City of Philadelphia - File #: 250824

• File #: 250824
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 9/25/2025
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/25/2025
• Title: Recognizing and honoring the life and legacy of Alice W. Ballard, a champion of justice and advocacy.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Phillips, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Landau, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Young, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember Harrity, Councilmember O'Rourke, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Ahmad

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/25/2025	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass
9/25/2025	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar

Title
Recognizing and honoring the life and legacy of Alice W. Ballard, a champion of justice and advocacy.

Body
WHEREAS, Alice W. Ballard, a celebrated worker right attorney, passed away in September 2025, leaving behind a legacy of justice, compassion, and civic engagement; and

WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia, Alice Ballard spent most of her life in the neighborhoods of Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and East Falls, embodying the spirit and resilience of our City; and

WHEREAS, She earned her law degree from Harvard University in 1973 during a time when female attorneys were rare, breaking barriers to become a leading voice for workers' rights, civil rights, and women's rights for over five decades; and

WHEREAS, Attorney Ballard's exemplary legal career included landmark cases such as representing workers in a class discrimination suit against U.S. Steel, advocating for whistleblowers against the School District of Philadelphia, and fighting discrimination in cases involving Major League Baseball umpires and KYW-TV news; and

WHEREAS, Beyond her legal achievements, Alice enriched the cultural life of Philadelphia through her talent as a cellist and choral singer, sharing her love of music with organizations such as the Singing City Choir, the Choral Arts Society, and the Chestnut Hill Orchestra; and

WHEREAS, Alice Ballard's commitment to justice extended beyond the courtroom through her volunteerism, voter registration efforts, community cleanups, and her thoughtful blog which celebrated the dignity and artistry of work and workers; and

WHEREAS, As a trailblazer who confronted discrimination and inequality with fierce dedication and extraordinary intellect, Alice Ballard inspired generations of women, lawyers, musicians, and Philadelphians to pursue their dreams with courage and compassion; and

WHEREAS, Alice Ballard's family and friends remember her as a source of unconditional support, love, and joy, a woman who embodied the ideals of perseverance, kindness...