Conference Logistics Guide

Harris-Stowe State University 

CommonBound 2018 is being held at Harris-Stowe State University. Both NEC staff and the local host committee in St. Louis felt that it was important to hold CommonBound in a site that is accessible and connected to local communities. The fact that it is a historically black university and a public institution set Harris-Stowe apart from other potential venues.

HSSU is a public university. Public universities in St. Louis are required to have an Office of Public Safety that is an extension of the St. Louis Police Force. There will be uniformed police officers on patrol on campus during CommonBound. NEC is working closely with the Office of Public Safety to ensure that CommonBound is a positive experience for all conference attendees.

Please always wear your lanyard. Your lanyard identifies to all HSSU Staff that you are with the CommonBound Conference. If you are not wearing your lanyard, you may be asked questions or asked to show a government ID. In that scenario, simply inform HSSU staff that you are attending the CommonBound conference. 

HSSU is substance-free campus, meaning that cigarette smoking or drug/alcohol consumption is prohibited anywhere on campus, including in the dorms. We ask that all attendees comply with this regulation. Other prohibited activities include burning candles or having open flames, activating a false fire alarm or possessing a weapon or firearm on campus. 

Campus Norms and Logistics  

Parking 

During the day, attendees may park in any lot on campus from 7am until 10:30pm. Attendees may not park in any reserved or metered spaces. Overnight parking from 10:30pm to 7am will only be allowed in the parking lot behind Gillespie Hall (which is next to Bosley Hall). Overnight parking lot elsewhere on campus may result in a ticket. 

Wi-Fi

There is Wi-Fi access throughout the campus. It is not password protected, but you may be required to register to login as a guest. 

Getting Around Campus

HSSU is a small university and all buildings that will hold programming are walking distance from dorms and meals. HSSU also features inexpensive bike share rentals that CommonBound attendees may use.

Mobility Support

All facilities in Harris Stowe State University are ADA compliant and equipped with elevators and ramps. If you need access to shuttle services the conference to accommodate your mobility needs, please let us know in advance of your arrival by emailing helpdesk [at] neweconomy.net.

Gender Neutral Bathrooms

There are labeled gender neutral bathrooms in every building in which there is conference programming.  

Meals Provided

Friday Network Gatherings: Breakfast, Lunch

Friday Conference: Dinner (Bosley Dining Hall)

Saturday Conference: Breakfast, Lunch (Bosley Dining Hall), Evening Refreshments (Friends A Meeting Place)

Sunday Conference: Breakfast (Bosley Dining Hall), Lunch (Campus Quad)

Each meal will will offer various vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. 

If you have specific dietary needs, please come promptly to the dining hall at the beginning of meal times to ensure you get what you need. If you do not have specific dietary needs, please leave the restricted options for those who needs them. 

Places Near Campus to Eat

Campus Dorm Housing

If you reserved dorm housing, you will be housed on Harris-Stowe State University campus in either Bosley Hall and Gillespie Hall. 

Resident housing must have been purchased in advance of June 12th. We are unable to make, change, or refund reservations after that date.  

If you are still looking for housing, we recommend:

Pear Tree Inn Union Station (0.7 miles from Harris-Stowe)
2211 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
For reservations, call (314) 241-3200

Marriott Courtyard St. Louis Downtown West (0.6 miles from Harris-Stowe)
2340 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103

Check-in and Check-out:

Check-in begins at 2pm on Wednesday June 20 at the main desk in Bosley Hall. The desk will be staffed 8am - 5pm each day of the conference, with after-hours volunteer coverage until 10:30pm. For after-hours or overnight check-in assistance, please contact the Resident Advisor at 314-713-6318. Dorm check-out is by 2pm on your day of departure. 

Guests of Bosley Hall will be given a room key and building key fob at check-in. Gillespie guests will receive room keys only. Please keep track of your keys at all times. They cannot be replaced and, if lost, you will be charged a $200 lost key fee. Please return all keys to HSSU Dorm Staff at check out.

Room Assignments: 

Rooms have been assigned by NEC staff on a first come, first serve basis, with attention to accessibility needs and length of stay. If you did not choose a roommate, NEC has assigned you one based on your listed preferences. As a default, room assignments have been based on gender unless otherwise requested. 

Amenities: 

Resident housing comes with linens, free 24-hour parking in the Gillespie Parking Lot (only), free wifi, shared bathrooms and living room, kitchenettes with microwaves and refrigerators, central air conditioning, in-building laundry facilities, and access to cardio room. Please bring your own toiletries. All dorms will have on-call university staff and RAs available to accommodate any needs you have during your stay. 

