East St. Louis Youth Development Alliance

10/23/2026

09/22/2026

Want to participate in the nationwide celebrations of Lights On Afterschool on October 22 by hosting an event in your community—but not sure how?

Our latest blog highlights examples from past years, as well as a database of ideas and other resources: https://bit.ly/4dLPic3

09/21/2026

Happening THIS THURSDAY! Make plans to join us for our Fall Lunch & Learn from 11:00am-12:30pm! Whether you’ve been supporting CAC for a long time and never visited our campus or if you’re brand new to our ministry, come see our classrooms and visit with our teachers and leadership team to learn more about us! Learn more & RSVP at https://www.cacesl.org/lunchandlearn

09/21/2026

One of our very own, Syerra Meadows-Haynes, is nominated for the OST Advocate Award! 🤗

Voting is now open for ACT Now’s Out-of-School Time (OST) Advocate Award!

This award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to champion the importance and impact of out-of-school time programs through their leadership, innovation, and unwavering support.

Learn more about this year’s nominees and cast your vote for the OST Advocate Award by 9:00 a.m. on October 6th, 2026!

Learn more and vote at https://actnowillinois.org/meet-the-2026-ost-award-nominees/

09/21/2026

You Don’t Have to Grieve Alone
Join Hands ESL will officially begin our Grief Share Program this Thursday at the Ubuntu Center for Peace.
We want our community to know that we are here to support you in more ways than one. Grief can come from many kinds of loss, and sometimes we simply need a safe place to talk, listen, cry, reflect, or just be around people who understand.
🕟 Every Other Thursday at 4:30 PM
📍 Ubuntu Center for Peace
1400 Missouri Ave., Building 17
Come as you are. There is no judgment and no pressure—just a safe space for us to share what we are dealing with and support one another through the journey.
At Join Hands, we believe in community, healing, and reminding each other that we don’t have to carry everything alone. Seating is limited.

09/21/2026

✨ Something exciting is coming this Fall!

We’re thrilled to partner with Nine PBS on a professional development series designed to connect, inspire, and support Early Care & Education professionals.

And we’re kicking things off with their annual Edcamp on October 24!
Register today: https://bit.ly/4yYr5s8

More details about the professional development series are coming soon. Stay tuned!

09/21/2026

Our Non-Offending Caregiver Support Group return this Fall with an Introductory Meeting on October 20 followed by bi-weekly sessions every other Tuesday!

✨ Facilitated by Haley Simpson, MSW, LCSW
✨ Same safe, confidential space
✨ A community that understands the journey

This group is for parents and caregivers navigating the impact of sexual trauma in their family, and who deserve support, understanding, and connection along the way.

📍 Belleville, IL
🕕 6:00–7:30 PM CT

If you know a caregiver who may need this space, please share.
Sometimes the right support at the right moment changes everything.

📩 Questions or referrals: [email protected]

07/22/2026

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 🌟