Lugenia Burns Hope was a twentieth-century civil rights activist and social reformer who worked steadfastly to rebuild black communities using grassroots politics and community ties. Hope was no stranger to hard work. From an early age, Hope worked full time at organizations like Hull House— a settlement organization founded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr dedicated to providing European Immigrants with amenities such as daycare services, libraries, employment and education. Her infectious fervor, innovative thinking and strong leadership skills advanced the field of social work and contributed greatly to racial and gender equality.
Hope’s Contribution to Black Communities
In 1898, John and Lugenia Hope moved to Atlanta, Georgia. It was there, that Lugenia made the greatest impact of her life’s work. After noticing the black community’s societal degeneration primarily due to the outcome of the Civil war between 1861 to 1865, Lugenia served the Atlanta community for over 30 years organizing community services and promoting the civil rights movement. Blacks in the area lived in and attended unsanitary homes and schools. The constituents lacked proper medical and dental care. Recreational opportunities were scarce with many neighborhoods having no playgrounds where black children could play. Coming off the heels of a devastating war, the community had a weak infrastructure and little to no economic strength. With the support of several other community members, Hope formed an organization called the Neighborhood Union-- the first social welfare agency operated completely by black women. “From 1908 to 1935, as chairperson of its Board of Managers, she oversaw the provision of medical, recreational, employment, and educational services to Atlanta 's African-American neighborhoods.” John Hope became a professor at the Atlanta Baptist College, presently known as Morehouse College. John’s promotion to school president later played a fundamental role in Lugenia’s efforts to rebuild the black community. Hope’s Community Building Model Hope to enlisted the help of Morehouse students. Beginning in the West Fair neighborhood adjacent to Morehouse College, the students gathered and recorded pertinent demographic data and used the findings to evaluate, identify and implement welfare programs for the underprivileged. Morehouse College expanded to include a space for daycare, kindergartens and recreational facilities. The Union divided the city into districts. Each district had a board of directors that investigated the living conditions in the designated area. Because of its’ effectiveness and resourcefulness, this blueprint became an international model for community building. From 1909 to 1913, the Neighborhood Union used lobbying and the data collected by Morehouse students to battle community giants like the Atlanta Board of Education and the Atlanta City Council to increase teacher’s salaries, build new schools, sponsor health clinics and afterschool programs. The Neighborhood Union began providing political advocacy pushing for adequate lighting, sewage treatment, and the replacing of dilapidated housing. In the 1920’s The Neighborhood Union founded the Atlanta School of Social Work. …show more content…
Her resourcefulness and effective leadership supplied the proper platform for activists like Rosa Parks and Recy Taylor to continue the fight against the scourge of being both, black and female living in a white-privileged patriarchal society. Many of her grassroots tactics helped bring an end to sexual violence, and helped tear down the barriers cultivated by biases of race, gender and
Hope’s Contribution to Black Communities
In 1898, John and Lugenia Hope moved to Atlanta, Georgia. It was there, that Lugenia made the greatest impact of her life’s work. After noticing the black community’s societal degeneration primarily due to the outcome of the Civil war between 1861 to 1865, Lugenia served the Atlanta community for over 30 years organizing community services and promoting the civil rights movement. Blacks in the area lived in and attended unsanitary homes and schools. The constituents lacked proper medical and dental care. Recreational opportunities were scarce with many neighborhoods having no playgrounds where black children could play. Coming off the heels of a devastating war, the community had a weak infrastructure and little to no economic strength. With the support of several other community members, Hope formed an organization called the Neighborhood Union-- the first social welfare agency operated completely by black women. “From 1908 to 1935, as chairperson of its Board of Managers, she oversaw the provision of medical, recreational, employment, and educational services to Atlanta 's African-American neighborhoods.” John Hope became a professor at the Atlanta Baptist College, presently known as Morehouse College. John’s promotion to school president later played a fundamental role in Lugenia’s efforts to rebuild the black community. Hope’s Community Building Model Hope to enlisted the help of Morehouse students. Beginning in the West Fair neighborhood adjacent to Morehouse College, the students gathered and recorded pertinent demographic data and used the findings to evaluate, identify and implement welfare programs for the underprivileged. Morehouse College expanded to include a space for daycare, kindergartens and recreational facilities. The Union divided the city into districts. Each district had a board of directors that investigated the living conditions in the designated area. Because of its’ effectiveness and resourcefulness, this blueprint became an international model for community building. From 1909 to 1913, the Neighborhood Union used lobbying and the data collected by Morehouse students to battle community giants like the Atlanta Board of Education and the Atlanta City Council to increase teacher’s salaries, build new schools, sponsor health clinics and afterschool programs. The Neighborhood Union began providing political advocacy pushing for adequate lighting, sewage treatment, and the replacing of dilapidated housing. In the 1920’s The Neighborhood Union founded the Atlanta School of Social Work. …show more content…
Her resourcefulness and effective leadership supplied the proper platform for activists like Rosa Parks and Recy Taylor to continue the fight against the scourge of being both, black and female living in a white-privileged patriarchal society. Many of her grassroots tactics helped bring an end to sexual violence, and helped tear down the barriers cultivated by biases of race, gender and