Kensington Tour

Kensington & Cumberland - Birth of KWRU

This building used to be the old welfare office.  When it first closed down the building was beautiful and in great shape.  A group of mothers who lived in the neighborhood had been getting together to discuss the problems they were facing. Mostly they were concerned about their kids.  There is nothing for kids to do around here.  No recreation centers, no movie theaters, no shopping malls.  So kids end up hanging out on the street and get exposed to drugs, prostitution and all kinds of dangerous stuff.  These mothers decided that they would start a community center for their kids.  They decided to start by taking over the abandoned welfare office.  It would be the perfect size for their kids to have a place to go.  A big group of people marched to the building and six women entered the front door and declared it the site of the new neighborhood recreation center.  The police dragged them out of the building and they were charged with fifteen counts- three felonies.  Criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and conspiracy.  Their trial lasted six days.  If convicted they faced ten years in prison.

The women were found not guilty.  You can see how much use has been made of this building.  But what came out of that experience was an organization.  The Kensington Welfare Rights Union started because a group of mothers realized that their children were less important than the property rights of a real estate speculator that allowed this building to become abandoned.  They faced ten years in prison because they wanted their children to have the same opportunities that other young people have.  A safe place to hang out.  These women realized that if they really wanted their children to have a better life, they couldn’t expect any help from the city.  They would have to organize themselves and others to fight for the things they needed to survive.

Next: St. Edward's : Faith, Politics and Justice