- "She considered it a privilege, which is why our Shirley Chisholm Complex will feature new child-friendly services, such as on-site daycare, rent control and financial planning, to inaugurate our sweeping Family First Initiative."
- ―Mariah Dillard[src]
Shirley Chisholm Complex is a community clinic in Harlem, founded by Mariah Dillard as a part of the Family First Initiative.
History[]
Family First[]
- "This is her dream. All of this. The clinic. It'll have 12 rooms, daycare, job placement services, a dentist, a pharmacy. All to help young single mothers starting fresh or starting over."
- ―Mariah Dillard to Tilda Johnson[src]
As a part of the Family First Initiative, Mariah Dillard ordered the construction of the community clinic in Harlem, named after Shirley Chisholm. With money from selling her weapon business, Dillard's project was approved and the complex's construction had begun. Later, after an official announcement, Dillard brought Tilda Johnson to the complex to show her the result of her project, telling about Mama Mabel and her dream about a building like that.
Dillard showed Johnson the pictures of Sojourner Truth, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ida B. Wells, Bessie Coleman, Zora Neale Hurston, and Maya Angelou and explained her plans about the complex and the project in general. Despite Johnson's skepticism about her mother's actions, Dillard offered her to become the medical director of the complex, and Johnson decided to consider her offer.[1]
Inauguration[]
- "This complex is a new beginning. And we all know how hard it can be sometimes starting over. But we will do it together. Together, Harlem rises."
- ―Mariah Dillard[src]
Prior to the opening of the complex, Bushmaster decided to send a message to Mariah Dillard through his violent way. Bushmaster brutally murdered Mark Higgins, Cockroach Hamilton, and Ray Ray, decapitated the heads of his victims, and placed them at the entrance of the complex. Later that night, the reporters came to the complex to make a report about Dillard and the opening of her project. However, as soon as she opened the doors, they saw the severed heads, much to their horror.[1]
