~ The Friends of Grove Hall Branch Library have put forth a proposal to rename their second floor community space in honor of civil rights activist Mamie (Mimi) Jones. The decision was made to recognize Jones' significant contributions to the community and her unwavering dedication to social justice.

Jones, born on May 4, 1947, was a remarkable student who became deeply involved in civil rights activism at the young age of 15. She played a crucial role in registering new voters and tutoring them to pass poll literacy tests. Her efforts led her and her sister, along with other activists, to stage a "swim-in" in St. Augustine, Florida, as a means of desegregating public pools and beaches.

Unfortunately, this act of peaceful protest resulted in Jones and her fellow demonstrators being subjected to violence and arrested on charges of "deliberate disturbance of the peace," "malicious trespassing," and "conspiracy." However, their bravery did not go unnoticed as photographs of the event were published nationwide the following day. This helped push President Johnson and the U.S. Senate to take action on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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After leaving the South as part of the Great Migration, Jones eventually settled in Grove Hall where she continued her activism work by building community throughout Grove Hall and Roxbury. She hosted dialogues, communal readings, and tirelessly supported library programming.

Sadly, Jones passed away in 2020 but her legacy lives on through the memories of patrons and staff at the Grove Hall Branch Library. In order to honor her memory and contributions, there is a proposal to rename the mezzanine conference room after her. Currently named after an organization that never occupied the space, it is fitting that this community space be renamed after someone who truly made an impact.

The Council has adopted a resolution supporting this initiative by the Friends of Grove Hall Branch Library to change the name from the Teri Room to the Mimi Jones Conference Room. This serves as a small but meaningful way to honor Jones' legacy and ensure that her name and contributions are never forgotten.

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