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AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE LINCOLN CENTER
LANSING, HICHIGAN

by

Jack D. Eaton

A PROJECT REPORT

Submitted to the School of Social Work
Michigan State university in
Partial Fulfillment of tne
Requirements for the Degree

of

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

March 1957

'A‘ 3"
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Approved: 4% )4 LAN, (1 \ iLfifi-afi/
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THE‘Sts

 

ACKNOULBDGMENTS

It is with a deep sense of appreciation that the
writer acknowledges the cooperation of the many individuals
and agencies LhOSG efforts in providing the basic data made
this study possible. Gratitude is particularly expressed to
the director of the Lincoln Center, Mr. Morrison Ryder, end

ts staff Mrs. Dorothy Toomer, Mrs. Dorothy Nichols, and
Ir. Richard Letts.

The writer wishes to thank the Director of the School
of Social Work, Dr. Ernest B. Harper, and the entire faculty
for their advice and support. To the chiirmsn, Miss Margery
Ross and members of the writer‘s faculty research committee--
Mrs. Myrtle Reul, fir. Manfred Lilliefors, and Mr. Bernard
Ross—~he wishes to extend his thanks for their patience and
guidance during the mhny'months this report has been in
preparation.

The untiring encouragement and forbearance of his
mother as well as the understsnding of his family was of
immeasurable value.

Lastly, an unknowing but incomparable influence on
the develooment of this study was that of "Maxine” and this
influence is hereby fully fiCkflOHleCéd.

Deo gretias

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. . o c o c a o o .
LIST OF TABLES. . . o o o o o o .

LIST OF FIGURES o . o o . o . o o

Chapter
I.

II.

III.
IV.

INTRODUCTION . . a . o . .

Statement of the Problem . .
Setting in which the Study was
Plan of Presentation. . . .

Made.

O

O

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CURRENT OPINION.

Related Research . . . . .
Historical Perspective . . .
Current Opinion . . . . .
METHODS AND PROCEDURES . . . .

P pSENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA

Characteristics of the Area Served .

The Nature and Structure of Group Activi—

ties at the Lincoln Center

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AilD RECOMMENDfiTIOEJS.

Summary c o c c o o o o
COHClUSIOHB. I o o o o 0
Recommendations . . . . .

BIBLIOGRAPHY o o 0 o o O O O o O

APPENDICES

A.

Table I-~Increases in the Negro Population
of the City of Lansing During the Census

Years 1920- 1950 . . .

Table II--lncreases in the Total Population
of the City of Lansing During the Census

Years 1920-1940 0 o o o o

111

O

Page
ii

vi

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12
22
26
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38
38
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79
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96

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APPENDICES Page
B. Constitution of the Lincoln Center. . . . 97
C. Interview Schedule . . . . . . . . . 99
D. Lincoln Center Job Description . . . . . 104

B. Table III-~Active Groupsin Lincoln Center
for 1955-19560 o > O o o I o o a o 106

1V

Table

5..»
O

roam
0.

LIST OF TABLES

Population of Tract 18 by Age and Sex. . .
Lincoln Center Program Schedule. . . . .
Primary Activity Areas of the Clubs . . .

Group Membership by Age Range, Enrollment, and
Average Attendance . . . . . . . .

Club Membership by Age Range, Enrollment, and
Average Attendance . . . . . . . .

Center Membership by Type of Organization,
Enrollment, and Average Attendance. . .

Personal Problems of the Center Clientele by
Type and Age Group . . . . . . .' .

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page
1. Census Tract Map of Lansing, Michigan With

the Location of Lincoln Center Neighbor-
hOOd BUildingSo o o o o o o o I ‘ o o 7

vi

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Statementtor the Problem

This project is an outgrowth of the writer's interest
and participation in.the group work and leisure-time activi-
ties at the Lansing Lincoln Center. He has been a life time
resident of the community which the Center serves and has
been concerned about the adequacy or its social services.
This interest was further stimulated by the findings of an
unpublished Master's thesis in the School of Social Pork,
Michigan State University, which disclosed that the Negro
population had doubled in ten years and had created a "highly
congested area" on the West side of the City of Lansing,
where Lincoln Center is located.1

After several interviews with the Director and other
staff members of the Lincoln Center, interested citizens,
and the executive secretary of the Community Services Council,

the writer found that these community leaders were also very

interested in group work and recreational activities at the

._._ A A A__

18050 Toomer Brunson, “A Study of the‘nigrant Negro
Population in Lansing, Michigan, During and Since World War
11‘ (unpublished Master's research project, School of Social
Work, ‘1Chigan State mlvar'ity. 1955), p. 10

2
Lincoln Center as well as the interests, needs, and the
Characteristics of the population it serves. The study is
consequently an effort to review the program.of the Lincoln
Center to determine how the stated purposes of the agency
are being carried out in practice.

In making this survey the writer will also test the
following minor hypotheses:

l. The focus of the Lincoln Center program.is
primarily on recreational and educational activities.

2. The program is utilized by Protestant Negroes of
the neighborhhod but has not expanded to meet the needs of
the increased growth and concentration of population.

3. The need of the population for participation in
activities which contribute to the development of democratic
leadership, reaponsible citizenship, and more satisfying
personal adjustment has not been met by the Lincoln Center.

u. The use of community resources for referral of
clientele with social and personal problems has been limited.

5. The community social agencies have not utilized
the Lincoln Center to provide assistance to individuals
through the use of group experience.

The major hypothesis which guided the collection of
the data is that:

The Lincoln Center provides comprehensive group work
and recreational activities for grade school children,
teen-age youth, and young adults within a five block radius

of the Center.

3

Setting 1:}: Which the Stud} was 33:13

Lincoln Center 13. I leiaumvtim many serving
children and afiulta prmarily from tit-m southwest Iceman a:
Lasting. Ita recreational activities are offered in three
diffemnt buildmganthe Lincoln 3031031, the main building,
the High Street Sci-tool, and thin Street School. Tm Lincoln
School building; 13 locatod at the comér of William and
Logan Streets in Lansing,- xichigan. Mada}! through Frlday,
the Lincoln Center venetian Open from 3:30 LR. until 9200 Lil.
Grade wheel pupils are permitted to use the Cantor facilities
from 3:30 Pm. to 7:00 2.3. each weekday; the awning hours
are reserved for olcler youth and adults. In addition, the
Center 13 open to commity organizations by $900131
arrangement after 9:00 PJL or on Saturday: and Sundays. The
Center's program extemia front the: owning of the school term
in September timough June at which time it is replaced by the
outdoor playgromd activities of the Lanamg Roana‘tion
Department.

The facilitlea utiliied at the Lincoln Same]. include
a. small combmationogymaalm, the former city library room;
kindergarten mom. a small strict, and the first floor balls.
were are five additional elaas mm which are not used
because of administrative problems. (See Chapter 1V). iiouever,
the activity in the 115.321 Street School and the Main Street
School consists primarily of informal and Extramural bazakct-
ball.

The Center provides "facilities" for social, civic,
educational and recreational activities for children
and adults. The Center also attempts to improve good
will and reciprocal respect among all ethnic groups
through its fostering of bands, choral, and orchestral
training groups, student employment bureau; clubs;
huldance services to parents, veterans, and children
who may have adjustment problems. A news bulletin is
published.1

In addition to the Center director, there were three
full time and two volunteer workers during the 1955-1956
season. Uniquely, three different agencies provide financial
support for the Lincoln Center: (1) The Lansing Board of
Education assumes responsibility for building space and
custodial services. (a) The United Community Chest of
Greater Lansing supports all educational programs, 1.0.1
speakers, conferences, and workshOps for staff personnel.
(3) The Lansing Recreational Department provides the
salaries of staff workers and the program supplils.

A nineteen member board, The Lincoln Community Center
Council, composed of representatives from the sponsoring
agencies and from the neighborhood which utilizes the center
nerve in an advisory capacity to the staff. The purpose of
the council is to discover community needs, publicize the
program, and to secure financial support.2 However, the
director of the Center is directly responsible to the head
of the Lansing Recreation Department for the operation of
ths Center.

llngham County Council of Social Hclfare, Social

Service Resources of Ingngn County, Lansing; Michigan: A Bad
fieather_3crvico of the United Community Chest, April, l956,p.l6.

28cc Appendix B.

 

The Lincoln Center was established in 1937 as a
result of the efforts of Mrs. Lottie Hackett who resided in
the area. She was aroused by pressing community needs. It
appears that the neighborhood in which she lived was begin-
ning to deteriorate and several 'houses of questionable
reputation" were operating hear her home. Moreover, there
was little in the way of organized recreational outlets
available within the neighborhood. After two years of
struggling to gain support, including enlistment of recommen-
dations from.the National Urban League, the Center's prede-
cessor, the First Colored Christian Social Community Center
was Opened in a house reputed to be a former dope den."l
It was placed in Operation on Decoration Day, May 30, 1934
under the supervision of rs. Hackett and several volunteers.
It became a refuge and recreational center for children.and
adults in the area. After several years of Operation the
Center's activities grew beyond the capacity of its facilities.

Fortuitously the school board was considering the
building Of a new school house to replace a condemned one
located at the corner of William and Logan Streets. The city
officials were subsequently persuaded by the Center's
volunteer staff to include within its plans a building capable
of serving as both school and community center. In addition,

provisions were made for a summer playground. Consequently

 

ww— “— w—w

1Reported in a communication with Duane Beck, assiltant
Secretary Of the Ingham County Council Of Social Welfare,
January 15, 1956, and an unpublished historical doculunt of
the Lincoln Center, January 10, 1939.

by January, 1937 the Lincoln School and Community Center was
opened to the public two years and eight months following
the opening of Mrs. Hackett's experimental project.

a report describing the Center's operation in 1939
indicated:

Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Brownies, and other '
children's activities are sponsored for colored as
well as children of foreign parentage. Match games
in baseball, football, basketball, etc. are secured
with colored communities from other cities of the
state. In short it is ideal for directing the growing
minds as well as the bodies of youth by keeping them 1
from busy dangerous streets and questionable amusements.

Today the Center is still in the original location and

is faced again with the pressure of an increasing pepulation

and limited facilities.“ The Center occupies a central
location in a section of Lansing designated as "Tract 18'

by the School of Sociology and Anthropoloay of Hichigan State
University. This tract is bounded on the north by Hillsdale
Street, between West Street and Walnut Street; and on the
south by the Grand River; on the east by Walnut Street; and
on the West by west Street. (See Figure 1.) It is an area

of Lansing in which the majority of the migrant Negroes"3

A“ _A A .._._

l 1Unpublished historical document of the Lincoln Center,

January 10, 1939. p. 4 (Files of the Lincoln Center).

dinterview with Morrism1L.Ryder, Executive Director
or the Lincoln Center, December 10, 1955.

3"Migrant” as used here is defined as: ’those persons
who have changed residence, either by leaving corporate
limits of incorporated places, farming areas, or otherwise
making moves which involve both change of residence and
locations, and who have moved to Lansing, Michigan in the
period from 1940 to 1950.“ Bruseon, op. cit., pp. 15-5“.

     

  

          
           

 

 

 

          

        

      

      

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live. Representing one in every ten Negro families in
Tract 18, these migrants are ”predominantly from rural
southern areas and small communities.“

Tract 18 appears to be characterized at present by
congested housing conditions. Brunson's findings indicated
that all but three of the migrant families occupied housing
with the ratio of persons per room.considerably above 1:1.l
An analysis of selected population characteristics by the
School of Sociology and Anthropology at fiichigan State univ-
ersity indicated that the average number of persons per
household is above the City's average.2 Turning briefly to
the population trends of Lansing we find that during the
years 1940 to 1950 the total increase in people numbered some
13,376 for the central City. This represents an increase of
nearly 17 per cent. In contrast, during the same period of
time, the increase of the Negro population in Lansing was
1,652, or slightly'more than double the number living here
in 1940. (See Tables I and II, Appendix A.)

The available census data for Tract 18 (Southwest side
of Lansing) presents the following general characteristics of
its residents:

1. Total population for Tract 18 is 4,616.

2. Total Negro population for Tract 18 is 2,125.

 

11b1d., pp. 23—25, 55.

2Joel Smith, "Analysis of Selected Characteristics of
Tho Population of Lansing's Census Tracts,‘ Department of
SociolOgy and Anthropology, Michigan State College (East
Lansing,lflichigan: by the Department, March 1935), p. 19.

 

 

9

3. Tract 18 contains 70 per cent of Lansing's non-
uhite population and 64.5 per cent of the Negro
population or 742 families.

a. The average siae of each household is 3.47.1

Lastly, during the past few years a portion of Tract

18 has been undergoing considerable change in land use
particularly in the area near the south central boundary .
between Birch and Division Streets. The Lansing Oldsmobile
Division of the General Hotcr's Corporation2 has purchased
approximately three and one-half square city blocks of
residences causing a population shift northward and westward.
Tao of these blocks haveedready been cleared for parking

this year. Based upon the study by Smith which described

the population density per block as 91.30, an esthnated

319.55 people have moved or will move in the near future.

*l_:rof Presentation
The assumptions underlying the writer's approach to
this study are as follows:
1. The individual Joins specific groups and partici-
pates in group life because of certain basic
physical and emotional needs, such as the urge

to belong, the wish to indulge in personal

11b1d., Introduction and p. 19.

2The Oldsmobile's main assembly plant and adjoining
parking lots presently stretch from.Birch Street east on
Olds Avenue to Townsend Street and south to the Grand River.

10

interests, the desire to learn and the reduction
of physical and emotional tensions which are met
through group associations.

2. “Leisure-time services under community sponsorship
must contribute to the 'common good.I The kinds
of services necessary to this and must meet the
individual's need for enjoyment, permit him.to
.develOp his skills as a citizen in a democratic

society.“1

3. ”It is possible to determine factors which will
reflect the relative degree or extent of need

which exists in various areas of the community.“2

4. A group work program.must meet individual and -
collective needs of the group if it is to meet
group work goals. The goal of group work is to
insure the satisfaction of the various needs of
individuals through their group associations.

5. The goals of the agency determine the purpose for

'which the method of group work is used.3

W w, .T—_

 

1Virginia Kenn White, Egaégzifl" 3§£§EFefiime Needs,
Report of the Council Research Project Cleveland, Ohio:
welfare Federation of Cleveland, February 1955), p. 8.

21bid., p. 9.

3Louis Lowy, adult Educationvand Group Work (New York:
shiteside Inc., 1955}: D.“lo.

ll

6. The leisure-tune needs of various groups can be
related to particular kinds of services required
to meet them.1

Therefore, the writer selected the survey method as a
means of establishing the needs of the population and to
determine the relationship between the services provided and
these needs.

In the succeeding chapters of this report, the writer
will present a review of related studies of the general
problem and aspects of it, a summary of pertinent literature,
a description of the methods employed, a tabulation and
interpretation of the survey data, and finally a presentation
of concluding statements regarding the meaning of the

findLngs .

lenite, 02. cit., p. 9.

CHAPTER II

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CURRENT OPINION

Related Research

 

From the fall of 1953 through the spring of 1954 an
exploratory neighborhood research study by the Erie (New
York) Neighborhood House was made. The study was the co-
operative venture of the agency program director who had
some previous training in research and a sociologist who
became a part-time staff member. The purpose was to analyze
the current prOgrmm in terms of the social needs of the local
teen~agetyoutn (13-19 years) determined on the basis of a
neighborhood survey and a review of the needs as perceived
through program experience.

