In one of the rooms where real change happens, four large desks stand ready for action. At each desk, a volunteer sits across from a guest, assisting them in obtaining a Missouri non-driver photo ID. 

For many of these guests, this process involves securing a certified copy of their birth certificate, which often is necessary to apply for the photo ID. Without this ID, they are shut out from accessing basic necessities such as housing, employment, health care, social services and so much more.

“You can’t get anything without a photo ID, not even a bus pass,” said Sara Ruiz, executive director of Ashrei Foundation, a  nonprofit founded in 2021 by Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation. 

The foundation is dedicated to promoting economic justice, alleviating suffering and breaking the cycle of poverty. As Talve explains, the word ashrei in the Book of Psalms is often translated as “happy” but can also mean “forward,” suggesting movement and progress.

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Now rabbi emerita at CRC, Talve established Ashrei Foundation as an entity separate from CRC after she was approached by congregant Sue McCollum and her Clever Little Girl Foundation. Together, they sought to tackle the systemic inequities that hinder economic mobility, aiming to create meaningful change.

“When I think about those issues, I think about all the people who are underserved by all aspects of society,” said McCollum, who is the founding donor of Ashrei Foundation. “An ID card is a fundamental way to at least help people get access to things they need in everyday life. We have to understand that the systems in place sometimes are not accessible to the people who need them the most.”

The North City Photo ID Project is Ashrei’s flagship program, although it is only one of the organization’s many initiatives. 

According to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit law and public policy organization at New York University, about 10% of American adults — 26 million people — lack government-issued photo identification. The problem is even more pronounced among low-income individuals, racial minorities, the homeless and the elderly. 

In Missouri, securing the right kind of photo ID can be especially difficult and time-consuming.

One person facing this challenge was Delisa, 31, a Black woman recently released from prison. After serving a year for a drug-related charge, she was living in a women’s transitional housing facility, hoping to rebuild her life by finding a job and securing an apartment. But before she could do either, she needed a photo ID. She had left prison without one, and she didn’t have her birth certificate, either.

Getting a photo ID typically requires a birth certificate, but to obtain a birth certificate, you usually need a photo ID, creating a frustrating catch-22.

Delisa, who asked that only her middle name be used, came to Ashrei’s office at The Hub in north St. Louis to get help. Most Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ashrei runs a free, walk-in clinic where volunteers assist individuals in navigating the process of securing the necessary documentation for a photo ID. In Delisa’s case, though she still needed her birth certificate, there was some good news: she was born in Missouri. For individuals born out of state, the process can often be more complicated.

As Ashrei was ramping up, Missouri passed House Bill 1878, which requires voters to present a Missouri or federally issued photo ID to vote. This made Missouri one of the most restrictive states in the nation when it comes to voter ID laws. Under the new law, student IDs, voter registration cards, expired IDs and out-of-state driver’s licenses are no longer accepted at polling places.

“And while breaking down barriers to ensure the right to vote is important, we quickly realized that voting wasn’t the top priority for many people seeking a photo ID,” Ashrei’s Ruiz said. “They have much more urgent needs.”

Through connections with organizations like the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, Missouri Jobs with Justice and the Tabernacle Community Development Corp., which operates The Hub, Ruiz learned about a long-running clinic at St. Francis Xavier College Church at St. Louis University. This clinic has been helping low-income, disabled, senior and underserved residents obtain photo IDs for more than 30 years.

In conversations with Christine Dragonette, who has managed the ID and birth certificate program at College Church for a decade, Ruiz saw the tremendous demand for such services. Unfortunately, funding and a shortage of volunteers limit how many people the College Church clinic can assist. The need for similar programs, Ruiz realized, was vast.

“There was no need to reinvent the wheel,” Ruiz said. “But there was a need to broaden the reach. So, I asked (Dragonette), ‘Do you want us to take your model and your community and fill in the gap?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, do you think you could do that?’ Two years later, we are running a clinic, a full-time coalition and co-facilitating a statewide coalition to help those in need get their photo ID.”

