East St. Louis Center

For more than 50 years, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) has played an essential role in the Metro East Area offering services and educational opportunities that have empowered area citizens to create a strong community.

The ESLC operates programs funded through federal, state and local grants with an annual budget of more than $15 million.

Quality services and training is the staple of the Center that assists clients from Diapers to Diplomas.

About the Center

"Empowering People ...  Strengthening Communities"

The ESLC offers educational programs and services that address the educational and life skills needs of the community with the purpose of "Empowering People . . . Strengthening Communities."

• We prepare preschoolers for kindergarten and primary school through such programs as our SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start;

• We enhance  the educational success and social well-being of youth and adults with our SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School;

• We provide the foundation and motivation for young people to pursue and achieve their career aspirations through such services as the SIUE East St. Louis Center Upward Bound Programs;

• We prepare and encourage high school graduates to pursue mathematics, science, and/or engineering fields of study, including our Upward Bound Math & Science Center;

• We co-sponsor parent involvement activities to enhance the role of parents in the education and development of young children beginning at the preschool level.

• We sponsor local and nationwide trips for high school youth to visit universities and colleges, and participate in leadership conferences;

• We sponsor performing arts productions, showcasing the talents of youth before an audience, as with the SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts;

• We promote computer technology and scientific research through hands-on experimentation as can be seen with The Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Research, Education, and Outreach, also known as The STEM Center at the East St. Louis Charter High School.

Specifically, our scope of impact reaches more than 6,000 clients a year. It's a feat that could only be accomplished because of the ESLC's dedicated and expert staff members who have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for individuals and families, and to generate enthusiasm and empowerment by mobilizing the University's resources to provide educational opportunities.

The ESLC is well on its way to achieving its vision of becoming "A nationally recognized service delivery center that offers exemplary service and innovative program that equip diverse populations for responsible citizenship, productive employment, and economic development in a changing global society." And to date, the Center remains a place in the Metro East Area where Hope Happens!