MASSACHUSETTS -- On October 21, 2000, WAITT House celebrated 20 years of service to the people of Roxbury and Dorchester. It was a wonderful time, recalling the beginnings, celebrating the present, and looking to the future. Among our guests were Sisters Esther Plefka, Peg McKeon, Paula Kelley, Mary Ann Sherlock (former teacher), Betsy Groome, James Margaret, Clarire McRudin and Alice Keneally.
Representatives of the Adult Literacy Program and Community were present to share the good works with all present. The founder of WAITT House, Mary Kay Brady was impressed by seeing so much accomplished. Pauline O'Leary gave us an inspiring history of WAITT House. Stephen Hanley, the present director promised to keep the program alive and continue to empower the people of Roxbury.
It truly was a great tribute to the Sisters of Charity for the encouragement, trust and financial support give to WAITT House for these many years. Yes, "We're All in This Together." Thank you Sisters for your support and prayers.
The following is the account Pauline O'Leary gave at the celebration:
How can 20 years have gone by so fast! For the children who attended the WAITT House Day Care, it represents most of your life. For me it represents one third of my life! May I add the best third!
The early history of WAITT House is rooted in the mission of the Sisters of Charity who educated many families through Saint Patrick Elementary School and Saint Patrick High School. In June of 1979, due to declining enrollment, Saint Patrick High School closed, and in September, 1979 WAITT House opened as a way for the Sisters of Charity to continue their mission in Roxbury and to support the young people of the area who were attending new schools.
At that time in the Catholic Church the area of ministy was changing and new initiatives, especially those begun by religious sisters, were taking root. The Sisters of Charity saw this as an opportunity to make a difference in the growth of new ministries and invited each area where the Sisters of Charity served to propose an innovative way to serve the needs of people.
WAITT House won the $50,000 grant for the Boston area. Mary Kay Brady, from her years working in Saint Patrick Parish, had the conviction that people working together to improve their own lives was the way to go. And so we had the birth of WAITT House, We are All in This Together.
The founding members of WAITT House were Mary Kay Brady, Father Tom McCabe, and Sister Marie Gill who were the officers of the newly formed organization. Ruth Grant, Della and Vernon Jones were among the initial Board Members who helped form the vision for WAITT House. Initially WAITT House was housed in Norfolk Street, where there were advocacy classes for adults, a clothing store and tutoring for young people.
In August of 1980 WAITT House moved to a bigger facility at 2 Fairland Street. That's when I came to Roxbury and I stayed until August of 1988. My time at WAITT House represents a time of great challenge and growth in my life. It was such a good experience working in a community based non-profit organization and getting to know and love the people of Roxbury. I came to WAITT House out of a desire to work in a community based programand at the invitation of Mary Kay Brady to open a daycare center and to help the daycare parents learn more about their children's education. In the early 1980s, the ministry of WAITT House grew in every aspect. The Welfare and Housing advocacy group grew strong, after school tutoring by the Sisters of Charity flourished, the clothing store grew larger.
In February, 1981 the daycare center opened and thrived through the involvement of staff and parents and the wonderfully exciting children, Charletta Maddrey, Jimmy Riddick, Jared Hardwich, Jason Centeio, Michelle Hall, to name a few, who came to learn each day. The WAITT House Daycare provided such a great educational foundation for children that many could read by the time they attended kindergarten. The Daycare benefitted from the collaborations we had in the community. Our teaching interns came from the Early Childhood Education Program of Roxbury Community College, which was on Dudley Street at the time and our playground was the Carmelite Sisters and Mrs. Daniels "Tot Lot." Father Bill Walsh was Santa Claus!
As parent involvement in the daycare program grew, it became evident that the parents wanted an adult education program so they could work on their own reading, writing and math skills. We began a small adult education program in September 1982.
In 1983 the City of Boston began the literacy initiative and invited community–based programs to apply for city funds to enlarge their adult education services. WAITT House applied and received funds to begin a larger program. Barbara Bush, the wife of the then Vice President, George Bush, came to WAITT House to announce the beginning of the Literacy Initiative.
The Good News was that we had funds to operate a bigger program, the bad news was that we did not have enough space to accommodate the daycare program, which closed in June, 1983.
While our education program was growing, our outreach program was growing also. Mary Rogers worked hard to bring better housing to the community and played a major role in the renovations of the apartments on Dudley Street.
WAITT House also brought together the social service organizations to begin to work more closely together around the social service needs by beginning the Dudley Initiative. In a sense the Dudley Initiative was the forerunner of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and you all know what a success that continues to be.
WAITT House has always had a commitment to provide employment for the residents of the community. Our employees: Martha Hall, Stephaie Hardwick, Sheline Maddrey, Pat Riddick, Anna Brassard and John Baptista who lived in the community, have helped us keep focused on the real needs of the Dudley Street area.
I know it's true to say that the dedication of each of the WAITT House employees has made the difference in the success of its work. They have inspired me with their perseverence. You need only to look at their long years of service to realize this.
We outgrew the space at 2 Fairland Street and negotiated a contract with Father Waldron to renovate and rent the lower level of Saint Patrick's Convent to accommodate a growing program. In the mid 80s, WAITT House moved to its present home.
And so I say...
Congratulations to WAITT House on the celebration of you 20th Anniversary of bringing your mission to the people of Roxbury and its surrounding communities.
I celebrate with joy the accomplishments of:
Program participants for your determination to succeed
WAITT House Staff for your perseverance and dedication
Board of Directors for your faithfulness to the mission of WAITT House
Stephen P. Hanley, Executive Director, for your leadership and enthusiasm
And I remember with gratitude the Sisters of Charity for believing in May Kay Brady's vision of "We're All In This Together" and for providing the financial support (hundreds of thousands of dollars over twenty years) for the implementation of this vision.
May all of you continue to experience the peace that comes from contributing your part to make a better world, one that reflects God's intent stated in your mission that "We are All In This Together."
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