Ashrei is a member of the Missouri State ID Access Coalition, which was founded by College Church in 2019. The coalition’s goal is to share College Church’s successful model and advocate for legislation that expands access to state-issued identification. 

One of the coalition’s key achievements was working with the Department of Revenue to create a document that allows people in temporary housing to use the address of a homeless service provider, like Ashrei, to obtain a Missouri state ID.

Ruiz also highlighted Ashrei’s relationship with the Vital Records office at City Hall. 

“If we write a letter confirming that a guest is part of our program and is experiencing homelessness, that letter is usually sufficient for City Hall staff to issue the birth certificate and send it to our office,” Ruiz explained.

In addition to these efforts, Ashrei covers the cost of obtaining a photo ID ($18) and/or a birth certificate from any state ($15 for Missouri). The foundation also provides bus fare to help guests with the transportation to acquire these essential documents.

In the 2½ years since its formation, Ashrei has served more than 2,500 individuals. The majority — 77% — have been Black or multiracial, and about evenly split between men and women. 

Volunteers, many of whom are retirees, go through a three-part training process. 

“The first part looks at the history and development of IDs as an issue, and what the barriers are,” Ruiz said. “The second part gets into the document process, the specific steps, for both Missouri and out-of-state birth certificates and Missouri photo IDs. Then we’ll have our new volunteers shadow more seasoned ones, and that’s usually when it all comes together.”

Marcy Brodsky, an Ashrei volunteer and board member, emphasized that for those who’ve always had a photo ID, it’s hard to imagine how complicated and time-consuming the process can be, like renewing your car registration at the DMV, but a hundred times more challenging. Obtaining the necessary documents, finding transportation to the right offices and covering the associated fees are just a few of the hurdles. On top of that, many people have to take time off work or arrange child care, adding even more difficulty to the process.

“We treat (these guests) with the dignity and respect they deserve. They come in one way, but they usually leave feeling so much more self-assured,” Brodsky said. “They are so grateful for the support we give them, and not just financially. It’s hard to figure out how to maneuver through these processes, especially when you don’t have any form of identification and don’t know how or where to start.”

Delisa is a living testament to the impact of Ashrei’s work. When she first walked into The Hub that Thursday, she felt lost and overwhelmed, unsure of where or how to get a photo ID. But when she left, she felt confident that she would soon have the documents she needed to move forward with her life. 

“I’d like to get into counseling to help drug addicts,” she said. “I feel good now, and it’ll be good for me to work and live on my own. Today has given me more hope.”

Ruiz expects that this year, Ashrei, with a budget of $720,000 from grants and donations, will reach more than 1,000 people, many of whom will hear about the service from caseworkers, social service organizations and word-of-mouth. Most will come to The Hub, though the nonprofit also runs off-site clinics, or pop-ups, throughout the state as well as at senior living facilities in the St. Louis area. 

As for the future, the statewide ID coalition is exploring legislation they hope to introduce in 2026 that would make state IDs free to all Missourians. Ruiz said having a photo ID is something that, regardless of political views, everyone can agree is essential because of the access it provides.

“There’s a ton of data and research in terms of people having IDs that it improves all sorts of outcomes — health outcomes, economic mobility, security and safety, education,” she said. “The problem is the people in power, I don’t think they realize that. They don’t know how hard it is to get. And when they do, the initial responses are usually, ‘This feels like common sense. Why is it so hard?’ ”

Ruiz also credits Talve, “our founding leader,” for having a vision “for what healing and repairing Missouri really looks like.” She noted that on Sunday, Jan. 19, Talve received the 2025 Martin Luther King Drum Major for Justice Award as founder of Ashrei and the work it does.

“When it feels there’s no way in heck we are ever going to win anything, (Susan) says, ‘No, no, there is a way. Here’s text we can draw on, here’s belief and faith in the efforts we have for justice and equality. Don’t forget that.’ ”

Talve said: “We are a people who move forward, always working toward a better future, not just for ourselves but for all. Nothing could be more Jewish than our photo ID work.

“We make sure that no one is invisible and that everyone is treated with dignity, as we are all in the image of God.”

For more information about Ashrei Foundation, go to ashreifoundation.org.