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Honoring and Recognizing Cheryl McClenney Brooker on her retirement from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and her tireless commitment to the art, cultural and civic community of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Cheryl McClenney Brooker hails from Chicago, Illinois where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, A museum professional and cultural worker who has (40) years of cultural leadership experience in both the public and nonprofit sectors, began her career in New York City as first a public school teacher, followed by her roles with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum as its Cultural Coordinator and Assistant Director of the Museum's Collaborative Cultural Voucher Program, and thereafter Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; and
WHEREAS, From 1978 to 1983 Cheryl McClenney Brooker 's career ascended in an executive and management capacity as the Director of Humanities Projects in Museums and Historical organizations at the National Endowment for Humanities, and for the past twenty-eight (28) years as the Director of External Affairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and
WHEREAS, As the Director of External Affairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art she has facilitated outreach to attract diverse audiences and community and legislative collaborators concerning the Museum's permanent collections and exhibitions including: Rembrandt's Faces of Jesus, Tanner, Independence of India, Degas, African Art, Arts in Latin America, and Gee's Bend Quilts; and
WHEREAS, Cheryl's legacy is implanted through her work on several local and state boards such as: (Citizens for the Arts of Pennsylvania, African American Museum of Philadelphia, Multicultural Affairs Congress, The Philadelphia Commission of African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and The Jonathan Phillip Ford Foundation) thus making her vision a reality to create a sustainable network of partnerships for community and neighborhood centers throughout Philadelphia to enhance the Museum's presence in the community and its capacity to better serve children, youth, and families; and
WHEREAS, Cheryl McClenney Brooker has been the cornerstone of the City-wide Philadelphia World AIDS Day/Day without Art observance by serving as its Co-Founder and Chair from 1990-2005; and
WHEREAS, Her honors include: a National Scholastic Art Magazine scholarship to the School of The Art Institute Chicago, Leadership Pennsylvania Certificate, African American Women of Achievement Award from the African American Museum, Individual Achievement Award for Arts Administration and the Share the Heritage Award from the Multicultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau; and
WHEREAS, Cheryl McClenney Brooker presently lives and resides in Philadelphia with her husband, Moe Brooker professional artist and teacher, and is the proud mother to Misha and Musa Brooker; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor, recognize, and commend Cheryl McClenney Brooker on the occasion of her retirement, for her tireless commitment to the art cultural and civic community of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Cheryl McClenney Brooker as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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