Flyer Targeting Robert W. Johnson Community Center Calls for Ousting of Board of Directors

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (9/10/2023) – A call to action has been planned targeting the historic Robert W. Johnson Community Center (RWJCC) in Hagerstown, Maryland. Organized by the Jonathan Street Community, the calls are scheduled for Monday, September 11th, and Tuesday, September 12th, from 9 a.m. to noon on both days. The organizers claim that the current Board of Directors of RWJCC is not effectively serving the best interests of the community’s families and residents.

A flyer shared on social media calls upon concerned taxpayers and citizens to join the call to action and demand accountability. It also seeks the disbandment of the current leadership at RWJCC. The organizers have encouraged participants to contact high-ranking state officials, including Governor Wes Moore’s Office, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller’s Office, and the Attorney General Anthony Brown’s Office. They are requesting assistance in removing the current RWJCC Board of Directors and allowing community members from Jonathan Street to take charge of the center.

According to the RWJCC community center website, the center has a storied history of serving the African American community in Washington County, Maryland, for over a century. It is named after Lt. Robert W. Johnson, a former Tuskegee Airman and dedicated public school educator, who valued community and family.

Originally constructed as the “old” North St. School in the late 1800s, the building has played a crucial role in providing educational opportunities and support to the African American community. In 1947, it transitioned into the YMCA and later became a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization known as the Memorial Recreation Center, Inc., in 1968. Under the leadership of Ms. RuthAnn Monroe from 1980 to 2005, the center expanded its services to include after-school programs, summer camps, and recreational activities.

For many residents of Hagerstown, RWJCC represents not just a physical structure but a symbol of unity and community support. The planned call to action highlights concerns within the Jonathan Street Community about the current direction and management of the center.

Radio Free Hub City will continue to monitor this story and update as appropriate. If you have further information regarding this story, please contact us.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.