Chops Porter Institute

Remembering Chops (Boston Globe obituary)

`CHOPS' PORTER, STREET WORKER WAS A BEACON TO MANY; AT 61
By Adam D. Krauss, Globe Correspondent
10/12/2002

Dorzell "Chops" Porter, a senior street worker hailed as a community superstar, died Tuesday at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Dorchester resident was 61 and had diabetes.

Mr. Porter was one of the first street workers to be hired by the city in 1990 when Boston's homicide rate hit an all-time high. Through the Boston Community Center, he worked directly with gang members and police, serving as a liaison for the community, said Tracy Litthcut, who manages the Community Center and worked with Mr. Porter.

"Hiring him brought our program instantly to the next level," Litthcut said. "It was a situation where we developed strong relationships with police. `Chops' was a pioneer when it was the worst time for Boston. It was a time when it wasn't fashionable to work with gang members."

Chops / Streetwork photos

Top photo - left to right: a Franklin Field resident, Reverend Eugene Rivers, Streetworker Dorzell "Chops" Porter, in the aftermath of the Eric Paulding murder - the first juvenile killed in street violence after 2.5 years (1997).

Middle and bottom photos: Chops and former Streetworker Program Manager Hewitt Joyner III and members of the "Vamp Hill Kings", circa 1996. These pix are from Hewitt's current web site.