Feb 20, 2016 4 min read

In the late 1970s, my father became extremely upset over the way the Highland-Erie-Ridge community in Washington was being slighted when it came to state and federal grants. At the time, the residents of the area were predominately African-American. It was one of the few areas where blacks could receive a bank loan to purchase a home. Several generations of Fleets grew up in what would be called “Linn Town.” My father, my grandfather and my great-grandfather all lived on the same street. My dad had a vested interest in changing his community.

In 1980, my father made an appointment to see Washington’s mayor, Leah Driehorst. He asked his friend, George Robinson Sr., to accompany him. Since I was leaving for Los Angeles that year, he asked me to come along. He asked Driehorst why there was no funding mechanism for the Linn Town community, even as federal and state funds were being targeted to other areas in Washington, especially downtown. She told our group there were no grants available for Linn Town.

Encouraged to pursue funding, my father spoke to my mother, Delcina Fleet, who sat on several community boards, about approaching federal and state representatives and seeking their cooperation in directing more resources into Washington’s black community. She instructed him to write letters. And he did. He wrote letters to everyone who would listen, and even some who would not.

I was in Los Angeles when I got the call from dad telling me he got a commitment for a grant for Linn Town’s revitalization for over $500,000. In 1980, The Highland Erie Project was born.

My parents purchased the old NAACP building on Lincoln Street, rented out the top floors and turned the bottom floor into office space for the newly formed Highland Erie Project. My dad became the first president, George Robinson Sr. was the first vice-president and my mom took on the role of treasurer. Dad believed nothing was being done on “the Hill,” and he was going to change that. He envisioned an integrated, thriving community with businesses and all kinds of professionals. Historically, the Highland Erie community consisted of several small, black-owned businesses. The community rallied and was inspired to make this community project a successful one.

From 1980 to 1993, the Highland Erie Project, which later became The Highland Erie Committee, brought in more than $4.2 million. There were more than 20 new homes built and more than 200 homes renovated. But the Highland Erie Committee didn’t stop with home remodeling. It also sponsored dances, the first African-American festival in downtown Washington, offered plane rides for disadvantaged kids and many more activities to highlight the accomplishments of local African-American talent.

The aging process stalled the Highland Erie Committee. My parents were not able to take on new projects or find volunteers to continue. What became of their dream? The Highland Erie Committee became reborn in 2001 as the Highland Ridge Community Development Corp. formed as a nonprofit corporation. When I was elected president of the organization in 2011, several past presidents reminded me that it was directly related to the Highland Erie Project, and hoped I would continue to keep its mission alive.

Dad never limited assistance to just black families. His projects reached as far as Claysville and beyond. The HRCDC holds the same mission, and in 2014, working with Washington Financial Bank, our “Mending Fences” program won a national award. But it all started 36 years ago, when one man and one community stood up to make a difference. It became a great moment not just in black history, but in human history.

Fred Fleet is the vice president and a past president of Highland Ridge Community Development Corp.