Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / Focus: HOPE co-founder to speak at women's conference
Focus: HOPE co-founder to speak at women's conference
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 26, 2008
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Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic
Eleanor Josaitis, co-founder of Focus: HOPE, is one of four speakers scheduled for the sixth annual women's conference next month. |
Detroit — Eleanor Josaitis was a housewife raising five children in Taylor when she joined forces with Fr. William Cunningham to start the civil and human rights organization that became known as Focus: HOPE.
It was a far cry from her original future plans of raising her family. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be doing what I'm doing," she said.
Now, 40 years after the organization's founding, the No. 1 thing that's helped her through it is that she has a strong faith, she said. Her prayer has been, "God give me the wisdom to listen and the courage to act."
"It's been a journey," she said.
Josaitis is one of four people scheduled to speak at the sixth annual Catholic Women's Conference, "Empowering Women to Make a Difference in the World." The conference also celebrates the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's "Mulieris Dignitatem" ("On the Dignity and Vocations of Women.")
Josaitis said she plans on telling about her role in establishing Focus: HOPE, after Detroit's 1967 riots. She and Fr. Cunningham wanted to something to help bring people back together, and she began by moving back into the city — against her family's wishes — and training priests to speak to people about breaking down racial barriers.
Their goal was to have a program for the summer, but it eventually developed into having food programs, and, later, job training, education, children's, arts and scholarship programs. Josaitis said although it's been a rough road at times, she's not sorry for a single part of the journey. "I know we've made a difference in a lot of lives," she said.
Josaitis tells people to find their passion and then wrap their career around it. Often people who want to get involved don't know where to start or don't think their help will make any difference, or are afraid at first. In her case, she got a lot of flak because it was less popular for a woman — especially a woman with five children — to have a career and a family at the same time.
She remembers that she would wake up at 4 a.m. to make sure the house was clean, laundry was done and lunches were packed, but at the end of the day left her work at work and came home to her family. She had to be tough with employees at times, so much so that one joke gift was a broom, but remembers that she took both the criticism and praise whenever they came.
Fr. Cunningham died in 1997, and in 2006, Josaitis stepped down from the organization's CEO position to concentrate on raising funds and networking, but she's remained just as busy. Her days start at about 7 a.m., and can go for more than 12 hours, as she attends meetings, talks and events. She speaks to groups a few times a week, and has even helped start similar organizations elsewhere.
"I thank God that I still have the energy to keep going," she said. "I promised Fr. Cunningham I would make his work live on. I feel I've made that commitment to him."
Judy Maten, coordinator for the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Women's Ministry, said that all the speakers at the conference lift up and celebrate what it means to be a woman, keeping with the conference theme.
Josaitis, with Fr. Cunningham, brought alive the Gospel message and uplifted the poor and oppressed, Maten said. And two of the other speakers, Sr. Nancy Murray, OP, and Sherron Jenkins of the St. Dominic Outreach Center, use their talents to put their faith in action as well, she added.
Over the years, Josaitis has amassed a laundry list of recognition awards, including of the 100 Most Influential Women by Crain's Detroit Business and the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
But her work isn't over yet, because there are still boundaries between people. It comes down to finding one thing in common: to be loved, understood and appreciated. And if people take the time to speak to one another, we'll find out we're all alike, she said.
"I want other people to know that they can make a difference," she said. "Go with your heart and mind open."
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