UMSL’s Community Innovation and Action Center (CIAC) engages with community partners to co-create knowledge, connections, and tools that move us towards just, equitable, and democratic systems in the St. Louis region and beyond.
Values
Community priorities drive everything that we do.
The best solutions emerge through substantial participation, intentional collaboration, and high-quality information.
A just society requires a distinct and detailed focus on equity and anti-racism.
Focus Areas
Strategy: Co-designing actionable plans that align with community goals and advance equity.
Community Engagement: Centering the perspectives and priorities of those most impacted to understand context and to pursue more equitable outcomes.
Data: Developing infrastructure and conducting analysis that makes information transparent and action-oriented.
Evaluation and Research: Answering questions that matter through participatory methods that center community expertise & lived experience.
Learning: Strengthening collective capacity to address complex issues through collaborative training and skill-building.
