East Side Aligned mobilizes our community’s collective imagination and power to create the conditions for young people to thrive in Greater East St. Louis.

Born from a bold community vision in 2015, East Side Aligned serves as the lead convener and catalyst for systems change. We bring together residents, youth, educators, service providers, and civic leaders to work across sectors toward equity, justice, and well-being.

Our role is to:

Connect people, organizations, and resources to collaborate for change.
Build capacity through leadership, shared learning, and healing spaces.
Amplify the voices and efforts of youth and residents most impacted.

From early learning to out-of-school time, from youth leadership to violence prevention, we work both to meet the needs of children today and to dismantle inequitable conditions so that future generations grow up in a thriving community.

At the heart of ESA is a belief: every young person has the right to be ready and well for school, work, and life—and lasting change happens when we create it together.

East Side Aligned

Centering Youth. Catalyzing Change.