Title
Recognizing Steve Jamison, owner of Blue Sole Shoes, an exceptional minority small business owner, for his creativity, resilience, and uniquely Philadelphian response to adversity
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WHEREAS, Steve Jamison, a proud native of Nicetown and longtime resident of East Oak Lane, has been a fixture in Philadelphia's small business community since opening Blue Sole Shoes at 1805 Chestnut Street in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Inspired by the joy he felt as a child receiving his first pair of designer shoes, Jamison has spent nearly two decades helping Philadelphians, including many notable celebrities like Steve Harvey, Alice Cooper, and Bernard Hopkins, feel and look their best; and
WHEREAS, In August, when a brick was thrown through the front window of his store, Jamison responded not with anger, but with a remarkable act of ingenuity, turning the shattered glass into a display piece by embedding a leather boot into the cracked window, creating a work of public art that has delighted passersby and sparked conversation throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, Jamison's creative gesture not only drew attention to his store but lifted the spirits of the community, demonstrating how personal resilience and artistic expression can be tools for healing, visibility, and joy; and
WHEREAS, This is not the first time Jamison has shown grace under pressure; following the civil unrest in 2020, Blue Sole Shoes was vandalized, but Jamison was met with community support, including neighbors and strangers alike who helped him protect his store and recognized its importance as a Black-owned business in Center City; and
WHEREAS, Small businesses serve not only as engines of economic growth, but also as pillars of community creativity, as exemplified by Jamison's response to this situation; and
WHEREAS, Owners of small businesses in Philadelphia have consistently proven that imbedding in the community and striving to connect with passersby can help to turn a potential setback...
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