Griffin Center programming is focused on breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty for children in East St. Louis Public Housing through a multi-faceted approach that includes:

• After School Programming and Summer Camps at five public housing sites
• Advocacy and academic monitoring of participants in collaboration with their respective schools
• Second Step method Violence prevention training

The Griffin Center serves approximately 200 children each year. At the highest level, the Center defines success in terms of the number of children in the program performing academically at grade level.

Their Success is Our Success

Watch List
The Griffin Center watch list program was created to help Center staff keep track of children with GPAs of 2.0 and below. Students on the watch list are given extra academic and social-emotional support needed to help improve school attendance and overall academic performance.

Academic Performance

Over the past five years, Griffin Center participants achieved the following results: Honor Roll attainment rose from 34% to 44%, and watch list placements decreased from 34% to 16%, resulting in more on-grade promotions.