Evening star., 1939-05-11
Streets Welfare
Work Praised by
Social Work Leaders
Role in Chest and
As Bourd Director
Cited at Banquet

AS DOUTu OIISC(OI
Cited at Bouquet
That Elwood Street will remain
steady inspiration to those en-
gagged in community social work in
Washington was the sentiment ex-
pressed last night by prominent
workers in the social work field as
more than 200 friends and asso-
ciates of Mr.. Streets gathered at
dinner at the Y. w. C. A. to honor
him.
Mr.. Streets resignation as director
of public welfare for the District is
to become effective June Is. He
goes to Richmond to become secre-
tary and director of the Com
munity Fund and executive secre-
tary of the Council of Social
Agencies there. He organized the
Community Chest here 10 years ago
and 5 years ago was appointed to
the dictatorship of public welfare.
Mr.. Streets work in organizing
the Community Chest was stressed
particularly by prominent speakers
at last nights testimonial dinner,
and his work as director also came
in for praise of high order.
Has Practical Vision"
Coleman Jennings, president of
the Chest, said washington today
is a more spiritual, moral and eth
ical place for his coming" Mr.
Jennings characterized Mr.. Street
as q man with both a program and
the practical vision to put it into
| effect.
Frederick McReynolds, chairman
of the Board of Public Welfare, said
Mr.. Street had been "a wonderful
director" when he took over the
job of director, he took over the
immense field of social service, plus
| relief. The latter was responsible
for unending grief and difficulty.
The District hasn't altogether ap-
preciated the work he has done"
Walter S. Ufford, former execu-
tAVS SACCdA VI NAAC / dA1lAy NSl WIG
Association tthe former Associated
Charities), who acted as chairman
of the testimonial banquet in the
absence out of town of the Rev.
Lawrence j. Shehan, Catholic chari-
ties director, expressed his CRATE
fulness at what Mr.. Street had done
Mr.. Ufford then introduced Her
hort T, "i11pft 1irnHfnf of tho
Community Chest, as Mr. Streets
logical successor" Mr.. Willett act
ed as toastmaster, expressing his ad-
miration for Mr.. Streets work and
his thanks for his advice.
Mrs. Street Shares Praise.
Mrs. Harry S. Bernton, president
of the Council of Social Agencies,
lauded the work of both Mr.. and
Mrs. Street. She said their work
here had been an inspiration and
that the Community Chest had
drawn us together, Protestant,
Catholic and Jew alike" into a
common cause.
Mrs. Street, she said, had given
unstintingly of her time, strength
and inspiration in more than one
worthy cause during her stay here
Newbold Noyes, executive asso-
ciate editor of The Star, told the
gathering that Mr.. Street had
taught the newspapers here a 'les-
son we'll never forget in regard to
those who need our compassion, pity
and support"
"In no city in the United States
IS community social work supported
by the press as we'll as in Washing
ton. This fact was not inherent in
the newspapers but was due chiefly
to Mr.. Street, who taught the news
papers the importance of social
work." Mr.. Moves SAID.
Maj. Campbell c. johnson, execu-
tive secretary of the coIored Y. M.
c. A., praised Mr.. Street for his
realizatio that community social
work should be entered into and
administered by all in the COM
munity; that control of such WORK
should be representative of the
populace. "On behalf of the no.
600 Negroes who are residents or
the District bring you greetines S
and express our regret that you
must CO." Maj. johnson said.
William H. Savin, president of
the Washington Chapter of the
American Association of Social
Workers, said that both Mr.. and
Mrs. Street have at all times inspired
others by their work. Capt. Rhoda
Milliken praised Mr.. Streets courage
in taking the job of director of
public welfare.
Mr.. Street himself, after thanking
all those present for their testi-
monials to him, said of the Board
of Public Welfare, ut Is the best
board I ever saw. The branding
of the board as rubber stamp is
silly. If ever a rubber stamp was
alive and wiggling it was this board" !"
He said he hoped his successor
would think Of social service as one
of the keenest instruments of democ-
racy and use it to make our Capital
the best city possible"
Midway in the speaking Mrs.
David Cushner Of the Washington
Civic Theater, robed in white,
rendered a monologue of her own
composition epitomizing the Com
munity Chest and Mr.. Streets work
in organizing it. The monologue
represented the voice of the Chest. :"
Mr.. Street was presented with q
leather .bound autograph book con-
tanning the signatures Of those pres
ent. Mrs. Street was presented with
. valise by Miss Edith Redwood Of
the Children's Bureau Of the Do
/ paStment AZ tloa Public Welfare.