Director Robert Cardillo spoke with St. Louis officials and residents at the Project Connect public meeting at Gateway Middle School in North St. Louis Nov. 1.

The meeting, organized by Project Connect, was held to help connect residents of the neighborhoods around the future NGA campus site to resources and help them learn more about NGA and other projects happening in North City.

Cardillo addressed the crowd of more than 100 people, including St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, next to a map showing the boundaries of the future NGA site.

“Last June, I officially determined North St. Louis City as the site of our future campus,” Cardillo said. “I am even more confident today that North St Louis was the right choice.”

He thanked the city for their commitment to the project and their work to clear the site, and residents for their support of the project.

“Let me assure you the NGA team is equally committed to our promise to be a contributing partner in the future of this neighborhood, the city and the region,” he said. Cardillo mentioned the agency recently hired eight new employees through LaunchCode, a nonprofit organization that trains members of the St. Louis community to code. He also said the agency would be increasing its K-12 educational outreach, the Partners in Education program, to St. Louis area schools.

The N2W team and NGA’s Partners in Education program managers also attended the open house to meet with residents and attendees and answer any questions they may have about NGA, the new campus and K-12 outreach.