Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, Ph.D., believed working with others is an expression of love. She dedicated her life to helping people be the best they could be – to follow their vocations to the best of their abilities – to be the best nurse, the best mother. Her famous phrase was: “Don’t let that light go out.” A charismatic African-American nun, she was an advocate for intercultural awareness and inspired everyone she touched. Her memory lives on in the compassionate help the Thea Bowman Center provides today.
Thea Bowman Center is located in the Mt. Pleasant community of southeast Cleveland, bordering on Shaker Heights. It began as a Hunger Center in 1966 under the auspices of Epiphany Catholic Church. The church closed in 2009, but Thea Bowman Center continues to meet pressing needs in a community in which 65% of families live near or below the poverty level. As a community anchor, Thea Bowman Center provides a trusting environment in which we promote health and well-being through education and resources.