Highlight the header for the column below to indicate which grade you plan to work toward in the course. Meeting the basic requirements for your chosen letter grade, according to the table below, is mandatory.
| A Work | B Work | C Work |
-Misses one class or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Annotates all readings thoroughly -Makes substantive comments in discussions -Completes all assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Work demonstrates intellectual engagement, care, effort, and growth in response to feedback -Collaborates substantially, contributes to vision, works equally with peers | –Misses two classes or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Annotates readings -Often participates in discussion -Completes all major assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Completes most SAs on time -Work demonstrates care, effort and growth in response to feedback -Collaborates equally, completes required work | -Misses three classes or less, or completes make-up work for excused absences -Completes most readings -Sometimes adds to discussion -Completes all major assignments on time (or has an approved extension request) -Completes at least four SAs -Meets minimal expectations on assignments; shows limited growth in response to feedback -Completes required collaborative work |
First-Week Introduction
I chose these goals because they are important skills that I need to pass the semester and make sure my part of the project is completed while being a great teammate. The goals are Civic Engagement, Critical Thinking, and Creative, Ethical Reasoning, Oral Communication, and Collaboration. I can’t wait to do my part of the project and the final presentation so I can see all the work I got done. I am very excited about this semester!!
Midterm Introduction
I really enjoy learning about how much money has been spent trying to fix the water crisis because it shows how important it is to take care of our world. This semester has been hard because I’ve been putting a lot of stress on myself to turn everything in on time. I want to get better at taking notes be more detailed so if me or my group mates need it so it can be useful for us. I also hope to not be so shy and nervous around partners, so I can get the knowledge and history I need for my independent project.
Final Introduction
Course Goals
Choose five goals from the CODES Student Learning Outcomes that you’d like to work toward. Choose goals that are relevant to the scope of this course, select artifacts/examples based on activities assigned for this course, and explain characteristics in a way that illustrates how your artifacts/examples demonstrate your progress toward the goal.
Goal 1 20% ( 3b ) – Recognizes multilayered ethical issues and cross relationships among them
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| I am going to pay more attention to my sources and ties them to my problem | Newspapers, reports | When I observed the sources, and can write a critical analysis tying it to my project |
These articles show i understood the ethical issues because i focused on the unfair treatment of people in Cahokia Heights. The articles states that raw sewage kept flooding homes, and some residents felt the problem was ignored because the town is mostly Black which is environmental injustice. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin had to get involved to help secure $28 million for water infrastructure because things so bad. Collecting all these articles proves I noticed the big ethical problem of a community suffering due to neglected public services.
Goal 2 – 20%
Based on 2c- Transforms ideas through synthesizing knowledge from multiple domain
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| I will make a summary for every source I read tying it back together in my reflections | 5 Reflections | In my reflections I will make connections to the sources and my data collection and etc. |
REFLECTION 1
For right now I plan on reviewing more news articles and websites like floodandforgotten.com so I can prepare a timeline for when the flooding first started in Cahokia Heights. I want to show the story of the flooding problem in the city from the start to now. I want it to include the cause of the problem when it started what the government do or tried to do and how is the residents affected. I have already learned that the water system in Cahokia Heights has been bad since the 1800s from the floodandforgotten webisite. That was over 100 years ago and the problem is still not fixed.
This really surprised me because I thought problems like this would get fixed faster because it has people who lives there but it has been going on for a long time. People who live there now are still dealing with it also I found out the government has spent millions of dollars trying to fix the flooding but it is still not working right. According to one news paper article published in 2021 say it could take many more years and even more money before things get fixed.
I want my timeline to show when the flooding first started, when the government actions to fix the problem when money and what they said about fixing it. I also want to show how the residents complained asked for help and tried to get attention for their problems. My timeline will tell the history and the story of the people who are still living with the disaster.
REFLECTION 2
At the beginning of the semester I didn’t really know what I wanted my personal project to focus on. I just knew I wanted to bring more attention to the water crisis in Cahokia Heights and show what the community has been going through. During the semester Dr.Shea and I shifted my focus into building a timeline of how the problem started, how it’s continued, and how it’s still happening today.
I’ve been enjoying learning about the causes of the crisis and how long people have been dealing with it. It’s sad but eye-opening to see how little has been done because it mostly affects poor Black residents. That made me realize how unfair the situation is and why it’s important to share their story.
What I don’t enjoy as much is collecting data and reading through articles. Since this issue has been going on for decades, only the last 10–20 years are really documented online. Even though that part can be frustrating, it’s teaching me how to stay focused and dig deeper to understand the full story behind the problem.
REFLECTION 3
During my site visit I have been nervous but also open to new ideas. Being nervous makes me too scared ask for details I miss that are important. When I went on the site visit with the freshmen, the professor was giving us background information about the historical site we were walking by. Since we were moving i could barely hear her and I was too nervous , anxious and scared to ask her to repeat the important information so I didn’t get good notes down. Next meeting day one of my project members needed that information for their data, and I didn’t have enough to help them.
