Lost Voices
EFFECT ON COMMUNITY
The strong sense of community instilled in Maudella in
childhood was conveyed in her work as an adult. While
teaching, she became involved with Scott
Community Center. Scott
Center attempts to teach young children to make the best
use of their leisure time. In addition to
social 
recreation and club activities
at the center, the children learned values and
creativity: I feel
that the children actually learn to respect each other
and they learn that you can play fair. They learn craft
work. They learn sharing. Sharing was
exemplified at Christmas time when the children made
crafts and took them to shut-ins.
Family togetherness was also emphasized at the center. Each year the center had dinners called "You Share It". On these occasions, each family would bring their favorite dish to share. I can do a world of training with children around the table. She felt it was around this community table that the child, with mother and father present, would be taught manners.
The center was not only for youth but served the community as a whole. It was the only place where church dinners, small parties or banquets could be held during the Jim Crow years. The Huntington Homemakers and other groups gathered there regularly for meetings. Senior Citizens were also welcomed at the center and dinners were held in their honor every Christmas.
In addition, Taylor built up the community through her
affiliation with the National Recreation
Association. She attended workshops and seminars and
brought this knowledge, as well as national speakers,
back to the Center for staff training. Her dedication was
such that she often donated her salary toward the
Center's operating costs.