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Honoring The Northwest Interfaith Movement on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary and celebrating its contributions to both religious and secular causes within the Philadelphia Community.
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WHEREAS, Since 1969, The Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM), a non-profit, non-sectarian organization, has actively engaged in the development of programs geared to assisting the most vulnerable sectors of our population - young children, their families and the frail elderly. In collaboration with thirty five (35) Protestant, Catholic and Jewish congregations, NIM carries on a wide variety of programs and initiatives that further its mission of building a more just and sensitive community through advocacy and service; and
WHEREAS, Successful past programs initiated by NIM include Northwest Meal on Wheels; Northwest Victims Services; Dean House- the first home in Philadelphia for runaway children; The Central Germantown Council which has generated several million dollars for business development and job creation in the City’s racially diverse Central Germantown section, Germantown Interfaith Housing, Inc. which provides affordable housing for elderly/disabled persons and the Pastorius Child Health Watch which assists low income families with school-age children in accessing no-cost/low cost health insurance and primary care; and
WHEREAS, NIM has provided leadership and support to a number of citywide advocacy efforts, including the Philadelphia Clergy Coalition for Education and the Philadelphia Coalition on the Utility Crises. In1995, NIM started working to bring together educators and advocates to form the Child Care Advocacy Coalition to improve the working environment for family and center based child care providers; and
WHEREAS, A myriad of current programs, including educational, community out-reach and projects targeted for the mentally challenged, neighborhood based partnerships to improve the delivery of quality child care, and a ministry program that offers technical and financial support to congregations serving at-risk communities exist under the auspice of NIM. Cumulatively, the programs seek to assist the Philadelphia community in gaining equality for its most vulnerable citizens; and
WHEREAS, Northwest Interfaith Movement has been the recipient of both local and national awards and has gained a reputation of sponsoring or developing collaborations that “seek to heal the brokenness within the human community”. Furthermore, NIM’s program initiatives are rooted in the northwest while serving the wider Philadelphia community with a Board of Directors made up of community leaders, clergy and lay congregational representatives; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Northwest Interfaith Movement and, on the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary, join the religious and secular communities of both the Northwest and Philadelphia community at large in applauding its laudable efforts.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Richard Fernandez, Executive Director of NIM and its Board of Directors as a symbol of this legislative bodys gratitude and in recognition of NIM’s commitment and dedication to those whom they serve.
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