Five factors of neighborhood life considered to be
significant in gearing the services to the clientele were
examined: (1) age, sex, and ethnic composition of the
population-~maximum number of potential participants obtained
from the decennial census; (2) available youth serving pro-
grams in the neighborhood-~an attempt to discover the total
involvement of teen-agensin such services; (3) feelings of
formal institutional leaders toward the teen-age group and
their knowledge of available teenage services gained from
interviews with persons in institutions i.e. schools,

12

13

churches, fire and police departments, recreational agencies,
etc.: (3) extended to include attitudes of all businessmen
toward the teen—agers as well; (5) preparation of a.map of
all the designated meeting places and one of the residence
of each child, teenager, and adult as defined by membership
standards.

Summary of the findings disclosed the following
information about the population and the survey of attitudes.
Limits of ultimate potential clientele by age and sex inter-
vals were uncovered. A basis upon which to relate change
in program interest with population as well as a measure of
both present and future needs was secured. Analysis of the
population trends and characteristics provided clues for
programming for cultural differences in addition to age.

The inadequacy of agency capacity in comparison to the total
population was established. Finally, the evaluation of the
interviews with community leaders presumed to have the most
contact with teenagers, gave insight into the structure of
interpersonal relationships in the neighborhood, which in
turn were reflected in the behavior of individuals and groups
within Erie Neighborhood House. In conclusion, it was felt
that such neighborhood studies have particular value in
efforts to more closely align the program.to the needs

observed in a wide range of membership.1

 

——

1Robert Armstrong and Edna Raphael, “Relating a Neigh-
borhood Study to Pregramming," The Group, XVII, No. 3
(February 1955), pp. 9—12, 20-21.

 

1:;

In 1950, Betty Shore completed a general study of
young adults in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
a.Haster‘s degree in social work at the University of
Pittsburgh" Her presentation provided important clues in the
attempt to define young adulthood and to assess what needs
may be characteristic of this period. The study was based
on the "desire" to learn more about the interest and needs
of young adults through their use of groups at the Y. H. and
Y. w. H. A. The focus was on how group work might better
serve young adults.

Her conclusions and summary present the following
findings:

YOung adults are constantly'expressing their

interests and needs in the groups to which they
belong.

It is only when Young adults have begun to work

through their own problems that they can begin to

be concerned about those who are around them. A
worker sensitive to the interests and needs of young
adults can help make their group experience a
creative constructive one; he can help the young
adult to be a responsible member of society.

The third study is the "youth project yardstick‘
formulated by the Welfare Planning Council of the Los
Angeles area.2 The problem.posed was the creation of an
index or yardstick which would objectively differentiate

disadvantaged neighborhoods needing additional funds and the

_..._.

1Betty Shore, ”The Interests and Needs of Young Adults
as Reflected in Programming of Young Adult Groups at the Y.H.
and w.H.A.“ (unpublished Master's thesis, School of Social
Work, University of Pittsburgh,1950).

EExcerpts reported by Genevieve Carter, “The Concept
of‘flessurability of Need for Social Work Services,“ in Group

15

increased attention of the youth project staff (established
1943). The investigators proceeded on the assumption that
the group workers had implicit and explicit criteria which
could be formulated into quantitative symbols expressable

in an index. Also required was a weighting from their
experience of these criteria in rank order. The index was
then to be validated through testing in practice, whether it
could differentiate areas judged to be "needy." In part the
practice theory developed was briefly:

People of like social characteristics live in

close proximity. Neighborhoods which exhibit

extreme deviations from typical middle-class social
rank, such as below avera3e economic level, below
avera3e social status, unlike ethnic or racial
composition, antisocial behavior and so on, $.'ill be
out of reach of 3ency pr03rams ‘hich depend on
volunteer or (professionally) untrained leadership

or those in which the a ency settin3 is too restricted
to tolerate deviations.

It was concluded that an index based on these
variables to identify and differentiate neighborhoods would
also help to detect youth exhibiting deviant behavior and
administratively point out areas needing special service.2
The establishment of such an index for other communities
appears to be largely dependent on the degree of professional

and inter-agency co-operation obtainable.

 

——

Work and Community Or3anisationl_1953~1954, National Confer-
ence of Social work Papers (New York: Columbia University
Press, 195 3). pp. 68 69. 72.

 

lIbid., p. 69.

2See Genevieve w. arter and Elizabeth R. Frank, The
Youth Profiect Ya “dsticl: bieasurin “You h Service Needs, Wel-

 

 

fare Plannin3 Council Research Dept., Special R port Series
No. 36 (Los An3eles, 1954).

16

Another study which has figured prominently in the
work of recent years to devise practical and objective ways
of quantifying levels of recreational needs of population
groups and geographic areas is the Cleveland Welfare Federa-
tion Group Work Council Project directed by Virginia K. White.1
In this study, the research committee decided to limit the
scope of the investigation to those services provided by the
established community-sponsored leisure—time agencies
supported by either tax or voluntary funds. The purposes of
the study were considered to be twofold: (l) to evolve
criteria for determining what constitutes need for community~
sponsored leisure-time services, and (2) to establish a
method for measuring relative need amon3 various geographic
areas of the community.

For purposes of classification it was agreed that
most services provided by public recreation departments are
an institutional way of meeting necessary social function

M

and that services to such special groups as gangs" were an
effort to deal with ”psycho-social disfunction." However,
for practical purposes it does not appear possible to make
distinctions between thfiflm Nonetheless, it was decided to
form an index of need—meeting (index of area characteristics)
and one based on unmet needs or problems (index of social
problems). A variety of conditions were identified as
affecting the degree to which a community needs to assume
responsibility for planning and providing leisure-time

services.

 

lWhite, op. cit., p. 69.

17

Those comprising the “Index of Area Characteristics"
arc: (l) socio-economic status, (2) space~degrec or crowding,
(3) stability of population. (h) individuals living slonl.

(5) age distribution. (6) sex distribution. (7) groups lub-
Ject to discriminatory practices.

Characteristics comprising the “Index or Social
Problems“ are: (1) data on social problems such as dolin-
quoncy, child neglect, and dependency and prevalence or
health problems; (2) evidence or conditions bolicvcd to
contribute to social problems such.as mental conflict.
broken homes, working mothers of pro-school and school age
children, doubling up of families, unsatisfactory housing,
and undesirable neighborhood conditions.

Several limitations scen.psrticularly apparent in the
construction of an index of need. First or all, concepts of
needs and services required to meet them.changc as our
knowledge and experience advance. Second, the factors pre-
sumed to measure need generally must be based on.oupirical
Judgment. However. the Cleveland study indicates that such
date will serve as a basis for comparing the need between
different community areas.1

The next research study which the writer roviowod was
an outgrowth of a two year research program conducted by the
schoOl of Sociology and Anthropoloay at flichigsn State Univ-
ersity. The purpose was to compile sociological as well as
demographic and ecological date upon which construction of

A“ b .____ _‘. 4‘
w —..— w— “—

I'vmitou op. cit., p. 69.

18

sub-areas for a census tract plan might be based. James
Cowhig made a comparative analysis of the social and soon-
omdc behavior of residents in areas of the city which have
been distinguished from other areas of the city on the basis
of personal contact within the local area. Cowhig indicates
that it is a pilot study and that the dataenxaincomplete.
Data was secured on the demographic and housing character-
istics from the United States Census Bureau while information
on the social and economic activities of the population was
obtained by a questionnaire sample of the various designated
intra-urbane areas. Classifying on the basis of a "high,
middle, low“ descriptive scale, Cowhig found that when com-
pared to areas of high social intimacy the low intimacy areas
were found to be in a loser economic position and to have a
lower proportion of owner occupied dwelling units.

Within this scheme Census Tract 18 (the area con«
taining the Lincoln Center) is designated a ’low intimacy
area.” To continue, Cowhig also found that recreational and
fraternal membership was lowest in this area. In general
this study suggests that the neighborhood may be of little
importance for the performance of social and recreational
activities but that it does form.an important functional
area for the provision of economic goods and services for

the population.1

1James Cowhig, “Ecological and Sociological Chlractor-
istics of Urbane Sub—Areas ofa Middle Sized City (unpublished
Doctor's thesis, Department of Sociology and Anthropology,
Michigan State College, 1954), p. 2.

19

The sixth research project which might have pertinence
is an unpublished Master's study prepared by Rose T. Brunson
on the migrant Negro population in Lansing, Michigan during
and since World War II. A large increase in this segment of
thepppulation raised questions as to adequacy of recreational
and social facilities to serve them. This study represents
an effort to determine whether or not the recreational and
social welfare needs of the migrant Negroes was being met
and if not what measures might fill the gaps.

The findings or the investigation disclosed that the
majority of the migrant group representing one in every ten
Negro families in Tract 18 had lived in Lansing from.ten to
twelve years. The group was predominantly from rural southern
areas and small communities. Their reasons for coming cen-
tered around dissatisfaction with wages and working conditions,
and social prejudice. However, the report indicates that
"except for those who can manage to rent a room or an apart-
ment from.a more successful migrant Negro family, Negroes
who remain in Lansing are forced to buy homes or pay large
rent."1 The majority of the migrant laborers were unskilled
except for some skills acquired on the Job in Lansing. In
all but three migrant families, out of the sample of seventy-
four, congestion characterized the housing. More than one-
half the migrants felt Negroes received poorer Jobs and were

the object of discrimination.

__._. ;_.

1Brunson, 02. cit., p. 55.

In the area of social welfare services and recreational
outlets, Brunson discovered that there is no adequate organ-
ized or planned recreation for any age group included in the
study.1 Apparently the age groups whose needs were most
nearly not were the ones utilising the Lincoln Center; how-
ever, the Center was described as "grossly inadequate in all
respects.“2 The social welfare program with which the
migrants were most familiar was Old Age and Survivors Insur-
ance despite the fact that none were receiving benefits.
Finally, the writer concluded that

...it is evident that the social welfare needs of
these families are not being met. Of the 7# families
interviewed 22 families had received no services from
these agencies and only four families had been in con~
tact with.more than two services.

The final research project to be considered was pre-
pared by Dr. JOel Smith for the Social Research Committee of
the School of Sociology and Anthropology stiflichigan State
University in the spring of 1955.4 It consists of the com-
pilation of seventeen.msjor scale—economics factors selected
as representative of the twenty~six census tract areas of
Lansing constructed. by the social research committee. The

report discloses that Tract 18 was well below the average

for all the city's census tracts in the following socio—

__‘i A

1The adult migrants were distributed in age from.26
to 56 years. in addition there were 326 children.

‘For further details see Rose Toomer Brunson, " A
Study of the Migrant Negro Population in Lansing, Michigan
During and Since World War II (unpublished Master's research
project, School of Social work, Michigan State University,

1955). 3 4 .
Ibid., p. 58. Smith, op. cit.

W

economic factors; (1) the proportion of male labor force in
white collar occupations, (2) the average number of school
years completed (nine for tract 18), and (3) the average
income families and individuals. In addition it indicates
that nearly one-third of the labor force was female and
two-thirds of its male labor force was engaged in the manu-
facturing occupations (factory labor).

Based upon the 1950 national census figures Smith's
calculations place the population of Tract 18 at u,616.: It
was distributed for the age group five to twenty by age and

sex as shown below.

TABLE 1
POPULATION CF TRACT 13 BY AGE AND SEX

 

 

 

Age
20-24 252 350
15-19 199 198
10-14 199 175
5- 9 204 175
TOTAL 854 898

Thus, there were at the time of the 1950 united States
Census approximately 1,752 youth between the ages of five and
twenty-five in Tract 18.

h. ‘
A)

Historical Perspective

 

In our society we have traditionally :looked down" on
leisure-time pursuits and placed high value on hard work and
accomplishment. This pattern has been true of the masses of
people who through the ages have devoted themselves to work,
although.much of it has been slave labor.1 Virginia White
views leisure as having been "equated with idleness and thus
a contradiction of the values inherent in our Horatio Alger
tradition."2 Nonetheless, throughout our nation there has
been a tremendous growth in leisure-time services. Community
Centers have expanded, facilities for adult education have
developed, our churches and schools have given increasing
emphasis to club and recreational activities, and allocation
of community funds for these purposes increases yearly.3 we
thus find the peculiar situation of a society that was
historically condemning of leisure-time pursuits now committed
more and.more to providing them..

For most people the vast changes in our standard of
living, more efficient work methods, and deveIOpmcnt of many
tbme and labor-saving devices have resulted in shorter work
hours, more leisure-time, and higher incomes. The rise of

urbanism.within the past half century is a major factor which

 

1Martin H. Neumeyer and Esther S..Neumeyer, Leisure
and Recreation (New York: A. S. Barnes and Company, I94§5,

pi'381'

 

ehhite, cg. cit., p. 18..

3Neumeyer and Neumeyer, 02. cit., p. 47.

223

also must be considered. The need for labor stimulated an
unceaeing migration which transformed the United States from
a predominantly rural country in 1900 to a city dwelling
nation today. The Census figures of 1950 indicated that
6% per cent of the population lived in cities.1 This trans-
ition was accompanied by many problems, slums developed; econ-
omic exploitation was widespread, and interracial and inter-
cultural tensions grew.2

The social settlement, parent body to the Community
Center movement sprang from this background seen instrument
for organizing forces within the neighborhood to raise living
standards and to cope with problems resulting from a social
environment in which the church, school, family, and neighbor-
hood no longer provided adequate social controls.3 As
industry attracted more women, a need for day care developed.
Crowded living Conditions and inadequate play space stimulated
the growth of supervised pl ygrcunds. A multiplicity of
services began to grow.)4 Settlements assumed primary respon-
sibility for all families within the radius of a few blocks

of the settlement house.

 

fl.

1Howard G. Dnnford, geareation in the American Cemmunity
(New York; Harper and Brothers Publishers, 19537: p. 210.

 

2shite” Op. cit., p. 18.

3Sidney Dillick, Community Organization for Neighbor-
hood Development (New York: hilliam.horrow and Company,
19537—1 p9 31"".350

l$Robert A. Hoods and Albert J. Kennedy, Handbook of

"ac-—

Settlements (New York: Charities Publications cssaittzai”
T9117. p 0 6|

 

 

 

 

White states:

In each instance the recognition of a specific
problem was followed by a concern about combating
it, and a pregram developed which was directed
toward alleviating it. he see the forces of dem- -
ocracy reaching out to counteract the evils which
had developed and increasing concern for the well
being of the individual, and the development of
the res urces of the community mobilizing to improve
itself.

The influence of the settlement movement is clearly
evident in the movement in the United States to include a
wider use of our quarter of a million school buildings.2
It appears to have been one of the most significant factors
in the development of public recreation in the United States.
Centers, as they now exist, were practically unknown in 1900.
Only a few school buildings had been opened for supervised
evening recreation. The 'school civic center' was seen as
a means to extend participation in civic affairs. Many felt
that an organization of citizens around 'school civic centers'
would revive integrated neighborhood life. However, as the
movement grew, the recreational aspects of the program became
popular and overshadowed the civic cultural aspects. Following
World war I and with the impetus or the community organization
movement, school centers became known as 'community centers.’

Sidney Dillick states that the Community Centers

drew from a larger area than settlements and generally
found their best constituency in districts removed

#—
vww— T _—_

lwhite, op. cit., p. 19.

