Boys & Girls Club Honors Dr. Joyce Yerwood with Community Mural

As the first African American female doctor in Fairfield County, Dr. Joyce Yerwood broke both gender and racial barriers in her field. Throughout her 50-year career, she provided quality medical care to low-income women, children, and families, in Stamford’s Westside delivering over 2,000 babies, many of whom still reside in the community.

Dr. Yerwood's impact extended beyond her medical practice. She was a tireless advocate for social justice and equality, founding the Stamford Negro Community Center in 1943, which later became the Yerwood Center in 1975. This center, now operated by the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, continues to serve the community by offering affordable afterschool and summer programming for low-income students.

To honor Dr. Yerwood's enduring legacy, the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford applied for a micro-grant from the City of Stamford and raised additional funds from residents, including former Mayor David Martin, to create a mosaic mural at the Yerwood Center. The project aimed to honor Dr. Yerwood's contributions to our community and ensure that the inspiring story of Dr. Yerwood's mission of service, education, and empowerment continues to resonate with all who walk the halls of the Yerwood Center.

In September, the Boys & Girls Club hosted two community events in which Club members and local residents participated in creating the mural with the help of professional mural artist Cathleen Newsham of Modern Mosaic Arts. Participants learned about the process of creating a mural and added pieces to the design while discussing Dr. Yerwood's remarkable life and contributions to the Westside community.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 28, Boys & Girls Club CEO Craig Baker, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, Senator Patricia Billie Miller, and members of Dr. Yerwood’s family shared how Dr. Yerwood’s mission continues to live on through the work of the Boys & Girls Club and the various ways they ensure that her legacy is honored daily with the hundreds of children served daily at the Yerwood Center. "Dr. Joyce Yerwood's legacy is not just a part of Stamford's history—it's a living, breathing force that guides our work every day," said Craig Baker, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. "This mural is just one way we honor her incredible history. But our commitment goes far beyond art on a wall. We're dedicated to embodying Dr. Yerwood's spirit of service, education, and empowerment in everything we do. This mural serves as a daily reminder of the incredible legacy we're tasked with upholding and the bright futures we're helping to build. Dr. Yerwood broke barriers and opened doors. It's our job to ensure those doors remain open, welcoming every child with the opportunity to dream big and achieve even bigger."