SIUE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE siue.edu/successful-communities

Since its start in 2017, the SIUE Successful Communities Collaborative (SSCC) has partnered with 9 different cities and villages in Madison and St. Clair counties. Over 800 SIUE students from approximately 25 disciplines have been engaged thus far with partners through community-identified projects that are embedded in their courses. Additionally, SSCC coordinates two special projects – CODES: Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars initiative and SIUE’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center.

CODES introduces first-generation, Black, Latinx and/or Pell-eligible students to digital community engagement. CODES’ first cohort of scholars began in fall 2022. CODES Scholars work in small research teams that focus on seemingly unsolvable problems, such as climate change or poverty’s manifestations across rural and urban environments. The project is led by Jessica DeSpain, PhD, professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and co-director of the SIUE Interdisciplinary Research and Informatics (IRIS) Center, and Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and director of SSCC. Visit siue.edu/codes for more information. CODES is currently recruiting for fall 2024. Interested applicants can learn more at siue.edu/codes.

The SIUE TRHT Campus Center seeks to prepare the next generation of leaders to confront racism and dismantle the belief in a hierarchy of human value. The integration of TRHT and SSCC results in more equitable access to high impact practices (HIPs) for SIUE students because community-identified needs are embedded into courses in which students are enrolled. This is important because HIPs are recognized for their positive impact on retention and learning outcomes for students across many backgrounds. As community and campus stakeholders collaborate and achieve goals together, truths can be revealed, authentic relationships can be formed, and racial equity can be advanced.

If your organization is interested in partnering with SSCC or TRHT, contact Connie Frey Spurlock at (618) 650-2945 or cfrey@siue.edu.