ESLARP on Campus

Diverse campus units (from within Fine and Applied Arts, Applied Health Sciences, Law, Library and Information Science, Social Work plus many more) come together to work on neighborhood projects in East St. Louis, and the number keeps increasing. For example, students and faculty in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning collaborate on neighborhood plans, contributing their respective areas of expertise. Through these kinds of collaborations, students begin to better understand the concerns and responsibilities of other disciplines, and to develop their own professional identity. ESLARP provides training for a new generation of socially responsive community development professionals.

Expanding collaboration in the University and the community

Increasingly ambitious projects require greater planning and preparation. As community organizations demonstrate the ability to accomplish their goals, we are seeing increased collaboration with new campus units. ESLARP invites anyone interested and willing to contribute their particular skills and resources to join in the ongoing revitalization of East St. Louis. We hope these working relationships will also be a model for other distressed areas, wherever concerned citizens seek technical assistance on realizing their ambitions of a better community.