2For a review of the origin of Community Center devel-
Opment see A. S. Warner, S. A. Queen, and. E. B. Harper,
flgerican Charities and Social Work (New York: Thomas Y.
Ores-sell Company, 1930;. PP. Ho's—7464, #674469.

 

from.the center or the city. Settlements concen-

trated on the disadvantaged neighborhoods and

believed less resourceful districts needed more

group work activities than the school centers

offered.l

By mid-century, indoor centers such as schools and
other buildings not designated primarily for recreation but
used regularly under supervision, were reported by 1,040
cities. A National Recreation Association report also
iddicated that 965 of these cities with centers in school
buildings had a yearly attendance of more than 35 million.2
Thus within fifty years, the community center program has
emerged as one of the major divisions of recreation with a
total annual reported participation of 127,615,2Q9.3
As noted above, leisure-time services were first

established to meet the needs of the underprivileged, and
groups with special problems. Apparently our society began
to be increasingly aware that the problems of urban living
are not peculiar to any one group and that the values of
programs instituted for underprivileged groups have merit for
all strata of society. With the discovery and utilization
of new knowledge of mental health and emotional adjustment
came the recognition that recreational activities and group

associations make a positive contribution to social and

mental development.

WW

lDillick, op. cit... p. 67.

E"Recreation_e.nd_Park")z'earbooi (New York: National
Recreational Association, 19517; pp. L~;, l6~17.

3Ibid., p, 5,

 

26

’A new awareness of the need to express our democratic

values in our social pra .ctic ” came out of the threat to
our democratic was y of life offered by t. o LOPld ”a rs and

close experience with Facism and Communism.1 In the words
of James Dahir:

he dramatic disinte5ration of unity in the United
States fOllOwifig the rec ent ear is a symptom of the
lack which commun ty centers are intended to supply.
In industrial strife, in a resur5ence of Old World
nationalist controversy between groups of American
citisens, in the deepening of ideolO5ical cleava5es
reflected in bitter political feuding, our current
absence of social union is revealed as a fact which
must be faced.2

Current Opinion

 

d

Drawing from the writin5s of several a*t.ors in the

5

field of community centers it apps are that there is no com-
mon pattern of either pr05roi, building, or equipment. A
comprehensive statement is clearly not possible.3 The
facilities and programs, he history of cooperation between

pcrs ns and groups, and the social composition of communities

 

lGr ace L Coyle, Group work ‘ith American Youth (New

n._.-..—-.

York: Harper and Brothers, l94o), p. 14.

 

szmel Dahir, Community Centers as Living tiar Memo-
r1313 (N864 York: HUS-Lei]. sage ToulquAULl’ l9‘?6y’ p. U.

 

35ee: Ibid., pp. 13 15, c.5-e,6 s. Sesell Harris,
Communit Centers c.nd Associations (London: National Council
of Social ervice, 19:47, R. n. Isaacs, "Educational ,Cultural,
Recreational Services to Increase Participation in Community
Life,‘ Annals of tin American lcodcav of Political and_§ocial

ScieggeJ‘El: ”YLIIfiIdovember, i9i5), pp. 139 133.

 

 

 

27

very widely; consequently, both here and abroad, centers
manifest considerable variation in their organisation and
services,

However, we know that the course of public recreation
is away from the original concept of "charitable" informal
educational and recreational services for the underprivileged
and towards provision of opportunity for the whole community.
According to the National Recreational Association it is now
the purpose of the municipal recreation system.to see "that
everybody in America young or old, shall have an opportunity
to find the best and most satisfying use of leisure-time."1

0n the other hand various studies indicate that in
actual practice the leisure-time recreational agencies do
not serve "everybody.“ Apparently there is a selective
process (natural or otherwise) in the nature of the clientele
served. The studies by Warner and Hollingshead of social
participation in relation to Boole-economic classes have
indicated that the lower one goes in the class scale, the
less participation there is by all members in fonmal organi-
zations of any'kind.2: Moreover. the St. Paul study of
Bradley Buell and Associates revealed that less than 10 per
cent of the nulti-problom.fcmiliea participate in any of the

M M
" r "

1Cited by Bradley Buoll and Associates, Communit
Planning for Humen Servicgg (New York: Columbia fifiivarsity
Press. 1952); p. 352.

2839 W. Lloyd Wanner, Democrsc w Jonesville (New
York: Harper and Brothers, 1939), p. 3 and August
Boll .sne ', Elmstown‘o_§but§ (New Yerk: Jenn Wiley and
Sons, 949 1 Po 119; 5*

28

community's organized recreation activities.1 Wilson and
Byland cite the findings in Oakland and Berkeley, California,
Chicago, and elsewhere which seem.to show that Y's and public
and private recreation centers draw a large proportion of
theirwmembership from the lower socio-economic groups. "The
YMCA has the least, the YWCA is next and the public and
private recreation centers last with membership overwhelmingly
drawn from the lower class groupings."2 They add from their
experience the observation that

when an agency presents its program.to a community

as one to which everyone is welcome, it may recruit

representatives from a cross section of the social

classes in the various ethnic groups. Whether the

agency is able to keep this cross section depends

largely on the knowledge of social class differences

and the skill in use of this knowledge on the part
of its personnel.

In line with this discussion Kaiser presents a similar
observation in tonne of age range. She states that despite
the fact that adolescence is a period of life when the wish
for acceptance and participation in peer groups is strongest
“many teenagers are ignoring or rejecting the opportunities
for affiliation with group activities in the public and

__.._ _....‘ _._____._.._

lsueil, op. cit., p. 413.

2Gertrude Wilson and.Gladys Ryland, "Social Classes:
Implications for Social Group Work," Th§_Social Welfare_Forum:
gho Proceedings of the National Conference of Social hork
(New York: Columbia University Press, 1953), p. 175.

Blbld. ’ pp. ,178‘1860 -'

 

private community agencies.‘1 Related to this point has been
the discovery that The National Recreation Association has
recently defined tzze purpose ands cope of tne recreation
center as being to serve the leisure—time needs of the com-
munity by giving c 116 en and adults outlet for the most
satisfying use of leisure time. ”The activities spouse; ed
should be those that encourage participation. Group inter-
ests should determine the activities to be sponsored.'2

Fitzaerald points out that because of its wideSpreed
responsibility, the public agency must utilise many methods
and offer broad opportunities and services many of which are
under the direction of the particilr ants themselves. The
public agency he says, places major stress on special inter~
ests groups or single interest activities.3

The.Bradley Buell and Associates study, Community

flanning for Human Sergicgs concurs similarly in its conclu-

 

sions as to the public agency's function. They report that
generally it is the public agency's role to provide mess

activities and, increasingly so, that of special interest

swaps I a

A

lClera Kaiser, :The Advance of Social Group Work,“
The Social lficlfnre Foruml -§§: Proceedings of the Netionel
Conlerence of Eoci.al TorK New Yorx: Columbia University
FFQSB, 1923): p0 40

 

 

 

‘Operation of Indoor Recreation Centers,’ Proceedings
of the Thirty-sixth National Recreation Co_;ress (liew'York:
National Re creationT Association, 1955), p. 61.

 

 

3Gerald Fitzgerald, Leedsrshio in Recreation (New
York: A. S. Barnes and Company, 1991]} p. loo—13o.

“Buell, 0p. cit., p. 383.

30

The final report which has come to the attention of
the writer is concerned with the nature of the program
trends among both private and public youth-serving agencies.

In the 1954 Social hork Year Book, it was revealed that the

 

large majority of workers in these agencies are primarily
engaged in developing programs of recreation and informal
education with groups of adolescents and young adults. How-
ever, more recently'meny of these agencies have been-efforing
programs or service to younger children and several are pro-
gressively extending it to the aged as well.1

For instance, in Hackettston, New Jersey, a community
center was set up as a youth center but apparently it worked
out so well for the young people that adults were invited to
share it with them. A nursery was added and the Town Players
became regular participants. Today, “the community center
is official, as much a part of the town as the firs depart-
ment, the police department, the mayor's office."2 Euro in
Hichigan, Flint has three municipal Community Centers in
year-round use which have the advantage of playfields and
landscaped areas. Each has a gymnasium, library, and meeting
rooms. The city's director cf“municipsl planning and devel-

opment says these centers "are very much used and have

luargaret Williamson, "Youth Services,“ Social Work
gear Book 1’53 (New York: Columbia University Press, 195H),

poig‘filbo .

 

23‘ L ”931“ "Everyday is Fun Day in Hackettstown,“
Scholastic, XLNIII (May 13, 1945), pp, 6-7.

 

tremendous value to the city in the may of promoting unity

1 Another type center is the one Operated in a

for morale."
housing develo;ment by a private agency sue, as the one
supported by the Denver Community Chest. It carries on an
apparently effective“inter-cultural pregram through drama,
crafts, and dancencthe fusing of art understanding through
creative experience.“2
In summary, the review of the literature indicates
that the services of the community lesiure~time recreation
Center are implicitly based upon the needs and interests of
its clientele. Consequently, these Centers are usually com~
mitted to providing a wide range of individual, group, and
inter—group eXperiences for all ages, races, or creeds
living within the local community. Thus, the implications
are that in the final analysis organization sponsorship,
social and cultural background, type of groups served, and

relative program emphasis all account for any existing dis-

tinctions in their programs.

lDahir, 0o. cit., p. 30.

M
2V. Fox, “Good Neighbors All: A Project at the Lincoln
Park Homes Community Center,' Recreation, XXXVIII (Hay 1955):
pp. 44+.

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES

The Lincoln Center, its activities and constituency
is described so that the group work-recreational activities
for the grade school child, teen-age youth, and young adult
may be viewed against the background of the agency's total
program.

Utilizing the survey method, files from.the Center
concerning its clientele and the general area served by it
were augmented by personal interviews with community leaders
and various social agency staff. 'This was necessary in order
to supplement written and recorded material which was notice-
ably lacking for research.

The social Mencies and organizations from whom infor-
mation wessolicited vary considerably in size and geographic
coverage; some are community wide in scope and some serve
only a single neighborhood.

However, they were selected on the basis or their
contact with the needs and interests of the population served

by the Center.1 All appointments for personal interviews

A , A“ __ ‘___, * _____._
w ‘—

lInterviewed were eleven ndnisters (all Protestant)
with churches in Tract 18 and one who draws the major portion
of his congregation from.the area, and the following social
services and recreational agencies: Catholic Social Service,
Family Service Agency, Bureau of Social Aid, Department of

32

33

were made in advance at their convenience or when not
possible the interview was conducted by telephone. In some
cases two office calls had to be arranged to make it possible
for the interviewee to gather the available information.

The purpose of the interview was restated at the beginning
of the initial appointment and cooperation was received from
all of the interviewees.1 Each was given time to consider
the questions as they were asked. Any misunderstanding of
the questions were clarified as they arose.

Information on the origin and development of the
Lincoln Center, the composition of its clientele and th
nature of its services and program was obtained by a review of
agency records, by interviews (based on a schedule, adapted

from Arthur Swift's Make Your Agency'More Effective) arranged
2

 

with the three regular staff members of the Center. Each

worker was interviewed in regard to the groups which he
supervised. This meant that each was seen at least four
times and two were interviewed briefly on six different
occasions. The interviews lasted approximately forty-five
minutes.

Social Welfare, Child Guidance Clinic, Juvenile Court, Friend
of the Court, YMCA, YhCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the
Lansing Recreational Department.

lln an interview with the Friend of the Court, Inghsm
County Circuit Court, June 22, 1956, it was reported that
due to the nature of its reporting system and staff shortage,
the court would be unable to supply information.

dSee Appendix C, revised schedule.

34

In recent years, there have been efforts to devise
practical ways of determining recreational and leisure time
needs of population groups and geographic areas.1 Likewise
the literature available from human ecology and urban soci-
ology indicated that there are social correlates of behavior
and that these correlates are related to demographic, econ-
omic, and social characteristics of the population.2 'here-
fore, a major premise upon which a portion of this study was
based and which guided the research design was that within
an urban area there are sub-areas which are sociologically
distinguishable and that the inhabitants of these sub-areas
differ in social and economic characteristics.

The focus is on the sub—area and not upon the city as
a whole. The writer feels this is particularly pertinent
because the Lincoln Center is centrally located in aiintra-urban
area which corresponds to Census Tract 18. This is the area
from which it is believed the Center draws the majority of
its clientele. Therefore, the factors affecting the need
for community sponsored recreation for which data were

collected include:

1The most noted work is: Genevieve a. Carter and
Elizabeth R. Frank, Youth Prgiect Yardsticgi_ Measuring Youth
Service Needs, Special heport Series ho. 3o (hos Angeies:
ResearCfifDepartment, welfare Council of Metropolitan Los
Angeles, 1953); and finite, op. cit.

 

 

 

“Considerable sociological and socialophychological
research in this field has been performed in the United States
covering the spatial distribution of a number of events
ranging from suicide to schisaphrenia.‘ See R. E. Park and
E. w. Burgess, The City (Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1925); P. K. Holt and A. J. Reins, Ifieoagergrulrban Sociology
(Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press, 19317:

 

. .s’ r ’.
‘ . I ill .' ___4| 4:;9 A ‘3'- 7 fi .fi---.— ».4 *** m~-‘-
- - O ' ‘5 ‘ ‘ ‘ - ' ‘
: . ' .10
.~ 0 .- ,’ {b
V __ .-

 

 

' _ $2". a}! V .' ‘ géblfi'li .3 M04
. . ‘ ‘Q LBtGOQE .gfl .'
-' M33; 3y Lo. P..'.I"W 91:51.5. Q!"- JfiSED'IJQ 9'.
Jig: .235 ‘wdm bru- '(CflQL .33:

 
    

  
  
 
 
  

”‘3." . villa“ but) MOfiOLOI'A’Q 3Ldb'fflJfifisW

‘ ‘ y"-». 3;; rs? Mm‘nsq now am Mon arm: n: as»
.. '10 mam“ s 10 mtuwmmu “lamp and 3..

' ‘3 .3 .8 6:8 .slandqzaldoa a: sham m1 3:

 

.2. .V I. .‘w ”me 10 Yalmotgm 308393113) ‘.3‘M
”it, t.‘ -7malmt‘35L1itt. ”a q ‘88,“:2. 0‘ 0' 0:13 on 'x 'q
~ - u: dun-'1! am! 911? :uloxuul ‘90;

35

1. Population of the area by age, sex, and race.

2. Average number of school years completed.

3. Average income of families and individuals.

4. j38 of employment.

5. Proportion of labor force who are female.

6. Pppulation density and average size of the

household.

7. Miscellaneous demographic characteristics

including such social problems as divorce,
Juvenile delinquency, child neglect and depen-
dency, and financial dependency.

Information on the socio—economic characteristics of
the population could.not be secured from any one formal
source.- The only feasible way to get this data would have
been to ask the residents of the areaabout their social and
economic activities. This was beyond the scope and intention
of this study. However, since some impression of these
factors was deemed necessary in arriving at some conceptions
of the manifest needs or the area residents, interviews were
held with various social welfare agencies and selected com-
munity leaders to supplement the available recorded data.
The analysis of these characteristics (sex, age, racial com-
position etc.) should also provide background data which may
be or assistance in anticipating future utilization of the
Center.

