In Touch With A Legacy Apple

By Betty Miller Buttram
FWIS Contributing Writer

In all the news surrounding the closing of the Albert G. Jennings Center and subsequently its reopening, I thought that I would write a story about Jennings and his work as a dedicated and energetic civic leader, youth counselor and Director of the Center from 1951 until his retirement in 1977. However, that story has been told several times as I found in doing research about the Jennings Center. I know that most of you here in this city knew Jennings, but I have only been a resident of Fort Wayne for nine years, so I had to educate myself on what was so special about the Jennings Center.

What I did find out about Jennings was that he had great devotion and love for the youth in the black community. He wanted them to be successful and to come back to serve in the community. He had a positive and uplifting spirit that surrounded that center and all the youth. He was devoted and dedicated to his purpose of being there for the youth and families in Fort Wayne’s East Central neighborhood. When he passed away in 1991, he left behind his legacy and an Apple.

One meaning of the word legacy is the long-lasting impact of events and actions that have taken place in the past, or in a person’s life. A legacy that comes from the life of a person reveals character, reputation, and setting an example for others to follow in the future. Jennings’ confidence and positive attitude in working with the youth brought many of them back to work in the community in leadership roles in the city of Fort Wayne.

Most of us have heard the saying “An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Perhaps it was said by an Elder when you were a child. It might have taken you a while to figure that saying out when you were a child, but you got it as you matured. What the Elder was saying is that the child was growing up to be like its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics. Now, if that was said with a smile that could be a good thing; but if there was no smile and a raised eyebrow now, that could be a bad thing. The Elders probably had some thoughts and wisdom about that child’s upbringing. One never knows until the child develops into adult age and takes the road that will lead to their life’s pathway. Jennings left the community with an Apple from his tree.

Anita Jennings Dortch is the Apple from Jennings’ tree. She feels that the duty of the Jennings Center is still being accomplished. “It’s a pillar. It’s an oasis in the community for our children. That’s why we have the term ‘ubuntu,’ which is a celebration of community. It’s the spirit of community: that I am, because we are. It’s an old African principle, and I think it has sustained us in our community. To always work together, to support the efforts of our community.”

Dortch is also a pillar at Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church where she is lovingly called the “Power Angel.” She gets things done. As her father was dedicated to the youth center, Dortch has been and still is dedicated to an area in the church called the Richard Allen Cultural Center (RACC). This space had not been used for a period when Dortch decided to develop it into a learning center with a library room. She took the lead, gave out the meeting times, and the assigned tasks to all who aided her in the mission. The RACC is used for multi-purpose events, but since the post-COVID, it is also being used for the Ubuntu Learning Lab under the leadership of Dortch and meets twice a month for the youth and the adults in the community and teaches African history lessons about Who We Are as a people.

The legacy of Albert G. Jennings is still alive because of his daughter’s dedication and commitment to reaching out to the community and by those who came back to be of service to their community.