SIUE East St. Louis Center employees are invited to join in for a time of food, fellowship and fun:

Faculty/Staff Appreciation "Family Reunion"

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19
Multipurpose Room and Outside
Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus

Please RSVP at link below:
siue.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_40JZJN7IsOJpiOq

Enjoy a time of games, music, activities, foods/snacks and gifts.

SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) staff and parents attended IHSA's 2023 Annual Conference in East Peoria and garnered several awards.

Some of the winners included:  

• Administrator of the Year-Kay Robertson, Lovejoy Head Start Center, center coordinator 
  This award acknowledges the important contributions of forward-thinking administrators to the long-term success of HS/EHS programs and, ultimately, the children and families they serve. 
  Robertson, who did not attend the conference, received a $100 check, was recognized during the 2022-23 IHSA  Annual Conference Luncheon, received an Administrator of the Year award plaque and a $100 visa gift card from HS/EHS partners, The Discovery Source.      

• Mary Alice Buchanan Scholarship - Deshonia Bourrage, teacher aide, JJK Head Start Center. This award is to support any parent, former HS/EHS child or staff member working towards completion of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. 

• Mercedes Howard, JJK Head Start parent and policy council representative, was elected as the IHSA Parent Component President during the IHSA Conference. Components are unique to IHSA and are basically a community of individuals who share roles within the HS/EHS community.  Components act as a conduit to share information with the Board, and the Board shares information with each Component.

IHSA's annual conference provides deep, innovative training; professional development opportunities; and an excellent forum for exploring best practices and connecting with colleagues. Professional development opportunities allow directors, staff, parents and Head Start friends to get the most current approaches to materials in their respective areas. It also affords a time to reflect, network, learn and discuss solutions for the success of young children and families.

Photo: (left to right) Kay Robertson, Deshonia Bourrage and Mercedes Howard.

It started as a way to learn a little more about college and a year later Sam Hibbard, SIUE Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) Collinsville High School (CHS) student, is heavily involved and thankful he joined the program. 

“I was uncertain about college before the program,” explained Hibbard. “But now I am leaning more towards going.” Hibbard’s first choice is SIUE. 

His mother, Jessica Hibbard, and grandmother, Catherine Simpher-Benwell, have always been convinced that Hibbler would do well in college and are happy for the education and exposure that UBSA provides. 

“When we first got information about Upward Bound, I thought it sounded like an excellent program,” said Jessica Hibbard. “I didn’t know if Sam wanted to go to Upward Bound in the summertime. But Mr. Gregory (Johnson II, UBSA counselor and social emotional services supervisor) wouldn’t let it go and kept contacting me. He is awesome.” 

“I thought the program was a wonderful idea to get Sam acclimated to college,” said Simpher-Benwell. 

“I’ve learned about career planning and the college process, and my grades have improved,” said Hibbard of his time in UBSA. 

Hibbard is considering majoring in speech language pathology or psychology. “I had a speech language problem,” he added, “and had trouble pronouncing ‘r,’ ‘w’, ‘th’ and ‘f.’” 

“When he was in preschool and kindergarten, the teacher noticed him having speech problems,” offered Jessica Hibbard. “They recommended a speech pathologist for him.” 

“I know I want to be of help to people,” said Hibbard. 

UBSA has aided Hibbard in focusing on important goals, according to Simpher-Benwell. “It has allowed him to see past his high school years and into a future.” 

“The program has also given him a great sense of belonging and a good community,” said Jessica Hibbard. “It has also motivated him to become more involved in activities.” 

Hibbard’s group involvements, most of which are community service based, include: UBSA’s “A-T.E.A.M. (youth ambassadors), CHS Baking Club, CHS Key Club and CHS Leo Club. 

“Please don’t ever stop this program,” said Jessica Hibbard. “It’s not just important and valuable for Sam but for all the other young people who need it.” 

Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) is a TRIO program federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBSA serves Collinsville High School students, ages 14-19, from low-income families and from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of postsecondary education. 

