Marie Wilkinson was a longtime Aurora civil rights activist who raised money for the march on Selma – led by Martin Luther King Jr. – and helped organize the Quad County Urban League, a social action organization dedicated to equal opportunities for disadvantaged people and people of color. Quick to open her home to those in need, Mrs. Wilkinson also started a child-care center and food pantry in Aurora, both of which now bear her name.
The Dunham Fund grant provides the financial ability to promote and distribute the recently published book “Gentle Spirit: Memoirs of Marie Wilkinson.” In collaboration with the Aurora Public Library and the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, a special space will be created to document Marie’s legacy and share with local residents the impact she had on the greater Aurora community.