A valuable instrument for appraising the agency's

program.would have been a survey of the interests of the

population served. This was suggested by the Center‘s
director. However, the limitations of time and the scope
of the study prevented this. The writer hopes it will be
undertaken as a part of future investigations. Shmilarly,
nowhere in this report is any attempt made to review the
quality of services which the clientele receives. It
logically follows that no evaluation of the quality of the
Center's service will be included.

During the Course of the plami’ag and preparation of
this report certain limitations were recognized. The writer
became aware that due to the relative newness of the field
of group work and modern leisure-time services, little in
the way of scientifically validated theory exists.1 The
direct consequence of this situations is that the range and
precision of the statements which may be made concerning a
specific problem are correspondingly limited: imprecise
methods may be used, the lwrong" data gathered, and the basis
for interpretation.may not be valid. Consequently, the
following limitations are submitted for consideration: (1)
This effort to define the relationship between the Center
and its constituency will be validated only as the results
coincide with the best available professional Judgment and
knowledge in recreation and group work. (a) Concepts of

needs and the services necessary to satisfy them change as

1Arthur Miles, American Social vork Theory (New York:
Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1954), pp. 131-175.

 

 

37

our experience an knowledge increase. (3) The selection of
act rs presumed to affect the need for leisure-time services
must also be based on the best empirical judgment.

V lidation of the methods and procedures employed by
the writer is based upon the folloning factors. First, the
selection of the essential interviewees was determined by
consultation with the secretary and executive assistant of
the Ingham.County Community Services Council as well as the
writer‘s faculty researcn committee in the School of Social
Work, Michigan State University. Secondly, the conclusions
as to the kinds of information about the community and its
people which make it possible to relate services to needs
were drawn from the various research studies cited in this

study.

CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE DATA
Characteristics of the Area Served

Population Composition

Nine of the twenty-six interviewees who commented on
the pOpulation grouping in Tract 18 described its composition
as predomdnantly Negro, and from the rural south. The Child
Accounting Division of the Lansing Board of Education
reported that although there are no compiled statistics the
registration or new children at grade schools in Tract 18
indicates a "significant increase from the rural south,
particularly, among Negroeo.'1 ,Reverend William.Hainsworth
pastor or the only all white congregation among the eleven
Protestant churches located in Tract 18 stated that due to
the changing racial composition of the neighborhood his
church found it necessary to relocate to be readily accessible

to its membership.2

————— w ww— __

1Interview with Henry Ansley, director of Child
Accounting, Lansing Board of Education, July 3, 1956.

21nterview with Reverend William.Hainsworth, pastor
of the flayflowcr Congregational Church, June 22, 1956.

38

39

Data concerning the religious affiliation of the area
residents were not available from.either the Protestant or

1
Catholic church organizations.

Housigge

The available data indicated that Tract 18 is a highly
concentrated pepulation area. Half of the twenty-six organi-
zations interviewed stated that there was much overcrowding
and that the housing was generally inadequate. They com—
mented typically as follows: “Not enough housing." "There
has been much overcrowding in one family dwellings.“

“Housing, seems to be crowded-~Ncgroes can buy in only cer-
tain sections.’ “Many houses bordering on the south bound-
aries are particularly old and inadequate.“ 'Wide range

(market value) of facilities but housing seems cramped."

Prevalence of Social_Problemm

Such problems as Juvenile delinquency, broken homes,
marital conflict, financial dependency, and inter—group
tensions reflect social and emotional deprivation and thus

the need for ameliorative and/or compensating efforts.

i___._ _‘__ 7 M AA

1The records of neither the Lansing Council of Churches
(Protestant) nor the Lansing Catholic Diocese were tractable
for geographical analysis at the time of the preparation of
this report.

2An analysis follows of the impressions received of
Tract 18 by the twenty-six major social service and religious
organizations identified as serving it. (See also review of
research--Chapter III.) The information obtained from.thmm
is classified into factors which may suggest the degree of
need for group work~recreational services. See also the
research study by Brunson, op. cit.

#0

The various social agencies dealing with Juvenile
delinquency did not have statistical reports readily usable
for determining the extent of this problem by intraourban
areas but did provide empirical observations. Miss Clarissa
Young, director of the Youth Bureau,and Charles Stragier,
police inspector, both of the Lansing Police Department,
stated that Tract 18 is not significantly different from the
city's average in law breaking. Inspector Stragier added
that malicious destruction of property seems to “run high"
but is typical of the city as a whole.

The Chief County Agent of the Probate Court revealed
that the assaultive type of delinquency seems to be "most
prevalent among both white and Negro residents of the area."
It seems that the fourteen to sixteen age group are involved
in the I”111a,jorit'.y of the cases." In addition,many dependent
and neglect cases (shmilar to the general population) came
to his attention during 1955.

Statements concerning the delinquency problem among
Tract 18 youth were also elicited from the eleven churches
located in the area. They reported that there were few calls
on the ministry for pastoral counseling to minors. Eight of
these churches, however, indicated that many youth, estimated
at from thirteen through twenty years of age, appeared to be
loitering on certain street corners such as Main and Division
and Division at William. Some of their comments were as
follows: “Seem.to be quite a number of teen-agers hanging

cut at restaurants, on streets, driving recklessly"; a'Num‘oer

#1

of people in a five block area around the Center playing in
the streets“; "Quite a number of teen-agers are found
loitering in streets, particularly on weekends."

In addition to the agencies mentioned above,six other
representative social service agencies which might be grouped
by purpose into family and child care services, reported
having given service to residents in Tract 18.1 However,
only one, the Lansing Child Guidance Clinic, had records of
services analyzed on the basis of the census tract plan.2
The latest available report indicates that Tract 18 ranks in
the ‘middle" category of census areas with a rate of utilisa-
tion in proportion to the population in the tracts, ages one
to nineteen.3 I

Two of these six family and child care agencies made
comments about the area and their residents. The Ingham
County Bureau of Social Aid observed that the area had a
higher incidence of Aid toDependent Children recipients than

other urban neighborhoods. It was pointed out that there

_._.—

llncluded are the Lansing Child Guidance Clinic, Family
Service Agency, lngham County Bureau of Social Aid, Friend of
the Court (Ingham County Circuit Court Officer responsible for
divorce investigations and of minors involved in such legal
actions),lngham County Department of Social Welfare, and the
Catholic Social Service.

2Two other agencies, the Inshan.County'Burcau of Social
Aid and Department of Social Welfare, have divided Ingham
County which includes Lansing into areas for worker assignments
but no statistical reporting on this basis provides a picture
of the utilization by Tract 18 residents.

3Michigan Department of Mental Health, Differential
gtilization of the Facilities of A Michigan Child Guidance
Clinic, Research Report No. 17, March 1955, pp. 23-33.

 

 

 

 

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42

seems to be an increase of unmarried.mothers (age range in
to 18) in their recently opened cases-~"mostly Negro.‘
Lastly, it was noted that much of their case load in Tract
18 involved predominantly former rural southern residents.
Their way of living had led to many adjustment problems in
respect to eating, sanitation, and behavior habits.1

The Ingham County Department of Social Welfare (admin—
isters on a needs basis, general relief) made statements
which coincide very closely with those listed above. The
caseworkers interviewed there indicated that compared with
other areas of the city Tract 18 seems to be above average
in the number of families on general relief carried over
from 1955. They added that the caseload is composed mostly
of Negroes who are primarily a laboring group, unable to
afford or obtain adequate living space.2

Finally, six of the twenty-six interviewees volunteered
the information that there was evidence of discriminatory
practices and inter—racial misunderstanding surrounding the
Negro population which is the predominant racial group in
Tract 18. The situations mentioned involved, housing, inter-

racial dating, and the use of recreational facilities.

 

1Interview with Thelma V. Eames and Kathleen Rushton,
Caseworkers, Ingham County Bureau of Social Aid, July 5,

1956.

2Interview with Hary Lou feterson and Rosemary Smith,
Caseworkers, Ingham County'Depnrtment of Social Welfare,
my 9' 1956.

43

Utilisation of Community Group Work~Recreation Programs

 

The results of the survey of four.maJor "group work“
agencies, eleven Tract 18 churches, and the Lansing Recreation
Department provided only a partial indication of the parti-
cipation of the areas young people in Lansing's chief private
and publicly supported recreational programs.1 A summary of
the information received from.these agencies is as follows:

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of
Lansing. It has a club program, offered at four schools
which serve the west half of Lansing, for boys between the
ages of eight and eighteen. An estimated eighty to ninety
Negro boys presumed to be residents of Tract 18 were members
of these groups. However, at present an accurate account of
the participation in the YMCA program is not available.2

The Young Women's Christian Association of Lansing
(YuCA). They report that there were approximately 128 girls
and young women enrolled frmm Tract 18 in the health education
and club programs This figure represents he second highest
participation in the YWCA on a census tract basis.

The Chief Champs Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Scout units located in two grade schools and a church were

 

1None had records which readily revealed the full parti—
cipation in their programs by intra-urban areas of the city.

efiarl T, Cruthis, Associate General Secretary, YMCA
of Lansing revealed that an analysis of their enrollment by
intra-urban areas was scheduled to begin by the fall of 1956.
(Interviewed June 25, 1956.)

#4

ppen to boys living in the surrounding school districts.1
Approximately fifty boys from Tract 18, between the ages of
eight and fifteen, were enrolled in these units.

The Greater Lansing Girl Scout Council. The executive
secretary reported trat it had been difficult to find leader-
ship for troop units from Tract 18 since many of the mothers
work. Moreover, there had been resistence by the parents to
racially mixed scout troops. However, an estimated 170 girls
from.the area between the ages of seven and fourteen were
enrolled.2

Of the eleven Tract 18 churches only one had leisure-
time recreational activities as a part of its regular prOn
gram.3 However, four of the ten churches (without a recrea-
tional program) stated that the “churches should be providing
character building leisure—time activities.“ Eight of.these
churches also indicated that young people under the age of
twenty-four generally were not active in the religious

activities of the church.

1Only the two Scout units at one of these three locations
(Main Street Scnool) is located in Tract 18 (Reported by Daniel
rown executive member of the Chief Okemos Council of the Boy
Scounts of America, June 21, 1956).

Elnterview with Jean Paris, executive director of the
Greater Lansing Girl Scout Council, June :1, 1956.

3The test Lansing Church of God in Christ at 819 West
Street offered a recreational programto mixed group of its
teen-age youth during the fall and winter of 195& and 1955 at
the Lincoln Center. Their own volunteer leadership was used
with some consultation from the Center staff. Due to the
temporary suSp nsion of the church program during the prepara-
tion of this report further information was not available.

45

Lensing's Recreation Department in addition to its
program of athletic games and craft activities offers a pro~
gram.of recreation clubs to grade school, high school, and
adult groups in various city and school facilities during
the fall, winter, and spring. Their schedule includes active
games, crafts, dancing, and singing. However, neither a com-
prehensive review or the city's recreation and leisure-time
activities nor a compilation of the participation in the
various group activities by intra~urban areas has ever been
made.1 Therefore, an indication of the participation by
Tract 18 youth in these activities was unavailable during the
preparation of this study.

The Nature and Structure of Grgug Activities
at tne Lincoln_§§§ter

 

 

 

Purpose and Philosophy

 

Since its establishment in 1937, the Lincoln Center's
recreational and educational programs have had as their pur’
pose the provision of a wholesome leisure—time recreational
environment. However, beginning in 19th under its present
director,.Mrc norrison Ryder, the staff of the Lincoln Center
began to probe more deeply into the community life on
Lansing's southwest side in order to determine how to improve
the program.to meet more of the needs and interests of the
population it served. A prepared statement by the Center

said:

 

a —

1Interview with Harold Kipke, Director of the Lansing
Recreation Department, June 26, 1956.

46

We know that merely an adequate recreation pro-
gram, while very'much needed, especially in the
southwest section of the city, could not be our full
answer for all of the problems which confront the
people. First, there was the vast influx of peeple
in the war and pro—war era, from.many other parts of
the nation. heir coming accentuated many of the
problems which already existed: inadequate housing
facilities, limited Job opportunities, and varied
adjustment difficulties for parents and family
groups.1

Evolving from this background, today, the basic phi~
losophy of the Lincoln Center is to develop a program.with
a permissive atmosphere for the youth of Lansing (particu-
larly the southwest portion) so that they may meet their
informal education, social, and recreational needs. Recog-
nizing the need for individuals to grow as members of the
wider community, the Lincoln Center has been organised as:

A group work agency whose purpose is to give
services of various types to Children and adults
living in the City of Lansing; these services touch
the fields of recreation, social adjustment, civic
improvement and human relations. . . . It also
serves as a referral agency to persons who need ser-
vices not covered in the program of the Center.

More recently a report for 1956 budget conference
outlined its goals as follows:

General: To provide programs which provide
satisfying outlets for children, youth, and adults
in their leisure hours.
Specific: 1. To promote programs for the improve-
ment of citizenship among youth.

r...—

1Report on the Lincoln Center's program development,
rppared by the director, Morrison Ryder, c. 1950. D. l.
Mimeographed)

“Lincoln Center,' descriptive folder prepared by the
Lincoln Center staff, C. 1954, p. l. (Mimeographed)

47

a. To promote intergroup harmony by
fostering good will programs. ‘

3. To provide counseling services at the
group work level, for parents, and for
adults.

4. To provide training in activities which
have a carry over value to the recipients
. . . music, folk and social dancing,

and discussion groups such as our coed
council and our annual youth conference.

1

From this account it would appear that the program.of
the Center is intended to perform a socializing function
within the contex of its leisure—time services. The objec-
tives of socialization are also evident in the following
typical responses of the staff to questions concerning their
leadership of the Center clubs:

1. In what specific ways would you like to see the
group members grow as a result of their expcri~
once in the group?

’Gr w in self-respect, learning to-play together 3
’Develop interest in wider community and civic affairs";
"Gain enough knowledge so they will have useful skills later
in life“; ”More informed about nature (and other topics)“;
‘Develop spirit of co—operation, habits of clennliness,
respect forzuthority, fairness, and responsibility"; ’To
learn to express ideas and grow in leadersnip qualities and

personal confidence."

lReport outline prepared by the director, Morrison
Ryder, for the Lincoln Center Budget Conference, April 26,
1956. (Typed)

2. What things do you consider most beneficial for
your group? why?

"G.mes seem to meet real need of t:.e group for acti-
vity and group projects serve to teach co-operation“; "Active
ames provide means or self-expression and release of tension
and a "ressive drives“ 3 ”Discussion of boy-girl relationships
aided many who never felt free to discuss this with parents
or adults"; ”Outside trips gave chance to broaden their out~
look, to get away from home, to have new experiences"; “Meal
planningm md cooking met need of some who had to cook for
themselves." "Getting together around their own interests
helps them to plan, and realize their own goals and activities;
social affiliation with other young people is valuable to

growing individuals and acquisition of social skills.“

Organisation and St: :1

 

The Center's activities are divided functionally into

a girl's and a boy's program. Both divisions have several
small club groups in addition to the “mass" or large group

ctivities and educational classes. The age range of the
progr me has been broadly defined as from grade school age
(5 years) through adulthood. The specifics of this focus,
however, Me de terminal fleizibly by e1c1p~cgrlm secretary.
During the 1955 to 195 5 Center season there were four full

time staff members includ 113 the Center's director who

#; * _._._ _‘

1
Center.

Appendix D presents a Job description of the Lincoln

n9

supervise and co-ordinate the group work and recreational
activities.1 They are the executive director, the girl's
program secretary, the girls' worker and the boys' progran
director.