Info Table

The Info Table will be open in Bosley Hall during the following hours:

Friday - 8:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday - 8:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday - 8:30am - 1:00pm

If you require support outside of these hours, please text or email our Help Desk listed in the contact sheet below. 

Services available at the info table

  • Conference registration
  • Housing check-in
  • Merchandise sales
  • General questions
  • Mobility services
  • Interpretation services
  • Connection to A/V support
  • Conference Programs
  • Name Tags and Lanyards
  • First aid supplies
  • Maps

Conference Check-In

When you arrive on campus forthe first time, please pick up your conference program and a lanyard at the Info Table in Bosley Hall. 

If you would like to purchase a conference registration, you may do so online at commonbound.eventbrite.com at the Info Table in Bosley Hall. Please note that site visit and Network Gathering sales end on June 16th. 

We ask the following groups of people to check-in at Bosley Hall: 

  • Plenary Speakers
  • Rad Talk Speakers
  • Workshop/Network Gathering Presenters
  • Press
  • Volunteers 

Important NEC Contacts

CB18 Help Desk Line (urgent, but not an emergency): 716-780-2216 (text), helpdesk [at] neweconomy.net (email)

CB18 Feedback Email (non-urgent): feedback [at] neweconomy.net            

CB18 Emergency Hotline (for crises only): (617) 925-7937 (call) 

Important Harris Stowe State University Contacts

Campus Housing Resident Advisor (for after hours dorm check-in or housing needs): 314-713-6318 (call)

HSSU Public Safety (For emergency situations only. Can also be reached through “Blue Phones” throughout campus): 314-340-3333 or 314-280-9971

Transportation

When booking your trip to St. Louis, please plan to arrive at these stations, each of which is accessible by public transit. 

By plane: Lambert St. Louis Airport
By train: Amtrak Gateway Station
By bus: Gateway Transportation Center

24 Hour Taxi companies

24-Hour Taxi Service: 314-656-8649
ABC Cab: 314-725-2111

Ride Sharing

Lyft is available in St. Louis

Public Transit

Metro St. Louis
*Please note that public transit closes at 12:30am nightly

Driving to CommonBound? Share your ride!

Attention future drivers to #CommonBound, we've setup a ridesharing site to help folks coordinate rides. The site is built to be a matchmaker between drivers and people looking for rides. Carpools are a great way to meet new people, reduce costs, and limit ecological impacts. They're also an example of the solidarity economy in action!

Here's the link: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/tmhvbc 

Please note that NEC just setup the website. We do not screen drivers or riders. All users of the service assume responsibility for themselves and their rides.

If you're looking for a ride and there's nothing up there yet, check back in a few days! 

Travel to Dorm Housing at Harris Stowe State University 

From Lambert St. Louis Airport
*Please note that public transit closes at 12:30am nightly

  • Metro Schedule From Lambert Airport Terminal #1 (T1)
  • From Lambert Airport Terminal #2 (T2)
  • T1: Exit Door 1, Ticketing Level, east of all ticket counters.
  • T2: Exit Door 12, through the parking garage.
  • Take MetroLink (MLR) to Shiloh-Scott (12 stops, 30 mins). Get off the Metrolink at Civic Center Station.
  • Walk to Civic Center Transit Center (across the lot) 
  • Take 96 bus (Westbound towards Spruce & Compton)
  • Ride 8 mins (9 stops)
  • Get off at Laclede @ Garrison - Harris Stowe

Lyft from Airport

  • Terminal 1: Exit 17 curbside
  • Terminal 2: Exit 12 or 14 - roadway island 
  • Be sure to pin whether you are in Terminal #1 or Terminal #2

Taxi Zone at Airport

  • T1:  Exit Door 14 to Garage Yellow Level 
  • T2:  Exit Door 12

From Gateway Transportation Bus/Train Station

  • Walk to Civic Center Transit Center (across the lot) 
  • Take 96 bus (Westbound towards Spruce & Compton)
  • Ride 8 mins (9 stops)
  • Get off at Laclede @ Garrison - Harris Stowe

Travel to Hotels

Public Transit from Gateway Transportation Bus/Train Station 

If you have booked a stay the Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station or Courtyard St. Louis Downtown West, you are less than a mile from your hotel. With the hotels being next to each other the directions are the same.  

