, and hear something and feel something and see something and experience something very positive, where everything is free, and everybody is here to make sure we all have a great time," he said.
It was a day fully focused on the city's children while enhancing every family's life.
"I hope that they have fun, I hope that they are energized. I hope they're ready to go back to school, and I hope that they have all the resources necessary to do all of that and then some," McMillan said.
Organizers said they plan to do the unity walk again next year. Saint Louis Public Schools' first day back is on Aug. 19.