To indicate the nature and extent of the present
staff's professional training and experience, it may be out-
lined as follows:

1. BA degree in musical education (band and orchestra)
including a minor in sociology and psychology; and
seven years experience in playground leadership
and high school instruction.

2. BS degree in social administration plus nine
hours towards the master's degree; and six years
experience in playground work, director of a
branch YWCA and matron of a training school for
811‘13 o

3. BS degree in home economics and science including
a minor in social work; and three years experi—
ence as director of a YWCA club and recreational
activities as well as a season of playground
leadership.

4. BA degree in sociology and psychology with a
minor in physical education and recreation.

From.this brief resume it can be seen that the staff
has a varied professional background in different specialties;
however, none has special training in group work according to
professional standards. Nonetheless, he staff has been
motivated by a sincere interest in human behavior and have
sought to increase their understanding of group activity
through affiliation with the National Association of Social

Workers.

 

1Interviews scheduled with the Lincoln Center Staff
from.April 3, to July 2, 1956.

50

The director is assisted in program formulation and
promotion by an inter-racial advisory council of representa-
tives from the community, social agencies, city council,
city recreation department, board of education as well as
three (proposed number) youth between the ages of sixteen
and twenty-five. Thus the channel is open for youth to
participate in an adult role and affect agency policy.

Interviews with the staff disclosed that there are
weekly staff conferences in which administrative problems
and program.activities are the main concern. The dynamics
of group work interaction and techniques are not discussed.
The actual process of working with groups is left to the
skill, training, and initiative of each worker.

General Program and Services

 

 

The task of planning a leisure-time recreational pro—
gram.presents Special problems in a semi~public agency with
little control over intake and which is quartered in facili-
ties designed for educational purposes. However, the Lincoln
Center has developed a varied schedule of activities and ser-
vices. Aside from.the Lincoln School building, three nights
a week, Junior high age boys are coached in intramural
basketball at Main Street School, and one night a week at
High Street School. The average attendance at the first is
reported to be forty-three.

In the main building, the Lincoln School, an athletic

and intramural program.iserheduled in various sports such as

51

basketball, badmintion, volley ball, and touch football.

The boy's and girl's programs have teams entered into the
state wide Center basketball league. The boys are divided
into seniors (17 and over), intermediates (14-17), Juniors
(12-14), and gradesters (5th and 6th grade). The girls are
classified into two groups--gradeschool (5—12) and high
school (12-18). Most of the girls on the latter team are
fifteen years of age or older. Activities such as ping-pong,
checkers, and cominoes are supervised in the halls. Fre-
quently, the free periods between scheduled activities allow
for open recreation for individuals who Just “drop" into the
Center.

Along educational lines free training is offered to
both beginning and advanced students in band and orchestral
instruments. With exception of the piano, the students fur-
nish their own instruments while the Center through its
educational fund provides some sheet music. During the 1955-
1956 season some forty-seven persons ranging in age from.six
to forty enrolled in these classes. Twice a year recitals
are held.

. There are also "Family Nights” when the families and
friends of the Center's participants are especially invited
to visit and observe the Center. This activity is scheduled
to coincide with the music recitals. Although no atendance
figures are available, the numbers are reported to be fairly

large.

52

This past 1955 season, a special adult reading class
was started with three adults as a result of several requests;
however, it failed to arouse additional support and was dis-
continued during the winter. It may be offered in the 1956-
1957 program. A monthly publication, the Lincoln_9enter News
is prepared by six high school students, who have volunteered
to work on this project. The Center also sponsors a monthly
community lecture series, in conjunction with one of its
affiliated organizations, in which authorities on informative
current thought are presented. In recent years, perhaps due
in part to the composition of its clientele, the topics have
centered around the obstacles and Opportunities for minority
groups in the United States.

The most widely known of the Center's activities is
the sponsorship of the Annual Greater Lansing YOuth~Confor-
once. It began nearly twelve years ago as an experimental
project to provide a constructive medium to nmprove inter-
group relations and to provide the youth of the Center an
opportunity to discuss topics of special interest to them.
Teday, some sixty representatives fron.ninc Junior and senior
high schools are set up in committees to plan each years‘
conference. Each spring a selected group of students from
each high school plus representatives of the Lincoln Center
convene for the purpose of ”coming together as good neighbors
to talk over, and attempt to arrive at some solutions to the

many problems which confront a... today,"l

1It was observed that few of the Negro youth, who
make Upznearly all of the Center's present clientele,

53

Beginning with the fall of 1955 a Lincoln Activity
Council was organized with selected youth to initiate wider
participation of the youth in sharing ideas and suggestions
'for the improvement of Lincoln Center and its services. It
also functions as a Judicial body for hearing cases of excuse
sive mdsbehavior within.the Center program. There were
originally fourteen volunteers with an average participation
rate of eight per'meeting.

The Center reports that as a result of continued
requests for assistance, the staff has also conducted an
informal information and counseling service in addition to
its regular program. For example, many Negroes because of
their.minority group status and its attendant problems
generally request a description of the community, its race
relations, housing, and Job opportunities. During the past
year an estimated 100 people, sixteen years of age and older
were given Job guidance. Prior to 1950 the Center regularly
provided counseling and referral service to such community
groups and agencies as the schools, parents, courts, Michigan
Children's Institute, Boyl' Vocational School, and local
factories.1 The director of the Youth Bureau of Lansing's
Police Department reported that throughout the latter part
of the 1940's the Center worked closely with them.in dealing

W ‘—~———

participate in comparison to the number of Negroes who took
part in the years prior to 1952. Interview with Dorothy A.
Tboger, Girls' Program Secretary, Lincoln Center, February 12,
195 .

1Report on the Lincoln Center's develOpment, op. cit.

54

with problem.youth from Lansing's southwest side. However,
recently, with the development of other community resources
the need for such assistance decreased.l

Mr. Ryder stated that in recent years few persons have
been referred either to or from the Center. During the 1955-
1956 season for instance, there were only two referrals to
other agencies(for11nancial assistance), and one referral
of a mentally deficient ward from the School at Lapeer,
Michigan to the Center's director for home supervision.
Therevwnxaalso a few referrals of students to Center greups
by the school system. The counseling to family groups was
also reported to be lessening. The director said that all
home visitation is of a "friendly casual nature“ in order to
gain and maintain friendly relations with the community and
to allay suspicion that the staff is only interested in them
when they are “in trouble." It was reported that there are
no statistics as yet on these social services but that "there
are many expressions of being helped in various ways by many
individuals and family groups in and out of the community."2

Lastly, there are several community group and affilie
ates of national organizations which have a close alliance
with the Center such as the National Association for Advance-

ment of Colored People, Parent Teachers Association, Girl
1Interview with Lt. Clarrisa Young, director of the
Yough Bureau—~Lansing Police Department, June 14, 1956.

2Reported by'Morrison L. Ryder, executive director of
the Lincoln Community Center, July 2, 1956.

55

Scouts, Inter-Greek Letter Council, Home and Family Club,

and two recreational groups from.the General Motors Oldsmobile
Plant and the United Automobile workers-—Congress of Indus-
trial Organisations. These organizations are all autonomous
groups. Table 2 presents a general schedule of -he Lincoln

Center's program”

Group Activities1

 

Group activities refers to the Center's special inter-
est groups, multiple-activity clubs, informal educational
classes, teams, and intra~agency committees and councils.
They meet throughout the Center's indoor season and are dis-
continued for the summer, with exception of the music classes
and athletic teams which continue during the vacation months.
The leadership is drawn from the regular professional staff
who, for the most part, organised the groups they lead.
Therefore, the presentation which follows will be primarily
concerned with the first two classes of groups-~the special
interest groups and multiple-activity clubs. First, several
groups will be presented, which because of their national
organizational affiliation are not Center organized groups
and therefore, were not included in the interview schedule;
or which because of the nature of their activities did not

reasonably fit into the schedules of interview questions.

fl...

1The data for this portion of the report were obtained
from.interviews with the staff of Lincoln Center, and as such,
represent the clubs and groups in retrospect. This was nec~
essary as there are no records available to supplement these
impressions.

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58

These groups are followed by the presentation of the thirteen
“clubs" more closely examined.

The Intermediate-Scouts. This organisation has been
functioningfbff and on” at the Center since 1940, under
volunteer leadership provided by the Girl Scout Council.
They were led by one of the Center's regular staff members.
Thirteen Negro girls, ranging in age from ten to twelve
(mostly ten or eleven), and of the rotestmnt faith, were
enrolled. None were employed, -nd their average attendance
was ten. Their program included the Girl Scouts Eleven Point
Program of Activities; however, the activities listed were
hikes, crafts, learning to make beds, (in a hospital manner),
and homemaking (cooking, shopping, and planning meals).
They'met weekly for an hour.

The Bible Class. This group was orgnniaed in 1946
by the National Organization of Child Evangelism to teach
Biblical history and Christian principles. It was open to
all youth regardless of age or sex. There were thirty-eight
members enrolled but the attendance varied between tsent3~
five and thirty. The membership was composed of Protestant
Negro grade school children ranging in age from seven to
twelve (mostly eight or nine), evenly divided between boys

sdgirls. The program consisted of Bible instruction,
learning Bible verses, singing, scrapbook preparation and
stories from.the Bible and other religious sources. The

story hour drew the nest interest., This class was taught

I' m— _ —‘_..

 

. . 1
by a staff sorxer appe‘abed by the Center sirector.

The Cheerleaders. “his was a group of six hegro
girls ranbing in sQe from £0 Jr $3! to fliteen w o preosred
we: led. sneers at sl Center athletic events. They met
primarily etb ass 1ime and did not have azwy er f'sction
or activity.

The Dance Class. This «as a are dp or en Hegro high
school youth of both sexes who met periodically under tee
instructi: n of a hi-1 school age volunteer lexaer They
sex-e tuh.lb the law st modern dance steps. There were no
other activities “or sealed. This group along with the
Cheerleaders was organised durinz tee 1935-1956 season.

The Story Hour. This group see designed for the
early grade school children ::and tonal“ s of stories chosen
from the classics for listen Ling ple.sure and to stimulate
reading habits of “better“ literature. The group started
wit: twenty-three reenters but aversQed about eighteen
youngsters of both sexes between the ages of eight and nine.
They were all Protestant Kegrc children who live in Census

T333: 130

The Junior mid Senior Arts need Crafts Group 3 end
Seeing Class. .cause of a crossed program.tiese groups

were all scheduled for Fzfli a; afternoons in t: .e g;m alanine.

The Junior arts and Crafts group failed to draw enough

__.__ Am. ~____ _ AA. u.- ‘n _ _‘_. w ‘— _-‘- w

reported as livLe3 si .in Census Tract lo.

6O

participation and was discontinued. Similarly, the other
two groups were dropped because leadership was not available.

Both were planned for Junior and senior high school girls.

Slabs.

The Rhythm and Blues Club. This club was organized
in the fall of 1955 upon request of a group or girls with
similar interests in music, particularly, Jazz music. The
membership was set at sixteen by the members, and was com-
posed of Protestant Negro girls between the ages of fifteen
and seventeen, living within five or six blocks of the Center.
All of the girls worked periodically as babysitters. The
average attendance was eight. The leader's Job was described
as--'To advise and supervise.“ There was a full complement
of club officers, dues, and some recording of business
developments. The members planned and organized their own
_program. The leader's goal with this group was to permit
them to develop their own ideas and plans. Their activities
consisted of active group games, cooking, listening to
records, a party, dances,,group singing, a talent show,and
informalchscussions--primarily about boy~girl relationships,
dating, and marriage. The dances and talent show were
deemed the most popular. Both were the activities which
included participation by boys.

The Variety Club. This club was formed in September
1955 as a result of a request by several Junior girls,twelve

to fifteen years old (mostly fifteen year olds), who wished

61

to participate in a variety of activities. The leader for
this group viewed her role as “advise and resource in
planning activities and guiding behavior.” The goal with
this group was to provide opportunity for them to meet

their own interests and to plan and realise their goals and
activities. Officers of the club included a president,
vice-president, and program chairman, who lead the group,
and were responsible for dues, and some recording of busi-
ness. There were seventeen Protestant Negro girls living
within five to six blocks of the Center who met weekly for
two hours (average attendance-—fifteen). The season's acti-
vities consisted of active group games, folk and modern
dancing (membership only), cooking, ikes, ushering at
Center socials, parties (girl and boy friends invited), and
informal discussions about boy friends, dating, clothes, ed
personal care. The parties with invited guests attracted
the greatest participation, while folk dancing was least
successful. None of the members were employed during the
season.

The Junior Boxing and Wrestling Club. This special
interest group was formed in 1949 by its present leader as
a medium for venting the aggressive drives of its members.
It was composed of eighteen Protestant Negro boys, nine to
twelve years old, residing within six or seven blocks of

the Center. They met for an hour each week and the average

lThe meetings of the above clubs were usually held
in the gymnasium,

62

attendance was fifteen. None worked after school. The
leader‘s role with this group was to teach the fundamentals
of self—protection and to provide a constructive outlet for
their aggressive energies. (Some members had been involved
in conflicts outside the group). There were no officers,
recording or dues and most of the program was planned by
the leaders. The season's activities consited of instruction
in boxing and wrestling, free night for active group games,
boxing exhibitions which the group planned, and some informal
discussions of sporting events. Boxing was the most popular
activity and wrestling was felt to be the least attractive.
Meetings were held in the gymnasium.

he Boys‘ Club. The present leader organized this
club in 19$9 when an interest in more than physical activi-
ties and sports was expressed by a group of grade school
boys. Some thirty-five Protestant Negro boys between the
ages of seven and ttelve joined; however, the average atten—
dance was twenty—four. None were employed and all lived
within six to seven blocks of the Center. The membership
changes from.year to year and, therefore, it is not a con-
tinuous group. The leader's goal with the group was to
provide new learning experiences, and knowledge of nature
and folklore. Their program included fishing, hiking,
nature hunts, short trips, active games, story telling,
and informal discussion of camping, cooking, adventure, etc.
Activities involving the out~of~doors, 1.3., fishing and

hiking were Judged to be most successful. They tired quickly

63

of discussions and stories. Although most of the activities

were suggested by the-leader, planning was shared informally
with the group. There were no officers, dues, or records

kept. They met ;cekly for two hours (or longer on special
occasions) in the Center gymnasium for indoor meetings, ex-
ept when outdoor events were scheduled.

The Varsity Club. This club was instituted when
several members of the intermediate and senior basketball
teams decided to organise in 1954 to obtain funds for uni-
forms and equipment not provided by the recreation depart-
ment. They constituted a special interest group of twenty»

ive Protestant chro boys ranging in age from fifteen to
eighteen, the majority of whom lived within two blocks of
the Center. They met for an hour every two weeks (average
attendance fifteen) to discuss plans for inter~city games
and means of obtaining funds for equipment. Several dances
were held as a result of these meetings. The only elected
officer was a chairman. They did not keep minutes, but
made their own plans of discusSions and activities. The
leader saw his role with this group as an adviser and co-
ordinator because ”they are old enough to run their own
program.” In the leader's Judgment the out—of~town games
aroused greater interest than the dances. They were not as
active in planning for the dances. About half of this group
was employed either full or part-time. They generally not
in the gymnasium.

