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CODES 2022: Alton, IL

Resiliency and Spatial Justice in the Face of Climate Change

As a Mississippi River town, Alton has a storied past. After the Missouri Compromise, Alton was a key stop for the Underground Railroad and a hub of activity for abolitionists and those escaping from slavery. The city was also the site of racial segregation throughout the twentieth century. Redlining meant that black communities were relegated to parts of the city at the mercy of the river’s frequent flooding. Extreme flooding again hit Alton in spring 2019 leading to concerns about racial justice in the context of climate change. Working in their research teams, Scholars will consider water quality, flood management, housing practices, and segregation in the context of history, literature, geography, and environmental science.

Teams will work to define what spatial justice should look like in this region, a concept that Edward Soja explains as “fundamentally, almost inescapably, a struggle over geography.” Spatial justice is “the fair and equitable distribution in space of socially valued resources and opportunities to use them” (2009). Contributing to the work of spatial justice, our community-engaged approach can foster online environments in which project participants consider their subject position in relationship to power and privilege as it operates in everyday interactions as well as in broader global contexts. Scholars may create a story map of flood plains paired stories of past and present flooding and include a connective exhibit relating the effects of climate change in other regions of the U.S. or in other countries, for example.

Research Highlights

Learn about the work underway in each research team

Understanding Spatial Justice

Welcome, CODE Scholars! Orientation starts tomorrow, and we are so excited to meet you. During orientation, we'll talk about this year's theme of "Resiliency and...
Learn More "Understanding Spatial Justice"

Portfolios

CODES ePortfolios

CODE Scholars share and reflect on their work through ePortfolios. An ePortfolio is a digital space for you to track your achievements, reflect on your growth during your time at SIUE, and craft a digital identity to share with others. You can read more about ePortfolios and find helpful resources here: