1. Marion Stamps helped to elect Chicago's first African-American mayor, Harold Washington, by organizing a massive voter registration drive in 1983.
13 Facts About Marion Stamps
1. 2.
Marion Stamps was aggressive in her fights to make sure that residents of housing developments had voices regarding their violent and harsh living conditions in public housing.
3.
In 1993, Stamps began working with many gang leaders throughout Chicago to help end growing violence.
4.
Marion Stamps moved to Chicago in 1963 and quickly became involved in the local civil rights movement.
5.
Marion Stamps moved to the Cabrini-Green housing project at 1230 North Burling Avenue where she began fighting for better living conditions and many other issues faced by Cabrini residents.
6.
Marion Stamps's work caught the eye of many powerful civil rights activists.
7.
Marion Stamps teamed up with William Darden and his west side organization, helping to organize and galvanize many during Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
8.
Marion Stamps temporarily served as a volunteer worker for Illinois US representative Cardiss Collins during her campaign in 1978.
9.
Marion Stamps helped organize a boycott of the 1982 and 1983 ChicagoFests, events which were created by Chicago mayor Michael Bilandic in 1978.
10.
In 1983, Marion Stamps angered newly elected Mayor Harold Washington when she attempted to organize a rent strike with other Chicago Housing Authority residents over complaints of poor maintenance.
11.
Marion Stamps worked with tenants during the process and began a successful collaboration with tenants from the Cabrini buildings located at 1150 North Sedgwick Avenue, 1160 North Sedgwick Avenue, 500 West Oak Street, 502 West Oak Street, 1157 North Cleveland Avenue, and 1159 North Cleveland Avenue.
12.
Marion Stamps was born with a heart condition that worsened until she died in her sleep on August 28,1996.
13.
Marion Stamps was the mother of five daughters, all of whom became active as teachers, youth program directors, youth programming, and in juvenile justice in impoverished neighborhoods.