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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is collaborating with the 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative in East St. Louis for the second consecutive year. The committee aiming to curb and eliminate violence in the city and support local youth, kicked off its campaign with a press conference on the holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 19).  

“This year’s theme connects deeply to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a nation committed to nonviolence, compassion, and collective responsibility,” said Rosetta Brown, Fourth Ward Alderwoman in Alton, one of the participating areas. 

The 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative is organized into themed weeks such as “Health Week,” “First Responders Week” and “Civic/Religious Organization Week,” which partners with local churches, the Urban League and the NAACP.  

SIUE will join “Education Week” in collaboration with the Alton School District and Lewis and Clark Community College. SIUE will also join “First Responders Week” as the SIUE Police Department works with afterschool programming at the Wyvetter H. Young Higher Education Campus to build positive relationships with our police partners and K9 Therapy Dogs.  

The 40 Days of Nonviolence program concludes with a “Unification Week” designed to reinforce and connect the lessons for students. 

Programming runs from Jan. 28 through March 8.  

SIUE’s Project Success, located in East St. Louis Center at WHYHEC, is hosting chess instruction on Wednesdays, 5 to 6:30 p.m. 
 
On Wednesday, Feb. 25, SIUE will host a panel discussion titled “The Evolving Face of Nonviolent Resistance, Activism, and Civil Disobedience” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the East. St. Louis Charter High School.    

SIUE’s Epsilon Pi Undergraduate Chapter and the Epsilon Lambda Sigma Alumni Chapter, in collaboration with the Nu Gamma Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., will provide community service on March 7 during the Saturday programming at Alton Middle School, where students ages 8 through 18 are participating in a six-week program. 

“The purpose of the initiative is to provide 40 DAYS of violence-free activities and support at various locations throughout the cities of East St. Louis and Alton by re-engaging community leaders, civic organizations, and citizens while encouraging the communities to sustain the momentum after the initial 40 days have passed,” said Kimberly McClellan, manager in SIUE Human Resources and a member of the 40 days of Nonviolence executive committee. “We have been able to track measurable results in reduction of crime among youth following our 40-day activities and hope to see similar successes this year.”   

During the opening press conference, East St. Louis City Manager Robert Betts expressed to organizers, “The 40 days of nonviolence initiative has certainly impacted and continues to impact our community. I’m encouraged by the partnership you continue to build with SIUE, with other communities and organizations throughout the city.”     

The 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative launched in East St. Louis in 2014. 

PHOTO: Phillip Berry teaches the game of chess to Project Success youth on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education campus; Children playing chess