Dear friends, neighbors and community partners,

July may seem like it would be a quiet time on campus, but at UMSL it is full of activity. Each day, hundreds of young people from across the region are on campus attending camps and programs, while prospective and newly admitted students visit UMSL to explore new opportunities. Summer also brings visible progress. Construction continues on our new School of Engineering as well as the buildings in the Quad.

Beyond campus, exciting developments are underway in the community. The Normandie Golf Course has launched its First Tee program for local youth, and a new housing development is taking shape along Hanley Road. We are pleased to see this momentum and to celebrate the continued growth of our campus and community.

Progress continues as construction workers recently installed glass on the new Social Sciences and Business Building modernization and expansion project in the Quad on North Campus at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The new building expansion, slated to be completed at the end of this year as part of the Transform UMSL initiative, will serve as the new home for the College of Education and the Pierre Laclede Honors College.

The photograph above is one of the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL. More UMSL photos of UMSL construction as well as other university activities can be found on the UMSL Flickr and Instagram accounts.

_{Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association June 10, 2026}

According to recent notice, the first golfers are officially on Normandie Golf Course, keeping with the mission of Normandie Reimagined for making this a hub for youth golf learning and growth. On June 9, the Metropolitan Golf Association posted, "The Programs at Normandie Golf Club have officially kicked off! This week we welcomed the First Tee of Greater St. Louis as they started their summer programs at Normandie Golf Club. We are thrilled to have the First Tee kids and coaches on site to see and use the course for the first time. These kids are learning to putt, to chip, and proper course etiquette in each lesson. The future of Normandie GC begins right here, right now. This is #NormandieReimagined."

On June 16, Beyond Housing posted, “The vision for Normandie Reimagined is becoming reality.--Over the prior week, 24 young people participated in the first on-course youth programming at Normandie through a partnership with First Tee—receiving golf instruction, mentorship, and life-skills training while building confidence and character. The future Jack Nicklaus-designed course will attract golfers from across the region. But its greater purpose is creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and thrive.” Check out the video.

The goal of the University of Missouri–St. Louis Engineering Summer Camps was simple: introduce middle school and high school students to the creativity, problem-solving and innovation that define the engineering field. But the impact extended beyond hands-on projects and classroom experiences. The camps also gave students their first look at the opportunities available through UMSL’s School of Engineering and helped plant the seeds for a new generation of Triton engineers.

“UMSL really opened my eyes,” said Kirubel Samson, who will be a senior at Pattonville High School. “After taking this engineering camp, I’m really interested in coming here.” Samson was one of 40 students representing nearly 20 high schools from around the St. Louis metropolitan area who attended the camp June 22-26. With financial support provided by the Berges Family Foundation, UMSL was able to expand access and provide more students with the opportunity to explore engineering through immersive, hands-on activities. The university also hosted 21 students from over 10 regional middle schools June 15-18. Read more about UMSL Engineering camp experiences.

_{Beyond Housing State of the Community, June 24, 2026}

The latest State of the Community from Beyond Housing focuses on the new Family Cohort—an exciting evolution of the organization’s work helping families achieve greater economic mobility and long-term success. Designed to help more families build stronger futures through opportunity, partnership, and commitment, the Family Cohort is a major step forward within Beyond Housing’s broader community development strategy, which includes housing, education, health, economic development, municipal government, and more.

The Family Cohort is a new initiative designed to help select families achieve life-changing outcomes for themselves, their children, and future generations through a deeper, more coordinated partnership. The initiative reflects a simple belief: meaningful change happens when opportunity is matched with commitment. “We want families to feel supported as they pursue the future they want for themselves and their children,” said Beyond Housing Chief Transformation Officer Carrie Collins. “Whatever they dream of achieving—greater income, better health, starting a business, buying a home, earning a degree, helping their children succeed—we want to help them achieve it.” Read more about this new initiative at BH. 

