6 minute read
Catching Up With. . . Kalimah Redd Knight
Above: Members of League of Women for Community Service, Inc., accepted the 2022 Historic New England Prize for Collecting Works on Paper at our first Summit in Worcester, Massachusetts. L to R: Jacquelyne Arrington, Clerk; Kalimah Redd Knight, President; Vin Cipolla, President and CEO, Historic New England; Jacqueline S. DeJean, former board member; and Adrienne R. Benton, Treasurer. Photograph by Kevin Trimmer.
Kalimah Redd Knight is president of League of Women for Community Service, Inc. (LWCS) and Senior Deputy Director of Media Relations at Tufts University. Redd Knight and LWCS won a 2022 Historic New England Prize for Collecting Works on Paper for their collection documenting Black and women’s history, which includes letters, books, and documents from prominent civil rights leaders and organizations, along with LWCS's own records.
Tell us a bit more about yourself—your day job, your educational and professional background, and how you came to your role with League of Women for Community Service (LWCS).
Growing up in Roxbury/Dorchester, Massachusetts, I was instilled with a deep appreciation for Boston's Black community. My parents, both educators, chose to raise my sister and me here, connected to my father's roots. After attending Boston Latin School, I ventured south to Hampton University, a transformative experience at a Historically Black College. My career path led me from newspaper reporting (including The Boston Globe) to public relations in higher education. For the past eight years, I've been at Tufts University, promoting faculty research and community engagement initiatives, including those focused on American history. This passion for public history aligns perfectly with my volunteer work with the LWCS. In 2004, my great-aunt, a longtime member, introduced me to LWCS. I served on the board until 2013. I rejoined the organization in spring 2021, and just completed my first two-year term as president.
For more than one hundred years, LWCS has provided a safe space and resources for Boston’s Black residents. How have your services evolved over time?
From its founding, the LWCS has been a champion for the community. The organization tackled social and educational needs through a wide range of programs, always adapting to the times. During the Depression, LWCS housed the Welfare Department and provided school lunches. In the mid-twentieth century, it became a haven for Black women students and women from the South seeking safe lodging. Many of these women were not welcomed in their colleges' dormitories and lived at the League’s building. While recent activities have focused on scholarships and food drives, the future holds much more. The LWCS is actively partnering with organizations to share its story and inspire a new generation of changemakers.
In the Summer 2023 issue of this magazine, you wrote about LWCS’s award-winning collection, its first president, Maria Baldwin, and your $5 million capital campaign to restore the historic brownstone that has been LWCS’s home since 1920. What are your plans for the building?
LWCS's building at 558 Massachusetts Avenue itself is a landmark, intertwined with the Suffrage and Civil Rights Movements. Sadly, a lack of major maintenance has taken its toll. However, a recent renaissance is underway! The LWCS has a revitalized board and ambitious plans. It has a renewed governance plan that will culminate in strengthened fundraising and programming. Once fully restored, the headquarters will become a vibrant community hub. Imagine a space buzzing with educational and cultural programs, community and corporate events, and speaker series—a place for dialogue and collaboration. It will also feature a house museum and office space for educational/community endeavors, all in celebration of the rich heritage of Boston's Black community, offering opportunities for all to connect with this enduring legacy.
How is the restoration coming along?
We're thrilled to announce a huge step forward in our restoration—an approximately $711,000 grant from the City of Boston Community Preservation Act (CPA) program. This is our largest grant award to date. These funds will be directed toward restoring the building's rear facade and bow area, including the brickwork, window frames, and installation of restored windows. This exciting development builds on the ongoing Phase 1, led by Spencer Preservation Group. Phase 1 focuses on revitalizing the front entry, facade, roof, and historic windows.
Have there been any new developments with your collection?
The archive and library offer a unique perspective on American history, seen through the lens of Black women who tirelessly fought for civil rights for all. We recently partnered with Harvard's prestigious Schlesinger Library to conserve and digitize a truly remarkable piece—a commemorative book featuring the first-hand accounts of the Civil War of Black soldiers of the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Regiments and the 5th Massachusetts Cavalry. Schlesinger is currently digitizing the entire book and working with the LWCS to make this piece of history accessible to a wider audience.
What’s next for LWCS?
We're celebrating our 110th birthday in just five years! To mark this milestone, we're planning a comeback to maximize our impact in the community. LWCS has a rich history as a volunteer-driven organization. Despite a lean structure, we've made a significant difference. Now, we're setting our sights on strengthening our internal operations to ensure even greater future success. In short, we're going beyond bricks and mortar to focus on building a stronger foundation for the future.
How might our members get involved with LWCS or support your work?
We are in the process of relaunching the LWCS affiliated “Friends of the League” in 2025 and would love to invite individuals who care about historic preservation and Boston’s rich history and want to support the revitalization of this important organization and its historic sites to consider becoming a member of the “Friends.” Feel free to email us at info@lwcsboston. org for consideration. Of course, donations are always welcome! They allow us to tackle important preservation projects and care for our collections. Lastly, we encourage folks to stay connected with LWCS. Follow us on social media through “X” and Instagram at @LWCSBoston or visit our website at to learn about upcoming events and activities. There are many ways to get involved!
Read about LWCS’s award-winning collections in our Summer 2023 issue, available online at issuu.com/historicnewengland.
