Bill Text: PA HR96 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Recognizing, during the observation of "Women's History Month" in March 2009, the contributions of Dorothy Allen, Josephine Blow, Lois A. Fernandez, Minnie Moore-Johnson, Lillian Ray, Betty B. Richardson Smoot and Emma Wilson.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 34-16)

Status: (Passed) 2009-03-18 - Adopted [HR96 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR96-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  1067

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

96

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY JOHNSON, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, McCALL, MILLARD, MURPHY, MURT, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 17, 2009

  

  

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 17, 2009  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Recognizing, during the observation of "Women's History Month"

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in March 2009, the contributions of Dorothy Allen, Josephine

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Blow, Lois A. Fernandez, Minnie Moore-Johnson, Lillian Ray,

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Betty B. Richardson Smoot and Emma Wilson.

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WHEREAS, March 2009 is "Women's History Month," and

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Pennsylvania has many women who have contributed greatly to the

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progress and tradition of this Commonwealth; and

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WHEREAS, While many of these women have already received wide

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recognition for their contributions, there are countless others

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who are less well known but are nonetheless woven into the

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fabric of our history; and

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WHEREAS, Seven women of this Commonwealth who deserve

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acclamation during "Women's History Month" have served the City

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of Philadelphia for decades; and

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WHEREAS, Dorothy Allen began the Barrett Educational

 


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Community Center in 1976 to offer a safe haven for children and

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youth and to provide resources, food and services to

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neighborhood adults, personally financing the center and

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continuing to work during acute illnesses and through personal

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tribulation; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Allen recently turned over the center's

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operation to her granddaughter, Tiphanie White, who now serves

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as its executive director; and

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WHEREAS, Josephine Blow has served as Chester Avenue Business

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Association's president for the past 20 years, is a

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committeeperson of the 51st Ward, a board member of the African

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Cultural Alliance of North America and serves on planning

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committees for Southwest Pride Day, Thomas Avenue Town Watch

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National Night Out Celebration and Garden Homes; and 

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WHEREAS, Ms. Blow belongs to the Southwest EPIC Stakeholders

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and its Safe Corridor program, the 12th Police District Advisory

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Council, the South West Action Coalition, Project NEAT and

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Intelligent Sisters Improving Selves (ISIS), is an elected

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member of the board of the Southwest CDC Neighborhood Advisory

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Committee and has been involved in the planning and

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revitalization of the Chester Avenue business corridor; and

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WHEREAS, Lois A. Fernandez holds a master's degree in urban

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planning from Antioch College and worked for the City of

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Philadelphia from 1970 to 1988, fighting gang violence, engaging

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in parent counseling and supervising children in foster care, as

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well as innovating social programs in the Philadelphia School

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District; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Fernandez has played a significant role in

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preserving and perpetuating African culture since 1972, which

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was highlighted through her work on the host committee of the

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Corporate Council of Africa's 2001 meeting in Philadelphia; she

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founded ODUNDE, Inc., initiated the ODUNDE Festival in

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Philadelphia in 1975 to celebrate African culture and has served

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as ODUNDE, Inc.'s president for the past 30 years; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Fernandez has received numerous awards for her

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vision and service, and, in 1967, she sued in Federal Court,

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successfully, for the removal of the term "illegitimate" from

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the birth certificates of babies of single mothers; and

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WHEREAS, Minnie Moore-Johnson is the founder and chief

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executive officer of Concerned Parents, Inc., a nonprofit

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organization that provides services to citizens in Philadelphia

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who are less fortunate, elderly, homeless, or ex-offenders; the

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organization provides educational support, food, clothing,

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affordable furniture and appliances and links clients with

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service agencies to find additional resources and employment;

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and she personally has increased the annual Concerned Parents,

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Inc., senior citizens Thanksgiving dinner from 15 meals served

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in 1968 to 25,000 meals served in 1988; and

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WHEREAS, Dr. Moore-Johnson created the Job Development

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program at Temple University, which offers courses on ex-

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offender job training, as well as training in ex-offender social

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work and job development, and has received numerous accolades,

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honors and awards for her many contributions; and

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WHEREAS, Betty B. Richardson Smoot has run a successful real

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estate transactions and tax preparation office since 1968,

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serving the people of west Philadelphia as a real estate

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salesperson since 1953; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Smoot served for many years as executive

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director of the Mt. Zion Unity Development Corporation, was a

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founding member of the Schuylkill Women's Coalition, has been

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very active at her church for more than 70 years and currently

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serves as a member of the Business and Professional Women's

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Ministry and the church choir, and is the recipient of numerous

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awards for her community and governmental service; and

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WHEREAS, In 2001, after serving as deputy to three drug

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czars, Lillian Ray was appointed the first African-American

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female drug czar of the City of Philadelphia, capping an

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industrious career in law enforcement and community organization

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combating drug violence and crime through efforts such as

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Stinger Square Community Services, interracial sports leagues,

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computer training centers, literacy classes, food pantries,

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enrichment workshops and the creation of the Peace Wall Mural in

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the heart of the racially torn Graysferry section of the city;

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and

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WHEREAS, The mother of nine children, Ms. Ray has received

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numerous awards and honors and serves on many boards, most

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notably the Interdisciplinary Youth Fatality Task Force,

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Pennsylvania Justice Fellowship Task Force and Philadelphia

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Health Management Corporation Advisory Board; and

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WHEREAS, For many years, Emma Wilson was the unwavering force

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and youth advocate at Dixon House, serving as director of Camp

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Unami, a residential summer camp for city children in rural

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Pennsylvania; supervising a program to provide summer jobs for

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youth; making Dixon House available for group dances and

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gatherings; and organizing trips for young people in order to

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expand their horizons; and

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WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson's commitment to youth and family safety

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led to her involvement with the Safe Corridor Project and

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despite recent personal health concerns, Ms. Wilson remains

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active in the community; and

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1

WHEREAS, The commitment to social and community involvement

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exemplified by these seven women is worthy of celebration and

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praise; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize, during

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the observation of "Women's History Month" in March 2009, the

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contributions of Dorothy Allen, Josephine Blow, Lois A.

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Fernandez, Minnie Moore-Johnson, Lillian Ray, Betty B.

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Richardson Smoot and Emma Wilson.

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