Bayless High School Interviews, 2022-04 - 2024-04

While the Bosnian diaspora continues to be recognized as a vital part of the St. Louis region, many second-generation youth face significant systemic and personal challenges. In addition to the normal struggles of adolescence, many second-generation Bosnian Americans feel disconnected from their parents' language and culture. This sense of displacement — compunded by the inherited trauma of war and genocide — can manifest in behavioral issues, including truancy, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency. As a result, high school graduation rates are dropping, and college enrollment remains low.

The Center’s high school initiative empowers second-generation Bosnian Americans in St. Louis to boost their academic achievement by fostering a deeper appreciation for their culture, identity, and education. By actively engaging younger Bosnian Americans and their classmates in ongoing historical preservation efforts, the program provides students with a richer, hands-on understanding of Bosnian history and heritage.

Affton High School was the first to begin implementing the program in 2014. Since then, courses have been developed at schools in Mehlville, Oakville, and Bayless.