by Thomas Breen The New Haven independent
Masked revelers raised $32,500 to help keep Dixwell’s community center alive and thriving, at a Q House “fall ball” that also honored city public school leaders.
That ball took place at the Q House at 197 Dixwell Ave. on Sept. 19. The event had a “masquerade theme” that, according to promotional material for the ball, sought to blend “elegance with purpose.”
Jeanette Morrison, a long-time Dixwell alder and chair of the Q House Advisory Board, said that roughly 150 people turned out to celebrate the revived community center and to fête honorees Kermit Carolina, Sondi Jackson, David Diah, and the late Dr. Fred Smith, aka Mr. Freddy Fixer.
“The honorees represent members of the New Haven Public Schools and the relationship between education and community and its success,” Morrison told the Independent.
She said this first annual Q House Fall Ball harkens back to similar events that a previous version of the Q House used to hold in the 1970s and 1980s. Morrison said that a total of $32,500 was raised to support the Q House’s endowment fund.
“In 1924, the Dixwell Q House first opened its doors as a settlement house, providing a vital space of refuge, connection, and advancement for African American families arriving in New Haven during the Great Migration,” reads a sponsorship proposal for the Sept. 19 ball. “One hundred and one years later, the Q House continues to serve as a vibrant and essential hub in the Dixwell and Newhallville neighborhoods.
“Throughout the decades, the Q House has grown to become a center for youth empowerment, family wellness, cultural celebration, and community transformation. With more than 70 classes, workshops, and events offered weekly—serving youth, adults, and seniors—the Q House is a thriving example of community-led strength and care.”