*Please note that transit closes at 12:30am nightly 

  • Walk to Civic Center Transit Center (across the lot)
  • Take 96 Spruce & Compton Bus
  • Ride (4 mins) 5 stops
  • Get off at Market & 23rd St 
  • You have arrived to Pear Tree Inn (straight ahead) and Courtyard St. Louis Downtown West (to the left) 

Public Transit from Lambert St. Louis Airport
*please note that transit closes at 12:30am nightly 

Schedule From Lambert Airport Terminal #1 
Schedule From Lambert Airport Terminal #2

  • Terminal 1 (T1): Exit Door 1, Ticketing Level, east of all ticket counters.
  • Terminal 2 (T2): Exit Door 12, through the parking garage.
  • Take MetroLink (MLR) to Shiloh-Scott (11 stops, 29 mins). Get off the Metrolink at Union Station. 
  • Walk (9 mins, .5 miles) Head West towards S 20th St. 
  • Turn left on Market St
  • Turn right to enter Pear Tree Inn St. Louis Near Union Station parking lot
  • Turn left to enter Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown West 

Getting to Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU)

Directions by Car

Parking at Harris-Stowe

During the day from 7am to 10:30pm, you may park in any of the student/faculty lots without a permit. Ticketing in these lots will be suspended for the duration of the conference. 

Overnight, please park in the Gillespie Student Lot. This will be the only lot that has 24-hour ticketing suspension. 

The conference will be held in William L. Clay, Sr Early Childhood Education Center (CEC), Dr. Henry Givens, Jr Administration Building (HGA), and Emerson Performance Center. On campus housing will be in Gillespie and Bosley Hall. The closest parking lots are nearest to the Laclede Ave entrance off of Compton Ave. 

Bus directions from hotels to Harris-Stowe State University (11 mins 0.8 miles) 

  1. Walk to the bus stop in front of the Pear Tree Inn at Market @23rd Street (West Bound)
  2. Get on the 410x Eureka Exp
  3. Get off at Compton @ Laclede NB which is right in front of the Harris-Stowe State University campus West entrance.

Walking directions from Pear Tree Inn to Harris-Stowe State University (17 mins 0.8 miles) 

  1. Head from Pear Tree Inn towards Market St
  2. Turn right onto Market St, Turn right onto N Ewing Ave
  3. Turn left onto Laclede Ave
  4. Turn right at S Garrison Ave
  5. Turn left toward Laclede Ave
  6. You have arrived at Harris-Stowe State University campus

Walking directions from Pear Tree Inn to Harris-Stowe State University (17 mins 0.8 miles)

  1. Head from Courtyard Marriott Turn left onto Market St
  2. Turn right onto N Ewing Ave
  3. Turn left onto Laclede Ave
  4. Turn right at S Garrison Ave
  5. Turn left toward Laclede Ave
  6. You have arrived at Harris-Stowe State University campus

Getting to the Saturday Night Party

The Saturday Night Party will be held at Friends - A Meeting Place which is located at 716 N. Compton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103 (a short 10 min walk/2 min drive north bound on Compton Ave from HSSU). We’ll have live entertainment and cash bar for those who are over 21. The party is free and all CommonBound attendees are welcome. 

Please party responsibly! There will be a complimentary shuttle that will make runs back to hotels and campus dorms at 10:30pm. Uber and Lyft are also available. If you walk please use the buddy system!

Leaving St. Louis

You going my way? Try our carpool app!

We've setup a ridesharing site to help folks coordinate rides. The site is built to be a matchmaker between drivers and people looking for rides. Carpools are a great way to meet new people, reduce costs, and limit ecological impacts. They're also an example of the solidarity economy in action!

Here's the link: https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/tmhvbc 

Please note that NEC just maintains the website. We do not screen drivers or riders. All users of the service assume responsibility for themselves and their rides.

If you're looking for a ride and there's nothing up there yet, check back in a few days! If you're encountering any problems, let us know!

Getting to the Airport from Harris-Stowe

There are two good options: 1) Take a cab (estimated cost: $40-45) to the airport, or 2) Take the MLR from Grand Station to Lambert Airport Terminal 1 or 2 (cost: $2.50). By car, the trip is about 20-25 minutes. By train, the trip is about 45 minutes total.

Grand Station is about a 20-minute walk from Harris-Stowe. You can also take the 96 Spruce & Compton bus to Civic Center and catch the MLR there.

Campus map