SIUE Institute for Urban Research Co-Sponsors SLACO Regional Neighborhood Conference
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Institute for Urban Research (IUR) will co-sponsor the 20th annual Regional Neighborhood Conference. The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) hosts the event Saturday, Nov. 14, at Harris-Stowe State University.
“The Power of Neighborhoods” is the theme of this year’s conference. The gathering of residents and leaders will highlight what can be achieved through cooperation and empowerment at the neighborhood scale.
The event will take place from 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Harris-Stowe State University Givens Campus beginning with coffee, sign-in and exhibits. The opening session will start at 8:45 a.m. in the Emerson Performance Center. Rev. Starsky Wilson, president and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation and co-chair of the Ferguson Commission, will deliver the keynote address.
Nancy Thompson, SLACO executive director, stated, “This year, we experienced a surge both in energy that neighborhoods are showing for addressing longstanding concerns in new ways and in enthusiasm about organizing new neighborhood associations throughout the city. We expect the conference to reflect and amplify the optimism and determination that we are seeing.”
Conference attendees will choose three breakout sessions from among the following overall categories:
- Effective neighborhood associations
- Quality local government
- Ferguson lessons learned
- Vacant land and buildings
- Education and neighborhoods
- Youth
- Community development corporations
Participants will share informal lunch conversation with a leader of their choice.
Registration and full program details are available at http://www.slaco-mo.org/conference.html, or by calling 314-361-9406. The $25 registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials. Starting Tuesday, Nov. 10, late registration will be $35.
About St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO):
St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) is a 36-year-old coalition of 28 neighborhood associations in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Its signature event is the annual neighborhood conference. Other programs include the All-Neighborhood Forums occurring when issues of interest to many neighborhoods arise in the community, the Y.O.U. (Young Organizers University) civic engagement training, and training opportunities for member neighborhood associations and others. In addition, SLACO has partnered with CF. Vatterott and others to develop nearly 500 units of housing in the City of St. Louis. As a demonstration of commitment to its own vicinity, SLACO manages programs for West End residents in the Etzel Community Center.
