St. Louis, Missouri
October 9–11, 2024

RVP 2024 Logo - Web 1 Short

Conference Scholarships

Conference scholarships provide access to the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference (RVP) for resident leaders and representatives from public agencies and the nonprofit community whose commitment to vacant property reclamation will benefit from their conference participation.

The scholarship will cover registration for conference activities from October 9–11, 2024. Applicants traveling from outside the St. Louis region may apply for coverage of two nights of hotel accommodations. The scholarship does not cover travel expenses (e.g. airfare, mileage, ground transportation).

Community Progress is committed to ensuring that RVP, as well as all of Community Progress’ programs and activities, reflects the diversity of the communities that we serve. Community Progress therefore encourages qualified applicants of all races, ethnicities, and genders that share this commitment to diversity to apply.

The submission period for RVP scholarships has now ended. Applicants will hear back on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Scholarship Program Eligibility

Eligible applicants are resident leaders and representatives from public agencies and nonprofit organizations who serve communities with an urgent need to address the negative impacts of problem properties, particularly BIPOC communities that are disproportionately impacted by public health, housing, and economic crises. Individuals who have received scholarship awards for a previous RVP Conference are not eligible.

For St. Louis Scholars: Remembering Sundy Whiteside

Scholars accepted from the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County will have the honor of being recognized as Sundy Whiteside Scholars. This recognition is in tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Sundy Whiteside and her dedication to community and vacant property revitalization in the St. Louis area, aiming to carry forward Sundy's spirit of activism and leadership. Through their participation in the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference, these scholars will honor Sundy's commitment by actively contributing to initiatives aimed at addressing vacant property challenges and driving positive change in their communities. 

Applications for the Sundy Whiteside Scholarship were due July 22nd.

Selection Criteria

Scholarship applications will be reviewed by Center for Community Progress staff and selected based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated commitment to serving BIPOC communities with widespread vacancy and abandonment that have been disproportionally impacted by public health, housing, and economic crises
  • Demonstrated commitment to racial equity
  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Geographic diversity
  • Demonstration of how lived experience in neighborhood(s) impacted by vacancy and abandonment, if any, has inspired their work in the field of community development

Questions about the Reclaiming Vacant Properties Conference? Please reach out to Thamarrah Jones at [email protected].

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