Even though I was anxious I still tried to stay open to the experience and listen when I could. I think I am doing well at engaging with my group and being willing to learn, but I know I can do better at focusing and not being scared to be more open and ask questions or some one to repeat something if I missed it. Next time Im going to ask questions if I miss something or double check with others so I don’t lose important knowledge.
REFLECTION 4
For my data collection I have read newspapers about the Cahokia water crisis. I learned that this problem has been going on for a long time, and it seems like nothing has truly fixed it yet. The state has been trying to raise money to help, but they keep getting declined for grants. They have already spent a lot of money and resources trying to fix the water system, but people say it will take millions more dollars and a lot of time before it can really be fixed.
When I was looking for more information, it was hard to find old records because this problem started decades ago. I did find an archive in the SIUE library that showed how the infrastructure looked from the 1600s to the 1900s. It showed that Cahokia was built on flat land near the Mississippi River, which might have caused some of the water problems later on.
This experience taught me that big problems like this don’t get solved overnight. It also showed me how important it is to digitalize archives so people who don’t have access to libraries easily. If I could do anything different I would start by visiting Cahokia Public library archives or talking to more people who have lived in Cahokia for a long time to learn even more.
REFLECTION 5
Goal 3 (20%) 8c – Develops clear, innovative central messages with significant supporting materials.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| I will confidently communicate with my group members and just confident communicating period . | Final Presentation Website Design | When I am presenting with confidence, having good evidence to support my message |
Goal 4 (20%)
Based on – 1a- Demonstrates ability and commitment to collaborative work across and within community contexts and structures.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| I will show I learned this school by showing i am informed with the local issues, advocate for the people in the community. | Implentation plan | A positive impact on the community and learning more about the issue. |
Section 3: Data Collection (see blue section for further instructions on carrying this out)
What data do you need to answer your question: secondary research, interviews, surveys, focus groups, oral histories, ethnographies, scientific experiments? Drawing on your experience from your other CODES courses, develop plans for specific data sets that need to be collected. Each member of the team will be responsible for collecting and curating one data set. Raw data should be maintained in a shared drive accessible to the entire team. Determine what data you will need to collect and who will be responsible for the work. For each data collection activity in your plan, consider why you are collecting it, how and from whom you will collect it, and what methods will be most effective.
Lindell – The question I have is “What causes the flooding? What is the state/local government doing/did about it? I plan on collecting data from old Cahokia Heights newspapers, articles off google, news websites about community complaints/solutions, the government solutions and causes of the problem
Section 4: Implementation/Content Assignments (see green section for further instructions on carrying this out)
What will be the outcome of your research? Will you develop an exhibit, engage students in a learning activity, design a digital project, etc.? Why is this the best plan for implementation? What do you need to know to make the implementation successful? How will it meet the needs of your audience? Who will do each part of the work? How will you assess its success? Each member of the team will be responsible for creating one content assignment (i.e., an output based on the available data that feeds into the broader group project).
(Lindell) plan on collecting data from old Cahokia Heights newspapers, articles off news websites online about community complaints/solutions, the government solutions, and causes of the problem.
Goal 5 ( 20% ) 12c – Works independently toward goals by contributing and meeting deadlines.
| What will you do to learn the content/ develop the skill? | What examples will you add to the portfolio to demonstrate your learning? | What characteristics of the chosen examples demonstrate you have met your goal? |
| Communicate with group members, tie work together. | GROUP DATA COLLECTION Article Summaries | When all our part of projects connects to each other and turning in all work at a good deadline. |
BRIEF SUMMARIES OF IMPORTANT DATES FOR CAHOKIA HEIGHTS IL. FROM NEWS-PAPERS
Feb. 20, 2020: Residents in Centreville, Illinois have been dealing with serious problems like flooding and raw sewage coming into their yards and homes. The city’s old and broken pipes, clogged ditches, and pump stations that don’t work right are making it worse. Residents say they spent thousands of dollars trying to fix the damage, but the flooding keeps coming back. Some people are now suing the city and utility companies to demand real repairs. U.S. Senators and the Illinois EPA are starting to help, and some money has been given to plan big fixes. But people in Centreville are still frustrated because they feel like no one has cared for a long time.
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article240218887.html
July 28, 2020: U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin are asking the Environmental Protection Agency “EPA” to step in and help with the flooding and sewage problems in Centreville, Illinois. The places where people live there are mostly Black and low‑income and for a long-time broken pipes, bad pump stations, and flooded ditches have caused raw sewage to overflow into homes, yards, and streets. The senators called it an “urgent public health crisis” and they want the EPA to enforce environmental laws, check the drinking water, and find big solutions for stormwater and sewage problems. Residents say they have not fixed things, and they want real action soon.
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article244568787.html
Nov. 3, 2020: The article talks about the three towns Cahokia, Centreville, and Alorton that might join to make Cahokia Heights. These towns have been losing people and have problems like broken roads, flooding, and old sewers. Supporters think if the towns combine, they can get more money from the state and government to fix things and make services better. The plan is part of a project called “Better Together,” and people believe it could help the towns have a stronger future.
