To The Editor:

Thanks for reprinting Chris Lovett’s thoughtful article about Kit Clark’s many contributions to Dorchester.

I remember her also co-chairing the Dorchester-Columbia Point Task Force in 1972. It was formed to deal with community concerns about the new UMass campus, especially the worry about it leading to absentee landlords renting to students at high rents which would force out families as had happened around BU, BC, and Northeastern.

The shuttle buses from JFK/UMass and not listing Dorchester apartments at the student housing office were some steps that the task force did back then to deal with this threat. Kit co-chaired the Task Force with another woman, Joan Matthews Wells, who was the Treasurer of the Dorchester Tenants Action Council (DTAC) and a single mother of four. She had been on welfare for a while when her husband left.

Dorchester civic associations were suspicious of DTAC since tenants were not generally active in their organizations and not seen by them as being as civic-minded as homeowners. So she and the organization had to prove they cared and would work with them. I remember because I was a young organizer for DTAC then.

Kit bridged the gap and worked well with Joan. They were direct, no nonsense, let’s get it done women who also had a sense of humor. She and Joan had the same challenges of heading a single parent family and not having women’s leadership valued enough.

Another time, a civic leader suggested that Dorchester civic groups form a task force to address the possible impact on electric costs of the proposed Dickey-Lincoln Dam in Northern Maine. Kit shot back, “Earl honey, can we start first with the Neponset River?”

Kit Clark had the elderly housing at Edison Green, the athletic center at UMass Boston, and an elderly services agency named after her. Wow, three buildings in Dorchester with much going on in them named after her!! She led an impactful life.

– Lew Finfer, Dorchester