St. Petersburg, FL – April 25, 2017 – On Saturday, April 29, 2017, the members of the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section of the National Council for Negro Women (NCNW) will celebrate their grand re-opening of the Fannye A. Ponder Council House located at 1835 Ninth Avenue South in St. Petersburg from 10:00 a.m. until noon. It will be an honor to share this accomplishment with many distinguished guests and supporters of NCNW’s mission through advocacy and community-based services and programs.
Built in 1942, to meet the needs of our segregated community, the Fannye Ayer Ponder Council House not only served as the Section’s meeting place, but hosted several events and fundraising activities by other civic groups and organizations. Originally, the two-room wood frame Council House was a one-story L-shaped frame bungalow with wood siding and in 1947, the house was dedicated as the Fannye Ayer Ponder Council House, the first NCNW House in America. It was also declared a historic landmark in 1991. Through the efforts of then State Representative Darryl E. Rouson and a state-funded grant, the Ponder Council House was renovated in 2016.
Special guests will include U.S. Representative Charlie Christ, Mayor Rick Kriseman, Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, Sheriff Robert Gualtieri, Assistant Police Chief Luke Williams, School Board Member Rene Flowers (event emcee) and many other welcomed guests. Tours of the newly renovated house will be provided.
ABOUT MRS. FANNYE AYER PONDER
Mrs. Ponder for whom the house is named, came to St. Petersburg in 1925 with her husband Dr. James Ponder who was appointed as city physician for the African-American community. Mrs. Ponder was a dear friend of Dr. Mary McCloud Bethune, the founder of NCNW. Mrs. Ponder served as the vice-president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), was a graduate of Florida A&M and organized the local affiliate of NCNW known as the St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section. Mrs. Ponder wanted it to be clear and not mistaken that NCNW was not a federation of local women clubs. It is through its affiliate organizations of women contributing to the solution of problems of human welfare, human rights, social planning and action on all levels of involvement.
For more information about NCNW St. Petersburg Metropolitan Section please contact (727) 459-6101