City of Philadelphia - File #: 190330

• File #: 190330
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 4/25/2019
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 5/2/2019
• Title: Also naming Sears Street between 27th Street and 28th Street "Ella Best Way", to honor Ms. Ella Pridgen-Best, founder of "Don't Shoot, I Want a Future", for her years of community activism and her contributions to the City of Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Taubenberger, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Gym

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/2/2019	0	CITY COUNCIL
4/25/2019	0	CITY COUNCIL

Title
Also naming Sears Street between 27th Street and 28th Street "Ella Best Way", to honor Ms. Ella Pridgen-Best, founder of "Don't Shoot, I Want a Future", for her years of community activism and her contributions to the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Ella Best was born in Philadelphia on March 28, 1961, to Calister and Queenie Pridgen. The fifth of six children, Ella was brought up in a loving household that stressed the importance of faith and community; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Best graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1979 before working for 19 years as an intake specialist with Berger Montague, a prestigious Philadelphia-based law firm. Ella's continued passion for service led her to enroll in Harcum College in 2013 to pursue a degree in Human Services. Determined to demonstrate to her children and grandchildren the importance of lifelong education, Ella earned a 3.81 GPA and was inducted in to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, graduating magna cum laude from Harcum in 2016; and

WHEREAS, On July 5, 1997, Ella married the love of her life and her best friend, Norman Best, with whom she raised four children and seven grandchildren. In 2007, Ella and Norman founded an organization "Don't Shoot, I Want a Future" that was dedicated to serving at-risk youth and reducing violence in their South Philadelphia Community; and

WHEREAS, As president of "Don't Shoot, I Want a Future", Ms. Best was dedicated to providing positive outlets for young people in South Philadelphia. These activities included basketball leagues, kickall clinics, summer camps, book clubs, music festivals, and a Girl Scout Troop in the neighborhood. When asked about her approach to community service, Ms. Best would humbly explain, "I am changing things by being my best self"; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her anti-violence activism, Ella Best and "Don't Shoot, I Want a Future" were involved in a variety of community initiatives aimed at reducing hunger and poverty in Philadelphia. ...