East St. Louis Center

Bill Schnarr Takes Personal Struggles and Adapts them to Assist Vets

Coming from a family tradition of military service, outfitted in a soldier’s work ethic of tenacity and grit, and armed with a personal duty to support veterans, William “Bill” Schnarr is providing assistance for vets through Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Veterans Upward Bound (VUB). 

“I want to be in the trenches, helping veterans with their lives,” said Schnarr, VUB ou...

Black Greek Step Show, a Highlight during CHS Homecoming 2024 Activities

A week of excitement, high spirts and friendly competition was punctuated with foot-stomping, explosive energy during Homecoming 2024 activities for students at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS). 

The school began its festivities on Friday, Oct. 25 with sports activities, where rounds of basketball were played and former and current CHS track, and basketball pla...

SIUE Joins Community Groups to Provide Screenings, Education, Food and Clothing

Metro East residents were grateful for the free health screenings, clothing, haircuts and more provided at the first Fall Community Health Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Alpha Complex in East St. Louis. Approximately 200 people participated. 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing (SON), along with its WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis, collaborated with the Metro East St. ...

State, local and community leaders and officials, along with educators and religious leaders, convened during a forum aimed at addressing child poverty in East St. Louis, held at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis campus. 

More than 100 educators attended the discussion, hosted by Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization. 

A link to the St. Louis Public Radio article may be found here.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Upward Bound program and Christopher Cooper, program director for the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s East St. Louis Upward Bound (UB) Programs, were mentioned during the episode “How a St. Louis teacher uses Black history to make math less daunting” on “St. Louis On the Air,” hosted by Elaine Cha.

Guest Kendall A. Ware, EdD, the author of the book “Solving for Freedom: An Algebra I Textbook that Illuminates...

Approximately 90 attendees – dressed in business attire and armed with resumes, profile pitches, hope and determination – approached the multitude of tables of employers at a Free Jobs Fair, made possible by State Rep. Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt, on Friday, Aug. 23. 

Schmidt’s legislative office held its second annual free jobs fair that was available for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) staff and program participants and the public i...

Free Programs, Services and More Made Available    

A small army of providers, offering jobs, services, free clothing, door prizes and more assembled on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at John F. Kennedy Community Center in Florissant, Mo., to support men and women who have been in service to their country. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) co-hosted the Florissant Veterans Resource and Job Fair that boasted 42 vendors from Illinois and Missouri. 

W...

CHS Students Enter the First Day of School to Much Fanfare   

Some walked down the long red carpet with much excitement and flair. Others cruised along quickly, hoping to pass by without much attention. But that didn’t happen, because the order of the day was for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) to give their students a rousing welcome on the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 12. 

Watch video of SIUE East St. Louis C...

Area veterans will be the recipients of free clothing, door prizes, employment, community and educational resources and services, and will have the opportunity to be interviewed on site by employers during the upcoming Resource and Job Fair, co-hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Veterans Upward Bound (VUB). 

VUB, in partnership with the City of Florissant, The Kaufman Fund and Florissant area veterans service organizations, will hold the Fair from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday,...

Program Helps Fill a Crucial Health Need in the Community

“More young people are needed to donate blood,” said 17-year-old Ashton Brazell, who sat with her right arm bandaged after giving blood on Friday, July 19. 

Brazell was one of 14 donors who participated in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville TRIO Upward Bound (UB) EC/MLC Programs’ 5^th Annual Blood Drive, that netted 18 units of blood. 

Students and community members participated in the student-led bl...

St. Clair County Intergovernmental Government Grants Department Offer Resume and Interview Workshop

“Only list the most relevant skills pertaining to the position you are applying for. Make sure your email address is appropriate. Research the business before the interview. Be aware of your body language and tone of voice.” 

These were just a few points that Somarie Robinson, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Building Futures (BF) program...

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of Elliott M. Rudwick’s seminal work, “Race Riot at East St. Louis, July 2, 1917.” First published in 1964 and written while Rudwick was a sociology faculty member at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, this book is known as the first to comprehensively document the tragic events of that day.

Rudwick joined SIUE in the summer of 1960, just before the University’s fourth year of operation. He earned his PhD in...

ESLCPA Students Perform to the Thrill of Family and Friends

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts (ESLCPA) hosted its annual Summer Recital on Friday, July 12 in the Multipurpose Room of Building D on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus.  

ESLCPA students, ages 7-17, performed a series of dance and musical numbers that included Katherine Dunham Technique, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. 

“We had a delightful, ex...

Lathan Says Patience and Hard Work Will Pay Off

Life will bring a mixed bag of surprises, challenges, failures and opportunities. The important thing is to remain on the “road” to arrive at a place of satisfaction and sought-after achievements, according to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Ahmad Marcus Lathan. 

Lathan, a news reporter for KFVS-12 in Cape Girardeau, Mo., was a guest speaker at the SIUE TRIO Upward Bound (UB) EC/MLC summer program’s Worksh...

Hill Lauds Program and Program Director for Preparing Her to Follow Her Dream 

Thanks to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Building Futures (BF) Program, the next stop for Annabelle Hill is a nursing education. 

Hill, a recent Cahokia High School graduate, has her sights set on a career in nursing. 

“I started participating in Building Futures to gain skills for my future career in nursing,” said Hill. “I wanted to make su...

On the first full day of spring, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville officials, community partners, parents, staff and other well-wishers let the wind carry their cheers as the ceremonial ribbon was cut on Wednesday, March 20 at the front doors of the SIUE New Life Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) Center in Lebanon. 

“As SIUE Chancellor (James T.) Minor always says, SIUE is a place where you can go from infant to graduate school, from infant to dental medicine and from infa...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor, James T. Minor, PhD, joined East St. Louis Mayor Robert Eastern III during the annual State of the City Address held Thursday, May 26 at the SIUE East St. Louis Center.

“I have had the great pleasure of spending time in East St. Louis even before my March arrival to listen and learn about the history and just how resilient this community is and has been,” Minor shared in his opening remarks.

Minor went on to reflect on and highl...

“What matters most are the people who walk through our doors. We can offer social mobility with programming offered from cradle to career. That is truly significant, and a powerful position that demands our attention and support." 

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD, shared those words following visits with educators, mentors, staff and students at the SIUE East St. Louis Center (ESLC) this week. 

“At SIUE, we realize the potential in...

Southern Illinois University President Dan Mahony, PhD, has named James T. Minor, PhD, as the 10^th chancellor of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The selection is pending formal SIU Board of Trustees approval, slated for the Thursday, Dec. 2 meeting. Minor will assume his duties on March 1, 2022.

“Dr. Minor is a straightforward and innovative leader who has the vision to maintain a positive trajectory for the entire SIUE community, while at the same time embracing the strengths ...