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After many years of struggle and the efforts of many in the community to keep the doors of the Booker T. Washington Center open, Ms. Elzona Trosper became the first Executive Director of the Sanford Community Center.  Under her leadership and with the assistance of the community, the Sanford Center became a member of the Community Chest (United Way), moved from its location on West 7th Street into the current location at 1700 Geneva Street, and continued to provide essential services and support to the community. 

The philosophy of the Center has always been for the Center to be open to all but in the early years, there were no places for black people to meet or have receptions and no services to assist people moving into the community.  The Center helped black people locate housing, churches, and jobs; provided daycare and literacy instruction, and served as a meeting place for various clubs, organizations, or special events. 

In 1968 Ms. Trosper was able to hire a Program Director, Mr. George W. Boykin, who became the second Executive Director in 1972.  Over the next 35 years the mission of the Sanford Center has become focused on youth and their families in the community with the development of the Gang Outreach Program, After School Program, and Alternative Suspension Program.  Many partnerships between the Sanford Center and other agencies have been formed in order to promote the original intent of the founders of the Booker T. Washington and Sanford Community Center:  "to further interracial understanding and better community living".

 

 

Ms. Lena Thomas was executive secretary without pay for the Booker T. Washington Center during the Depression Years.  Ms. Thomas was an accomplished musician, the organist for the Malone AME Church Choir, and taught music classes.  This photo is taken from the 1931 historical photograph of the Malone AME Church Choir.

Dr. M.E. Whitlock, a podiatrist in Sioux City for over 40 years, kept a detailed journal from which much of the history of the Booker T. Washington and Sanford Community Center has been preserved.  He was one of the members of the Men's Booster Club that established the Booker T. Washington Center and was part of the committee that worked toward building the Sanford Community Center.

Board of Directors 1951 (seated clockwise):  Mr. Louis Carter, Mr. Roosevelt Pettaway, Ms. Elzona Trosper, Mr. Oscar Nevings, Ms. Mary Treglia, Mr. Arthur Hayes (President), Ms. Arretta Butler, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sanford, Mrs. Oscar Nevings, Mr. Henry Kendricks, Mr. Louis Brown, Ms. Beulah Webb (not pictured).

A meeting was held by the Board of Directors prior to the dedication of the new building given to the community by Arthur and Stella Sanford. 

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