Restored historic Juanita Jackson Mitchell Law Center will be the new home for The ROAR Center

“In this office, on this avenue, the Mitchell and Jackson families waged the legal battles that dismantled segregation in Maryland and helped reshape this nation. Juanita Jackson Mitchell — the first Black woman to practice law in Maryland — worked here. Her husband, Clarence Mitchell Jr., “the 101st Senator,” worked here. This was not just a law office. It was a command post in the fight for American democracy.” — Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway, Sr., President/CEO, Beloved Community Services Corporation (BCSC).

The restoration of the West Baltimore law office where civil rights pioneer Juanita Jackson Mitchell practiced was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 26, marking it as the new home of ROAR. Officials, including U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., and former U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin gathered with members of the Mitchell family and ROAR staff at the building on Druid Avenue in the Upton neighborhood to mark the near completion of this four-year restoration effort.

Dr. Hathaway continued, “A $1.75 million Congressionally Directed Spending earmark made this restoration possible — a recognition from Washington that what happened on this block matters to the entire country. I want to thank the Abell Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Healthy Neighborhoods for their grant support. Preservation is expensive, and you all believed this building was worth the investment.”

“And to the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and specifically ROAR — thank you for being a strategic partner in this work. Your partnership reflects something larger that we are building along this corridor: a bridge between our great research institutions and the historic Black community that surrounds them.” 

“This building will now serve as it once did — as a place where law, justice, and community intersect. Together with the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center, it forms the heart of what we now call Freedom Square, a heritage corridor where faith met action, right here in West Baltimore.”

Bill Joyner, JD, MSW, UMB’s assistant vice president for community engagement and partnerships, said the project is “an exciting opportunity for UMB to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to the community in Baltimore City, especially in West Baltimore. ROAR continues that essential tradition of empowering the residents of Baltimore City through the provision of free legal services and other support to those directly impacted by crime.”

Lydia Watts, Director of ROAR, thanked Dr. Hathaway and everyone involved in this effort. “ROAR has stood alongside survivors of crime, violence, and other harms throughout Baltimore City. Our staff of attorneys, paralegals, case managers, therapists, and nurse care managers—a small but mighty team—has helped hundreds of individuals and families navigate the challenges that often follow trauma,” said Watts. 

“And now, we will carry out that work in a place that holds profound meaning—in the former offices of Juanita Jackson Mitchell. As Senator Mitchell shared with me when we first met, we are building upon her legacy: a legacy of standing up for those who needed an advocate, fighting for fairness and justice, and expanding opportunity for all. It is both an honor and a responsibility to continue that work here, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped make this day possible.“

Once the final work is completed this summer, ROAR staff will begin serving their clients where Mitchell once served hers. Learn more about Juanita Jackson Mitchell’s legacy and ROAR’s new office location here.