Uncrowned Community Builders

Mary Elizabeth Lee Kennedy was born August 14, 1926, in Newcastle, Pennsylvania. Mother Kennedy (respectfully called by those who know her), was raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Strong Vincent High School as class valedictorian. Though she would not come to know this until years later, this was an unacceptable honor for a young black woman. She served as president of the youth chapter of the NAACP, but her deepest love and commitment was to church activities locally and statewide. Upon receiving a scholarship from Temple University (against the expectations of her high school guidance counselor), Mother Kennedy graduated in 1948 with a degree in psychology. Other educational pursuits have lead to her receiving a teaching certificate in special education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, a master degree in Bible theology from the International Bible Institute and Seminary. She, along with her husband has been the recipients of honorary doctorates from Edinboro University.

In 1949, Mother Kennedy married the late Elder Charles Kennedy, Sr., in a Quaker meeting house in New York City. That same year they began their mission service in Puerto Rico, where she taught elementary school. While in Puerto Rico the first of their four children, Charles and Mary Ann were born. In 1956, they answered a call to serve in Liberia for seven years. Their two younger children, Elizabeth and Grace, were born there.

Included in her many accomplishments is the co-founding of the Community Country Day School in 1968, utilizing a small cottage on the camp grounds owned by the Benedictine Sisters. A model for education and social rehabilitation, the Community Country Day School still today provides a learning experience for socially and emotionally disturbed students providing a pathway to academic success. A poorly funded school, Community Country Day School has been successful in educating students who had been labeled unteachable and unreachable in a public school setting.

Mother Kennedy served as the schoolÃ?¢ââ??¬ââ??¢s principal for many years, applying the philosophy of Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??Applied LoveÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?, where it has been stated that teaching is love made visible. Corporal punishment has never been used as a disciplinary action at the school.

At the Community Country Day School there is a strong belief of the following:

Applied Love includes but is not limited to:

Firm, consistent discipline
Clearly defined limits
A structured environment
A relaxed, low-stress atmosphere
Mutual respect between staff and students
The teaching of self-worth and self-discipline
Emotional support during crisis situations
Behavior management through caring, not through fear

Aside from the Community Country Day School, Mother Kennedy co Ã?¢ââ??¬ââ?¬Å?founded with her husband: The House of Prayer, Church of God in Christ; the Community Drop In Center, an emergency counseling facility and shelter for runaways, addicts, alcoholics, and people with suicidal tendencies; and the Community of Caring, a social service agency that concentrates on helping the Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??newly poorÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã? and chronically unemployed. Community of Caring facilities have been also established in Cuba, Haiti, Tanzania, Liberia and South Africa.

Mother Kennedy is also a gifted writer and has published several volumes of inspirational poetry and instructional books, which include: Teach Me Lord, a book of stories of scripture, Hable con Migo, a book of conversational Spanish and Love Therapy; and a manual on the proprietary techniques developed at the Community Country Day School.

Although no longer the principal of Community Country Day School, Mother Kennedy remains actively involved with the day to day operation of the school and is the executive director of Community of Caring.

Mother Kennedy and her late husband, Charles, believed that God had called them to Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??a ministry of reconciliationÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?, bringing various races and nationalities together. Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??They lived the belief that Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Å?faithÃ?¢ââ??¬ââ??¢ is the victory that overcomes the worldÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?.