Paul Bass photo
Anthony Dawson (at right in photo) with Sean Hardy at WNHH FM.
A half-century of community building came full circle this week for Anthony Dawson.
On Monday he helped preside over the ribbon cutting for 56 new affordable apartments where the government had destroyed a neighborhood 60 years ago on Legion Avenue at the edge of the Hill. Dawson led the nonprofit that co-developed the project, called Curtis Cofield II Estates.
Fifty years ago he launched a different housing boom in the Hill. At 16 years old, he became the youngest person to purchase an abandoned “dollar house” from the government. It was one of more than a dozen abandoned houses on Ann Street. Dawson rebuilt the property with his parents and some Yale students. He then encouraged his neighbors to fix up the rest — and Ann Street came back to life.
In between those two accomplishments, Dawson has been busy taking care of civic business citywide. He spent 17 years as a Hill alder (then called “alderman”). He served as chair of the Board of Police Commissioners throughout the teens during the revival of community-based policing. He also sought the Democratic nomination for mayor in 2011.
Meanwhile, he spent 40 years keeping people safe at Yale New Haven Hospital as a member of the institution’s Department of Protective Services. He’s now retiring as a lieutenant.
A party this Thursday night at Birchwoods Banquet Facility will mark the retirement and Dawson’s 50 years of community leadership. (Tickets cost $75. Call 203 – 214-8528 to see if any are still available.)
When the DJ stops playing music and the party ends, Dawson’s work will continue. He plans to ask the city to help slow traffic on Legion Avenue and MLK Boulevard to keep safe all the kids moving in to Cofield Estates. He’s working with community health advocates to press for a renewal of free hospital screenings for prostate cancer. His warm smile and dedication to community continue going strong into a second half-century of service.
He was asked what he has learned about how to make a difference in New Haven.
“Just be honest, be transparent, and do the best you can,” he replied, “and keep God first.”
Dawson, who’s 66, talked about his journey from teenaged housing trendsetter to wise community elder, on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. He was joined by Sean Hardy, who’s helping organize Thursday night’s tribute event. Click on the video below to watch the full discussion. Click here to subscribe or here to listen to other episodes of “Dateline New Haven.”