The City of Yonkers celebrated the life of Nannie Dickerson last week by renaming a portion of Lamartine Avenue, between Ravine Avenue and Woodworth Avenue, “Nannie B. Dickerson Way.”
Nannie Dickerson came to Yonkers in 1943 and was a longtime resident of the city, living on Woodworth Avenue. She attended the Yonkers Public Schools, graduated from Commerce High School, and attended Westchester Community College before working for the City of Yonkers for 31 years; 20 of those years in Yonkers Human Rights work, and 11 years with the Yonkers Community Action Program for which she was recognized as the “Mother of the Community.”
In 1971, Dickerson formed the Concerned Citizens for Decent Housing and began a slide show that she presented all over Westchester that documented the inequities of welfare recipients. She started a newsletter for welfare rights and was instrumental in forming the Welfare advisory Board and Case Aid Program in Westchester County.
Dickerson served on many different advisory boards, including the Police Community Relations Board, Planned Parenthood of Westchester County, Mobilization Against Drugs, Black Coalition and the Black United Front. Her volunteer work also included serving as treasurer of the Afro-American Civic Association and chairwoman of the Afro-American Heritage Committee.
Nannie was honored by many organizations for her service to the community, including an honor from Christ Theological Seminary in 1982, and two other awards over 20 years for her service to the Seminary in religious and academic fields.
Ms. Dickerson’s family joined Mayor Mike Spano, City Councilwoman Shanae Williams and
County Legislator Christopher Johnson, State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Council Majority
Leader Michael Sabatino, and former Councilmembers Symra Brandon and Chuck Lesnick
for the dedication of the street corner in honor of Nannie Dickerson, the Mother of the Community.
