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Honoring the Trailblazing Women of the 4th Council District; Madeline Dunn, Alice Wright, Barbara Jones, Bernice Hall, Geneva Black, The Hon. Louise Williams Bishop, The Hon. Carol Campbell, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, and Ruth Bazemore, in honor of Women’s History Month.
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WHEREAS, Women's History is American History. Women's History Month commemorates and encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role women play in American history. Women's History Month was first declared by an Act of Congress in March of 1987; and
WHEREAS, Madeline Dunn is a longtime community activist and political organizer. Throughout her life, she has taken a keen interest in the needs and direction of her community and her city. She has made it her mission to hold local politicians accountable. She also got involved by running for political office itself. In 1979, she challenged the then Councilmember for the 4th District. Throughout her decades of activism, she has spent her time working on various campaigns for Mayor, City Council, District Attorney, both the Pennsylvania and United States House of Representatives, and even President of the United States, to improve outcomes for West Philadelphia. Ms. Dunn is also very active in community organizations. She has been heavily involved in both the Young Great Society and the NAACP; and
WHEREAS, Alice Wright is a 4th District Block Captain who has made it her mission to improve her West Philadelphia community. Ms. Wright is a dedicated member of the United Block Captains Association, and her membership with this association demonstrates her commitment to the community. When Philadelphia experiences heat waves, Ms. Wright can be found walking her block speaking with residents to see how she can assist. She walks up and down Pensgrove Street knocking on her elderly neighbor's doors to understand the needs of those who she affectionately refers to “my seniors”; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Jones spent her entire life in the City of Philadelphia. After graduating with honors from West Philadelphia High School, she went to work at the Naval Support Activity Base where she spent thirty years serving members of the military by processing the procurement of goods. Mrs. Jones was a kind, caring, and giving woman who was a friend to all who knew her. She deeply loved her family, her two sons, and her many grandchildren. She became extended family with her neighbors on the 1700 Block of Peach Street, she was a faithful youth advocate at Mann Elementary School, and was a dedicated volunteer at the Haddington Senior Center. She held a deep love for basketball and could often be found watching the Philadelphia 76ers. She also deeply enjoyed political debate. She frequently tuned into Channel 64 to watch the lively debate of the Philadelphia City Council in action; and
WHEREAS, Bernice Hall was a staple of the Carroll Park neighborhood of Philadelphia. She was a loving, spirited, wise, generous, and always welcoming and hospitable to those in need. She served for twenty years in the housekeeping and hospitality unit of the School District of Philadelphia, and also worked as a clerk in the Philadelphia Register of Wills’ Office, retiring in 2001. She also served for 40 years as a Committee Person in the 16th Division of the 4th Ward. In addition, she was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church where she participated in hospitality ministry; and
WHEREAS, Geneva Black was the founder of Haddington Multi-Services for Older Adults at 55th Street and Haverford Avenue. Ms. Black was educated in the Philadelphia and Sumter, South Carolina public school systems and she worked in a variety of jobs in her youth. She also served as a housing coordinator with the Haddington Leadership Coalition, which is where her leadership in the Haddington neighborhood of Philadelphia began. After realizing that many seniors were not receiving the services they were entitled to, she became the founder and executive director of Haddington Multi-Services for Older Adults. She diligently began working to receive grant funding to expand her mission and succeeded in raising more than $1.5 million dollars with the assistance of the board of directors and elected officials. Her center allowed older Philadelphians the opportunity to socialize and take classes on every subject from art to technology and personal counseling. Black also served as the host of “Senior Hour” on WDAS where she provided her thoughts and insight on senior issues; and
WHEREAS, The Hon. Louise Williams Bishop is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She faithfully served as the Representative from the 192nd Legislative District from 1989 to 2015. Representative Bishop has been heavily involved in broadcast journalism and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2013. During her time in the PA State Legislature, she worked on legislation addressing domestic violence, child protection, day care, mandatory drug treatment, education, and healthcare. She was also instrumental in developing urban corridors in the 192nd specifically on Lancaster Avenue between 52nd Street and 63rd Street as well as housing developments in Carroll Park; and
WHEREAS, The Hon. Carol Campbell represented the 4th District on the Philadelphia City Council from 2006 through 2008. However, she had been involved in politics for decades prior. The daughter of Edgar Campbell, Sr., she cared deeply about the citizens of Philadelphia. She served as the Leader of Philadelphia’s 4th Ward and Chair of the United Ward Leaders of Color. Throughout her time in city politics, she was a dominating force during election season, and she made it her mission to elect more black judges; and
WHEREAS, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah is the co-founder of the House of Umoja. She founded the House of Umoja along with her husband David in 1968 to serve as a sanctuary for Philadelphia youth involved in gang activity to give them a support system based on family. After founding the organization by bringing gang affiliated youth into her home, she continued to serve as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Queen Mother Fattah was instrumental in the “No Gang War in 74” Campaign where she worked with her husband to negotiate the Imani Peace Pact to bring peace to the City; and
WHEREAS, Ruth Bazemore is a member of the Support Community Outreach Program (SCOP). SCOP provides small grants to community groups so they can provide programming to youth in need. Ms. Bazemore has made it her mission through SCOP to fund programs that prevent child abuse, address juvenile delinquency, and enhance quality of life for families in West Philadelphia. In addition to her work with SCOP, she is a member of the United Block Captains Association of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, The dedicated and trailblazing work of each of these women of the 4th Council District should be forever honored and commemorated; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that it hereby honors the trailblazing women of the 4th Council District; Madeline Dunn, Alice Wright, Barbara Jones, Bernice Hall, Geneva Black, The Hon. Louise Williams Bishop, The Hon. Carol Campbell, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, and Ruth Bazemore, in honor of Women’s History Month.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to these inspiring women or their families as a sign of the admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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