From Deseret News archives:

Legacy of community activists lives on in Central City

By John Florez

Published: Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005 9:22 p.m. MST

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CAP was started as part of the war on poverty. Its mission was to involve citizens in poor neighborhoods to develop self-help programs and to empower people to negotiate on their own behalf. It called for "maximum feasible participation of the poor." My responsibility was to carry out that charge in an area in Salt Lake City with the highest incidence of poverty in the area between 400 and 900 South and 200 West and 700 East.

The project started with door knocking and, after several weeks, we knocked on the door of Mignon Richmond. She opened her home, and it quickly became a "field office" with phone and bathroom included. She was eager to suggest other people to help, who were respected by their neighbors, such as Billy Mason and Jewel Brown.

The Central City project's first "center/office" was a boarded-up Victorian home on the northeast corner of 800 South and Denver Street. It was loaned to us by State Savings and Loan with the understanding we would clean it up; thus, it became the first neighborhood project.

Later, a young Methodist minister, the Rev. Mason Willis, showed up asking how he could help, and soon found that the best way was to come and be among the people. He moved quickly to start a drop in center for teenagers, which he named the Crossroads Urban Center.

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Later, with the help of Commissioner James L. Barker, the organizing efforts of the community council, HUD and local matching funds, which included a land donation from another neighborhood icon, Mrs. Katina Kyremes, the Central City Community Center was built on 300 East and 600 South. It was designed by the people with the help of other volunteers.

Though Mignon, Jewel, Billy and Eugene have passed away, they taught us that things come and go, but giving to your community and caring for each other are the things that matter. Their legacy lives on.

Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net.