The Gephardt Institute hosted a series of virtual conversations this fall designed to introduce St. Louis to new residents, and create dialogue about the region through the eyes of our local community. The conversations, titled “New in the Lou,” were created for WashU students, faculty, and staff new to the St. Louis region or with a desire to learn more about the region.
For freshman Aditya Yelamali, the series was a can’t-miss opportunity to learn more about St. Louis despite living more than 2,000 miles away. Aditya, like many WashU students, made the decision to attend remotely in the fall semester due to the pandemic, and has engaged virtually from Seattle, WA.
“I think that if I’m going to be in a completely new area for the next four years of college, I would be missing a valuable part of my experience if I didn’t attempt to understand the community outside of WashU.”
Each “New in the Lou” conversation featured a diverse panel of speakers from the community and took on specific themes. All provided first-hand perspectives from St. Louis community members on what it is like to live, work and learn in St. Louis, and how the challenges or opportunities one encounters can shift by zip code, wealth, or skin color.
The series welcomed more than 80 attendees from across the campus and community. For Yelamani, they helped form a better understanding of St. Louis.
“They taught me that if you truly want to make the most of your time being involved in the community or organization in St. Louis, you should strive to become part of its culture and be ready to be vulnerable.”
Revisit the “New in the Lou” series in the event recordings below. Explore our upcoming events and join the Gephardt Institute for another virtual convening soon.
Through the Eyes of our Neighbors | September 24, 2020
Through the Eyes of Movement Leaders | October 8, 2020
Through the Eyes of Start-Ups and Small Businesses | October 22, 2020