News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) is gearing up for its 2019-20 partnership with the City of Edwardsville.

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton announced the city’s partnership with the SSCC at the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Mayors’ Legislative Breakfast in late April. 

SSCC collaborates with local communities in Illinois to address issues such as livability and sustainability. Since its pilot year in fall 2017, the collaboration has partnered with the City of Highland, Village of Godfrey and City of Alton. 

In collaboration with Edwardsville, the SSCC will work to:

• Promote natural conservation strategies and pro-environmental behaviors
• Develop a conceptual design and management strategy for a new sports complex
• Improve parking in downtown Edwardsville 

“I am looking forward to working with students, faculty and the residents of Edwardsville on projects that have meaningful implications for the quality of life for all in the community,” said Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and SSCC Director. “I'm especially excited to see the impact that our students will have as they work together, across disciplines, to make Edwardsville an even better place to work, live and play.”

The projects will be matched with available SIUE academic disciplines, which will engage both faculty and students. More information will be released this fall with details regarding the projects and organizations involved in the partnership. 

SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) is a cross-disciplinary program that supports one-year partnerships between the University and communities in Illinois to advance local resilience and sustainability based on community-identified environmental, social and economic issues and needs. Our mission is to connect Illinois communities with the students and faculty of the University.  

Photos:
Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and SSCC Director 

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton