East St. Louis Youth Development Alliance

06/01/2026

Last week, YDA’s vision for the 10th Annual Youth Development Summit became a reality. All of the planning, outreach, and shopping…lots of shopping 😆 came together into a beautiful two-day event honoring our community of caring adults who choose to show up every day and make sure our youth have safe, enriching environments and experiences after school and during the summer hours.

From the Champion for Kids celebration to the 10th Annual Summit, a full day of networking, peer-to-peer learning, best practices, fun, and so much more, this was truly something special.

None of this would have been possible without the spaces that held us: The Lighthouse Restaurant and The Power of Change Christian Church.

To our amazing caterers: That Black Coffee Cart, Manna Catering St. Louis, Chef Fred, and Calvin BerrieMan 🙌🏼, thank you all for nourishing our community.

Shoutout to RawBelly Juices for the self-care refreshers and Illinois Afterschool Network for the SEL kits and Bento boxes; Inbox Printing, Per Diem Lifestyles LLC, and ICON Trophies for the conference swag and awards; DRB Enterprises for the Champion for Kids décor; and Bella Ballons LLC for the beautiful balloon art!

To the ones who captured every moment: Chapter 8 Studios & Jae LaTiece Media! To those who kept the atmosphere alive with music 💃🏻🕺🏽 Niyla and the Musicians, DJ Tay, and our lunchtime hypeman YompCeo, who had the room going "Stoopid", you all set the perfect tone all day long.

And to the most amazing team of co-workers, you saw a need, you filled it with grace, you pivoted behind the scenes without missing a beat, and you made it all look effortless.

You all did that. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This summit exists because of a village of people who believe in our kids and in each other. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making the 10th Annual Youth Development Summit everything YDA staff dreamed it would be and more.

05/29/2026

✨Quick recap of our amazing 10th Youth Development Alliance Summit! ✨

Thank you to everyone who came out! Today was full of growth, collaboration, and youth empowerment 😎✨

More pictures to come soon!

Don’t miss what’s next, follow us on Instagram ESA () & YDA () for more content, events, and opportunities 🌟

05/28/2026

What a great way to start our morning!

Thank you to Leaving Our Voices Everywhere (LOVE) for such an amazingly inspiring and thought provoking conversation! 🤩

05/20/2026

Less than two weeks remain in Illinois’ spring legislative session, and this is a critical moment to speak up. Contact your state legislators today and urge them to increase funding for afterschool programs and community schools across Illinois.

Take action now: https://igniteadvocacy.com/go/2026-ost-for-all-email-your-legislators/1039

There is less than 2 weeks until the end of Illinois' spring legislative session! The time is NOW to contact your state elected officials and urge them to increase funding for afterschool and community schools in Illinois!

Take action today at https://igniteadvocacy.com/go/2026-ost-for-all-email-your-legislators/1039

05/18/2026

Level up your impact with young people this year! 🌟 Join the East St. Louis Youth Development Alliance for the 10th Annual Youth Development Summit – “Together We Thrive: A Decade of Investing in YOUth.”

📅 Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 am – Doors Open | 9:00 am – Summit Kickoff

🔥 Special Fireside Chat (before the opening speaker):
Join Leaving Our Voices Everywhere for a powerful morning conversation on the importance of shifting from “youth development” to “youth thriving.” This dialogue will ignite the day as we reimagine how we support young people to not just grow, but truly thrive.

🎤 Opening Speaker: Marcy Peake, MA, LPC, NCC, CFLE
“Trauma-informed care” is more than a buzzword—it requires skill, self-awareness, and cultural agility so that good intentions do not cause more harm. In this opening session, you’ll learn how to see behavior through a trauma-aware, culturally responsive lens and explore proactive strategies that truly meet young people where they are.

✨ At this milestone summit, you’ll:

👉Gain tools and insights to create meaningful change in young people’s lives 💡

👉 Dive into expert-led sessions on program excellence, executive leadership, youth engagement strategies, and creating positive learning environments 📚

👉Connect and collaborate with fellow youth development professionals and build lasting partnerships that strengthen our community 🤝

🔗 Register today: https://tinyurl.com/YDSummit2026 ✅

We’re excited to celebrate a decade of impact with you — whether you’ve been championing youth for years or are just getting started! 🎉

05/12/2026

✨ Honoring a legacy. Empowering our future. ✨

Join us for the Diane Sonneman Champion for Kids Celebration as we recognize champions making a lasting impact in the lives of children and families across our community. 💜🧡

📅 Wednesday, May 27, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Grand Marais Lighthouse | Cahokia Heights, IL

Together, we can build brighter tomorrows for the next generation. We would love to celebrate with you and continue strengthening support for youth in our community.

📩 RSVP by May 20th: [email protected]

📲 Make sure to follow YDA for the latest updates, news, and upcoming announcements.

05/11/2026

What an amazing way to kick off the season! 🙌
We gathered to celebrate youth, growth, faith, and the power of believing in yourself. From engaging performances to powerful words about making “excellence a habit,” every moment poured into the next generation.

05/06/2026

Every afternoon, Youth Development Professionals in Greater East St. Louis are holding it down after school—keeping kids safe, supported, and smiling. 🎒💫 It’s time to cheer them on.

Nominations are open for the Diane Sonneman Champion for Kids Award. 🏅

Who’s the staff person who turns their program into a true “second home”—the one who remembers every kid’s name, checks in, and never stops believing in them? 👀❤️

That’s a true Champion for Kids. Help us share their impact with the whole community. 📣

Nominate a Youth Development Professional in the Greater East St. Louis area:
➡️

The Diane Sonneman Champion for Kids Award honors the life and legacy of an incredible leader in East St. Louis. For nearly 50 years, Diane has supported the readiness and well-being of children and youth as a teacher, principal, program director, grandmother, godmother, and more. During her time at...

05/01/2026

Youth Development Professionals are there after the day ends... helping with homework, listening to worries, and making after-school programs a safe space. 🏠✨ It’s time to lift them up. 🎉

🏆 The Diane Sonneman Champion for Kids Award is accepting nominations. 🏆

Think of the staff person whose smile kids look for, whose patience never seems to run out, whose presence feels steady and safe. 😊💛

That’s who this award is for. Help us celebrate them. 🙌

Nominate a youth worker in the Greater East St. Louis area today:
➡️ https://tinyurl.com/2026Champion4kids ⬅️

04/30/2026

Every afternoon, youth workers across the Greater East St. Louis area are creating safe, joyful spaces where kids can learn, laugh, and be themselves. 💛 Now we want to celebrate the people who make that possible. 🌟

🏆 Nominations are open for the Diane Sonneman Champion for Kids Award. 🏆

Who is the staff person who makes their program feel like home... who notices every child, checks in, and never stops rooting for them? 😊🙌

That’s a true Champion for Kids. Help us lift up their story. ✨

Nominate a youth worker in the Greater East St. Louis area:
👉 https://tinyurl.com/2026Champion4kids 👈