Honoring the Dawson Family

On October 16, 2002, a drug dealer in the Oliver Neighborhood of East Baltimore set a house on fire killing a family of seven.

Since that time, many stories have been told about the Dawson family. Angela Dawson was a community activist who chased drug dealers off her corner; Carnell Dawson was a hard worker and a dedicated father; their five children were praised by their teachers and would have been high schoolers or college students today.

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the deadly fire and as Megan found out, there is some positive news to come out of this story.

The Dawson Safe Haven Community Center has been created on the site of the deadly fire. After school progams, a computer lab, and even a park are helping transform the community and the neighborhood.

Megan talked with one of those behind the effort, Reggie Scriber who is Deputy Commissioner of Community Services for Baltimore City Housing. He talks about the efforts made to create the Dawson Safe Haven Community Center and what the future plans are for Oliver Street Neighborhood and other neighborhoods around the city.