64

The Craftsmen's Club. This club was started in 1955
as a cooking class for boys when a group of interested youth
asked for such an organization. The handicraft activities
grew as a result of the leader's efforts to broaden their
knowledge and interests. The group was composed of thirteen
Protestant Negro boys sigh to twelve years old living within
six to seven blocks of the Center. They met weekly for an
hour and a half to cover such areas as cooking, coloring
an painting, leather and plastic handicrafts, also to dis-
cuss proper techniques in doing these things. The cooking
was the most widely supported activity. There were no of-
ficers or regular club type meetings. The leader's role was
to instruct and supervise their activities. Generally, the
average attendance at their meetings, in a smell kitchen be-
hind the gymnasium, was eleven.

he Cooking Club. This group began in lSSfl as a
result of the staff‘s observation that many par-nts in the
area surrounding the Center are employed outside the home
and that children, consequently, have to prepare meals for

hemselves. The club program was planned primarily for grade
chool age girls. During the past season approximately fif-

egro girls living within a five block area

5‘

teen Protestant l
surrounding the Center became members. ‘Ranging in age from
nine to eleven their average attendance was abou thirteen.
The leader's objectives with this group was to teach basic
cooking methods, meal planning, and kitchen care. Suggested

chiefly by the instructor, the activities planned included

65

instruction in meal planning, cooking, table setting,
recipes, serving, dining etiquette, etc. The group also
wished to schedule meals for their parents. The activities
covered which seemed to have been most favored were cooking
and meal planning. The others were discussed but not
thoroughly carried out because they lacked equipment and
facilities.

The Co-Ed Club. This club constituted a discussion
group for teen-age youth. It began in 1953 as a result of
interest shown by a group of high school girls. During the
past season the group was composed of three Negro boys and
thirteen Negro girls ranging in age from thirteen to sixteen.
Eight of the girls worked part-time as babysitters. The
average attendance at their weekly’meotings was approximately
fourteen (the boys attended occasionally). All were believed
to live within eight to ten blocks from.the Center. They
had no formal structure, officers, recording, duos, etc.
Their activities consisted of a Wiener roast to which they
invited guests, and discussion sessions on such tepiCI on
parental relationships, dating, petting, accepting gifts,
future plans, etc. They also planned to have other activi-
ties such as a hayride, etc. The girl-boy relationships were
the favored topics for discussions. 'Vocational planning dis-
cussions were also popular. The leader viewed her role with
this group as an adviser and resource person.

The Danocttes‘ Club. This group evolved fron.tho need

for a dance routine in a Center talent show in the fall or

.l Ali!

66

1955. The girls met once a week for the two hour period in
the Center's gymnasium. The first group was composed of
twenty girls (two white and eighteen Negro) of Protestant
faith, living within five or six blocks of the Center.
Ranging in age fron.nine to fifteen, none were employed-full
or part-time. The leader's Job sith this group was to in-
struct them.in the latest dance steps, and to assist then.in
working out dance routines. There were no discussions, and
no organizational structure or recording. Their activities
includdd a talent show, dancing, and a monthly meeting Open
to their boy friends. Those activities involving boys were
considered most successful and popular. Throughout the
season attendance averaged about fifteen.

The Little Peppers Club. The supervisor of this group
organized it last fall (1955) when a group of "kids" began
disrupting the meetings of other groups. This group met 5
weekly in the gymnasium for an hour and a half for a
variety of activities. The msnhership was approximately
fifteen Protestant Negro girls, the majority of when lived
within four to five block of the Center (all within seven
to eight blocks). The group elected officers and paid duos
part of the year but discontinued when it became noticeable
that few were paying, Together with the leader, they outlined
their activities for the year. ‘They included active group
games, wiener roast, hikes, talent shows, candy making,
Thanksgiving party, and handicraft projects. Active group
games and hikes drew the most attendance and participation

67

while the projects were not as well supported. It was felt
that this group, particularly, needed release for their
energies. They ranged in age from ten to twelve.

The Grade-stars Club. This organization started with
the establishment of the Center in 1937, and is designed for
grade school age boys. Although the membership changed with
each season, there weretmenty-four Protestant and two
Catholic Negro boys ranging in age fron.eight to twelve
(mostly eleven to twelve). The majority lived within six
blocks of the Center and all within ten blocks. The leader's
responsibility with this group was primarily that of supere
vising their free play, but included some instruction as
well. Their activities included basketball, softball, kick-
ball, and other competitive games and some active group
games. There were no club officers, planning,or discussions.
Competitive group games were believed to be most popular ‘
by the leader. In essense, the leader‘s goal with this
group was release of aggressive drives. The average atten-
dance was nearly nineteen.

The Adult Recreation Club. Thisgroup was re-instituted
under its former advisor after a year's absence during 1955.
It was opent) adult women over high school age. The group
of the 1956 season was composed of’narried women over thirty
years of age. Thelve Protestant Negro housewives (eight of
whom were employed full time) and who lived within six to
seven blocks of the Center, not for two hours weekly for

recreational activities.. This consisted of calesthenics,

68

active group games, badminton, kickball, and a half hour of
informal discussion of various events, and personal experi-
ences. There was no formal organization (dues, officers,
minutes, etc.); however, they planned their own programs

The leader's role was to instruct and advise on recreational
exercises. The leader considered all of the activities
equally attractive to the members. They'met nightly follow-
ing the regularly scheduled program and the average attendance
was ten.

The G-Man Club. Since the organisation of this group
in 1950 byihe present supervisor, their attention has been
focused towards assisting in the enforcement of rules
related to conduct and use of the building. It was believed
that participation by the youths themselves would help con-
trol a mounting discipline problem. The leader's role with
this group was to provide leadership and to direct them.in
their “policing: activities. The program.consisted primarily
of policing the building during dances, social affairs,
basketball games, etc., and discussions of smoking, drinking,
and/er similar topics. There was no formal structure or
dues. The membership composed of nine Protestant Negro boys,
nine to fifteen years old who lived within Census Tract 13.

They met weekly in the gymnasium for forty~five minutes and
A attracted an average attendance of six. The number employed
full or part-time was unknown.

In summary, the Lincoln Center program had ten all

female groups, ten all male, and eight open to both.male and

69

female young people. If classified on the basis of their
program focus the groups can be designated as follows: (a)
five were multiple-interest groups or clubs (including the
Girl Scouts, a national program affiliate); (b) six were
educational classes (child evangelism.or Bible study, a
national program.group, also included); (c) thirteen were
special interest groups: (d) six were athletic teams; and
(e) one was a special committee.1 Most of the groups with
the exception of music and reading classes, apparently, held
their meetings in the gymnasium,

All thirteen "clubs“ which were analysed by the use
of the prepared schedule were supervised by the regular staff
workers. Only one group, the Boys' Club had.more than thirty
persons enrolled; however, the average attendance of this
club was twenty-four. The smallest enrollment was nine and
the smallest average attendance was six.2 Among these clubs,
five were multiple-interest groups, seven were special inter-
est groups, and one was devoted solely to educational pursuits.

As indicated in Table 3, all but one of the club's
programs provided opportunities for companionship and edu-
cation, while more than half also included physical and
recreational activities and leadership experiences. Only
about a third of the clubs provided creative activities. In

1See Table 111, Appendix E, for listing of groups
placed in each classification including their sex, enrollment,
average attendance, and age.

(‘1

I:

Ibid.

70

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71

this respect it should also be noted that there were two
clubs, both of which drew their membership from the five to
twelve age group which participated in handicraft activities.
Similarly, of the twelve groups devoted to young people under
the age of twenty-four, there were Just three groups whose
discussions centered around problems facing their age group,
All three were teen-age groups.

Finally, seven of the thirteen clubs provided their
participants with the opportunity to plan and schedule their
own program of activities and to conduct their own weekly

meetings formally or informally.1

Clientele‘2

 

The enrollment of all the groups was generally coma
posed of Protestant Negroes but there were two Negro Catholic
boys and two white girls reported as members of groups. The
Center's director estimated that the large majority of the
clientele was drawn from a five to six city block area sur-
rounding the Lincoln Center. He added, however, in the case
of the music class and Bible study group, the membership

came from various areas in Lansing. The information on the

A—e - A
w. ..fi _T._.__.

1Included are the following clubs: Rhythm.and Blues,
'Ysriety, Boys', Varsity, Co-Ed, Little Peppers, and Adult
Recreation.

2Participants who use the Center on a “free-use“ basis
whether or not leaders were supplied are not included. There~
fore,the groups discussed in the following sections do not
necessarily include all individuals who benefited from.the
agencies facilities and progra .

72

thirteen clubs studies by the writer disclosed similarly that
the majority of the membership resided within five to eight
city blocks of the Center and all within ten city blocks.1
Data available on tzenty—three oi the Center's
meaty-eight active groups revealed that there were 132
females ad 189 males.2 Males appear to be slightly predom—
inent in the group pr05ram. As indicated in Table A, nearly
all the participants of the Center 3 active groups were be-
tween the ages of seven and eighteen. Approximately fifty-

seven per cent are of childhood age (7—12) and about four

per cent are young adults (la-2%).

. ‘ *3" a.
T”ual.s.3 24.

GROUP N4 Tlnfinfll BY'AGE RAfiGE, ENROLLEJNT’
AND AVERAGE Arrsssancsl

A

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enrollment Average
Age Range *'nasaer Per Cent ofjfiotal tttendance
Total 410 100 310
Childhood (7-12) 235 57 173
Adolescence (13-17) 160 39 134
Youn A ulthood 15 4 13
%&0"6. '4) K“.

 

 

lThe tabulation excludes tl1c m sic and adult reading
classes and the adult recreation club, as t} 1e age span of
u1e.se groups do not correspo11d to the focus of this study.
Therefore, the totals represent only twenty-five of the twenty-
ei5ht active groups (3% Ta.ble I in tr1e Appendix).

eTne entire young adult enrollment is composed of the
senior men‘s athletic team.

._.._

1This area correSponds closely to Tract 18. See Fig. I.

2‘Included were 22 single sex groups and one mixed club,
the C0~Ed3 0'

73

Similarly the thirteen club groups examined by the
writer disclosed that about sixty per cent of the 208 young
people enrolled were between the ages of seven and twelve,

while none are in theaoung adult age group. (See Table 5)

TABLE 5

CLUB MvB‘EPSEiIP BY AGE mums, ENROLIHSNT
AND AVE we Ammmzce

 

 

 

 

 

 

£~.WWZWWWW
A“ R‘ Enrollment Average
be “n58 Number Per Cent of Total 1 Attendance
Total 208 “fi' 100 161
Childhood (7—12) 125 60 98
Adolescence (l3~17) 83 4O 63
Youne Adulthood O O 0
18-24)

 

 

 

 

Seventy—one (approximately 34 per cent) of the :08
members of the clubs were employed either full time or part-
time. Forty were girls employed as pert-time baby sitters,
and eight were housewives employed full time in the “service'
and factory Jobs.

As indicated in Table 6, of all the Center's groups,
seventy per cent of the Center's group participants were
enrolled in special interest groups and classes. The
heaviest participation was in the special interest groups
which included approximately thirty-seven per cent of the

membership.

7%

TABLE 6

CENTER.HEHBERSHIP BY TYPE OF ORGANILATION,
ENROLHMEHT AKD AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

W

 

 

 

Age Range {@er ::?:::n:r Total H ”aim.
w oSo-Ei 472 100 37;
Clubs (5) k 96 20 71
Classes (5) 113 24 96
Intersst Groups(13h 173 37 134
has (6) 76 I 16 65
Collittses (l) 14 3 8

 

 

 

 

Tho infonlstion on tho thirteen clubs and the girls
basketball toms revealed that counseling service given tbs
group numbers centered around seven problem‘ereas as classi-
fied in Tabls 7.

It can readily bs soon that for the "childhood" sac
group thsrs usrs no problsls handled in the area or voca—
tional and personal-snotional guidance. In this respect no
parent—child rslations, psrsonsl suction“ or recreational
problsam wsrs brought to the Center's staff by the adolsscsnt
sap group. Tho rscrsationel guidance was sought by girls in
the scvsn to tuolvs ago-range.

In addition it was found that members of four of the
boys groups sought sdvics on aggressive hostile conflict with
other young people but only two girls' groups asked for such

help. All of the boys, however, were in the seven to twslvs

75

TABLE 7

PERSONAL PRCB i3 OF THE CENTER CLIENTELE
BY TYPE END AGE GROUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

ljpe of Problem Age Group ,fl
Childhood Adolescence
(7—12) (13-;7)
Boy—Girl Relations x x
Parent~Child Relations x
Personal Appearance and
Manners x x
Personality Emotional x
Recreational Guidance x
Sex Information ‘ x
Vocational Guidance x

 

 

 

age range. The problems of the girl participants focused on
boy-girl relations and pereonaleppearance. Four of the all
girl groups, the girls' basketball team, and the Co-Ed Club
(predominantly female) Bought guidance in both areas. How-
ever, members of one boys' group (ages fifteen to eighteen)
also asked for assistance with boy—girl relations, sex infor-
mation, and vocational guidance. Finally, in five of the
thirteen clubs most of the members did not seek guidance on
problems from tna Center's staff.

Next, the official attendance figures for the Lincoln
Center's total program shows an increase until 1952 and a

1
decrease since than.'

_* _.__ A A

lTheac figures are not corrected for duplication and,
thus, may be viewed more accurately as units of service. They

«1
(TX

19450 o o o o c o o o o 28’ 667
19146. c o o o o o o o 0 47,718
1947. o o o o c o o o 0 61,800
1948. . . . . . . . . . 75,285
1949. o o o o o o o o o 84’ 253
1950. . . . . . . . . . 85,210
1951. . . . . . . . . . 83,520
1952. o o o I 0' u o o ‘0 99! 37!4
19530 o o o o O o c o o ""

19514. a o o o o o o o o ""

1955. . . . . . . . . . 97,000

During nearly the same span of years, the club member-

ship has shown a similar increase and drop in enrollment.1

194% 19 groups
1950 29 groups
1955 28 groups

C C O O O O 102‘
Q I O o 0 o 530
c o a o o o 472

 

Problems of Center Operation
Typical responses of the staff to questions concerning

the implementation of the Center's program.are as follows:

1. Are there difficulties which prevent you from
doing these things? (Executing the group program)
“With no sound proof rooms, music classes interfere
with the club programf; "Lack of finances to cover trans-
portation for teams (portion of’memhers cannot afford expense)“;

"Budget does not cover foods, dishes-~unsatisfactory stove

w... W w

were compiled annually by the director of the Lincoln Center
by keeping an account of the attendance during a period
selected "typical” and computing a seasonal estimate based
on it.

1As previously mentioned in the introduction of this
report, the area south of the Center (Tract 18) has been under-
going considerable change in land use during the past six
years. This appears to be a significant factor in the de-
creased enrollment.

