About Us
Teen violence swept the streets of East St. Louis when Rev. Chet Cantrell arrived at the Christian Activity Center in 1989. CAC's purpose at that time was to keep kids alive.
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CAC's building was three large rooms and hosted programming for children ages 6-18 all together. There was no structure or funding for curriculum, and no funding to hire educators, counselors, chaplains, or coaches. CAC started with graffiti removal, walking into the heart of street violence and gang wars, and visiting mothers of murdered teens to counsel against retribution. The city was in a downward spiral in this post-industrial era. Congregations fled for safer ground just as East St. Louis's families’ need and despair was compounded by dwindling resources in the city. CAC’s immediate sphere of influence, the Samuel Gompers Homes (“The Gompers”), had become the acme of violence.
The desperate city asked Baptists to do something to help stem the tide of juvenile crime and violence in this neighborhood. After a series of attempts to reestablish ministry that included five directors in seven years and a near-closing in 1988, a nationwide search was conducted and the former Director, Rev. Chet Cantrell, was hired to begin work January 6, 1989.
With God’s increase and His people joining Him
on mission here, CAC transitioned in 2013 from an agency minded toward saving lives to one on a mission to change lives.
CAC has grown in youth service from 13 teens (1989) to 450+ children & youth - ages 5-18. CAC's base of support has grown from 30 churches and families contributing $90,000/year (1989) to 1,154 donors contributing $1.3 million/year.
CAC’s supporters have equipped us to raise a child's grade point average from 2.10 to 3.30 after 12 months in our care. Additionally, investments by families in our kids impact a 74% college advancement rate (compared with 13% in our city). Donors have additionally enabled CAC to reduce juvenile crime/court involvement from 80% to less than 5%.
With God’s increase and His people joining Him on mission, CAC transitioned in 2013-14 from an agency geared toward saving lives to one on a mission to change lives. God’s people’s investments in His work here positioned CAC to become a school afterschool - hiring degreed faculty and redesigning space into small classrooms to provide curriculum-based programs in faith, academics and health.
The outcomes listed above have grown exponentially under this new program design!
Programs
The Christian Activity Center focuses its year-round programming around three core areas: faith, education, and recreation.
Faith
Spiritual Development: Children are given the opportunity to participate in faith-based programming, including Vacation Bible School and times of devotion and prayer. Our staff provide wraparound care to instill the simple message that “God loves you!”
Recreation
Wellness & Physical Education: CAC is extremely focused on social emotional learning (SEL), which is why we take a “whole child” approach to physical activity! Our physical fitness programs are designed to combat the post adolescent health effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), which include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Education
Education Support: Students receive homework help, one-on-one tutoring, and skill-building workshops to supplement core competencies in reading, writing, and math.
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Access & Opportunity: In addition to programming led by CAC staff, we partner with many community agencies on and off site - ranging from community gardening and fine arts to financial literacy and entrepreneurship. We visit museums, science centers, and the zoo, alongside career exploration days, water safety classes, and so much more!
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Setting the Right Path: Within our Pathways Program, youth prepare for college emotionally, academically, and financially, starting in the 6th grade, through writing workshops, college tours, admissions coaching, and career assessment.
"CAC has helped raise me. They have loved and cared for me and my family. Through Sunday morning worship services and the staff's love of God, I am a strong Christian living for Him. Because CAC donors care for kids, I have been able to attend Governor French Academy in Belleville where I have a 4.0 GPA. I don't know what my life would look like had it not been for CAC." -Tamia, age 16