Enhancing Community Engagement and Addressing Urban Challenges in St. Louis

The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations, a.k.a. SLACO is a connecting organization for the St. Louis region’s Neighborhood Associations. We offer support to our member organizations, as well as a variety of community-based programs.
SLACO is guided by principles of self-determination, democracy, and an undying faith in the goodness and wisdom of the people in the neighborhoods. The SLACO Board consists of representatives from all our member neighborhoods and four at large members. SLACO’s professional staff works on issues and projects determined by the Board and neighborhood leaders.
SLACO Programs
SLACO has led numerous action campaigns during its history. Currently SLACO is focused on reducing Vacancy, improving relations between neighborhoods, and fostering dialogue between the community and the police.
Among past advocacy efforts, one of the most fruitful was the Community Air Project, a 2000-2002 effort to highlight air pollution issues in City neighborhoods. This project led to community-wide conversation about school bus idling, as well as a focus on the fact that air pollution impacts residential neighbors–not simply industrial areas–heavily.
SLACO led efforts to ban the sale of single 40-ounce beer bottles within the City in 1994 and 1995. The ban has saved an estimated 9 million bottles per year since 1995. Because recycling values for glass are low, especially when compared to aluminum cans, many glass containers previously ended up broken in parks or along sidewalks.
Another important campaign was the Walk with Your Neighbors initiative, funded in part by Missouri Foundation for Health. Hats and pedometers were distributed to participating neighborhoods, and in the West End, security was provided for the walking clubs.
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