Photo:
Sam Hibbard, SIUE Upward Bound Scholars Academy (UBSA) Collinsville High School (CHS) student

From counseling, to helping improve access to services, to creating programs that will best benefit clients, Christopher Barry is one of the reasons SIUE School of Nursing’s (SON) WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis accurately reflects its name. 

“We actually care about the clients and the services we provide,” said Barry, program manager and social worker at the Clinic. “I became a social worker because I was passionate about serving the community. I think many systems can be difficult and intimidating to navigate, and I strive to make programs feel comfortable to those utilizing its services.” 

Barry, who has worked various positions at SIUE since 2005 while pursuing three degrees from the University, began working at the Clinic in October 2022. He earned a bachelor’s in fine arts with a specialization in graphic design in 2010, a bachelor’s in psychology in 2013 and a master’s in social work in 2021. 

“Being able to serve this community and build rapport with so many of our clients, continuously fills my cup,” said Barry. “I have also missed the excitement that comes with working with a smaller team. The WE CARE team is a welcome change of pace to the bigger organizations I’ve recently worked for.” 

“We have the passion and ability to build relationships with our clients,” he continued. “I watch our providers pick up the phone to reschedule a client who has missed an appointment. Everyone, from the front to back, in order to meet our clients where they are.” 

More specifically, Barry said in his role as a social worker, he employs the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model. 

“ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy that utilizes values-guided interventions to help clients achieve their treatment goals,” offered Barry. “On a macro-level, I hope to tap into the other community resources to maximize the wellbeing of our clients and help open more doors for them.” 

“As the program manager, I help to build systems and structure to our clinic to best serve our clients,” he continued. “My goal is to increase our daily show rate, while supporting our staff and providing quality continued care to our clients.” 

Barry has other ambitions for the Clinic. “This next year is going to be about growth, learning and empowering,” he divulged. “Not just within our own team, but within the community that we are lucky to be able to serve. It’s an exciting time at the WE CARE Clinic!”

The WE CARE Clinic provides primary patient care on the SIUE East St. Louis Higher Education Campus, located on campus in Building D.  Our staff includes an advanced Nurse Practitioner, a collaborating physician, a licensed clinical social worker, certified health coaches and a doctorally prepared pharmacist. All of our providers provide full services to our diverse clients who reside in the metro-east and surrounding communities.    

Photo:
Christopher Barry, program manager and social worker at the SIUE School of Nursing’s WE CARE Clinic.

Center for Performing Arts

• Annual Spring Recital - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 Multipurpose Room in Building D

• Open enrollment and registration now open for Summer Camp 2023

Head Start/Early Head Start

• Week of the Young Child, April 1-7

  The Week of the Young Child^® is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world's largest early childhood education association, with nearly 60,000 members and a network of 52 Affiliates. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child^® is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

• Monday, April 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Multipurpose Room (Room 1007/008), “A Head Start” in Early Childhood Education Career. On-site preliminary interviews with SIUE Head Start/ Early Head Start. Meet faculty, advisors, mentors from SIUE and SWIC Early Childhood Program. Learn more about full-tuition scholarships from Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Navigators. 

• NHSA Conference, Monday-Thursday, May 8-11 - SIUE Head Start staff and parents will attend the National Head Start Annual (NHSA) Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.  The conference brings the Head Start community together for a week of sharing knowledge, networking with peers and celebrating achievements.

Conversation of Understanding, April 18

• Noon-1:30 p.m.
  Tuesday, April 18
  via Youtube
  

  Students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members from across the SIU System are invited to join a live virtual discussion focusing on critical issues regarding equity and justice in our country, and what we can and must do to address those issues within the SIU System and beyond.

  The event will feature an SIU community panel sharing findings and solutions based on the 2022 Viewfinder Campus Climate Survey.

  A question and answer session will follow where audience participants can use the YouTube comment section or submit questions before or during the event by emailing doris.williams@siu.edu.

Answer the call to be a Commencement Volunteer!

