Title
Celebrating and recognizing Alvina Brown for her steadfast commitment to community and to her neighbors, and for her advocacy to improve the lives of people across the City of Philadelphia, on the occasion of Black History Month.
Body
WHEREAS, Alvina Brown was born and raised in Philadelphia. She moved from lower North Philadelphia to Nicetown in 1967 and has been in Nicetown since it is where her heart is. Her mother, Millie Brown, raised Alvina and her sister Sheila as single moms. She grew up as part of the community and stayed involved in it first when she became a mother to a son and two stepsons, then a grandmother to four grandchildren, and a great-grandmother to one great-granddaughter; and
WHEREAS, As a Block Captain, 13th Ward committee member and community ambassador, she has found that she works to try her best and yet is not always received well. Community brought about her involvement in her community. She cares about relationships. When she left from knocking on neighborhood doors, she used to feel badly at the lack of neighborly communication, so she worked to build those relationships. She worked to provide mentorship and examples to her children of what to do, and what not to do; and
WHEREAS, When she came to her community, there was significant prejudice and she did not feel welcomed because of the color of her skin. But her neighbors were still neighborly enough to tell Alvina's mom if something was happening. That sense of family and community is paramount to Alvina, who considers her neighbors to be her family. She strongly believes that as neighbors come together to consider themselves one, it will address the problems we face. If people chose to do good regardless of background or circumstance, the circumstances we face would be significantly improved, there is no limit to what we could accomplish, to the change we could bring; and
WHEREAS, She has witnessed her community suffer through heartbreaking changes. She has seen mental...
Click here for full text