Deb Percival was instrumental in organizing the neighborhood

By Megan Williamson, Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association

I’ve held a seat on the Schenk-Atwood-­Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association board for 12 years. Recently I had the great privilege of sharing time with someone who was instrumental in getting the neighborhood organized and was the one who eventually created what is now known as SASYNA. She was also instrumental in creating a neighborhood fair that has morphed into AtwoodFest.

Deb Percival grew into adulthood as a community organizer, draft counselor and fair housing advocate in the Chicago area. In fact, Percival chose to enroll in Elmhurst College because the train went right through downtown, which made involvement in protests and community organizing that much easier for her.

She moved to Madison in 1976 and was soon hired by Tim Bruer, the then-director of the Atwood Community House (which later morphed into the Goodman Community Center). Percival was tapped to coalesce the Atwood and Darbo/Worthington neighborhoods into an organized group, and to begin that process by listening to neighbors and gathering their concerns about the neighborhoods.

Percival literally went from door to door and asked people what their primary issues with the neighborhood were. Neighbors stated that airport noise, Madison-Kipp Corporation and not feeling safe in Schenk’s Corners as their main concerns at that time.

From that door-to-door organizing, the Atwood’s Alive bimonthly newsletter was born and within two months, was being mailed to 3,800 households. After many years languishing, a revitalized Atwood Neighborhood Association met in September 1977.

In reading through Atwood’s Alive, I was continually struck by the depth of proactive engagement of neighbors that Atwood Community House actuated and the organizing that was accomplished in the neighborhood. Everything from creating deep ties with their alder, Leonard Knutson, to holding political debates (I would’ve loved to be there for the Paul Soglin/Nino Amato one).

Early issues tackled included petitioning the city for traffic calming, flashing amber lights at Lowell School and working hard to improve equipment, lighting and access to what was then Oak Park (now Reger Park).

Mary Schumacher, a graduating East High School student at that time, hoped Hawthorne Park and the greater Schenk’s Corners area could be revitalized. After feeling ignored by the city, she and Percival created a survey and went around the vicinity to talk to the residents. Subsequently, Schenk’s Corners Neighborhood Association was formed.

Percival even had a hand in creating what we now know as AtwoodFest by helping to organize the Atwood Neighborhood Festival held in August 1977. That festival was held in Circle Park and included entertainment, games, dancing, bingo, a penny carnival and lots of food and beverages.

I took note that some neighbors camped there overnight to keep an eye on things. Funds received went to support the neighborhood association, just like AtwoodFest does today.

In 1999, ANA was renamed SASYNA, with SCNA invited to join. It met on the second Thursday of the month, just like it still does. If you’d like to become a part of this incredible history, please join SASYNA at the Goodman Community Center second Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

If you happen to meet or run into Percival, don’t forget to thank her for what she has done for the SASY neighborhood, for all the neighbors that call it home and for the larger collective community.