Freedom House (Roxbury, Massachusetts)
Freedom House is a nonprofit community-based organization in Roxbury, Massachusetts (a neighborhood of Boston). Freedom House is located in an area sometimes referred to as Grove Hall that lies along Blue Hill Ave. at the border between the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods of Boston. Although it was historically identified with Roxbury, Freedom House currently refers to itself as being located either in Dorchester or in Grove Hall.[1]
Mission
The mission of Freedom House is to promote economic self-sufficiency and social justice for residents in historically underserved neighborhoods through targeted educational development, increased civic and political engagement and progressive cultural advocacy.[1]
History
Freedom House was founded in 1949 as a center of civil rights and advocacy for Boston's African American community. The founders were the social workers (and married couple) Otto P. Snowden and Muriel S. Snowden. The initial goal of Freedom House was to centralize community activism in the fight for neighborhood improvement, good schools, and harmony among racial, ethnic, and religious groups in Roxbury (a neighborhood of Boston), Massachusetts.[2] Criticized in the 1960s by black militants for taking a "self-help" approach to racial equality, Freedom House re-examined its mission, and went on to play an increasingly critical role in the struggle for civil rights in Boston,[3] especially during the period of desegregation of Boston's public schools.
Freedom House's original location was at 151 Humboldt Street in Roxbury. In 1952, it moved to 14 Crawford Street on the Grove Hall section of Roxbury. On the night of January 31, 1960, a fire destroyed the Crawford Street facility. A rebuilding campaign ensued, and Boston Mayor John F. Collins was the first to "buy a brick" to help in this effort. The rebuilt facility opened in 1961 and remains the current home of the organization.[4]
In 1984, Muriel and Otto Snowden retired as co-directors. A number of directors have served since then; the Executive Director is currently the Snowden's daughter, Gail Snowden.
In 1996, Freedom House considered merging with other community organizations, although in the end it decided not to do so.[4]
Activities
The initial focus of the organization was on urban renewal; neighborhood improvement programs designed to protect Upper Roxbury from urban blight began in 1949 when Freedom House helped to organize neighborhood clean-up projects and playground construction. Concerned over the escalating number of bars in the neighborhood, Freedom House led the community in an effort to reduce the number of new and renewed applications for liquor licenses.[5]
Early programming also focused on strengthening relations between the African American and Jewish residents of Upper Roxbury. An interracial preschool, one of few in the city, was established[2] and Freedom House participated in a Black-Jewish Roundtable fostering business ties and friendships between black and Jewish entrepreneurs.[6]
In the area of education, Freedom House administered Project Reach, supported by a private donation, which gave scholarship funds for minority students to go to college. Freedom House also provided scholarship counseling. A travel/study program provided scholarships for high school students to study in
In the area of employment, Freedom House held job fairs, including Boston's first job fair for minorities, and promoted affirmative action. They raised money for college scholarships for black students and for study programs in Africa. They even established a credit union.[11]
Freedom House has often acted as a forum and meeting place for the community, in times of grief as well as in times of celebration. The Center has held galas, fashion shows and tea parties to raise money for causes that it supported, celebrated the anniversaries and birthdays of notables like Edward Brooke, an African-American U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and held Christmas and Halloween parties for children. More than 500 residents attended a mass meeting at Freedom House after the murder of 16-year-old Daniela Saunders in 1963.
Currently, Freedom House programs focus on education, technology, and leadership development. Freedom House provides tutoring for the
References
- ^ a b Freedom House Official Web Site
- ^ a b About Freedom House "Freedom House Photographs: Roxbury People, Places and Events 1950-1975," Northeastern University Libraries, 2008.
- ISBN 978-0-674-01488-6
- ^ a b Finding aid for the records of Freedom House Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections, Boston, MA.
- ^ a b Freedom House Photographs Online exhibit. Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections. Boston, MA..
- ^ Miller, Yawu (2000, October 26). "Freedom House joins Black-Jewish Roundtable effort." Bay State Banner, p. 2. ( Retrieved December 17, 2008, from Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW) database (restricted to subscribers). (Document ID: 492164411).
- ^ Edgar J. Driscoll Jr. (1988-10-01). "Muriel Snowden, 72; Cofounder of Freedom House in Roxbury". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22.
- ^ "Archives and Special Collections Finding Aids: Collection of Freedom House, Inc., records". Northeastern University. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ See Smock, William H. "Operation Exodus: Rebuff to Politicians" (Harvard Crimson, October 18, 1965.) for more information about Operation Exodus.
- ^ Freedom House Institute on Schools and Education Archived 2008-11-23 at the Wayback Machine, May 15, 1974(brochure)
- ^ Edgar J. Driscoll Jr., Globe Staff (1988, October 1). "Muriel Snowden, 72; Cofounder of Freedom House in Roxbury" (Obituary, third edition) Boston Globe, p. 75. Retrieved December 17, 2008, from Boston Globe database via Proquest Massachusetts Newspapers (restricted to subscribers).
External links
- Freedom House Photographs Over 2,000 photographic images from the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections.
- The Freedom House, Inc. records, 1941-2004 (bulk 1949-1986) are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The Muriel S. and Otto P. Snowden papers, 1911-1990 (bulk 1947-1985) are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.