Jaconda “Zell” McFail

In this conversation, Ms. Edna talks to Jaconda “Zell” McFail about the history and legacy of the Boyd-Booth Association, a prominent community organization in Southwest Baltimore. Zell's mother, Barbara McFail, was a former president of the organization. Zell discusses her mother’s dedication and tireless efforts to improve the community, including cleaning up the streets, advocating for residents, and running an afterschool program. She also describes the close-knit, family-oriented nature of the Boyd-Booth community, and she charts how the community has changed over time, with increased vacancy, lack of community engagement, and challenges with city services. At the end of the conversation, Zell connects a potential revival of the Boyd-Booth Association through the organization’s historical partnership with Fayette Street Outreach.

Click on the image on the right to access the audio and transcript.