Title
Recognizing and Honoring the Strawberry Mansion Athletic Association on it's establishment and for it's remarkable contribution to the youth of the 5th District and the community as a whole.
Body
WHEREAS, The Strawberry Mansion Athletic Association was established in April of 2007, at a community meeting at Cornerstone Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Soon after a baseball league was established by League CEO Derrick Ford at Mander Playground located at 33rd and Diamond Streets for boys and girls from the ages of 8 to 16 with a particular focus on education, family values and respect; and
WHEREAS, The first season began with 147 kids showing up to play baseball, from which 8 teams from around the community were developed; and
WHEREAS, Those initial 8 teams grew to 18 teams in 2008 playing at nine different locations around the city; and
WHEREAS, The Strawberry Mansion All-Stars Baseball League theme is "Through it all, Let's play ball"; and
WHEREAS, Several community members volunteered to assist in organizing and developing the league as well as serve as coaches or assistant coaches; and
WHEREAS, These community members include Head Coaches - Commissioner David "Itchy" Lisby, Tony Witfield, Karen Washington, Aaron Washington, William McQueen, Kevin Beard, Bill Thompson, Mike Griggs, