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Members of the REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois (RASI) helped volunteers representing numerous other area organizations put the finishing touches on the redesigned Emerson Park MetroLink Station in East St. Louis, IL.
Members of the RASI Leadership Learning Institute, RASI’s board of directors and the RASI Community Involvement Task Force spent hours landscaping and cleaning up the area in late summer, together with a nonprofit organization named Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP in St. Louis, the St. Clair County Transit District and students from East St. Louis High School.
RASI donated $1,000 for the project, which was many months in the making. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) provided a $4,500 placemaking grant, too, thanks to the efforts of Local Governmental Affairs Director Ron Deedrick. The project transformed the concrete area between the bus bays and MetroLink entrance into an interactive, playful, engaging space that gives a nod to the history of music in East St. Louis and makes it part of the fabric of the community. In addition, a mural on the pedestrian overpass depicts the historic importance of music in East St. Louis.
“We were so excited to be able to help our community!” says Celeste Wheeler, RASI immediate past president. “As an association of REALTORS® and affiliate members, we not only work in this community, but we live here, too. Seeing the results of our work and funding firsthand for years to come means a lot to our members. We appreciate all the hard work organizations like the Citizens for Modern Transit do to help people in our community.”
RASI will continue its efforts to help the Metro East area. In 2020, the association helped through its involvement with: REALTOR® Relief Fund, Heartlands Conservancy, Caritas Family Solutions, the Griffin Center and the Community Interfaith Food Pantry.
The REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois is the voice for real estate in Southwestern Illinois with more than 1,000 members. It is led by CEO Deb Frazier, 2022 President Karen Sheesley, President-elect Sam Row, Secretary-Treasurer Ashley Barud and Immediate Past President Celeste Wheeler.
