By Alex Robinson
Community leaders joined elected officials in St. Albans Saturday afternoon to honor and celebrate the life of Dora Young, a political activist, veteran of the civil rights movement and prominent public servant.
City Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans) and former Deputy Borough President Leroy Comrie hosted an event at the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club, at 197-01 Linden Blvd., and commemorated Young’s memory with a new street sign at 197th Street, which read “Dora H. Young Way.”
“I am grateful to have been just a small part of this day in which we set forth [a way for] our community to appreciate and understand the legacy Ms. Young has left,” Miller said. “It will be recognized on this corner.”
Young, who died in 2011 at the age of 93, was remembered as a mother figure in the community and a role model who was instrumental in getting African Americans elected to city, state and federal offices.
“She was responsible of making sure that many ladies in southeast Queens became judges,” said Renee Bluford, president of the Democratic club.
Young was a Democratic district leader for the 29th state Assembly District at the time of her death.
She served as a deputy city clerk at the Marriage Bureau at Borough Hall for 25 years and was an executive member of the Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club. She was also the first woman to serve as vice chair of the Queens Democratic Party.
Born in Winston-Salem, N.C., Young moved to Addisleigh Park shortly after she married Evie Young Jr. in 1949.
Young founded the Guy R. Brewer Learning Center in St. Albans and was an active member of several organizations promoting diversity.
“Our community is now a better place because Dora served for us,” said former Councilman Archie Spigner, who worked with Young for decades.
Among the elected officials who came to pay tribute to Young were former Borough President Claire Shulman, state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Jamaica) and Assembly members William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) and Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica).
Dancers and drummers from St. Benedict School of Dance entertained guests in between speakers. Young had donated generously to the school when she was still alive.
A number of members of Young’s family attended the ceremony, including her niece Brenda Carr.
“This is a really happy day for us family,” Carr said. “I don’t know how to explain how proud we are.”
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
