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Honoring and congratulating Graduate Philadelphia for twenty years of supporting adult learners, transforming lives, and strengthening the economic and educational fabric of the City of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Established in 2005, Graduate Philadelphia emerged as a pioneering initiative dedicated to ensuring that adult learners, those who paused their education or sought new pathways to success have the resources, support, and opportunities needed to complete their degrees to achieve their goals; and
WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, Graduate Philadelphia has become a cornerstone of the city’s education and workforce ecosystem, aligning resources both within and beyond higher education to help adult learners enroll in college, earn industry-recognized credentials, and secure family sustaining employment; and
WHEREAS, Since its founding, Graduate Philadelphia has supported more than 18,000 adult learners in earning over 10,000 college credentials, demonstrating its profound and measurable impact on the educational and economic landscape of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Adult learners represent the heartbeat and social fabric of our economy and workforce. They are firefighters, police officers, cooks, community leaders, cashiers, and military veterans. They are our neighbors, families, and friends who continue to strengthen our City through their dedication to lifelong learning; and
WHEREAS, Through its Career Integrated Learning Advising model, Graduate Philadelphia expands pathways to learning by addressing barriers faced by underserved communities including basic needs, childcare, financial literacy, digital literacy, and access to comprehensive wraparound services; and
WHEREAS, The organization advances the social and economic mobility of adult learners through higher education degree attainment, workforce advancement, and access to living wage employment opportunities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, hereby honors and congratulates Graduate Philadelphia on its twentieth anniversary and commends its unwavering commitment to empowering adult learners, strengthening families, and fostering economic opportunity across our City; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the Board of Directors and Malik Brown, in recognition of this milestone anniversary and in appreciation of their continued leadership and service to the residents of Philadelphia.
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