East St. Louis Center

From learning more about COVID-19, to critical thinking regarding racism, to preparing for college, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center’s Upward Bound (UB) EC/BEM program students delved into these topics and more during Zoom sessions during the summer. 

The sessions, which began Monday, June 15, ended Friday, July 24 with program participants receiving complementary lunches and gift bags in a socially-distanced fashion at the East St. Louis Higher Educati...

The first day of kindergarten is exciting and memorable, and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start program wants to make sure its students are equipped for a successful year. 

“The inaugural SIUE Head Start Virtual Kindergarten Readiness Summer Program will help students and families better transition and excel during the thrilling year ahead,” said Lisa Tate, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start assistant program director/center operations. 

The SIUE Head ...

The joy of dancing. The thrill of theater. The love of teaching art. The pleasure of culinary arts. These things and more can be experienced if a person has the desire and commitment to pursue a career in the arts. 

Students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) program listened in on why a group of panelists decided on their careers and how they arrived at their destination. 

“We are expos...

After a horrifying ordeal for “Monty, The Turtle,” his creator has begun the loving and painstaking job of restoring him, where he resides at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. 

Edna Patterson-Petty, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 2009 Alumni Hall of Famer and celebrated artist, began repairing the turtle sculpture on Monday, June 15, after it had been vandalized on Wednesday, Jan. 8. 

“I don’t know how long it will take to restore,” ...

What do a surgeon, a registered nurse, a software developer and an engineering professor all have in common? They were all guests at a STEM Career Day, hosted by the SIUE East St. Louis Center Collinsville’s Upward Bound’s Math and Science (UBMS) program. 

UBMS held its annual STEM Career Day. This year, due to COVID-19 it is scheduled as a STEM Summer Speaker Series. The meetings run from 11 a.m.-Noon each Thursday through July 16. 

Each week boasts four-eight experts in...

Creativity, ingenuity and fun merged to make some unique Father’s Day cards during a virtual Crafty Friday hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center Learning Resource Center (LRC). 

“LRC’s Crafty Friday’s are highly anticipated and popular with our patrons,” said LRC Library Director Rebecca Harper. “For Friday, June 19, we thought it would be best to make Father’s Day cards.” 

Prior to the virtual art se...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start joined more than 50 other organizations on Saturday, June 6 in sponsoring a food/toiletries distribution coordinated by The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. The event provided enough food for 3,000 families residing in the East St. Louis and surrounding communities. 

Carolyn Jason, acting program director for SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start, worked with Head Start volunteers Chrystal Anthony and Yvonne Jeffr...

Twenty-eight graduates of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) Class of 2020 experienced their first virtual commencement ceremony Friday, May 26. View the ceremony at siue.edu/esl-charter-school.

CHS Director Gina Jeffries, EdD, extolled the graduates’ virtues and acknowledged it was not the type of senior year they ever could have imagined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Victory Class of 2020, take a bow and walk with the power ...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start staff members are creatively focusing on wellness as they navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, staff from each of the Head Start/Early Head Start Centers participated in a series of SIUE/STL Art Hives hosted via Zoom where they used artistic expression to connect, relax and decompress.

“It is important for SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start to continue to support wellness of staff, children and families, e...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Nursing (SON) has managed the WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis for more than 20 years, with the mission of providing comprehensive evidence-based primary care services to people in the Metro East area.  

Longtime clinic contributor Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, has been named the Clinic’s new director. Under her leadership, the Clinic seeks to improve patient access to care through increased connection with potential cl...

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This portion of a Fred Rogers famous quote is as true now as always. Such helpers are making a dramatic positive impact as people join together, virtually or at appropriate distances, to get through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) and the Head Start/Early Head Start Program are among the helpers. In cooperation with SIUE Dining Services, ...

Managing your emotions is not child’s play, but Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start is working to make the task simple enough for children to understand and apply, thanks to a $78,000 Violence Prevention grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority. 

The SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Program and Children’s Home & Aid Society in Belleville are partnering to provide social emotional classroom kits for students, which will include books t...

Courtney Parker, of Belleville, a mother of four children who is described as ambitious, courageous and compassionate, has been selected as the 2020 Illinois Head Start/Early Head Start Parent of the Year by the Illinois Head Start Association. 

Parker, president of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Head Start/Early Head Start Belleville Center’s Parent Association, received the award during the Illinois Head Start Association’s (IHSA) Annual Conference on Thursday,...

Donned in white protective gear from head to toe, Dawn Huckelberry, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville integrative studies academic advisor, brought in an unexpected learning exhibit that was met with squeals of joy from students at the SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start Cahokia Center. 

Huckelberry, who is a part of the SIUE honeybee program and a member of the St. Clair County Beekeepers Association, visited the Cahokia Center on Monday, March 16. 

“We are currently stud...

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is honoring 15 females as Phenomenal Women as part of its sixth annual observation in recognition of Women’s History Month. A closer look at this group reveals lives that are full of remarkable character, positive influence, tested strength and a commitment to a diverse and inclusive SIUE. 

“This year’s group represents women around the globe who are actively contributing to ...