"In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the contributions of leaders who continue to inspire us, whose shoulders we stand on, and who helped shaped the history of East Boston. Today, we celebrate East Boston advocate Anna DeFronzo and all Maverick Street Mothers for their activism in fighting against airport expansion in the 1960's,” said Councilor Edwards.
"Tomorrow, we want to make sure that their legacy is never forgotten,” continued Edwards. "Therefore, I'm proud to announce a Maverick Street Mothers Scholarship Fund to be given in the fall for local parents seeking assistance to attend college."
Maverick street mother and longtime community activist Mary Ellen Welch is excited to see the next generation of leaders receive support through Edwards scholarship. "It’s been on the minds of activists that we needed younger generations to take on causes that were so important to the community back then and that are still prevalent now," said Welch.
"Councilor Edwards’ scholarship will provide the opportunity for young people to learn the importance of standing up for what is right, formulating principals around neighborhood cohesiveness, and allowing communities to have self-determination."
The Maverick Street Mothers organized community protests in the 1960’s against the Massachusetts Port Authority and the proposed expansion at the time. The protest was widely publicized as both women and men from the community formed a blockade using baby carriages to stop construction and delivery trucks on Maverick Street.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a local parent and resident of East Boston and attending, or planning to attend, a Boston-area college within one year. Each applicant must supply a letter of recommendation and a typed essay of no more than five-hundred (500) words describing the importance of civic engagement and community activism. Semi-finalists will then be asked to complete and in-person interview.
To find out ways to support the Maverick Street Mothers scholarship fund, please call (617) 635-3200 or e-mail gabriela.coletta@boston.gov.
Source: The Office of Councilor Edwards 3/6/2018.
Editor's note: Here's the obituary of one of the original Maverick Street Mothers, Betty Mazzarini
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