Power-Building Academy
A Conversation Between Longtime Eastside Residents, Marie and Sam
Our children are our future champions. Strip away the bad roads, the politics, the economics, and they are what East St. Louis is made of. We’ve got to make sure they’re acknowledged and recognized and taught that they are geniuses—that they can be proud of the place they’re from.
Read MoreWhy I care about East St. Louis public schools | The St. Louis American
Students show up to school with the trauma of systematic racism on their shoulders and are just expected to grow in an environment that doesn’t value them as human beings.
Read MoreESTL Cohort Launch First Ed-Advocacy Campaign
Today, after several months of community organizing training, community engagement, policy research, and data analysis, a number of concerned parents, students, educators, and community members have come together in hopes of elevating the district to new levels.
Read MoreTake it from this SLPS Parent: We need to talk about school funding | The Riverfront Times
Before starting at Gateway Middle seventh grade I was forced into motherhood. I had to figure out how to balance school and still have a child. One day I was Smart Alexis, and then all of a sudden I was Alexis with the Baby.
Read MoreEast St. Louis Education Power-Building Academy Launches
Early in the Academy, we embarked on a tour facilitated by social justice legends Eugene Redmond and Reginald Petty of historic places in East St. Louis. More recently, Power-Builders reviewed East St. Louis education data during an Academy session.
Read More‘This is our time to get the vote out’ | The St. Louis American
Every day, North St. Louis resident Monti Hill knocks on doors in the three wards that have the lowest voter turnout in the city – the 3rd, 4th and 22nd. “We just want this to be a resident-led campaign,” Hill said. “We are really concerned, and we want to do more in our community.”
Read MoreGroup of St. Louis Residents want Transparency in Education Spending | St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Public Schools’ budgeting process is too insular for parents and teachers to understand and contribute to, a group of north St. Louis residents claim.
Read More16 North City Residents, Students, Alumni, Educators Launch Campaign for SLPS Budget Transparency
A North City-based coalition of 16 launch their inaugural campaign, demanding increased SLPS budget transparency and community input, Tuesday morning. In two weekends, a teach-in and letter writing event, will educate the public on concerns of access and engagement.
Read MoreOn Reading Out loud and Encouraging Imagination
One afternoon in grade school my teacher made up a new rule: each student must finish reading a section aloud from their book before leaving the classroom that day. I couldn’t make it through a page. I was stuttering so badly. Then to add to my embarrassment, I caused my classmates to miss their bus.
Read MoreCanvasing with our North City Power-Builders
As part of our second weekend with our cohort of north city residents, we engaged in developing and practicing some fundamental community organizing skills and principles!
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