Origin of Mary Mitchel Center

The Crotona Coalition’s grassroots activism in the 1970s grew out of the economic depression and violence that shatter the Bronx neighborhoods following urban renewal and plan shrinkage. Mary Mitchell, a resident, and activist inspired the Crotona Coalition activism that would revitalize the neighborhood. Together with residents, Mary Mitchell co-founded the United Black coalition, a multicultural group of concerned parents and community members dedicated to improving the quality of life in the South Bronx (Brooks, n.d.). Throughout the 1980s, as synagogues became churches, street peddlers and corner stores replaced the shuttered supermarkets. Mary Mitchell worked from her home and eventually turned an abandoned supermarket on 178th and Mapes Ave into a community center (Gonzalez, 1997). Residents organized clothing and food drives, worked with local agencies to bring summer play streets and summer youth employment. 

 In 1983, Mary Mitchell passed away, but her neighborhoods continued her efforts. Astin Jacobo, Jannie Armstrong, Carol Atkins, Karen Washington, and as a young Wanda Salmon all played vital parts in the placekeeping efforts. Astin Jacobo knew Mary Mitchell and used his experience in organizing formed a group of residents to continued her efforts called the Crotona Coalition (NWBCCC, n.d.).  In hopes of stopping the deterioration from spreading north through the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), Fordham University sponsored the activism of the Crotona Coalition. 

  During the 1990s, the Crotona Coalition was doing comparable work like larger community-based organizations. Rebuilding the existing civic infrastructure to improve the quality of life for residents. For example, Phipps Houses Corporation and Bronx Zoo worked with residents to transform a gang initiation site into Drew Community Garden (NYS Health Foundation, 2008; Chuck Vasser, 2021). They created tenant associations to get apartment buildings repaired and partnered with a youth group called, Save a Generation out of St. Martin de Tours church to address the increase in drugs and gang activity. As an active member of community board 6, Jacobo and Armstrong were kept abreast of the proposed developments of the city (Pace, 2002, Atkins, 2020). The Crotona Coalition worked with private developers to design a strip mall along East 180th and Clinton Avenue to spur economic activity. 

With the strong backing of the NWBCCC, the Crotona Coalition finally opened Mary Mitchell Family and Youth Center(MMC) in 1997(Pace, 2002; NWBCC, n.d; Atkins, 2020). Mayor Giuliani and Borough President Fernando Ferrera granted the MMC ownership of a building through “a gentleman agreement” (Atkins, 2021). The MMC operated programming throgh volunterism for almost a year without city funding (Gonzalez, 1997). Then in response to their request for funding, place the Department of Education(DOE) as the anchor tenant. The DOE takes care of the maintenance of the building and also runs a bilingual GED program within the center (Pace, 2002). This victory propelled the Crotona Coalition even further. 

 The Crotona Coalition activism also led to the creation of other non-profits.The Inter-Neighborhood Housing Corporation (INHOC) led by Wanda Salmon turned abandoned buildings into limited-equity housing coops (HDFCs). Jacobo led clean-up efforts to transform vacant lots into community gardens and large parks. Later on Karen Washington formed La Familia Verde Garden Coalition to help residents preserve the community gardens. The Crotona Coalition envisioned another community center on 2107 Mapes Ave on Mapes Baseball Field. The Mary Mitchell Center, with the support of Congressman Serrano, was working to rehabilitate the building. Residents today continue to build on the legacies of Mary Mitchell, Astin Jacobo, Jannie Armstrong, and other resident activist who worked to improve the quality of life for community district six residents.