This event will take place at the Delmar Divine, 5501 Delmar Blvd.
Real change happens when communities and universities stop working in parallel and start building together. The Power of Partnership brings community-based organizations, community members, and academic partners into one room for a day of honest exchange and shared learning to begin collective problem-solving.
Centering the voices and expertise of community-based organizations, this convening moves beyond one-off, transactional projects toward something more durable: partnerships rooted in mutual trust, shared frameworks, and the infrastructure needed to sustain equitable, community-engaged scholarship over time.
Expect candid conversation, practical tools, and connections that outlast the day itself. Come ready to learn from one another, challenge old models of engagement, and help build the shared foundation for partnerships that truly work — for communities and scholars alike.
Open to WashU staff and faculty, as well as the greater St. Louis community.
Co-sponsored by the St. Louis Integrated Health Network and the WashU Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement.
Agenda
9:30 – 10:45 Why We Partner: Opening Session and Partnership Panel with Dr. Andwele Jolly, President and CEO of the St. Louis Integrated Health Network
Through candid conversation with community leaders, we’ll explore the challenges and rewards of partnership — what tests these relationships, and what emerges when they’re built well.
Panelist include:
Ebony Hutchinson, Founder and Executive Director of The Community Reach
Cindy Mense, CEO of Trailnet
Tobeya Ibitayo, Program Director, Nitro Program at St. Louis Integrated Health Network
Moderator: Andwele Jolly, DPT, MBA, MHA, President and CEO of St. Louis Integrated Health Network
10:45 – 11:45 Small Group Discussions
What does it take for academic institutions to truly understand community priorities, assets, and challenges — and what’s our shared responsibility, as both community and academic partners, in building that awareness?
11:45 – 12:45 Lunch provided by The Vine Market and Cafe
12:45 – 1:00 From Transaction to Trust: How We Build Sustainable Partnerships, Dean Sandro Galea, WashU Bursky School of Public Health
How do we build sustainable, reciprocal partnerships to support community-engaged scholarship. How do we move beyond transactional interactions toward relationships that value the contributions and expertise of every partner at the table.
1:15 – 3:15 Breakout sessions
Participants choose from three concurrent breakout sessions, each designed to meet partners where they are in their partnership journey. These smaller, focused sessions offer space for more targeted conversation, practical tools, and peer learning.
3:15 – 4:00 Closing Session and Next Steps