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Celebrating and honoring Maggie McCall for her tenacious commitment to organizing, beautifying and connecting with her neighborhood, including serving as a Block Captain for 51 years, and for improving the lives of people across Philadelphia, on the occasion of Black History Month.
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WHEREAS, Maggie McCall was born in North Carolina and raised there by her mother, graduating high school in 1960 before coming to Philadelphia, where she got married and had three children. She raised three children and four grandchildren here. She took courses at Key Punch School and instructed at Key Punch for five years. She worked at Cakes and Pies for 38 years before retiring. She loves desserts and loves working for the company - on the job, she learned to become a chef after ten years of working there. Her favorite desserts are coconut cake and peach pie; and
WHEREAS, She chose to live in Nicetown and North Philadelphia because of the community. She attends Triumph Baptist Church, where she has served 38 years including on the Usher Board and the Deaconess Board. She has been a Committeeperson on the 13th Ward, 7th Division for 13 years, because she likes working with politicians to improve the City and campaigning for her ward; and
WHEREAS, Maggie has been a Block Captain for 51 years, more than half a century. She enjoys helping her neighbors learn how to clean and care for their spaces and maintain orderliness to her neighborhood. Two houses near her recently shut down over drug trafficking. She helps make sure certain steps to maintain the space are taken, including having her son come by to help clean. And if folks have a legal issue, she is happy to point them in the right direction; and
WHEREAS, At her second neighborhood meeting, the Block Captain had said she was hoping to retire, asking the eight attendees who would be willing to replace her when nobody volunteered, she picked out Maggie and Maggie agreed to take on the mantle, thoroughly enjoying the experience; and
WHEREAS, Whenever there is a problem in the neighborhood, someone knocks on Maggie’s door and she takes great pride in knowing where to send folks for the next step of help. She always greets new neighbors and introduces herself, offering guidance and information. She learns on her own behalf and always has Plan A and Plan B, which she is happy to share with others. Whether it’s a local problem or City problem or government problem, Maggie knows who to talk to and how to talk to them; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby celebrates and honors Maggie McCall for her tenacious commitment to organizing, beautifying and connecting with her neighborhood, including serving as a Block Captain for 51 years, and for improving the lives of people across Philadelphia, on the occasion of Black History Month.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Maggie McCall as an expression of the gratitude and admiration of the Council of the City of Philadelphia.
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