Title
Honoring and recognizing the work of It Takes Philly: Encouraging and Empowering Our Children to Aim High for Inspiring Philadelphia’s Youth to Pursue Their Full Potential.
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WHEREAS, The founding purpose of It Takes Philly: Encouraging and Empowering Our Children to Aim High was to provide exposure to middle school students from Philadelphia and Montgomery County-recognizing that early inspiration fosters dreams, and dreams foster drive-showing children that money is not the sole determinant of success, but that intellect, vision, perseverance, and opportunity can empower them to achieve greatness and impact lives; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Ala Stanford and like-minded professionals, Mr. Kamau Stanford, Mrs. Shannon Kimmel, Esq. Ms. Leslie Wood and Pastor Marshall Mitchell, committed themselves to serving as living examples of possibility, ensuring that children could not only imagine but also witness pathways to success; and
WHEREAS, Beginning with 7th and 8th grade students from the lowest-performing schools, It Takes Philly provided transformative experiences from the courthouse to the White House not simply as field trips, but as intentional pathways to professions showing students that individuals not dissimilar from themselves could achieve these goals; and
WHEREAS, Through these efforts and partnerships with the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia School District, Comcast, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, Abington Memorial Hospital, EisnerAmper, and others, It Takes Philly has inspired students to pursue higher education, meaningful careers, and lives as productive members of society; and
WHEREAS, Volunteers both clinical and non-clinical selflessly stepped forward to advance the mission of the Consortium. Mr. Byron Drayton, Ms. Cynthia Taylor, Mr. Gibran Gadsden, Esq., Ms. Carolyn Chester Stanford, Ms. Doris Cush, R.N., Ms. Shelah McMillian, R.N., Dr. Janet Nwaukoni, Kendall Roseboro, Dr. Reg Roy, and many more contributed to this legacy. Some who first served as volunteers are now physicians, healthcare professionals, and leaders who have returned to serving the very communities that shaped their journey, fulfilling the mission of It Takes Philly to encourage and empower children to aim high; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and recognizes the work of It Takes Philly: Encouraging and Empowering Our Children to Aim High for Inspiring Philadelphia’s Youth to Pursue Their Full Potential.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Ala Stanford in recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to strengthening the community and providing opportunities for youth to succeed.
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