77

and refrigeration"; ”No storage space for craft projects";
"Insufficient space for ping pong and other quiet games,
i.e., cards and checkers"; "Have had few volunteers because
community doesn‘t have many who devote time to leadership”;
"Need club rooms for discussion groups and classes 3 "No
place for crafts, painting, drama groups; combination gym~
nasium and auditorium.is inadequate for athletic contests";
'Staff not large enough to provide service to all who need
its.‘'

Although permitted access to the whole Lincoln School,
building activities are confined to the first floor, halls,
two class rooms, and the gymnasium.because: (a) lack of
janitorial staff (presently shared jointly with the Lincoln
School); and (b) the problem of keeping Center materials
separate from the school's (teachers have made repeated com-
plaints). Furthermore, use of the Lincoln School ceases
with the close of the school-year when school age youth have
the most leisure time.1

2. Have you seen any needs of the members of your

group which are not being.met in the present
program?

’Many have not learned tozflay'together--everyone is
an individual"; “Need to learn how to express ideas and

improve their social skills (including dating and enter-
taining)."

1Interviewwithflorrison Ryder, director of the
Lincoln Center, July 11, 1956.

73-3

3. If so, are there changes in the Center's program
which you would like to make in order to meet
these needs?

“Additional facilities--place for lounge, discussion,
swimming pool, separate gymnasium.for girls would aid in
expanding the programlx ‘Smaller Number in the group‘s
'Need to take more activities outside the Center, i.e.,
entertaining in the homes"; "More supervised dances."

4. Are there additional resources (training courses,
conferences, equipment) which would aid you in
your work?

INeed for more facilities and space especially for
bleachers for basketball games"; ”Boxing ring and bags";
"Cooking equipment and training course in teaching cooking
skills“)"Need training in folk dancing as well as special
dance records"; “Storage space to keep equipment (crafts,
projects particularly)”; “Facilities for table tennis and

quiet type games, i.e., cards and checkers.‘

CHAPTER V

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary
The primary objective of the writer was to conduct an
exploratory study of the Lincoln Center's program.and its
relationship to the clientele it serves. Therefore, inter-
views were held with the staff of the Lincoln Center and
twenty—six social service and religiousagencies which serve

the clientele of the Center.

 

Characteristics of the Area_Served _

The area (Tract 18) served by the Center is character-
ized by the following findings:

1. Out of a total population of 4,616 persons, 1,752
are between the ages of five and twenty-four. Nearly a third
of the youth are young adult, eighteen to twenty-four years
old.

2. Seventy per cent of Lansing's non-white population,
including 64.5 per cent of the Negro population reside in
Tract 18.

3. The average number of persons per household exceeds
the city's average and is Judged congested.

4. Nearly two-thirds of the male labor force are

employed in factory Jobs. In addition, a third of the total

labor force is female.

79

80

5. The average number of school years completed by
area residents is nine.

6. The Negro population is predominantly from.rural
southern communities.

7. The area is established as being in the lower
socio—economic class (average income of families and individ»
uals, $3,434) with low land values.

8. Statistical data on the area's religious affilia-
tion or participation were not available from.either Protes-
tant or Catholic sources. 'However, the Tract 18 churches
report few youth are active in their programs.

9. There are no uniformlstatistical records of the
prevalence of social problems in Tract 18 available from.the
various social and religious agencies contacted by the writer.
Their empirical observations indicate: (a) Juvenile deline
quency was near the average for the city, although Judged
to have an above average number ofassaul¢;cases, street
loitering particularly among the fourteen to sixteen age
group, and an increasing number of unwed teen-age mothers,
mostly Negro; (b) social welfare assistance was above the
city's average for Aid to Dependent Children recipients and
general relief cases; (c) the major portion of the Tract 18
case load of these agencies are Negroes and they present
adjustment problems involving employment, sanitation, and
social behavior; and (d) evidence of inter-racial conflict
involving dating, housing, and the use of recreational

facilities was reported.

81

10. Records of the utilization of Lansing's major
group work-recreational programs by Tract 18 youth are
available only from the Young Women's Christian Association.
However, Brunson‘s study concluded that there was no adequate

l
organized or planned recreation for any age group.

General Program

 

The program of the Center is organized to offer social
services which involve social adjustment, recreation, and
civic improvement to youth from early childhood through
young adulthood (five to twenty-four).

1. Operating on a six.hour schedule Monday through
Friday the Center offers group work activities which are the
primary focus of this study, through the facilities of the
Lincoln Grade School. The Center is open from.the beginning
of he regular school year in September until its close in
June. In addition, the Center is available to various pri-
vate and civic organizations after regular hours by special
arrangements.

2. During the 1955 to 1956 season, there were four
full time staff'msmbers including the director who had
academic training in such fields as music, home economics,
social science, physical education, and recreation.

3. Requests for counseling and referral service to

individuals, families, and agencies on social and emotional

_..._‘
w W v—V—ifl

*Brunson, op, cit.

 

 

82

problems [were reported by the Lincoln Center staff to have]
declined since 1950. In addition, since that thme it has
been the policy of the Center to minimize this area of
service.

4. There are no formal policy statements concerning
counseling or referral procedures. Similarly, there are no
statistical records or recording of the counseling inter-
views.

5. The counseling service provided for the club
members involved seven problem.areas: (a) boy-girl relations,
(b) parent-child relations, (0) personal appearance and
manners, (d) personality and emotional conflict, (e) recrea-
tional guidance, (f) sex information, and (g) vocational
guidance. However, pesonality and emotional problems gen-
erally were not handled for any age group. This service was
conducted in various parts of the Lincoln Center and no
formal office hours were scheduled.

6. The most prominent unmet needs of the Center
clientele were Judged by the staff to be the need for in-
creased social skill, ease in self-expression, cooperative
recreational interests, and group leadership or organizational

skills.

Clientele

 

The data revealed the following general character-
istics of the Center‘s participants:'

1. The group enrollment was composed almost entirely
of Protestant Negro youth.

83

2. The majority of the clientele resided within five
to eight blocks of the Center and all within ten blocks.

3. They ranged in age from seven to eighteen, while
about half were childhood age youth (seven to twelve).

4. There were 208club members out of approximately
410 youth (includes duplication) enrolled in group activities.

5. Official attendance reports of the Lincoln Center
over a fifteen year period indicated nearly a thirty per
cent increase in total participation, which is an indication
of an increasing demand for Center services. However, the
1955 club membership and season attendance report indicated
a decrease between 1950 and 1956. This fact coincides with
the land use change and corresponding decrease in the popu-

lation immediately surrounding the Center.1

Group_3ctivities

 

1. The twenty-eight active Center groups were pre-
dominantly single-sex organizations, equally divided between
the sexes. Eight were open to both sexes. However, only
one of the mixed groups was designated for teen~age youth.

2. The heaviest participation was in the classes
and included more than a third of the group enrollment,
although special interest groups comprised nearly half of
the twenty-six groups. Music students were the majority of
the class enrollment.

3. More than half of the thirteen clubs were designated

for the childhood age range.

1See Chapter I.

84

4. All thirteen clubs included program outlets for
companionship and education. Seven also provided physical~
recreation and leadership experiences, but only five included
participation in creative activities.

5. Group activities which included competitive and
active physical actions were Judged by the Lincoln Center
staff to be the moss successful and popular among childhood
age clubs. Among the adolescent age clubs those activities
involving heterosexual social experiences and discussions
were ranked the most popular. In general, for all age
groups activities involving long—term planning and discussion
were leaSt successful.

6. The club membership range was nine to thirty-five
individuals while the average attendance was between six and
twenty-four.

7. In seven of the clubs the membership planned and

conducted their own meetings and activities under supervision.

Problems of Center Operation

 

l. The limitations of space and facilities at the
Lincoln School Building were the primary difficulties re-
ported by the staff. On the other hand, the Lincoln Center
theoretically has access to the entire building.

a. Secondly, it was felt that there were insufficient

funds for additional equipment and staff development.

85

Conclusions

 

The conclusions and interpretation of the relation-
ship between th findings of this study and the hypotheses
are as follows:

1. The focus of the Lincoln Center Program is pri-
marily on recreational and educational activities.

This was substantiated by the fact that the Center's
enrollment was predominantly involved in the classes-~1argely
music and the special interest groups whose activities were
mostly physical and recreational.

2. The program.was utilized by Protestant Negroes
of the neighborhood but has not expanded to meet the needs
of the increased growth and concentration of population.

This proposition was affirmed by the findings that
the Center serves almost entirely: (a) Protestant Negroes
living in T act 18; (b) grade school age and early teen-age
youth (although the stated coverage included young adults);
(0) less than a fourth of the population (potential clientele)
between ages of five and twenty—four residing in Tract 183
and (d) there is no adequate "organized“ recreation for any
Tract 18 age group. (See also the statements below).

3. The need of the population for participation in
activities which contribute to the development of democratic
leadership, responsible citizenship, and more satisfying
personal adJustment has not been met by the Lincoln Center.

Statements of the Center's staff indicated that in

actual operation the program does not meet the needs included

86

in this statement; moreover, the staff listed them.among
tne clientele’s primary unmet needs. Secondly, only a
small portion of the club groups were self-determining or
provided experiences which met these needs. Thirdly, the
nature of the Center's educational and recreational activi-
ties with their emphasis on musical training was not geared
to the need for broad educational and recreational outlets,
social and recreational skills, and homemaker education of
a large portion of the community it serves (rural southern
Negroes). On the other hand, there was utilisation of the
Center's facilities by outside community and civic groups
as well as a demand for information service. Nonetheless,
the data largely supports the third hypothesis.

4. The use of community resources for referral of
clientele with social and personal problems has been limited.

This proposition was confirmed by the finding that
such services are being de—emphasized by the Center and that
there was almost no referral service either to or from.comr
munity social agencies during the period considered by this
study.

5. The community social agencies have not utilized
the Lincoln Center to provide assistance to individuals
through the use of group experience.

With the exception of a few referrals by the Lansing
School system.there was no utilization of Center groups by
other ageroies during 1955. Moreover, as found in conJunction
with the fourth hypothesis, the counseling and referral ser-

vices have decreased.

87

The original major hypothesis was that:

The Lincoln Center provides comprehensive group work
and recreational activities for grade school children, teen-
age youth, and young adults within a five block radius of
the Center.

The findings and conclusions listed above indicate
that in actual practice, the Center serves only a small
portion of the youth in the designated neighborhood ares.
Moreover, the nature and emphasis of the current program
does not provide comprehensive group work or recreational
activities as defined by the Lincoln Center.

This report suggests several broad questions which
may serve as the basis for further study: (a) Why is there
leited use of the Lincoln Center by neighborhood youth,
when the recreation and leisurectime needs of the community
seem to be so outstanding? (b) Does the present staff of
the Lincoln Center recognize the symptoms of children with
emotional problems? If not, is there need for a trained
social worker? (c) What is the nature and degree of the
participation by neighborhood youth in group work and recrea-
tional programs other than the Lincoln Center?

Recommendations
Finally, as the result of the conclusions reached by
this study, the following proposals are recommended:
1. The Center staff should re-evaluate the group

work program.in terms of the current sex, age, racial, and

88

socio-cconomic composition of the potential clientele in
Tract 18 as well as in terms of the community social welfare
and recreational resources.

2. The Center's staff should compile statistical
records of the group membership and participation as well
as the counseling services to establish a basis for
appraising the utilization of the Center by the clientele
it proposes to serve.

3. The Center's staff should formulate definite
counseling and referral policies and procedures to clarify
this portion of the services extended to the community.

4. The responsible organizations should provide ade-
quate Center facilities consistent with the program and the
potential clientele of the Center.1

5. The responsible organizations should consider the
utilization of a trained group worker to expand the Center's
group work program.

6. The community social welfare agencies including
the group work—recreation agencies should develop a uniform
system of recording utilization of their programs by the
residents of various city neighborhoods. This would permit

closer coordination and planning of their services."3

 

1The dispersal of administrative support among such
diverse organisations as the Lansing Recreation Department,
Lansing Board of Education, and the united Community Chest
of Ingham County makes it difficult for the Lincoln Center
to define channels of communication and function.

2A basis for this has been developed by the School of
Sociology and AnthrOpolOgy at Michigan State University. (see
’Related Research,“ Chapter II.)

r-
c?

7. The community should collect data on various
conditions found to be controlling factors in identifying
the needs of residents of various neighborhoods for recrea~
tional activities and facilities. This would include
demographic information, records of the utilisation of
social service, and recreational agencies by residents of
these neighborhoods, and the socio-economic composition of
the community. The compilation and analysis of this infor-
mation would establish a basis for facilitating community
planning.1

 

W“ W“ W *—

1Thc Ingham County Community Services Council as the
recognised central coordinating organisation for civic, edu-
cational, health, character-building, and social welfare
agencies is the logical source for the promotion of this
proposal.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Buell, Bradley and Associates. Community Planninr for
Human Services. New York: Columbia University
Press, 1355.

 

 

Coyle, Grace L. Group_Work_hith American Youth. New Yerk:
Harper and Brothers, l§38.

Dahir, James. Community Centers as Livine Ear Memorials.
New York: Harper and Brothers, 195 .

Danford, Howard G. Recreation in the American Community.
New York: Iarper and Brothers, 1953.

Dillick, Sidney. Community Organization for Neivhborhood
Developmento-Past and’Present. New York: hilliwm
Morrow and Company, 1953.

 

Fitzgerald, Gerald. Leadership in Recreation. New York:

“*W-

A. S. Barnes and campany, 1951.

 

Harris, E. Sewell. Community Centers and Pssociations.
London: Council oi‘ Social Agencies, 194;.

Hollingshead, August B. Elmtown's Youth. New York: John
Wiley and Sons, 19n9.

Holt, P. K. and Raise, A. J. Reader in Urban Sociology.
Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press, 1951.

Lowry, Louis. Adult Education and Group work. New York:
Whiteside, Inc., l§55.

Miles, Arthur. gmerican_Social Work Theory, New York:
Harper and Brothers, 1953.

Neumeyer, Martin H. and Neumeyer, Ester S. Leisure and
Recreation. New York: A. S. Barnes and Company,
19749 .

 

 

Park, R. E. and Burgess, E. W. The City. Chicago: Univ-
ersity of Chicago Press, 1925.

90

91

Warner, A. 0., Queen, S. A., and Harper, E. B. American
Charities and Social Vgrk. New York: Thomas Y.
Crouell , Company, 19 30.

Warner, a. Lloyd. Democracy;in Jonesville. New York:
Harper and Brothers, 1949.

 

Wood, Robert A. and Kennedy,Albert J. Handbook of_§ettle-

ments. New York: Charities Publication Committee,
““ll
4.7 0

Articles
Armstrong, Robert and Raphael, Edna. "Relating A Neighbor-

hood Study to Programming,“ The Group,.XVII (February
1955), 9-12; 20-21.

 

Fox, V. “Good Neighbors All, A Project of the Lincoln Park,"
Recreation, XXXVIII (May, 1944), 44.

Isaacs, R. R. “Educational, Cultural, Recreational Services
to Increase Participation in Community Life,‘ Annals
of the American Academy_of Political,and Social

H—a--.

Science, ccxafl”(N3§6dber,lg:57;'lag-133;

 

Masin, H. L. “Everyday is Fun Day in Hackettstoun,"
Scholastic, XLVIII (May 13, l9A6), 6~7.

 

Reports
Carter, Genevieve w. and Frank, Elizabeth R. The Project
Yardstick-—Measuring_Youtg=Services Needs. Special
Report Series No. 36. selfare Planning Department.
Los Angeles, 1954.