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/election/article246899832.html
Feb. 11, 2021: When it rains, wastewater spills into yards, houses flood, and there’s raw sewage and bad smells everywhere. The city’s pipes, pumps, and drainage are old and broken, and residents say officials haven’t fixed things even though they have asked numerous times. Because the town is small and populated by mostly black people and doesn’t have much money, people believe its problems have been ignored, and now some are suing to force real improvements. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/11/centreville-illinois-flooding-sewage-overflow
March 8, 2021: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker promised to support a $22 million federal grant to fix the long-time flooding and sewage problems calling the situation “environmental racism.” For years, residents have dealt with raw sewage in their yards, flooded homes, and little help from local leaders, which led to lawsuits and protests. Some people are hoping for the FEMA grant and state support will finally bring repairs, but others worry the money could be not spent right or take too long to come. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article249776468.html
March 23, 2021: The Illinois EPA gave almost $1 million to HeartLands Conservancy to help plan fixes for flooding and sewage problems in Centreville, Alorton, and Cahokia. The project focus on listening to residents and creating a watershed plan to manage rainwater and repair small parts of the sewer system. Leaders said planning may take up to two years, and actual fixes could take longer, but they hope this is the first step toward real solutions. Residents were glad to see progress but worry the help is too slow, doesn’t cover damage to their homes, and might not fully solve problems they have lived with for decades. And they were right
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article250363901.htm
https://heartlandsconservancy.org/pdp
April 6, 2021: Residents of Cahokia Alorton and Centreville voted to in the three towns. The vote was the last step in the four-set plan “Back Together” that came about because Alorton and Centerville combined then added Cahokia. The residents say the Common fields have not fixed any broken sewage in the towns which leads to floods.
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article250479161.html
May 6, 2021: Alorton, Cahokia, and Centreville officially combine and become “Cahokia Heights”. Curtis McCall Sr. will be the first mayor and says his main goal is to fix the broken sewers that have caused flooding and bad smells for years. The city applied for a $22 million FEMA grant to help pay for repairs, and they hoped combining the towns will make it easier to get grants for future projects. He also plans to fix roads, improve safety, and work with residents on committees to make sure the city’s problems get solved.
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article250641889.html
July 2021: Cahokia Heights did not get the $22 million grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that is an agency that handles coordinating the federal government’s response to natural disasters and emergencies. The residents were disappointed because their community keeps getting damaged and the people who are there to help are not helping. Mayor McCall said they will have to find other ways to fix the problem. Which is crazy because how can they problems when they are getting denied money that they need. Residents like Patricia Greenwood are fed up and tired of no actions. “We need action, not just promises” to Mayor McCall. ahttps://www.bnd.com/news/local/article252898993.html
July 20, 2021: Three organizations representing the residents group Centreville Citizens for Change file a second lawsuit against Commonfields of Cahokia and Cahokia Heights seeking to force local officials to fix the problems. The lawsuit alleges Commonfields of Cahokia have been discharging sewage into the community in violation of the Clean Water Act. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article252903628.html
Aug. 2, 2021: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency orders the city of Cahokia Heights and Illinois American Water to increase drinking water monitoring and upgrade some water infrastructure because of the potential for contamination from sewage spills. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article253231478.html
Aug. 16, 2021: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency orders Cahokia Heights to repair its sewer system. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article253531059.html
Aug. 3, 2022: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces a $9.9 million state grant for sewer repairs in Cahokia Heights. https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article264132601.html
Aug. 15, 2022: U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, announces a total of $28 million in federal funding has been secured for Cahokia Heights. The figure includes $26.5 million from the cities counties and state’s shares of federal COVID-related relief funds from the American Rescue Plan. The other $1.5 million from the total federal funding is for HeartLands’ Prairie Du Pont watershed plan. https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-addresses-impact-of-flooding-in-cahokia-heights-and-east-st-louis
July 27, 2023: Back in August 2021, the EPA stepped in after discovering serious issues with Cahokia Heights water system, including risks that sewer overflows could affect drinking water. They required both Illinois American Water and the city to monitor water pressure constantly, test for bacteria more frequently, check chlorine levels, and make needed repairs to the system. July 2023 Illinois American Water had completed all its required fixes, so the EPA lifted the order for the part of the system it manages covering about 20% of Cahokia Heights, including the old Alorton and Centreville areas. But most of the city’s water system, around 80% is still under EPA supervision, and the city still has work to do to improve infrastructure and ensure safety.
https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article277894168.html
Aug. 5, 2023: A Washington University study shows that residents of Cahokia Heights, Illinois have serious health risks from chronic sewage backups and flooding caused by the city’s aging infrastructure. Researchers found high rates of “Helicobacter pylori” a bacterium linked to ulcers and some cancers, as well as signs of intestinal inflammation. Because raw sewage often contaminates soil and water in the community, exposure to harmful bacteria and parasites has become a big public health concern.
Study: Parasites, bacteria plaguing Cahokia Heights at high rates | ksdk.com