• As Spring Commencement nears, we are looking for exceptional students, faculty, and staff to volunteer. Whether you are seeking the accolade of Marshal, Student Speaker, or simply greeting excited family and friends, you will gain the honor of being a part of SIUE’s most cherished ceremony. As a student, volunteering at commencement is a great way to learn about SIUE tradition while congratulating your peers. As a member of faculty, few events rival the reward of acknowledging your students’ academic achievements. All volunteers will receive a $10 voucher for the Cougar Store and provided with a meal.

  Sign up at the link below. No experience necessary. 

  https://siue.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4MwMCsUu8PBV44m

• Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski Visits the SIUE East St. Louis Center
  U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) talked with, listened to and shared information among community members and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) staff members during her visit Thursday, April 6 at the ESLC. 
  
  “On Thursday, I was honored to team up with the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) to host a free workshop for residents of Illinois’ 13th District on how to lower their energy costs,” said Budzinski. “This workshop was a great opportunity for members of the community to learn about and access assistance programs. The Citizens Utility Board couldn’t have been more insightful in helping answer questions from folks about their bills, finding ways to bring down costs and setting up payment plans to handle expenses.” 

• Dr. Bobby Smith Addresses Food Justice during SIUE’s Speaker Series
  Imagine a food system that is created, designed, managed and sustained by Black people.  
  
  Bobby Smith II, PhD, interdisciplinary sociologist and assistant professor in the Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will discuss his vision, research and work regarding food justice during his visit to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Metro East from Wednesday-Thursday, April 12-13. 

• SIUE's Dr. Ampadu Extols Honorees at Women's Business Leaders Brunch
  

  SIUE’s Jerrica Ampadu, PhD, served up plenty of praise, supplied words of encouragement and offered motivation to persevere during the third annual Missouri Minority Business Development Agency's (MBDA) Tribute to Women Business Leaders brunch held Saturday, March 25 at the Marriott-St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis. 

  “I wanted the awardees being recognized to really feel empowered and applauded, because this was a celebration for women,” said Ampadu, RN, CCP, associate professor, and director of the SIUE SON’s WE CARE Clinic in East St. Louis. She is also coordinator for diversity for the SON and president of the SIUE Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA). 

• SIUE ESL Charter High School Student’s Artwork Chosen for Display
  

  Amidst the more than 80 pieces of artwork selected for the SIUE Department of Art and Design’s Annual Regional Juried High School Exhibition, was a sculpture made from the pages of a Webster Dictionary. 

  Kiara Williams, SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) senior, is the creator of “Still Relevant.” The piece, a tree standing in the middle of an opened dictionary, was on display last month in the Art and Design West Gallery.  

• SIUE Upward Bound Students’ Assignment Selected for New York Water Film Festival
  What began as a learning tool and documentation of youth experiencing and exploring waterways and the surrounding habitat, has resulted in praise for the cinematic account. “Kids on the River,” starring students from the SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program, was one of several films selected out of more than 130 that was shown Sunday, March 19 at the World Water Film Festival (WWFF) in New York. 

• Pride Fest Celebrated at SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School
  Arts and crafts, face painting and games relating to and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community was enjoyed by students at the SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) during its first annual Pride Fest held Wednesday, March 22. 
  
  
• SIUE’s Ora Lockett Shares Health Secrets, Business Savvy and Published Works
  When it comes to promoting a healthy, holistic lifestyle and illustrating lessons in resolve, SIUE’s Ora Lockett is her own best advertising. Lockett, interim director of the Building Futures program at the SIUE East St. Louis Center, and founder and CEO of THE GR8FULL COMPANY and BUILD GR8NESS NETWORK, will be the guest speaker during Women’s History Month programming at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 22 at the SIUE East St. Louis Learning Resource Center (LRC). 

• SIUE ESL Charter High School Students Commit Digits to Memory and More during Pi Day
  You can almost see her brain cells in motion as she recites what has taken 15 minutes to set to memory … “7,5,1.” Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Charter High School (CHS) junior Jada Parker stalls and stops at “1”. Still, she captured first place for reciting the most digits – 50 – during the CHS STEAM/Pi Day on Tuesday, March 14.