Title
Honoring the life, work, and accomplishments of Paula Peebles, whose dedication to advocacy, organizing, and leadership has empowered Philadelphia's movements for class and race equity.
Body
WHEREAS, At a young age, Paula Peebles noticed glaring injustices in her majority Black North Philadelphia neighborhood: housing conditions were unacceptable, education was underfunded, and neighborhoods were segregated and under-resourced based on racial lines. Through the tutelage of her activist mother, Ms. Peebles would begin to implement her mother's teachings to her passion for addressing these injustices; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 14, Ms. Peebles led the first ever student walk out in the City. Students used the walkout as an opportunity to express displeasure for the superficial and general lack of Black history taught in their schools. Just two years later, during her senior year of high school, Paula Peebles became a member of the Black Panther Party at the age of 16; and
WHEREAS, Following this decision, Ms. Peebles would move into the Black Panther Community on her own. Ms. Peebles was a member of the Black Panther Party for five years. While there, she became a talented lay-out artist, so much so that Mayor Wilson Goode requested her skills to help him on his campaign trail. During this time in her life, Ms. Peebles learned how to administer sickle cell anemia tests and worked in the Black Panther Party breakfast club throughout her tenure as a member; and
WHEREAS, Paula Peebles remained a member of the Black Panther Party until she moved to Oakland, where she continued her activism and community organizing. Eventually, Ms. Peebles returned to Philadelphia to continue her fight against injustices at home. She graduated from Temple University in 1980 with a bachelor's in education. Later in 1985, Ms. Peebles pursued a masters in Community and Economic development from Southern New Hampshire University; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Peebles went straight to work a...
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