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Renaming the 6300 block of Lansdowne Avenue as "Jayanna Powell Way," in tribute to the life and legacy of Jayanna Powell, whose memory continues to inspire efforts for safer streets and protections for children throughout Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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WHEREAS, Jayanna Powell, born August 17, 2008, was a bright, loving, and ambitious child who dreamed of becoming either the first Black woman President of the United States or a lawyer; and
WHEREAS, Jayanna was known for her kindness, love for school, singing, and dancing. She was deeply cherished by her family, friends, and community; and
WHEREAS, Jayanna’s life was tragically taken in 2016, at just 8 years old, in a hit-and-run incident while she was a student at Cassidy Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Jayanna’s story has left a lasting impact not only on her family and the residents of Philadelphia’s 4th District, but also across the city and state; and
WHEREAS, Her passing inspired the creation of statewide legislation (HB 988) establishing a Hit-and-Run Advisory Alert system, known as “Jay Alerts,” which provides law enforcement and the public with rapid notification to help identify and apprehend drivers who flee the scene of accidents involving serious injury or death, ensuring other families will not have to rely solely on chance or news coverage to secure justice; and
WHEREAS, Designating the 6300 block of Lansdowne Avenue as “Jayanna Powell Way” would serve as a meaningful reminder of Jayanna’s life, the urgency of creating safer streets, to protect children and the most vulnerable in our communities; and
WHEREAS, This designation will also provide her mother, Ayeshia Poole, and her siblings, Hadiyah Cox, Hassan Cox, and Jaquan Powell, with lasting comfort and the assurance that Jayanna’s life and legacy will never be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby renames the 6300 block of Lansdowne Avenue as “Jayanna Powell Way”, to honor and memorialize the life of Jayanna Powell, whose memory continues to inspire action toward justice, safety, and the protection of Philadelphia’s children.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the family of Jayanna Powell as evidence of the sincere admiration, respect, and condolences of this legislative body.
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