Community engagement comes in all sizes and shapes — and is supported by many levels of funding.
The St. Louis Impact Fund — a series of grants from the Gephardt Institute — aims to connect students with community partners across the St. Louis region. As part of these programs, in 2024, the Gephardt Institute supported five short-term, student-led projects that worked in partnership with a local nonprofit or civic organization.
“When students conduct these projects, they are committed to exploring a kind of learning that happens outside of the four walls of the classroom,” said Sam Babb, Associate Director for Community Engagement at the Gephardt Institute. “They gain skills around bringing projects to life that have real opportunities for impact and collaboration outside of the WashU campus.”
“The mini grants we offered attracted diverse applicants with a strong commitment to community engagement, with most projects focused on health, education, and accessibility,” said Tori Wright, student Community & Alumni Engagement Assistant at the Gephardt Institute. “These grants have provided crucial resources for community initiatives across St. Louis, empowering students to make a difference.”
Aisha Diop is one of the grant recipients. Working with a nonprofit called Vitendo 4 Africa, the funding contributed to supplying African snacks and books by African authors for Zinash: Bridge the Gap, a WashU admissions event which supports African students in St. Louis.
Zinash is hosted annually on WashU’s campus in partnership with African Students Association (ASA) and Undergraduate Admissions. The event invites Greater St. Louis area high school students from first-generation or second-generation African backgrounds, aiming to educate these students about the college admissions process, financial aid, and build enthusiasm to apply and matriculate into a four-year university.
The program addresses the unique needs of African students and offers a culturally relevant experience that fosters a sense of belonging. By building strong connections with local organizations like Vitendo 4 Africa, Zinash creates a sustainable model for community engagement and works to foster civic responsibility among WashU students and contribute to lasting, positive change in the St. Louis area.
“Vitendo 4 Africa has proudly participated in the Zinash program for over seven years, providing our youth with valuable opportunities to explore the resources available at Washington University,” said Geoffrey Soyiantet, Executive Director of Vintendo 4 Africa. “This program plays a crucial role in welcoming African high school students to campus and helping them connect with current students, allowing them to envision their future at Washington University.
“We are also thrilled to share that two of our students were inspired by the program and have successfully joined Washington University as a result.”
A second grant was awarded to Temi Akinwuntan, who worked in tandem with Black Anthology, a show written, choreographed, directed, and produced entirely by WashU undergraduates, and Jamaa Birth Village, a Black maternal health organization in Ferguson, to create postpartum care kits.
These kits were developed to help the mothers at Jamaa Birth Village transition into motherhood and ensure they have the necessary resources. They included essential oils, journals, body butter, health infographics, cards, and other supportive items.
Each year, Black Anthology collaborates with a local St. Louis organization whose efforts relate to the theme of the show for the year. Jamaa Birth Village was this year’s choice for community partner, and the mini grant funding contributed to this partnership.
This initiative promoted civic health and engaged students with the St. Louis community, overall working to bridge the gap between Black mothers and maternal health resources.
A third grant was awarded to Alexia Leek. Leek worked with the Central Institute for the Deaf on a project called “The CID Volunteer Project.” The mini grant funding covered transportation costs for volunteers at community events.
The project’s goal was to engage undergraduates interested in audiology and hearing loss advocacy by working with children with hearing loss. By participating in this project, students had the opportunity to build connections within the local community.
In bringing undergraduate students to classrooms, this mini grant funded project contributed to increased engagement with St. Louis and provided students an opportunity to learn more about hearing health. It additionally strengthened ties with the Central Institute for the Deaf and promoted future volunteer efforts.
Katie Nemeth was a fourth grant recipient. Working with the Cahokia Public Library, Nemeth developed take-home science kits to expand STEM learning opportunities as part of the “Library science club: Expanding childhood science education access” project.
This project aimed to increase child science education and engagement in a low-resource local community which currently has limited access to high quality educational resources. It is an extension of an ongoing collaboration with the Cahokia Public Library aimed at directly creating access and opportunities where other opportunities are limited.
The take-home science kits that the grant supported allowed children to engage in science with their entire families and on their own schedule, regardless of if their parents are able to bring them into the library for in-person activities
“I am impressed by the investment of time, talent and care that the program has shown us and their intention to continue is commended and supported, which the library intends to do,” said Ariana Norris-Landry, Programming Librarian. “Cahokia Public Library has every intention of helping to keep this program, as an ongoing feature of our own outreach and education measures, for as long as possible.”
Through the grant Tiana Johnson received, she coordinated with The Griot Museum of Black History on a project called “Exploring Black History.” The grant funded museum tickets and a meal at a Black-owned soul food restaurant for Black graduate students and members of the Black Graduate Student Association.
The project introduced the museum to these students and intended to foster dialogue about what students saw, felt and experienced at the museum over a meal. It encouraged graduate students to be more engaged and active in local communities, getting outside of the WashU Bubble. In inspiring students to visit the museum and patronize Black-owned businesses the project gives graduate students the opportunity to learn more about their African American heritage while uplifting the Black communities in St. Louis.
“The projects that were funded this year had clear goals to learn from, better understand, and collaborate with the local St. Louis community,” said Babb. “These grants were a great opportunity for students across campus to commit to continued learning and growth of their understanding of St. Louis’ unique history, culture, challenges, and opportunities.”
The St. Louis Impact Fund is supported by the Office of the Provost and generous donations to the Gephardt Institute. Since 2008, the Gephardt Institute has distributed grants through the St. Louis Impact Fund and former Civic Engagement Fund, to advance student learning and St. Louis regional priorities. If you would like to make a gift to support the St. Louis Impact Fund, please click here or contact Alex Jackson at jalex@wustl.edu.