Carter, Genevieve. "The Concept of Measurability of Need
for Social Work Service,‘ Groupxhork and Communit
Organization, l9r ~l- A. National Conference 0

SocialfiwOrk Papers. Nefi York: Columbia University
Press. 1953). pp. 36~39. 72.

Kaiser, Clara. “The Advance of Social Group Work,” The
Sggialmgelfare Forum 1955. Proceedinss of the
National Conference of Social Work. New York:
Columbia University P.ess, 1955), pp. 35-47.

 

Michigan Department of’Mental Health. Differential Utilisa-
tion of the Facilities of a Michigan Child GIIdance
Clinic. Research Report No. 17. ‘Harch, 1955.

92

"Operation of Indoor Recreation Centers,“ Proceedings o:
the ThirthSixth National Recreational Congress,

135s.

Recreation and Park Yearbook. New York: National Recreation
Association, 1951, pp. 453 16-17.

 

 

White, Virginia Kenn. Measuring Leisure-Time Needs. Group

..-

Work Council ResEEEEhHProject Report. Welfare Feder-
ation of Cleveland. Cleveland, Ohio (February, 1955).

 

Williamson, Margaret. 2Youth Services,” Social V2P512§§£_
Book 1954 (New York: American Association of Social
Workers, 1954), pp. 5&5-553.

Wilson, Gertrude and Ryland, Gladys. “Social Classes:
Implications for Social Group hork,‘ The Welfare
Forum 1954, Proceedings of the National Conference
of Social Work. (New York: Columbia University
Press, 1954), 168—18r.

 

 

 

Pamphlets

 

Community Services Council. Social Service Resources of
EDSDE§_QPUDCEJ_EEEE$£§§° Lansing, Michigan:gWUnited
Community Chest of Ingham County, Inc., April, 1956.

 

 

Unpublisheg_fiaterial

Brunson, Rose Toomer. "A Study of the Migrant Negro
Population in Lansing, Michigan, During and Since
World War II." Unpublished Master's research project,
Department of Social Work, Michigan State College,
1955.

Cowhig, James Daniel. ”Relations of Ecological and Socio-
logical Characteristics of Urban Sub-Areas of A
Middle Sized City.L Unpublished Doctor's thesis,
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Michigan
State College, 1954.

Lincoln Center. “Lincoln Center.“ Descriptive folder
prepared 0. 1950. (Mimeographed.)

Ryder, Morrison. Statement on the Lincoln Center's rogram
development prepared C. 1950. (Mimepgraphed.§

. Report outline prepared for the Lincoln Center
‘Buaget Conference, April 26, 1956. (Typewritten.)

 

93

Shore, Betty Elaine. "The Interests and.Needs of YOung
Adults as Reflected in Pregramming of Young Aiult
Groups at the Y. M. and W.H.A.“ Unpublished
Master's thesis, School of Social Work, University
of Pittsburg, 1950.

Smith, Joel. “An Analysis of Selected Characteristics of
the Population of Lansing's Census Tracts.“ Special
Research Study, Department of Sociology and Anthropo-
logy, Michigan State College, March, 1955.

Personal Interviews

 

Bethlehem.Temple Mission. Interview with Rev.Hildred Leek,
acting Assistant Minister. June 29, 1956.

Catholic Social Service. Interview with Father John D.
Slowey, Director. June 27, 1956.

Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of kmerica. Inter-
view with Daniel E. Brown, District Executive.
June 21, 1956.

Church of God in Christ. Interview with Rev. P. L. Sanders,
Pastor. July 5, 1956.

Collins Memorial A.M.E. Church. Interview with Rev. Lewis
Williams, Pastor. June 25, 1956.

Community Services Council. Interview with Duane Beck,
Executive Assistant. June 16, 1956.

. Interview with Perry Kata, Executive Secretary.
February, 1956.

 

Crider Chapel A.E.E. Church. Interview with Rev. Clara
Busby, Pastor. June 26, 1956.

Family Service Agency. Interview with Gladys Spaulding,
Director. June 25, 1956.

FriendshipBaptist Church. Interview with Rev. E. Gladstone
Scott, Pastor. June 21, 1956.

Ingham County Bureau of Social Aid. Interview with Thelma
‘V. Eames, Caseworker. July'5, 1956,

. Interview with Kathleen Rushton, Caseworker.
July 5, 1956.

 

Ingham County Circuit Court. Interview with Lloyd Service,
Friend of the Court. .June 22, 1956.

94
In 3ham.County Department of Social Welfare. Interview with
Mary Lou Peterson, Caseworker. July 9, 1956.

. Interview with Rosemary Smith, Caseworker.
July 9, 1C 56.

 

igham County Probate Court, Juvenile Division. Interview
with Bryon Foeder, Chief county agent. June 26, 1956.

Lansing Board of Education. Interview with Henry Ainsley,
Director of Child Accounting. July 3, 1956.

Lansing Child Guidance Clinic. Interview with Betty
Jolinson, Psycholosist. June 22, 1956.

Lansing Council of Churches (Protestant). ’Interview with
the Office Manager. August 14, 1956.

Lansing Girl Scout Council. Interview with Jean Paris,
Executive Director. June 21, 1956.

Lansing Police Department. Interview with Charles Stragier,
Inspector. June 26, 1956.

. Interview with Clarissa Youn3, Di ec tor of
the Youth Guidance Bureau. June 14,1956.

 

Lansing Recreation Department. Interview with Harrold
Kipke, Director. June 26, 1956.

Lincoln Center. Intervie ew with Richard Letts, Boys' Program
Director. JuneBT-EB, 1956.

. Interview with Morrison L. Ryder, Executive
Director. July 2 and 11, 1956.

 

. Interview with Dorothy A. Toomrr, Girls'
Pr03ram.Secretary. February 12, April 13, June 26-27,
1956.

. Interview wit ‘n Doro thy Nichols, Girls' worker.
June 13, 14, 87, July 2, 1956.

 

Lilly White Pentecostal Church. Interview with Rev.
weymnn Parks, Pastor. June 22, 1956.

Mask Memorial C.M.E. Church. Interview with Otis Haskins,
Deacon. June 26, 1956.

Mayflorer Con3re3 -tional Church. Interview with Rev.
Wi lliam Hainsuorth, Pastor. June 22, 1956.

\0
U1

St. Casimir Church. Interview with Rev. Leo Kalino .‘ski,
Pastor. Au3ust In, 1956.

St. Mary CathedrCLl Interview with Rev. James Kavenaugh,
Assistant Pastor. August 14, 10 56.

Union Baptist Churhh. Interview «ith Rev. Joel Kin3,
Pastor. Ju.Ly 2,1CJ56.

Killian Street Ch rch of God. Interv icw vith Rev. Thomas
Washington, Deacon. July {, 1956.

Young Men's Christian Association. Interview with Norman
Wilcox, Boys' Program Secretary. June 21, 1956.

. Interview with Earl F. Cruthis, Associate
General Secretary. June 25, 1956.

Young Women’s Christian Association. Interview with Ruth
Meyer, Young Adult.Pr03ram Director. June 21, 1956.

APPENDIX A

TABLE I
INCREASES IN THE NEGRO POPULATION OF THE CI OF
LANSING DURING THE CENSUS YEARS 1920-1950

‘0
k

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘ Y P N63313:);1 1 Increase over Preceding Census
Census ear opuia on Numbelfi Per Cent3 ii
1950 j,c90 1, 652 100.9
194 1, 638 239 16.2
193014U9 (ll ' 101.9

 

 

 

 

10. 3. Bureau of the Census, 1950 Population Census.
Reprint. (Washington, D. C. x U. 3. Government P.intin3 Oii'ice,
1956)) p. 35'

BColumn 3 represents the dii‘ference the total for a
given year and that preceding census year.

3

period.

Column 4 represents the percentage increase for that

TABLE II

INCREASES IN THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THE CIT¥
0F LANSING DURING THE CENSUS YEARS 1920-1950

 

 

 

 

n Ind '
Increase over Preceding Census2
Census Year Population 1.41.
Number Per Cent
1950 9:,lC9 13.376 17. 0
1940 76,753 355 0. 5
1930 75,397 £1.070 35-8

 

 

 

 

W T...

10. 3. Bureau of the Census, 0.33M9ensus of ngulatiqg
1950, Vol 1, No. of Inhabitants, Michi3sn; wChnpter as: ‘
Eloni3in {washinrton, D. 0.: U. S. Government Printing Office,
1951), Table 4, p. 11. _

ESume as Table I above.
96

APPENDIX B
CONSTITUTION OF THE LINCOLN CENTER

ARTICLE I

The name of this organization shall be the Lincoln Community
Center Council.

ARTICLE II

The membership shall be composed of four persons representing
agencies, the City Council, City Recreation Department, Com-
munity Welfare Fund, and the Board of Education-~in the com»
munity interested in furthering the program of the Community
Center, twelve adult representatives, individuals in the
community interested in the program, and three youth from

the community between the ages of 16 and 25. One-third of
the fifteen representative individuals shall be elected each
year. In the event of a vacancy the Council shall elect a
new member.

ARTICLE III

Section 1 -- The purpose of the Community Center Council
shalI Se in the main advisory. As a council they lend their
support to the program, they further its work through pub»
licizing it and give their Judgment upon the various activi-
ties.

Sectiqn_g -- A second purpose of the Community Center Council
snalI be to secure the financial support needed in carrying
on the program.

ARTICLEIH'

Section 1 -- The officers or this Council shall be Chainman,
Vice-Chairman, and Executive Secretary-Treasurer. The prin-
cipal of the Lincoln School shall be the Executive Secretary-
Treasurer.

Section 2 ~— The work of tho Chainman shall be to preside at
all buSIhess meetings of the Council, appoint all standing
committees, such as finance, educational, publicity, social
and program and be an Ex-Officio member of all committees.

97

 

9a

The Vice—Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chair-
man. The work of the Executive Secretary shall be to record
the minutes of all business meetings, answer correspondence
for the Council, receive and disperse all money used in
carrying out the program, and supervise the activities of

he program.

ARTICLE‘V
The Lincoln Community Center Council shall hold its monthly
meeting the second Tuesday of each month, excepting July and
August. The meeting shall be called to order at 7:00 P.M.

in the office at the Lincoln School. Special meetings shall
be called by the Chairman.

EK-Laws
ARTICLE I

The members of the Council shall not pay any annual dues.
ARTTCLE II

All members of the Council have equal voting privileges.

ARTICLE‘III
The annual election of the officers of this Council shall
occur at the Harch monthly meeting.

ARTICLE IV
Ten of the members shall constitute a quorum.for regular or
special meetings.

ARTICLE V
The supervisors of the work at the Center shall give a re-
port to the Council at each monthly'meeting.

ARTICLE VI
The Constitution or By—Laws may be amended at any monthly
meeting of the Council by a tne-thirds vote of those present,

provided the proposed amendment was presented in writing at
a previous meeting.

APPENDIX C
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

[Cover Sheet]

/ As you probably know} I am.in the process of preparing
a study of the Center's group work and leisure time activi—
ties. It will be an attempt to describe and analyze the
current program of club activities, objectives, and policy
of the Center, as well as the interests and needs of the
Center's participants as seen by the staff members directly
involved in its operation.

There is wide spread interest in youth serving agency
programs and the needs they meet. It may be that specific
plans for relating the program to the participants needs will
result from the answers you and the other staff'members give.
Your training and experience with this type of program will
be valuable in gathering the essential information. It
would be a great deal more interesting to me to Just sit down
and have you talk about your work but in order that we may
cover all the necessary points and so that the same points
will be covered by all the staff, I have made up a list of
questions which I would appreciate having you answer. Possi-
bly, you will have questions as we go along or suggestions as
to where the information may be more easily found, if you do,

please feel free to ask or suggest.
99

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

100

mscmmj
Name of leader
Name of group
How long have you been a leader of this group?

How long has group been in existence?

 

How was group established?
How often does the group meet?‘“fi
How did you become leader of this group?

 

By Director Special Interest Training or
Talent Lack of staff Other

 

Types of members in the group: male female

 

Range of ages
Number or Protestants ‘ flg_ Roman Catholics
Jews Others “

How many employed full time?

 

How'many employed after school?
In what part of the city do most of the group members

live?

 

What is the average attendance at meetings?

What is your Job with tho group?

 

w ~_._.

WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GROUP--Chairman, President,
etc.? _f

__ __ ‘ .- ‘_ _.__ A.—

List all activities of discussions your group has engaged
in:
l.

2.
3.

 

15.
16.

17.

18.

19.

PO
F"
.

22.

for the group?

101

 

 

Which do you regard as most successful? w
Why? _fl
Which do you regard as least successful?

 

' Jhy?

 

Do you have any activities or discussions, etc. planned
If so, what are they?

1.

 

2.
3.

Does the group have any plans for activities, discussions,

etc. If so, what are they:

Rho plans the program for your group?

 

 

What things do you consider most beneficial for your
group?
why?

Are there difficulties which prevent you from doing these
things?__»
Are there things you have to do with the group which you

consider undesirable or unnecessary?

 

During the month do you have an opportunity to talk with
any individuals in the group other than at group meetings?

Under what circumstances?

 

 

27.

n:
ma
0

29.

102

Did they bring you any problems? If so, what kind?

How were the problems handled?

Counseling Referral _

 

Other

To whom.were referrals made?

 

A. Type of Problem?
B. To whom referred?
C. Counselled by whom?

Have any referrals been made to you?

 

If so, what kind?

 

Have you met the father or mother?
List number and under what circumstances:

(at home, Center, or elsewhere)

Have any of the parents come to you on their own for the
purpose of talking over their child's problems with you?

If so, how many?

 

 

Does the director consult with you regularly about your

work? If so, how often?

 

 

On what matters have you received the most help?

Do you meet with other leaders outside agency for discussion

of club work? _ If so, how often? _

30.

31-

103

Are there additional resources (training courses, confer-

ences, equipment) which would aid you in your work?___

If so, what are they?

 

Have you seen any needs of the members of your group

which are not being met in the present program?

 

If so, are these changes in the Center's pregram which

you would like to make in order to meet these needs?

 

In what specific ways would you like to see the group

members grow as a result of their experience in the group?

Name _ ‘__ Telephone

Your education

 

 

 

Marital status ‘fim Religion A
Race
List contacts with groups previous to those at Lincoln

Center:

 

II.

III.

APPENDIX D

LINCOLN CENTER JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Q

Executive Director

 

Responsible for: Public relations aspects of program,
music classes, limited counseling program, making
referrals, and supervising activities of other workers
and their programs, i.e., staff meetings and personal

interviews (talks, newspaper coverage, radio).

Girls' Program Secretary

 

Responsible for: Group work programs for grade school
children, working with women's clubs and sorority
groups, girl scouts, and setting up Annual Youth Con-
ference machinery. Counseling with parents and children

with problems.

Boys' Program Secretary

 

Responsible for: Supervision of all recreation and
group work programs for boys; general supervision of
gymnasium when other programs are taking place; coaching
and instruction of all intramural leagues and games for
boys; he orga.ization of club groups for boys. He is
also responsible for assisting boys with problems, to

adjust to his peer groups.

104

IV.

Girls Worker

 

Responsible for: Programs for teen-age girls. Teaching
social and folk dancing classes, discussion groups for
Junior and senior high girls. Group work and recreation

classes. Intramural sports programs for girls.

Secretary

 

Handleseul correspondence and all bookkeeping items.

Lansing, Michigan
July, 1956

 

106

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