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Also naming the 1300 block of South Capitol Street “Mamie Nichols Way” to recognize, honor, and celebrate the legacy of Mamie Nichols and her dedication to the people of Point Breeze.
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WHEREAS, Mamie Nichols spent her whole life dedicated to the revitalization of Point Breeze and to helping less fortunate members of the community; and
WHEREAS, After raising her children, she earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Temple University in 1974 and a master's degree in counseling from Antioch University in Ohio in 1977; and
WHEREAS, Since the 1960s, Mrs. Nichols founded and directed the Point Breeze Federation, which has been credited for revitalizing and beautifying the South Philadelphia neighborhood of Point Breeze. Mrs. Nichols and her friend Haroldine Trower, head of the Point Breeze Beautification Committee, worked with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to develop 11 parks and 13 community vegetable gardens, and to line the sidewalks of 18 blocks with trees, window boxes, and curbside planters; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nichols’s work in the community also extended to helping many seniors attain housing. After 12 years of seeking financing, Mrs. Nichols successfully found enough that in June 1983 the Landreth held its grand opening, offering 51 apartments for low-income seniors; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nichols’s honors and accolades are numerous. She was awarded the William Penn Human Rights Award from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Mayor W. Wilson Goode appointed her to the Philadelphia Planning Commission and, in 1991, presented her with the Philadelphia Bowl for improving community life in the city. In 1994, the Friends of Philadelphia Parks honored her at a ceremony and gave her its fifth annual lifetime achievement award.
WHEREAS, Mrs. Nichols’s civic leadership ranged across education, social services, and arts and culture. In Point Breeze, she was a founder of the Home and School Association of the G.W. Childs School, established the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, and served on the board of the Friends of the Queen Memorial Library. Beyond the neighborhood, she also served on the boards of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition and the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, a predecessor to the beloved Mural Arts program; and
WHEREAS, For this legacy of caring, dedication, and leadership, Mamie Nichols will be remembered by generations of Philadelphians. That legacy deserves a lasting memorial; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Also names the 1300 block of South Capitol Street “Mamie Nichols Way” to recognize, honor, and celebrate the legacy of Mamie Nichols and her dedication to the people of Point Breeze.
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