Darryl C. Cherry has only been at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center (ESLC) for a month, and he is already strategizing on how to propel the TRIO Upward Bound programs to the “next level.”
“I want to take advantage of those who came before me, like Elven Davis and Barbara Sams, who helped to develop the programs and get them to the place they are today,” said Cherry, director for the SIUE Upward Bound BEM and EC programs. “But I have the responsibility and am looking forward to advancing, growing and promoting the programs.”
The TRIO Upward Bound programs at the ESLC are “federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.” The TRIO Programs target low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to advance them from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.
TRIO consists of eight grant programs, including Upward Bound, which is a program for high school students. Upward Bound provides tutorial and academic support, leadership development, college tours, admissions counseling and help with finding financial aid and scholarships. The goal of the program is to increase the target group’s rate of completing both secondary and postsecondary education.
Upward Bound programs at the ESLC recruit students from the following high schools: Brooklyn, East St. Louis Charter, Madison (BEM), East St. Louis and Cahokia (EC). TRIO programs have existed at the ESLC for more than 40 years, and Davis was a pioneering architect. Sams served as program director of the Upward Bound EC program for more than 14 years.
After school, students come to the ESLC and receive such services as instruction in math, English, science, computers and foreign language.
“Upward Bound stresses the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to our students,” said Cherry, an East St. Louis native. “We want them to realize that these careers are available to them. Then two Saturdays of each month, the same participants receive cultural, social and career programming.”
Cherry said the foundation of TRIO is critical, but he would like to help make the students more resilient so they can best pursue their individual goals. He has a bachelor’s in communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign-Urbana?) and a master’s in management from Webster University in St. Louis.
“I don’t want to be a ‘dream killer,’ but we have the responsibility to set them up for the best chance of success,” Cherry said. “I believe in the purpose-driven life. We need to make sure we are aligning our students with what best suits their dreams and abilities and are directing them to the right schools that match.
The TRIO Upward Bound programs have successes that are many and value that is acute, the new director said. However, there is still much room for growth and development.
“We serve a very small number of students that actually meet our criteria,” said Cherry. He is seeking sponsors and volunteers to expand and extend program services. For more information, contact (618) 482-6969.
“We want to advocate for more resources to serve more students. The community will benefit and become more viable when more students become educated.”
SIUE East St. Louis Center: With a focus on empowering people and strengthening communities, the SIUE East St. Louis Center is dedicated to improving the lives of families and individuals—from pre-school through adult—in the Metro East region. The Center offers programs that gives the community renewed hope and an opportunity to reach educational, career and life goals. It does so by providing comprehensive programs, services and training in the areas of education, health, social services and the arts.