Place Matters Profile

From her apartment in the Lower East Side, Dorothy Day (1897-1980) co-founded The Catholic Worker newspaper and two "houses of hospitality" in 1936. Five years later there were 32 houses of hospitality in 27 cities, providing food, clothing, and fellowship to the urban poor. Day was an activist committed to social reform throughout her life - from radical journalism in her 20s to acts of civil disobedience while in her 70s. Today, St. Joseph's and Maryhouse (55 East 3rd Street) continue the long tradition of social activism for which the Lower East Side is renowned.