New Haven Independent

That institution was the Dixwell Community “Q” house, the youth center and social service hub that has remained vacant for six years and become a symbol for people frustrated with the lack of activities for teens.

A dedicated group of neighbors including Frances Russell (on the left in the photo) used a commemoration Saturday of King’s April 4, 1968, assassination to raise money for a campaign to bring the Q back.

Russell brought her granddaughter Kyndel, 8, to the commemoration at the Dixwell United Church of Christ, right next door to the Q House in the same Urban Renewal-era plaza on Dixwell Avenue.

At the Q, Russell recalled, she played basketball, went to camp and participated in other activities. “Once I became a teenager I became a counselor and worked with the children who were behind me, as far as the camp. “And giving guidance to young ladies — we had cooking classes, sewing classes and a friendship class.”

The Q House closed its doors in 2003 after 80 years of service, due to financial problems. A group called the Concerned Citizens for the Greater New Haven Dixwell Community House formed in 2006 with the goal of restructuring and reopening it, so far without success. Read about that here and here.

About 60 people came to the initial meeting, but as mistress of ceremonies Carroll Brown (pictured) noted, the group has many fewer active members now.

Brown asked those in attendance their memories of learning of Dr. King’s assassination. “I’m dating myself,” she chuckled when several people — looking youngish middle-aged — said they had no memories because they hadn’t been born yet.

Musically, the evening belonged to the Greene family. Sisters Trina and Nancy (pictured) harmonized on a beautiful duet, and their brother Markel Ray Greene provided piano accompaniment for all the singing, including a spiritual by Dena Donaldson, and a rousing rendition of a civil rights anthem.

Concerned Citizens President Jacqueline Bracey (pictured) explained some of the problems her group has confronted, partly due to not being incorporated until recently. Now that it is, it can raise money. She said, “Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t contact a member of our group asking, ‘What are you doing about the Q House?’” She answered the question this way: “We don’t care how long it takes, but one day there will be a Dixwell Community House.”

The featured speaker of the evening was Bishop William Philpot (pictured) of the neighboring Christ Chapel New Testament Church. An octogenarian himself (Dr. King would have turned 80 this year), Philpot said his memory is not as good as it used to be, but he vividly remembered meeting both Dr. King and his father, the Rev. Dr. MLK, Sr., on two previous occasions.

First he led the group in singing, “We Shall Overcome.” Then he described his feelings after meeting the younger King. “I was amazed at his spirit. There was such a victorious smile that he had, such assurance he had. He had to get that from God.” He said Dr. King inspired him to live a life of service, to try to make a difference in people’s lives. He also mentioned the possible addition to the Dixwell neighborhood of a pawn shop, and asked everyone’s help in keeping it out.

The turnout was small, which Frances Russell attributed to a conflict with the UConn men’s basketball team’s appearance in the Final Four collegiate tournament Saturday evening. Well, the men lost, but those who decided to make community activism their priority won — they won inspiration and camaraderie and beautiful music and wise words from their own spiritual icon, even if they haven’t yet won their ultimate goal.

For more information on the campaign call Bracey at 281-1986.

Click on the play arrow to watch Tom Ficklin’s video of the event.