Address

Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church
4301 Baker Avenue
Centreville, IL 62207
618.271.8521

History of Organization

Community of East St. Louis

The population began as 90,000 and dwindled to the current 30,000. Taxes on property have skyrocketed, causing people to pay more on their homes than they are work. Many are in foreclosure. There are pockets of abandoned houses. Touchette is primary care facility even though it is an emergency care hospital.

East St. Louis is mostly rural with some horse farms. It was an All-American city that once had an industrial base which consisted of rich slaughter houses, paint industry, steel plants. Railroads are important to transport, yet the city does not the means to request bypasses from the railroad companies, causing traffic issues. A public transit system does exist. Chains like Walgreens, Schnucks, and Walmart have taken the patronage of independent businesses like Pirtle’s. Unemployment is at approximately 40%.

Many East St. Louisans live in shotgun style homes. Churches are the hub of the community. There are at least 80 different congregations in the city.

The community of Parks Chapel is lead by Reverend Virginia Howlett. Her office assistant. Mrs. Anna Tolsen, has been in the community for most of her life. Rev. Howlett has pastured the congregation for about a year.

Mrs. Tolsen’s grandfather was one of the founding members of the congregation 78 years ago when the church had only dirt floors, chairs, and a simple alter. Mrs. Tolsen temporarily left upon getting married to worship at her husband’s church, but returned when her daughter turned 5. This allowed a five-month period of time of worshiping with her father before his death.

Rev. Howlett attended SIU for Social Work. As a bi-vocational minister, she also works for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Previously, she pastured a church in Belleville, Illinois. Rev. Howlett will be a major source of energy for this project. She referred to herself as “resourceful” and mentioned that she likes to play bowling on the Wii. She recently bought a computer for home and is a good source of basic computing skills for this community.

Parks Chapel has a strong community and uses it’s building for funeral repasses, Bible studies, prayer meetings, weddings, gospel concerts, and a place for children to gather.