Every day thousands of children go to bed in East St. Louis, Illinois, with dreams of a brighter future. But those dreams need some real-life guardian angels to help nurture them to fruition.
For decades, East St. Louis has been plagued by systemic poverty. Street violence and shootings are realities that rob too many children of their innocence. The city’s local schools lack essential funding and support, leaving children with few pathways to a brighter future.
But, thankfully, these children have not been abandoned in their struggle thanks to a tireless religious sister.
Leading a powerful ministry for the children of East St. Louis in the Diocese of Belleville is Sister Julia Huiskamp, DC, MSW. She founded Griffin Center in 1986 and has been a light of hope to generations of children and families in East St. Louis ever since.
Griffin Center is a community center that offers summer camps and after-school programs for kids. The center helps children develop their social and learning skills, deepen their character and ignite their faith.
Sister Julia said,
We made it our policy early on … to give these kids wings so they can fly out of here and set out to be their best selves.”
Starting a life of service
Before entering religious life 61 years ago, Sister Julia was an aspiring journalist for the Daily Gate City newspaper in her hometown of Keokuk, Iowa. She entered the Daughters of Charity knowing their great commitment to serving the poor.
Her aim from the start of her consecrated life was to bring comfort to God’s children. For six decades she has done just that.
“It’s very important for children to know that they have a friend and a mentor and people who care about them,” she said.
In efforts to best serve children in underprivileged communities, Sister Julia earned a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University. She went on to serve children on Chicago’s west side for 18 years beginning in 1967. In 1985 the Daughters of Charity informed her that she would be moving to a new mission in East St. Louis.
Soon after arriving, Sister Julia knew she wanted to start something for the kids in the community.
I think God looked at these kids in the projects, wanted something better for them and sent me.”
The East St. Louis Housing Authority had recently been taken over by the federal government. Seeing this as a time to capitalize, Sister Julia asked the new regime if she could have a 100-unit building at the Griffin homes.
They gave her the building. After some renovations, Griffin Center was born.
Affirming embattled children
Initially looking to meet families in the new community she was called to serve, Sister Julia launched a summer day camp for kids as her first program at Griffin Center.
“These people didn’t know me at all and it was going to be hard to break in, but people love to get rid of their kids in the summertime,” she quipped.
The summer camp allowed Sister Julia to build relationships with the parents of the children enrolled. Momentum from the camp’s success paved the way for Sister Julia to launch an after-school program.
Gradually, more funding funneled in, including support from Catholic Extension Society. It allowed Griffin Center to hire additional staff, add trips to museums, launch educational programs and expand to new locations in East St. Louis.
Today Griffin Center offers its after-school and summer programs at five East St. Louis public housing locations, serving approximately 350 children each year. The programs started by Sister Julia are influential in helping children develop essential life skills and go on to lead successful, impactful lives.
“We’ve had many, many students who have begun now to not only finish high school but go to college,” she said. “They come back and have good jobs and are raising families in a very positive way with their own children.”
Sister Julia, now 86, no longer serves as director of Griffin Center but continues as its business manager and a dedicated fundraiser. Her heart remains forever entrenched in East St. Louis, with the families and children she serves.
The inspiring story of Sister Julia and her life-altering ministry is a continuation of the Catholic Church’s long history of innovative models of education that serve the most disadvantaged children in the country. With Griffin Center as a shining example of impact, Catholic Extension Society is working to help expand summer learning, family literacy and after-school programs in the most underserved communities and regions of the United States, especially where traditional Catholic schools may be financially unfeasible or are no longer present.
“The Diocese of Belleville is proud of Sister Julia; her tireless work has made a world of difference in the lives of so many impoverished children,” said Bishop of Belleville Michael McGovern. “I, along with many other people, see the light of Christ shine brightly in Sister Julia’s life.”
Catholic Extension Society is honored to share the accomplishments of Sister Julia Huiskamp, DC, MSW, a finalist for the 2021-2022 Lumen Christi Award. Visit this page to read the other inspiring stories from this year’s finalists.
