Civic Action Lab: Engage STL

3 units

Engage STL will introduce students to St. Louis' civic ecosystem, blending place-based and experiential learning to bolster students' participation in St. Louis civic life. Students in the course will build an understanding of the rich, complex history of St. Louis and possibilities for regional prosperity. The course will consist of an eight-week series, including six-hour immersion trips on six Fridays. The remaining two course days will be intensive workshops—the first week will provide students with foundational community engagement skills, and the last week will provide students an opportunity to reflect on and present their learnings. During each immersion trip, students will experience a co-instruction model that balances the instructional and student-facing expertise of the Gephardt Institute’s facilitator team with the experienced based knowledge of community partners throughout the region. By visiting communities such as Cherokee Street, Ferguson, South Grand, Cahokia Mounds, and more, students will gain a front-row understanding of our region’s civic landscape. Engage STL will enable students to learn from and contribute to WashU’s home community in ethical, sustainable ways while uplifting the university’s commitment to be In and For St. Louis.