ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

East St. Louis is located in the southwestern part of Illinois, known to the residents of Chicago, as "the area below I-70". The area has many problems associated with the rural South. The population of East St. Louis is 94% black with many of its families living below the poverty line. Families with children under five years of age represent 49.6% of the population. Our target population is families residing in East St. Louis and the surrounding community. Over eighty percent of our geographic community has an annual income below the national level of need ($14,340). The unemployment rate is currently 12.0%. East St. Louis has suffered due to flight of businesses, departure of families with incomes above the poverty level, and crime. (Illinois Census Report) For many there is not a feeling of motivation to improve. Drugs are openly sold around our schools in our community and our parks. This is the "expected job" of our youth.

The Illinois School Report for School District 189 indicates what students should be learning and able to express. According to the report, School District 189's ethnic population is 99% African American compared to the State's African American population of 29%. 88.4% of the families are low income in School District 189 compared to the State's low income family's average of 36.9%. The Illinois Standards Achievement Test indicates that the overall performance of students during the period of 2002 –2004 in reading, mathematics and writing who were tested at grades 3, 5 and 8, showed the District scored an average of 44.3% and 31.7% consecutively compared to a State average of 61% and 62.4%. The statistics projected here indicate a need to provide a foundation that will help children succeed academically. Throughout its history, the Uni-Pres Kindercottage has provided a positive influence on its students and families.