Overview
Held on April 22nd, 2025 at St. Augustine of Hippo in East St. Louis, IL, seventy public and private industry leaders convened for the first AEG East St. Louis Stakeholder Challenge: Health, Prosperity & Resilience. The purpose of this challenge was to: 1.) Agree on a critical obstacle preventing achievement of East St. Louis’ health, prosperity and resilience goals; 2.) Align on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to best address this obstacle; and 3.) Enable stakeholders to create a volunteer Task Force accountable for delivering the agreed solution.
Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde (State of Illinois), Darnell Tingle (United Congregations of Metro East), Leonard Singh (Ameren Illinois) and Chris Meister (Illinois Finance Authority) provided opening remarks to frame the discussion surrounding health, prosperity and resilience for East St. Louis. During Chris Meister’s remarks, he emphasized the need for innovative financing solutions—beyond public funds—to support equitable climate investments and infrastructure in East St. Louis.
Opening Remarks were followed by the Speaker Challenge, where each speaker provided an 8 minute and 5 slide presentation that concluded with this completed statement: “Regarding health, prosperity and resilience for East St. Louis, a critical obstacle to overcome is…”
Kristol Whatley Simms (Ameren) highlighted the absence of a collaborative framework and local leadership as critical barriers, advocating for resident-driven clean energy initiatives backed by monthly community education sessions. Darnell Tingle (UCME) and Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde (State of Illinois) proposed transforming underutilized land into a clean energy industrial park, calling for employer engagement and planning support to retain local talent and generate economic renewal. Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside (East Side Health District) underscored food insecurity as a public health crisis, urging long-term support for community-led efforts to improve food access and nutrition education. Tim Michels (Energy Resources Group) outlined the economic benefits of energy efficiency and solar investment, urging alignment of CEJA/FEJA funding with resident empowerment and trusted delivery networks.
Inspired by the statements provided by all speakers, participants agreed to prioritize the following derived obstacle:
“Regarding health, prosperity and resilience for East St. Louis, a critical obstacle to overcome is the lack of collaboration framework for measurable progress on improving well-being (jobs, health and wealth) in East Saint Louis.”
Participants designed, presented, and selected a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to overcome the above critical obstacle. 21 leaders came together to form a Task Force to complete the above 90-day sprint and 12-month objective.
Task Force Volunteers: Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde (State of Illinois), Monica Bristow (State of Illinois DCEO), Aaron McEvoy (State of Illinois DCEO), Miranda Marshall (Ameren), D-Lori Newsome-Pitts (Ameren), Debra Perry (Ameren), Keyla Ward (Ameren), Eric Whitfield (Ameren), Marcelyn Love (Ameren), Darnell Tingle (United Congregations of Metro-East), Linda Larsen (Climate Jobs Institute, University of Illinois), Anna Chott (East-West Gateway Council of Governments), Wade Halva (Faith in Place), Jacqueline Daniel (Macedonia Development Corporation, NFP), Christine Flynn (Northern Illinois University - Workforce Policy Lab), Sally Burgess (Sierra Club), Connie Spurlock (SIU System), Natasha Patterson (The House of Mary), Steve O'Rourke (Urban EcoBlock), Jerrica Ampadu, Ayanna James (James Family Urban Agriculture Institute)
5 Key Themes
1. Empowering Local Leadership and Collaboration
A lack of clear coordination and leadership is impeding equitable progress. A collaborative framework that supports a local champion, integrates trusted community organizations, and builds resident capacity is essential.
"We must ensure inclusive, equitable economic participation in East St. Louis’ clean energy transition.” – Kristol Whatley-Simms (Ameren)
2. Activating Land and Labor for Clean Energy Transformation
East St. Louis has abundant underutilized land and a willing workforce. The absence of employer engagement and planning for energy-focused economic development must be addressed through bold vision and clean energy campus planning.
“A critical obstacle is the lack of active employer engagement and a plan to transform underutilized land into a clean energy campus.” – Darnell Tingle (UCME) & Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde (State of Illinois)
3. Addressing Food Insecurity and Public Health
High rates of diet-sensitive disease and poor food access demand sustained investment in local food systems, nutrition education, and transportation. Community activists must be resourced to scale efforts.
“Identify and secure long-term resources to support existing community activists addressing food insecurity.” – Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside (East Side Health District)
4. Linking Energy Investments to Community Wealth
Energy efficiency and solar deployment offer high ROI for East St. Louis. Aligning FEJA/CEJA resources, empowering residents to choose, and creating demand-driven programs can shift the region’s economic trajectory.
“Suspend the disbelief. Empower residents to choose. This is possible—with alignment and trusted delivery channels.” – Tim Michels (ERG)
5. Expanding Access to Capital for Community-Led Projects
Traditional finance structures are insufficient to meet the needs of East St. Louis. Creative financing mechanisms—revolving loan funds, climate bank partnerships, and private capital—must be mobilized to scale equitable impact.
“Public finance is too limited. We must find new ways to build the balance sheet to expand paths to solutions.” – Chris Meister (Illinois Finance Authority)
Conclusion
The AEG East St. Louis 25Q2 Stakeholder Challenge on Health, Prosperity & Resilience convened key community leaders, public health advocates, utility representatives, and clean energy experts to tackle structural barriers limiting equitable development in East St. Louis. The challenge emphasized the need to empower local leadership through a collaborative framework, activate underutilized land and labor for clean energy transformation, and expand access to healthy food and essential services. Key themes included aligning energy investments with community wealth-building, addressing food insecurity through long-term resourcing of grassroots efforts, and deploying innovative financing tools to unlock capital for local solutions. As volunteer leaders embark on a 90-day sprint and a 12-month objective, their unified efforts will be pivotal in building a healthier, more resilient, and economically empowered East St. Louis.
For the list of participating stakeholders who aligned on this critical obstacle and developed this 12 month goal and 90 day sprint, please visit here.
Other proposed 90-Day Sprints and 12-Month Obstacles and Objectives included:
