News

Desiree Tyus not only knows the importance of connecting the dots in community service, but the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) new staff member uses her expertise and collaborates with others to provide assistance to the most vulnerable. 

Tyus, director of Youth Programs at the ESLC, will receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University community humanitarian award at SIUE’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom. 

“Desiree is a dynamic, dedicated, and effective director, as well as just a joy to work with,” said ESLC Executive Director Jesse Dixon. “Under her leadership, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is launching two new federal grants programs, an expansion of our Performing Arts Program and an unprecedented community-wide initiative around East St. Louis urban agriculture.” 

Members of the Kid Friendly Network nominated Tyus for the award. Tyus is founder and CEO of Kid Friendly Network, a locally based organization that brings more than 250 businesses and organizations together to share programs, events and coordinate services within their community. 

“The work in the community is plentiful, and there are a variety of opportunities for anyone to be involved in creating positive solutions no matter their circumstances,” said Tyus. “The more we are able to genuinely engage each other, the better we will become at recognizing and appreciating the rich assets we each bring to the table.” 

Her community work is wide reaching in scope and impact. Some examples of the good she has helped accomplish:

• Found assistance for a family after a fire destroyed their home
• Helped a single mother and her three children go from months of living in a vehicle to finding shelter
• Ensured that an undocumented family from Ecuador was able to receive academic assistance for their child
• Works for an annual back-to-school giveaway that incorporates health, dental and vision screenings and a resource fair for more than 4,000 youths 

Tyus also values the betterment of the community through diversity and inclusion work. “I am exceptionally committed to my work in providing safe places for people to discuss crucial conversations around diversity and inclusion,” she said. “I have been fortunate to do so through my advocacy work as state diversity chair for the Illinois Parent Teacher Association, serving on the Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Planning Team for the Gateway Region YMCA, and providing annual professional development to the staff of the Illinois Center for Autism.” 

Since coming to the ESLC in October 2017, Tyus has worked to provide technical assistance with programmatic efforts for five youth-oriented programs and to expand stakeholder interests and community partnerships. 

 “Desiree has a unique ability to make deep connections with a broad cross-section of community stakeholders and then leverage those connections into meaningful outcomes that improve the lives of young people throughout the region,” Dixon said. “It is a privilege to have Desiree on our team, and we have exceedingly high hopes for the impact she will continue making for SIUE East St. Louis Center families.” 

“We are extremely proud of Desiree and her ongoing commitment to building bridges and partnerships in the community,” said Johanna Wharton, director of Workforce Development and Strategic Partnerships. “She is a great addition to the SIUE East St. Louis Center team. Desiree’s experience in youth development, her broad range of community contacts and unique ability to bring diverse groups to the table to collaborate, make her a great candidate for this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Humanitarian Award.” 

Photo: Desiree Tyus, director of Youth Programs at the ESLC, will receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University community humanitarian award at SIUE’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom.