Three Generations of Community Activists

Edward Hatter has been the executive director of the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House, also known as “the Nabe,” since 2004. He recalls applying for an internship at the Nabe in low-income housing development when his grandmother, Enola Maxwell, served as the nonprofit’s ED. 

“I remember seeing the announcement on her desk. Then I had to talk to her about what the job entailed, which was basically everything else the center might need,” said Hatter.

Since 1922, the nonprofit has offered a shifting array of community-oriented services to Hill residents. Today, the Nabe offers programs for youth, seniors, and families of color living at the Potrero Annex and Terrace, Sunnydale, and Alice Griffith public housing complexes. The Nabe leases its childcare facility to Wu Yee Children’s Services, San Francisco’s largest Head Start and Early Head Start provider. It offers extracurricular education and college and career awareness programs for six- to 13-year-olds, adulthood preparation for those between the ages of 16 and 25, and peer counseling for 10- to 21-year-olds in detention. 

In the mid-1990s Hatter was a construction intern at the Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC). He worked alongside Enola and Gordon Chin, Chinatown CDC’s founder, who directed the nonprofit until 2011. Hatter’s first task was to advocate for restoration of low-income housing on the edge of Chinatown that’d been lost as a result of demolition of the International Hotel, known as the I-Hotel, in the late 1970s. The rebuilt I-Hotel opened in 2005 with 104 units of low-income housing.  

Hatter was awarded the Nabe’s low-income housing development internship. Toward the end of his time in the position, Maxwell sent him a Nabe job announcement for program coordinator with facility management experience and a background in construction. Hatter got the job. 

After Maxwell passed in 2004, the Nabe’s board promoted Hatter to executive director. According to Hatter, the Chinatown CDC internship taught him to go to the community, figure out what people wanted, and what results should look like. 

“That work prepared me for what I did next and have done ever since, running the Nabe and assisting with the revitalization of public housing on the Hill,” said Hatter. 

Hatter’s goal in directing the Nabe is to ensure that Hill residents, particularly families living in Potrero Annex and Terrace, have adequate resources. He also works on developing intra-community connections. 

“I remember Edward asking if he could bring a group of young people from the Hill to Chinatown, so they could see what it was like,” said Reverend Norman Fong, who served as Chinatown CDC director from 2011 to 2020. “This was in the late-1990s and early-2000s. There was a lot of tension between the AAPI and Black communities. It helped the young people that came and those whom they told about the visit understand that the two communities have common ground.” 

Ronald Hatter, Enola Maxwell’s son and Edward’s father, worked as a case manager for Intensive Home-Based Supervision programs in the late-1980s. The programs provide youth on juvenile probation with structured supervision as an alternative to detention. In 1987, Ronald collaborated with Jack Jacqua, who currently manages the Nabe’s peer counseling program for youth in detention. Together, the two started the Omega Boys’ Club, a nonprofit focused on youth development and violence prevention. Later, Ronald brought in Dr. Joe Marshall as an administrator, who remade the organization into “Alive & Free.” Ronald finished his career by working as a case manager for the City’s food stamp program. 

Barbara Dundy, Enola’s older daughter, was a beautician. 

“She owned a number of shops here in the City,” said Edward Hatter, who pointed to her role in helping to elect Sophie, Enola’s daughter, to the position of District 10 Supervisor in 2000. “She was part of the social scene, helping with campaigns for Sophie and Enola. She would hold small cocktail parties, bring her friends in, raise money, anything she could do. Most of her shops were in the Western Addition.” 

Horace Peter, Sophie Maxwell’s husband, was a supervisor for San Francisco Public Works in the cement department.

“He worked there long before Sophie became supervisor. He worked his way up. He retired shortly after she became supervisor,” said Edward Hatter.

Discussions about the Maxwell and Hatter families often turn to Enola. 

According to Goat Hill Pizza co-owner, Philip De Andrade, Enola’s persistence and compassion led to a “like mother, like daughter” legacy for Enola and Sophie.

“It was a question of working with two dedicated professionals who cared about the community. Their work came from the heart as much as the brain. I am proud to have supported both of them in their efforts to aid the community,” said De Andrade.

Chin said Enola, Sophie, and Edward demonstrate a commitment to place that’s lasted for three generations. 

“I wish that happened more in other neighborhoods. It would be great if members of families saw an area as one that they embody, own, and protect. Potrero Hill is so much better because of their work,” said Chin. “There are not too many other families that have helped lead the City for half a century.” 

This is the second of a two-part series. Part one appeared in the View’s January 2024 issue.