Collaboration Labs
Each month, the Office of Community Engagement invites the public to come together to co-create solutions to community-identified issues. Community members, business leaders, elected officials, students and others are invited to participate in the discussion. The event is held at The Wedge in downtown Alton, IL and is free and open to the public.
June 2025: Digital Access in Alton
Focused on bridging the digital divide, this Lab examined broadband coverage gaps, recent infrastructure investments, and barriers to connectivity, while exploring actionable steps like digital literacy training, public Wi-Fi expansion, and low-cost broadband partnerships.
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uly 2025: Putting Ourselves on the Map: Data, Bias, and the Stories We Tell
Co-hosted with the Dr. Meg Smith, interim director of the SIUE IRIS Center, this session examined how data influences representation and public memory, introduced digital storytelling as a tool for reclaiming narratives, and invited participants to contribute their own stories to a collaborative Metro East community map.
August 2025: Making Public Safety Data Work for Communities
Dr. Dennis Mares of SIUE’s Center for Crime Science and Violence Prevention shared how his team developed practical, no-cost tools—from public dashboards to internal analytics—that make public safety data more accessible, transparent, and useful for communities and local agencies.
September 2025: Financial Literacy & First-Time Homebuyer Resources
This special session focused on helping Metro East residents build financial confidence and explore pathways to homeownership. Our two distinguished guests (Trish Holmes, Community Banking Mortgage Officer, Busey and Dr. Terrence Duncan, author, housing advocate, and Board President of the Metro East Realtist Collective (MERC), shared insights on first-time homebuyer programs and navigating the path to ownership..
October 2025: Safe Waters, Strong Communities
Dr. Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer, director of the SIUE Center for Predictive Analytics. Her recent research examined the presence of contaminants in drinking water across Illinois, the environmental and infrastructure factors that contribute to those risks, and strategies for ensuring safe, reliable access to clean water. This lab offered community members an opportunity to share their concerns and questions about drinking water, and to explore how data and community insight can meet to shape healthier, more resilient solutions.
November 2025: Navigating Veteran Housing Challenges and Educational Benefits
Scheduled in conjunction with Veterans Day, this program addressed the challenges veterans face as they navigate housing opportunities and educational benefits. Dr. Terrence Duncan, MERC Board President and housing advocate, will discuss structural challenges, disparities in veteran housing access, and local/national programs that support stability and ownership. Dr. Kevin Wathen, Director of the SIUE Office of Military and Veteran Services, guided veterans and their families through the complex system of educational benefits..
