Sister Margit Nagy, CDP recalls the work of Sister Frances Jerome, CDP

Sister Margit Nagy, CDP, PhD, participated at a 300 Years San Antonio event held at Our Lady of the Lake University: Revisiting the 1968 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Hearing in San Antonio Conference. Sister Margit’s presentation was centered on “San Antonio’s Model City Experience (1968-1971): The Sociological Analysis by OLLU’s Sister Frances Jerome, CDP, PhD, for U.S. Representative Henry B. Gonzalez.”

Sister Frances Jerome, a native of Oklahoma, entered the Congregation of Divine Providence at 15 years of age. She earned numerous degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in History, a Master of Arts in Political Science, and a PhD in Sociology at The Catholic University of America in 1949. The focus of Sister Frances Jerome’s dissertation was on San Antonio’s Mexican ethnic leaders and thus titled her dissertation Mexican Ethnic Leadership in San Antonio, Texas. Inspired by the love Sister Frances Jerome had for history and sociology, Sister Margit Nagy presented the essence of the Model City experience in San Antonio and how that gave rise to people at the local level to participate in government/community decisions. Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), through the efforts of Father Albert Benavides, was initiated during that time to be able to train local leaders.

“One of the great outcomes of the Model City experience,” said Sister Margit, “was that of education, especially in the 78207 area, and especially in early childhood programs.” Sister Margit credits the experience of then U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson in Cotulla, Texas. The population he taught was poor and Mexican. Recalling that experience is what Sister Margit believes “inspired” Johnson to form the U.S. Model City Experience.