Born and raised in Alabama, Mrs. Ernestine Gordon moved with her husband and son in 1948 to Detroit. Mrs. Gordon attended Virginia Farrell Beauty School and owned two businesses: Beauty and Barber Emporium and Monica's Barber and Beauty Castle. She was the first black person to open a business east of Grand Avenue on Gratiot Avenue.

During this business venture with her son Earl, Mrs. Gordon became a community activist by going to the local schools to teach proper hair care. In 1973 she opened a bar and lounge called The Magic Porte Lounge which was also located on Gratiot Avenue between Holcomb and and Rohns. She used the banquet hall on the second floor to initiate many political candidate forums and voter issue meetings. She found time to participate in many electoral campaigns and helped to elect many candidates to federal, state, county and city offices. Among them, Coleman A. Young (our late Mayor), Erma Henderson (former City Council President), former Councilman Clyde Cleveland and Congresswoman Barbara Rose Collins.

Not only did Mrs. Gordon own two businesses, she also lived in this East Side community. In 1978 she began door-to-door efforts to organize neighborhood block clubs. A result of this hard work and dedication was the City Airport Renaissance Association known as CARA. The purpose of CARA was to stabilize, revitalize, encourage and assist residents in maintaining and improving their properties. Through the efforts of Mrs. Gordon, her husband Monroe, and the CARA members , grants were received from the City of Detroit Neighborhood Opportunity Fund / Community Development Block Grant Program (NOF/CDBG). These monies came to the city from the federal government Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). Roofs, furnaces, windows or porches were installed for low-income senior citizens. This on-going project enabled residents to stay in and maintain their homes which continued to provide a tax base for the city.

Because of the love Mrs. Gordon (and her family) had for this community, she later organized and founded the Friends of Detroit City Airport in May of 1991. She was initially against the expansion of the airport because she saw the devastation that began when the residents were told not to improve their properties because they would only be reimbursed for 'current' property values. Residents became confused and frustrated as the decision process dragged on. Once again, Mrs. Gordon promoted and lobbied not only for the City Airport renovation and beautification but also for the CARA area. She was a constant visitor at the City Council meetings; writing letters, making presentations and speaking with the media regarding the seeming disregard for the needs of the residents of the communities affected by the expansion.

Ernestine Gordons' legacy also includes: active member of the Christian Temple Baptist Church, the Eastside Slate, City of Detroit Tax Review Board. She was appointed first black female City Airport Commissioner for the City of Detroit (by Mayor Coleman A. Young), she organized over 70 neighborhood block clubs, was a member of the Harper/Gratiot Multi Service Center Community Council (HGMSC), was an organizer and participant in the Annual Block Club and Vacant Lot 'Clean-Up' Campaign, promoted voter education and registration, organized annual Halloween 'goodie' give-away distribution (at the HGMSC and City Airport). Along with CARA members she also coordinated the annual Angels Night patrols, distributed annual Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets to local resident families. She was a coordinator for Congresswoman Barbara Rose-Collins 'Festival of Giving' Christmas basket give-away. Mrs. Gordon accomplished all of this while being married more than 59 years to Monroe Gordon, raising a son, being a grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.