“All people have ideas and dreams, but very few people listen.” - Ceola Davis, Founder

Small Beginnings. Big Impact.

What began as a modest effort to address missing manhole covers and broken streetlights in the Emerson Park neighborhood of East St. Louis, Illinois, has become one of the largest and most proactive community-based organizations in the Metro East area.
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​Founded in 1985 by Ceola Davis, Teens Against Killing Everywhere is a non-profit organization that works to build a stronger, safer, healthier East St. Louis by empowering the people of Emerson Park and its surrounding communities.

​Our Mission

The mission of the Teens Against Killing Everywhere is to assist the residents of the Emerson Park neighborhood and its surrounding communities in achieving their full human potential by offering high quality programs in three areas:

(1) Housing and Economic Development;
(2) Education and Job Training; and
​​(3) Community Advocacy. 

Learn more about our 3 focus areas below or click the link on the left to read about what we offer to the community.

Our Focus

Housing & Economic Development

Newly constructed and rehabbed homes create affordable rental opportunities for Emerson Park residents and provide employment for graduates of the Tomorrow’s Builders YouthBuild Charter School. 

Education & Job
​Training

Our programs include: our Charter schook, GED completion courses; Urban Weatherization BPI (Building Professionals Institute) Certification; AmeriCorps; and Youth Employment Services (YES!).

Community 
​Advocacy

For EPDC, community advocacy is about mobilizing residents to create positive change. We teach them how to identify key issues, develop strategies, organize, and compromise. 
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