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Honoring the life and legacy of David Fattah, Sr.
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WHEREAS, A Philadelphia native and co-founder of the House of Umoja, Inc., David Fattah earned two Master Degrees in Education, a Secondary Principal's Certificate and Special Education Certificate, Teaching Certificate for Elementary Education, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Temple University which included 1.5 years in Corporate Law. He received a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration from Cheyney State University and was a 2018 Ph.D. candidate at North Central University; and
WHEREAS, Fattah was the Patriarch of the House of Umoja, Inc. and its Director of Community Outreach for 50 years. The House of Umoja, Inc., established in 1968, is an internationally acclaimed organization which has designed and implemented global models for eradicating violence, fostering community development, creating economic sustainability, and addressing many of the key challenges which prevent boys and adolescent males from reaching their full potential and maturing into productive and successful adults; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fattah worked under contract with the Philadelphia School District’s Office of Climate and Safety and served as Team Leader for the House of Umoja, Inc’s Safety Support twenty-member team. He developed programs and provided crisis intervention along with strategic activities to improve and maintain the appropriate school climate in fifteen schools. Fattah also facilitated the education and nurturing of over approximately 3,000 adolescent males who resided at the House of Umoja, Inc., moving them from high-risk behavior to productive citizenship; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the House of Umoja, Inc. was selected to organize and lead the National Million Father March by its creator, Mr. Phillip Jackson, Founder and Executive Director of the Black Star Project headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Serving as the City of Philadelphia’s Coordinator for the National Million Father March under the umbrella of the House of Umoja, Inc., Mr. Fattah moved fathers in Philadelphia to join fathers in at least 600 cities throughout the United States in escorting their child on the first day of each academic year; meeting their child’s teachers and the principal of their child’s school; obtaining a copy of their child’s roster and the academic calendar for their child’s school; and playing a proactive role in their child’s education by checking homework, encouraging their child to improve his or her literacy skills, and meeting and communicating with their child’s teachers throughout the academic year; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Fattah interacted with a diverse group of personalities which ranged from Ms. Oprah Winfrey, that culminated in an appearance on her 1985 original non-syndicated television show; the late Pennsylvania Senator John Heinz; the late Milton Stover Eisenhower who served as President of Penn State University, Kansas State University, and John Hopkins University and younger brother of the late United States Army General and 34th President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower; Sister Isolina Ferré Aguayo from Puerto Rico, a recipient of the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom; and the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King, widow of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and American Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mrs. King served as the Honorary Chair for the House of Umoja, Inc.’s Youth Employment Program; and
WHEREAS, A retired educator, Mr. Fattah held various teaching positions within the School District of Philadelphia which included, but were not limited to, aiding special education; serving as a Coordinator for Saturday Community School for two years, and Building Representative for four years with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers; and
WHEREAS, Fattah’s expertise also extended to the world of publishing. Despite a very developing schedule, he also produced a newspaper entitled “The Eye of the Tiger,” for the “old heads” of the neighborhood gang whom he had mentored. Additionally, Mr. Fattah is the author of the Imani Peace Pact, which leaders of Philadelphia gangs signed on January 1, 1974 and brought to an end years of deadly gang violence that played out on Philadelphia’s streets and in its schoolyards. The body of written work generated by Mr. Fattah, which serves as one of the components of his legacy, includes a study entitled “Social Unrest Among Black Youth.” Mr. Fattah is also a Contributing Author to African American Perspectives on Crime Causation, Criminal Justice Administration and Crime Prevention, published in 1994; and
WHEREAS, David Fattah, Sr. passed away on December 5, 2018. In deep grief are his wife of fifty years, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah; sons Stefan, Hassan (Kenneth), former Congressman Chaka Fattah, and Rev. David Fattah, Jr; and sisters Annette Bush, Joyce A. Green, and Janet I. Waters. Fattah also leaves behind thirteen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and those whom he served as a surrogate father. Those preceding him in death are his father, Clarence E. Waters, Jr.; step-mother Edith Waters; brothers Clarence E. Waters, III, and Howard A. Waters; and sons Jusari (Robin) Fattah and Nasser (Walter) Fattah; and
WHEREAS, Although he is no longer physically with us, the work, mentorship, leadership and dedication of David Fattah, Sr. will never be forgotten by those who were blessed to know him, and his lasting impact will forever remain a part of Philadelphia’s history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors the life and legacy of David Fattah, Sr.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the family of David Fattah, Sr. as evidence of the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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