From the Hudson County View:
Betty Morris had two very big families: one was her immediate family, with 16 children, as well as her family-at-large – the residents of the Marion Gardens Housing Complex.
Back in 1974, when the family was under threat, she took action by heading down to Washington D.C. to fight for the necessary funding to keep the complex alive.
“My mother was a selfless person,” said Lori Walker, the youngest of Morris’ 16 children.
“When the community was under threat, my mother said ‘No, not our home.’ She and her community members formed a team of people and they fought to keep our place to stay.”
Morris, who the executive director of the Jersey City Housing Authority, Vivian Brady-Phillips, called a “woman of action,” was honored by Jersey City officials and the community at-large yesterday when the city unveiled several investments into the public housing complex.
This included a new community center in her name, which will be home to an after school program offered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County.
Read the Hudson County View's article “Jersey City honors longtime Marion Gardens resident by naming community center after her (link is external),” featuring the Jersey City Housing Authority.