_{STL Partnership Newsletter, June 29, 2026, p. 3}

Kittle Property Group, Inc. will bring a new multi-family facility to St. Louis County. The 192-unit apartment complex will be located at 4236 North Hanley Road… “We are thrilled to be a part of revitalizing this neighborhood,” stated Brenda Haddad, development director for Kittle Property Group. “We see so much potential in this area and know that Triton Pointe can provide a solid foundation for future growth and betterment.”

Kittle Property Group, which specializes in the development, construction and management of affordable multi-family apartment homes and storage facilities, will receive $27 million from an initial bond from St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s (STL Partnership) Business Finance division to assist in financing the project…The overall costs of the project are expected to be approximately $45 million. Construction on Triton Pointe has already begun. Read more about the new development.

All residents of St. Louis County who are registered voters will again be able to cast their votes on campus in both the primary and general elections this year. The UMSL Millennium Student Center at 117 Arnold Grohman Drive will serve as a polling place for St. Louis County voters on August 4 and November 3 in one of the third-floor rooms from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM both days. Additionally, UMSL is an option and will serve as a satellite site for returning absentee ballots or casting absentee ballots in person.
• Weekdays, July 21 thru August 3 (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM)
• Saturdays, July 25 and August 1 (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM)

Learn more about voting in St. Louis County in this video. 

Learn more about what is on the ballot and other polling locations. 

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Learn more about community development trainings and programs.

Civic Collaboration Fellows new cohort recruitment
deadline - July 10, 2026  

Applications are being accepted through July 10 for the next cohort of Civic Collaboration Fellows (CCF). This is a yearlong fellowship designed to strengthen civic infrastructure and advance economic mobility in the St. Louis region. Fellows engage in collaborative leadership and economic mobility workshops, collaborative planning, and experiential learning. Contact CivicCollaborationFellows@missouri.edu with questions.

Global Games Nights
Mondays, July 13 & August 10, 2026
6:00 PM
SLCL Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd. 

Discover games from around the world! Join in and learn to play the classic Chinese game, Mahjong. A variety of other board and card games for adults and teens are offered throughout the year. Fun, friendly, and welcoming to all! Teens and Adults. Registration required.

Afriky Lolo: 20th Anniversary Showcase
July 17 & 18, 2026      7:00 PM
UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

UMSL Music presents Afriky Lolo’s Sundiata: The King of Mali, an electrifying adaptation of one of West Africa’s most enduring epics. As Afriky Lolo celebrates its 20th anniversary, this production stands as a powerful reflection of the company’s commitment to preserving and sharing traditional West African culture through performance. General audience tickets: $30. 

The Brady Bunch Parady
July 30 - Aug. 2, 2026      2:00 and 8:00 PM
UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

Magic Smoking Monkeys Theatre presents the classic 70’s family sitcom, The Brady Bunch Parady: Live. The Subject Was Noses. Marcia is over-the-moon when football hero Doug asks her out on a date. But this romance is complicated when Marcia remembers she already agreed to a date with nerdy-but-lovable wallpaper jockey, Charley. Older brother Greg offers some advice, but things don’t go exactly as planned.  General audience tickets - $25. Student and Teacher discounts are available. Call 314-516-4949 or email ticket@umsl.edu for more information and access to those ticket types. 

MetroMarket 
Tuesdays, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM                         City of Pagedale, 6840 Page Ave.

Tuesdays, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Natural Bridge Library, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd

Fridays, 3:00 - 5:00 PM Community Impact Network/Wellston,     1623 Kienlen Ave.

Saturdays (alternating), 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM    Pine Lawn, 6120 Natural Bridge Ave.

Operation Food Search Metro Market offers community residents a local place to shop for fresh and affordable food. Cash, debit/credit cards and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) will be accepted forms of payment. 

We'd love to hear your questions and comments about UMSL and stories about great things happening in our communities. Your thoughts will help shape content covered in future newsletters to be pertinent to you and your neighbors. Leave any suggestions, questions or stories on Community Connection's feedback form. Thank you!