nothin Hill Heroes Memorialized | New Haven Independent

Hill Heroes Memorialized

Members of the Hill North Management Team this week unveiled the first installment in a beautification campaign with banners that honors neighborhood trailblazers.

The first banner was unveiled last week on Washington Avenue.

Jake Dressler Photo

Pamela Monk, who came up with the idea.

Management Team Co-Chair Pamela Monk got the idea for the project after observing her friend mistake a street sign named after Juan Martinez” for the wrong person. Monk said she discovered educational niche that needed to be filled: We need to have a banner to explain anyone who sees the street sign, they would know who the trailblazer is.”

Monk brought her idea to the Hill management team, which approved and embraced it. The team held an official unveiling of the first banner last Tuesday night.

The banner gives a snapshot into the life of Rev. Juan Martinez, a New Havener who arrived in the early 60’s and founded The Door of Salvation Church. Together with his six children and wife Persida, Martinez balanced his hectic family life while helping with the creation of progressive social organizations like Junta and Crossroads. He was a bellwether of social change in New Haven and fronted many initiatives to uplift his community.

His son, the late John Martinez, is featured on the other side of the banner. John was also a major proponent for social change and served as the state representative for the 95th General Assembly district. He served as the president of the National Hispanic Caucus of Legislators. In 2003, the state of Connecticut honored his legacy by renaming a fatherhood initiative after him. Then in 2004 he was honored with the inauguration of John S. Martinez Magnet School in Fair Haven.

The remaining banners will feature other New Haven trailblazers, including:

• Rev. Luther Tallance Thomas,who founded Thomas Chapel Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ and dedicated his life to serving the poor and prisoners.

• Conley and Olivia Monk,who fostered over 45 children and cared for homeless citizens, battered women, and relocating southerners.

• Thelonious Monk, the famous jazz pianist with family roots in the neighborhood.

• Art Monk, a former wide receiver for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles.

• Catherine Sutton Dawson, an outreach worker and co-chair of the NAACP health committee who empowered women and families and raised awareness by promoting citywide health campaigns.

• Samuel Foster, a dedicated neighborhood watchdog, city government worker, and a regular organizer of charity fundraisers.

• Bishop Clinton McCarter, an entrepreneur and pastor who focused his ministry on helping the underserved; and his wife, pastor Julia McCarter, who is the current pastor of Deliverance Temple Pentecostal Ministries, provides outreach programs for substance abusers, those in and out of the prison system, and the homeless.

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