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Honoring and congratulating the Champions of the Week Judith McGinley, Sean Dugan, Esther Jones, Sadonna Major, Giovanni Maysonet, Mychal Couch, Carla Lecoin, Stephanie Haldaman-Carrion, and Ronnessa Edwards who, for the common good of all Pennsylvanians, have devoted their careers to working as public servants in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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WHEREAS, May is Public Service Month in the City of Philadelphia. The following public servants at the city and state level keep the city and Commonwealth functioning, and should be recognized for their considerable service; and
WHEREAS, Judith McGinley has been a nurse at Suburban Hospital for over 30 years. She has always been a calm force in the crazy that can often occur in the hospital. She goes out of her way to ensure her patients feel cared for and respected. A resource and a role model to everyone, she won the hospital’s WOW award in August 2022 and is a strong advocate for her coworkers and patients at the negotiation table; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Sean Dugan nobly saved the life of an infant trapped in a crashed vehicle in Warrington Township, Pennsylvania. Then a firefighter at Philadelphia Engine 86 in Southwest Philadelphia, Lieutenant Dugan took his training and expertise to selfless new heights to save the life of someone in need, all while off duty. In addition to his bravery on the job, Lt. Dugan is the assistant Boys soccer coach at Roman Catholic High School, and was an adjunct fire instructor for the 198th Fire Academy Cadet class; and
WHEREAS, Esther Jones is a Recreation Leader 2 at the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation. As a child, Esther frequented recreation centers operated by her father and from that she grew to love the work of engaging the community. Esther worked as a Recreational Seasonal Instructor during the summer while in college. For the last ten years, Esther has worked for Parks and Rec, giving young people safe places to learn and grow. During the pandemic, Esther participated in meal distribution, made food box packages, and worked in an access center to assist children with continued learning. Esther has been an ardent advocate for labor rights at Local 2186; and
WHEREAS, Sadonna Major, a Nurse Practitioner at a Philadelphia health center and a proud Union Steward of Local 2187, has worked day in and day out during the pandemic to help the West Philadelphia community receive vital medical care and treatment. Sadonna continued her hard work by offering guidance to colleagues and working hand and hand with leadership to make sure that PPP was obtained and provided to those in need. Sadonna maintained her calming presence when the entire country was shut down and everyday Philadelphians needed medical guidance and COVID care more than ever. Sadonna worked every single day in person, masked up to ensure that medical attention remained available when many medical clinics closed down and only provided virtual options; and
WHEREAS, 19th Police District Officers Giovanni Maysonet and Mychal Couch were on uniformed patrol in West Philadelphia, when they conducted a vehicle investigation. The offender emerged from the vehicle during a brief verbal exchange, after which a physical struggle ensued, and the offender fired two gunshots striking Officer Maysonet, once in his ballistic vest and once in his abdomen. Despite his injuries, he notified police radio he had been shot and described the suspect who shot him. While shielding his partner in combat, Officer Couch immediately returned gunfire at the offender, who eventually fled the scene. Officer Couch transported Officer Maysonet to Presbyterian Medical Center, saving his partner’s life. For their bravery and determined dedication to the City of Philadelphia, Officer Maysonet and Officer Couch should be commended and honored; and
WHEREAS, Carla Lecoin is a 35-year Nursing career veteran and an Einstein Nurses United member. Carla takes pride in her chosen profession as she cares for patients, supports communities, and shows politicians the power of the modern-day Nurse. Carla found her voice and became part of Einstein Nurses United’s first Executive Board where she advocates for her fellow nurses and the families of the community she serves. Carla is an Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church member, a Black Maternal Health Summit volunteer, an AFL-CIO delegate, and a Labor for Black Lives member; and
WHEREAS, Stephanie Haldaman-Carrion served as a Small Business Development volunteer for the US Peace Corps in Nicaragua 2002-2003. Stephanie has serviced the community as Income Maintenance Caseworker since 2004. She began her career working in Lehigh County for 7 years and is currently servicing Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens in Carbon County. She still finds the time to work as an SEIU Local 668 Member Organizer; and
WHEREAS, Ronnessa Edwards worked as a Behavioral Specialist for a non-profit organization and a Youth Studies Counselor for the City of Philadelphia’s Youth Study Center, a detention center for delinquent youth. In these roles, Ronnessa often mentored black and brown youth who identified as members of the LGBTQ community. She has spent most of her career as a civil servant with the Pennsylvania State Government, currently as a Human Relations Representative III with the PA Human Relations Commission (PHRC). Ronnessa is devoted to Local 668 currently serving as the Vice Chairperson in SEIU’s chapter 12 Philadelphia location. She also holds the position of the Chairperson for Local 668’s Civil Rights committee- facilitating community outreach efforts such as GOTV and voter registration; and
WHEREAS, Like all public servants, these individuals put in a considerable amount of work to improve the City of Philadelphia in each of their respective industries, devoting significant time to advancing the pursuit of well-being, security, safety, and community in the City of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate and honor the Champions of the Week Judith McGinley, Sean Dugan, Esther Jones, Sadonna Major, Giovanni Maysonet, Mychal Couch, Carla Lecoin, Stephanie Haldaman-Carrion, and Ronnessa Edwards who, for the common good of all Pennsylvanians, have devoted their careers to working as public servants in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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