Robin Davenport, 58, inspired House of Umoja

FRANCES ELLEN Brown Davenport was a journalist in Philadelphia back in the bad old days of the '60s, when violent teenage gangs were running wild in the city streets. And she had a journalist's curiosity.

"I wanted to know why children were killing each other," she said. "I asked my husband to do some research for me. I wanted to get a handle on the problem."

Then came a shock. Her husband, David Fattah Sr., discovered that her 16-year-old son, Robin, was a gang member. He was running with the Clymer Street Gang in South Philadelphia.

It was no longer a matter of wanting to write about the gang problem: Frances was confronted by the challenge of saving her own son.

She hit upon an unusual solution. She and her husband invited the entire Clymer Street Gang to move into their house in West Philadelphia. And 15 of them did.

That was 1968, the beginning of what would become the House of Umoja, the unique, privately funded agency whose simple purpose is to save the lives of troubled youth.

And Frances Ellen Brown Davenport became Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, who has run the house for about 40 years.

The son, Robin Brown Davenport, whose gang involvement was the catalyst for the creation of the House of Umoja and who later became a key figure in center programs and the renovation and maintenance of its buildings, died April 4 after a prolonged illness. He was 58.

"People predicted he wouldn't make it to 20," his mother said. "And now he's a grandfather."

Robin was the brother of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who said, "My older brother Rob is the reason why my parents focused on the lives of young people in Philadelphia. He played an important role in my family's activities for many decades in the work of changing the life chances of countless youngsters.

"I'm saddened by his loss after a long illness. The family is gratified by all the love and support and prayers we have received from the community."

Curtis Jones Jr., Democratic majority leader of City Council, knew Robin in their youth and remembered him as a "strong, silent type," and a "man who meant what he said."

"Rob was smooth," Jones said. "He was a real ladies' man. He was a guy who was very true to his word."

Falaka Fattah, who had worked for African-American publications, including the Tribune, recalled when she found out her son was a gang member.

"I had no clue," she said. "It came as a shock. I wanted to know who was doing something about the gang problem. Was it law enforcement, the faith-based community? Then I decided to look inward, and I invited the gang to come and stay with us."

She and her husband took all the furniture out of the living room and told the gang members to bring camping equipment. "We had to become inventive because there really wasn't enough room," she said.

But that was how the legendary program got started. More than 3,000 young people have gone through the House of Umoja since then, and Falaka Fattah has met with presidents and other notables who praise the work.

But she always regretted that her son was not getting enough credit for what he had done for the cause.

Robin and friends Robert Allen and Charlie "Boo" Burris, both now deceased, founded what they called the Umoja Economic Bureau, which was geared to finding jobs for ex-gang members.

The three also ran a youth-employment program called "Rent-a-Kid." They worked with the Young Great Society in Mantua to provide moving services to welfare recipients.

Robin, who also was known as Jusari Fattah, was born in Philadelphia. His late father was Russell K. Davenport. Robin attended public schools in South Philadelphia. He also took business courses at the Community College of Philadelphia.

He was only 12 when he apprenticed with Alfonso Tennessee, a general contractor. After 10 years, he started his own contracting business.

He was married to Evette Yarborough.

Robin was brought up an Episcopalian by his grandmother, and in 2003 was a founding member of Thomas Temple of Faith Church.

Besides his mother, wife and brother, he is survived by two sons, Anthony and David; a two daughters, Angela and Robin; four other brothers, Stefan, Kenneth, Nasser and David; a half-brother, Curtis, and five grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 W. Girard Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Interment will be private.