July 7th, 2020 marked the third anniversary of the passing of Ms. Doris Machen. This anniversary and the rebirth of the Black Lives Matter movement across the world has me thinking deeply about Ms. Machen’s legacy and how Black lives have always mattered in the Machen’s Center’s work with our community.

 

In 1959, Ms. Machen married Bobby Machen. A White woman married to a Black man, she witnessed first hand the racism and injustice he and other Black men experienced regularly. Concerned about the arrests, harassment, and police brutalization she saw over the years, Ms. Machen took action.

 

She began working with Rev. G at the Ingleside Community Center in the 90’s, and in 1997, went on to establish the Machen Center. Because of Ms. Machen’s history, our work over the years has been primarily with Black men facing the same racial disparities and oppression her life opened to her more than 60 years ago.

 

Guided by Ms Machen’s simple belief that everyone needs unconditional love and support, the Machen Center continues to help men in our community gain meaningful employment, access education, and see their value as engaged fathers. As our network of volunteers and allies grows, we pool our resources to provide critical youth and family advocacy where we help solve legal, health, and logistical problems for those who need it. We’ve also stepped up to help those impacted by our current public health crisis, providing essentials like food, gas, and toiletries.

 

Even though Ms. Machen is no longer with us, her legacy is still very much alive. With the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, we find ourselves full of renewed hope and a sincere desire for real change. We want to continue moving our community toward racial justice, vital self-sufficiency, and empowerment through customized support services.

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"We shall have to repent in this generation, not so much for the evil deeds of the wicked people, but for the appalling silence of the good people." Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Co-Founders Barb, Marguerite, and Ms. Machen

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