The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-02-14

N1AU MIN8| 04A4I44ALA||AINNlAn WAA8 Wa@Aa Outstretched arms made cltlzsns out of countless slaves, slaves whose children and grandchildren are stlll the same grateful race of their fcreEatherB The pa- tsrnal grand-parent of the neigh- Dor chosen for today's program was an ex-slave This neigh Dor is Mrs. Leila Theodosia Plum mer Alexander, social director of the Pearl Street Community oe- ganlzatlon which carries out its program through the, Pearl Street Nelghborhood house She is one of the most active women in the city of Waterbury.
 Leila Hummer was born at Ni- agara Falls, ontario. Canada, the daughter Of william Wilberforce and YneE (Iarter) Plummer. Her Sather was named after the Eng. fish philanthropist who fought so hard years ago in the house of commons against the slave trade. He was Q native of Simcoe, on- tArio, and was one of the first col- cred pupils to be admitted to the public schools Of his native city. He was c brilliant student and carried of Latin funors, and eventually, he became Q school teacher, and gtill later Q railroad man. He was Q sand degree Mason and was Q charter member and secretary of the Nippissing lodge of Ontario LeilaS mother was Q native of Bedford, Indiana Both her parents died within a period of three weeks ct Detroit, Mich, ia 1917 She has one brother, pr. William Wilberforce Hummer, M. D., Q graduate of Howard, who is now visiting in Waterbury. A sister, Maude, died five years ago at Niagara Falls.
 Leila Hummer received her early education in the public schools of Windsor and Toronto, Canada. Later she graduated from Toronto Normal college. She subsequently, enrolled at Toronto College of Music She loved children and longed to be among them, and in time left college to become Q mixed-grade teacher in the Dovercourt school at Toronto. Her services were later transferred to the Kent school She was tho only colored teacher in the Toronto schools at that time She also trained musical groups which won many prizes in Tor onto competition.
 During on vacation period she went abroad visiting England, France. Scotland and Wales.
 Cn Sept. I2, 1911. shortly after her return, she became the bride of Or. John Fl. Alexander, of Am- hergtburg, Ontario. The wedding took place in Toronto. The union was blessed with two children: Inez Louise Leila, now g, and club director and assistant case worker for the Pearl Street Com- lnunity organization; and John PluInmer, now i6, and in his jun- for year at Crosby high school. I might mention that Inez at- tended Hampton institute. at Hampton Virginia; Knoxville col- lege: and that she graduated with an A. B. degree in 1884 from the American International college at Springfield, Mass. She also has had business training at the Post Business college John, the son, has had eight years of musi- cal training, and has enjoyed local prominence as Q poet. He is also quite an athlete Dr. Alex ander is a graduate of the Uni- versity of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. Michigan. and was recently elect ed alderman at Araherstburg, his native city.
 pr. and Mrs. Alexander began their domestic life in Detroit. Some time later Mrs. Alexander decided to resume her teaching and went to Buffalo where she not only taught regular classes but also directed an open air school of music for under developed and under privileged race children. She stayed in Buffalo three years and then went to Philadelphia where she successfully passed the state board examination as Q school teacher. She obtained teachers certificate but never used 1t as she came to Waterbury in November. 1924, as social director of her people.
 When Mrs. Alexander came here her people had hardly any recreational facilities, no cultural clubs, nor adequate social meeting places, other than their churches and . little five-room house ct ei Pearl street. Tn 1927 the Pearl Street Neighborhood building, at the corner of Pearl and Hopkins streets, was dedicated. It contains an ofzlce, reception and reading room. community kitchen. show CTS, gymnasium, large auditorium. bowling alleys and three large rooms with movable partitions. be- sides an apartment for Mrs. Alex ander and her family Vari- ous racial groups are represented at the neighborhood house each day. Suppers. forums. amateur art exhibits. and meetings of ali kinds are held there by different racial groups. A church vacation school. the largest in the city. has been created. The Pearl Street Community organization is gov- erred by an equally divided inter- racial board of 32 members; an inter-denominatlonaI board: and a board of 20 colored directors of house activities. The organization has Q staff of four regular work CTS, and a number of part-time and volunteer assistants !. There is an orchestra and choral; English classes: dramatics. and various other features too nurler- Ous to enumerate at this time.
 Mrs. Alexander's early ambition was to become a school teacher. She also yearned to 50 to Eng land. Both her desires have been fulfilled. She is now principal of
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