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Honoring and recognizing Brother Ron Armour, Trapeta Mayson, Keith Schenk, Michelle Kerr Spry, Pastor Alex Velazquez, Jr., and LeQuyen Vu for their significant contributions to advocacy and community service in Northwest Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Brother Ron Armour has spent over 40 years as a preacher and community activist. He has provided for the religious needs of congregations throughout Philadelphia, serving as a counselor, career coach, spiritual advisor, fundraiser, and volunteer for numerous organizations and charities. His community stewardship continues to positively impact the lives of children and families, particularly those at risk or in need; and
WHEREAS, Trapeta Mayson is a Germantown resident, artist and civic leader committed to artistically and thoughtfully developing and contributing to efforts that positively and sustainably impact communities. She is a member of the Greene Street Artist Cooperative and reads her poetry widely and works extensively conducting creative writing and community engagement workshops. Formerly serving as the Executive Director of Historic Germantown, Trapeta is currently the Division Director of Intensive Behavioral Health Services at COMHAR and serves as the Vice President of the Germantown Services District, member of the Friends of Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library and Co-Chair of the Education and Outreach Committee on the Mayor's Taskforce for Historic Preservation; and
WHEREAS, Keith Schenk is a youth, public health and safety advocate focusing on violence prevention, civic engagement, and combating urban blight. He is the founder of One Love Guns Down which seeks to counter the negative impact of community violence and police brutality. Keith also served as a Drug and Alcohol Professional for 20 years and is credited with developing programs to address maladaptive behaviors that lead to recidivism. He also serves as a Philadelphia More Beautiful Block Captain and is currently pioneering #gogreenGermantown as part of an effort to build urban resilience in communities impacted by blight; and
WHEREAS, Michelle Kerr Spry is the Founder and President of The Echo Collective, which trains and educates young women to echo a positive model of personal, social and professional competencies. She has utilized her extensive experience in financial capability education and program development to design and implement housing counseling programs for community organizations throughout Philadelphia, assist families at risk of mortgage foreclosure with financial management skill building, and teach problem-solving skills to incarcerated individuals and returning citizens in housing, financial literacy, and job training; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Alex Velazquez, Jr. has pastored the Oasis City Church in Olney, providing services to the community for over 21 years. His mission is to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. Each year his church sponsors numerous community outreach activities, including the September 5th Street Block Event, the Hallelujah Fest, and food and toy giveaways on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas which serve over 700 needy families. Seeing a need for services to the youth in Olney, he also founded the Oasis Youth Foundation which endeavors to service at risk youth in the community through educational and recreational services; and
WHEREAS, LeQuyen Vu is Executive Director of the Indo‐Chinese American Council which started in 1984 in Philadelphia’s Logan Neighborhood to support minority refugee and immigrant communities through education and community resources. Under the leadership of Ms. Vu, the IAC aims to build a community where education creates opportunities and growth for all immigrant, refugee, and minority children and families via afterschool programs, summer programs, and adult classes. Serving as a member of Mayor Kenney’s transition team on immigrant and multicultural affairs, she works with elementary schools in the Northwest to develop supportive partnerships that prioritize family and community engagement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and recognizes Brother Ron Armour, Trapeta Mayson, Keith Schenk, Michelle Kerr Spry, Alex Velazquez, Jr., and Le-Quyen Vu for their dedication to community service and their significant contributions in Northwest Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to each honoree as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
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