Dr. Norge Winifred Jerome

Pamela Smart, Executive Director

Dr. Norge Winifred Jerome is many things to many people.  I say that because even though she is not physically with us, her spirit, tenacity, and groundbreaking research live on.  To this day the staff and clients at Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corporation, Inc (MCRC) enjoy the fruits of her labor.  Our organization was first introduced to Dr. Norge in 2014 by a mutual acquaintance and MCRC Board Chair, Mrs. Joann Collins. Dr. Norge Jerome loved color, so I remember that day as though it was yesterday.  She walked into the room in a beautiful red dress and a hat that leaned to one side in such a way that only she could wear it.  She was a very graceful woman, and she demanded the attention of those who were gathered to meet her.  She told us little about herself because she was more interested in the work we were doing in the community.  There were several nuggets I took away from that day.  The one that struck me the most was, “Try to leave the world a better place than you found it” -Dr.  Norge Winifred Jerome. Secondly, for herself, she felt like she had come full circle because her first job when she came to Kansas City was working with Turner House Center, an agency less than 2 miles east of MCRC.  Lastly, she was exemplary of what selflessness really was.  She was highly interested in educating people, she was highly interested in the overall health of all people and nutrition was her target.

From that day our relationship blossomed and took on several forms.  She sponsored a major health fair for MCRC in 2016 called the “Passport to Good Health”.  The health fair was a huge event. Over 100 vendors participated, offering free health screenings to the public, i.e., mammograms, dental, eye examinations and eyewear, immunizations, pregnancy testing and sonograms, and kidney, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings. The participating physicians gave highlights on the advancement of a cure for sickle cell anemia. The “Passport to Good Health” was also marked Dr. Norge W. Jerome Day across the metropolitan area. Because of Dr. Norge, health fair participants received a plethora of educational resources on all facets of health, a health passport booklet, and tickets, people enjoyed a wide array of family-oriented activities, entertainment, games, and food. Through the networks and collaborations forged by Dr. Norge, MCRC was able to deliver desperately needed health screening and preventative care that may have been otherwise undetected. Over 1,000 people were seen by the motorcade of doctors and healthcare providers for a free screening at the “Passport to Good Health” fair. 

MCRC and Dr. Norge were equally interested in the other’s work and mission. MCRC is uniquely designed to provide holistic services to the community. Services include 2 (two) food pantries, Grab N Go (for the homeless), healthy eating classes, a single-family homeownership program, a transitional housing program, strengths-based case management, crisis intervention, budget counseling, information and referrals, motivation and education, client advocacy, senior citizen outreach and recovering substance support.

In partnership with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas, MCRC manages the largest food kitchen in the area known as the Wilhelmina Gill Multi-Service Center. We were fascinated to learn of Dr. Norge’s passion and work, and that she was the first person to combine anthropology and nutrition. The ongoing need to address the inequalities and shortages of food for many families within our communities was and is very much a strong concern of MCRC.

It wasn’t long thereafter meeting Dr. Norge Jerome that she settled into the trenches and engaged with MCRC conducting studies, and became a welcome asset, and great supporter of MCRC. Dr. Norge was immensely concerned with overall health, whether male, female, or ethnicity. She possessed an infectious zeal to ensure all individuals including our clients were well informed and educated in the facts and values of nutritional health and accessibility to such resources. Dr. Norge supported MCRC for several years sharing her wisdom, connections, and rewards. MCRC, clients, and the public at large benefited immensely from Dr. Norge’s knowledge and collaborations.

Dr. Norge understood people had personal lives outside of their vocation. She often inquired about how my family was doing. One day she asked me about my daughter, and I shared my daughter’s desire to return to school and receive her doctorate. Dr. Jerome was intrigued and asked that I bring my daughter to her so she may talk with her about her educational goals. When Dr. Norge and my daughter met, Dr. Norge wisely counseled and offered guidance to my daughter. She told my daughter to identify her course of study, and the school she’d like to attend, then apply and ask for the intern assistantship to cover the cost of her studies. My daughter heeded the advice of Dr. Norge and was accepted into KU’s intern assistantship program. In spring 2023, my daughter will receive her doctorate in Educational Phycology and Adolescent Brain Development.

It’s interesting how a woman of such enormous intelligence and the gift of developing others while changing so many lives could require so little.  She liked lintel soup and fresh fruits; she enjoyed sharing her home and culture with those she met along her journey. She would visit Grenada, bring back lovely spices, mainly fresh nutmeg, and share them with others. She loved the arts, ballet, symphony, and of course theater.  My job was orange sherbet, she loved orange sherbet, not just any orange sherbet, it was always Baskin Robbins 31 flavors. Whenever I’d pick up and drop off the orange sherbet to Dr. Norge, that tiny simple thing made this trailblazer and giant so very happy.

Her goal was to leave the world in a better place than she found it.  We are better because she was who she was, a mighty woman, a strong woman, a smart woman, a woman with a giant heart for humanity.

Dr. Norge Winifred Jerome will forever be missed but never forgotten. 

The Proclamation, letter from the Mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, and various other certificates are available today in the archives of MCRC and accessible if needed.