WEPOWER
Metro East, IL: Power Building Academy Application || Fall 2024

Calling Metro-East Residents & East St. Louis Natives

Transform Voting Power Into Economic Power

Apply By Wednesday, September 25th, 2024! 

Why Apply?

  • Learn about the history of the East. Louis community

  • Learn how to build electoral power and about your voting rights

  • Activate your community to vote this November

Benefits

  • $1,500 stipend

  • Childcare & meals

  • Join a lifelong community of changemakers

  • Become a leader who works to transform the Metro-East

Details

You are expected to attend all four modules, approximately 16 hours.

  • Module 1: Friday, Sept. 27th-Sunday, Sept. 29th (5pm-9pm, 9am-5pm, 1pm-6pm) 

  • Module 2: Friday, October 11th-Sunday, October 12th (5pm-9pm, 9am-5pm, 1pm-6pm) 

  • Module 3: Friday, Oct. 25th-Sunday, Oct. 27th (5pm-9pm, 9am-5pm, 1pm-6pm) 

  • Module 4: Friday, Nov. 1st-Tuesday, Nov. 5th (Get Out The Vote Shifts - schedule of shifts to sign up for will be shared later on)

What is WEPOWER?

WEPOWER is a community of members who work together to address systemic injustice at its root. We design the solutions that we know will support our well-being. We build wealth that can resource the dreams of our families and the transformation of the communities we call home.

We believe that change starts with one person and can grow into a powerful force for good. Our movement requires the leadership of people like you, who are called by their passion for justice, to join us in the fight to create better systems that protect and nurture the people most marginalized in our neighborhoods. Together, our community creates systems that work for everyone in St. Louis.

What is the Power Building Academy?

The Power Building Academy is for community members who identify as Black and/or Latinx and are ready to build power and lead change to create St. Louis and East St. Louis early childhood education and economic systems that support our well-being and dreams. 

Together with other residents, we begin our journey by exploring how racism and classism have impacted our city and led to economic and racial injustice. We learn about the ways we have been conditioned to perpetuate racism and classism and develop skills to advance our collective liberation. 

Then, we deepen our understanding of our local civic, political, electoral, and economic systems, including their history, challenges, and potential solutions. 

Finally, we conclude the Academy with a deep dive into the fundamentals of community organizing—the process of building power to shift systems. We will learn how to build relationships, launch a campaign, share our story, and ways to engage residents as powerful voters. During the Academy, you will take action to register voters and prepare them to vote this November!

Who is the Power Building Academy for?

  • Identify as Black and/or Latinx.

  • Someone who lives in the Metro-East area or is a native of East St. Louis and lives nearby.

  • Committed to voting power and electoral change.

Contact Information
Application

Power

Please respond in 1-3 sentences.

Commitment

You can miss no more than 10 of the 64 total hours.

Supports for Power Building Academy Experience

We offer childcare at no costs for children ages 2-13. We also aim to support disability needs, dietary restrictions, and general  accessibility to the Power Building experience. Please complete the section below. 

 

We want to understand you, our community, as we continue to learn how to improve our programming to support your work. That includes collecting these additional demographic data. This information will not be shared outside WEPOWER and will be used for anonymous reporting and internal evaluation only.

Next Steps + Other Opportunities to Engage

After submitting your application, you will be redirected to Charli's calendar to schedule a 15-minute one-on-one to discuss your application. A follow up email confirming your submission will also be sent. We look forward to speaking with you!