Title
Resolution Naming the New Neighborhood Center Located in the Olde Hampton Neighborhood in Honor of Mary Jackson, NASA’s First Black Female Engineer
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
City Council was asked to honor Mary Jackson with the renaming of a public street or building. Because Mary Jackson lived in the Olde Hampton community, and did active outreach and tutoring with neighborhood children, it was suggested that the naming of the new Olde Hampton Neighborhood Center be in her honor. This request was shared with the neighborhood and received enthusiastic endorsement. Therefore, Council is asked to adopt the attached resolution doing so.
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the Resolution.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton is building a New Neighborhood Center in Olde Hampton;
WHEREAS, Local 8888 of the Steelworkers presented over 2,500 signatures to the Hampton City Council calling for a permanent public site to honor Ms. Mary Jackson's legacy at NASA and her community service in Hampton;
WHEREAS, Mary Jackson grew up on Lincoln Street and attended Bethel AME church in Olde Hampton;
WHEREAS, Mary Jackson graduated from Phenix High School and Hampton Institute in Hampton Virginia;
WHEREAS, Mary Jackson had a love of science and a commitment to improving the lives of people around and in her community;
WHEREAS, Mary Jackson taught the youth in the science club at Olde Hampton’s King Street Community Center how to build their own wind tunnel and used it to conduct experiments;
WHEREAS, in 1958 Mary Jackson became NASA’s first Black female engineer; and
WHEREAS, outreach to the Olde Hampton Community, the New Center Planning Committee and the Olde Hampton Steering Committee resulted in support of the New Neighborhood Center being named in honor of Mary Jackson.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the city of Hampton Virginia: The New Neighborhood Center in Olde Hampton be the permanent public site to honor Mary Jackson by naming it ...
Click here for full text