SPOTLIGHT

Larine Y. Cowan
Make a Difference Award

The Larine Y. Cowan Make a Difference Award was presented to ESLARP Director Laura Lawson and FAA Dean Robert Graves earlier this month during the 24th Annual Celebration of Diversity breakfast on November 11, held at the I Hotel. Presenting the award to ESLARP was Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Robert Easter, and Menah Pratt-Clarke, Interim Assistant Chancellor and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.

 ESLARP in Action Blog

Get Involved

There are a variety of ways for Faculty, Students, and Community Members to get involved in ESLARP's work in East St. Louis. 

Students: Take a class working with ESLARP 

These courses work collaboratively with a variety of community partners in East St. Louis to address information and technology, create neighborhood plans and site designs, and research local issues.  Most of the courses involve a supervised field trip to East St. Louis, giving students an opportunity to work hands-on with community members and leaders.

Faculty: Involve your class with ESLARP 

Faculty from accross campus are working with ESLARP in different capacities from serving on our Campus Advisory Committee to involving their class work in the community to simply encouraging their students to attend an outreach weekends in East St. Louis.

ESLARP offeres a uniqe structure to support faculty engaging in service learning activities in the East St. Louis community. We can assist in making the right connections with individuals or groups in East St. Louis and provide logistical support (travel, lodging, planned work projects) for outreach weekends. We also encourage faculty to talk to us about the possibility of an ESLARP funded Graduate Assistant to assist the faculty in their work in East St. Louis. Email us at eslarp@illinois.edu for more information.

Community Members: Work with ESLARP 

ESLARP partners with a broad group of residents and organizations in East. St. Louis. We incourage your involvement and appreciate any learning opportunities our students are afforded through our partnership with the East St. Louis community.

There are several ways you can get involved. We encourage you to work with a non-profit organization in your local community to formulate a request for assistance such as a neighborhood or faith-based group. If you do not know of any groups you can work with we might be able to help you make the appropriate contact for your idea/need. Email us at eslarp@illinois.edu or call our campus (217/265-0202) or East St. Louis office (618/397-4973).

Examples of ways we work with partners:

• Outreach Weekends - students work side by side with neighborhood residents on beautification and clean up projects.
• Community Engagement Projects - several Professors at the University of Illinois work with local agencies and neighborhood groups to address needs in the community ranging from grant writing to design work and  other projects as needed.

Everyone: Make a gift to ESLARP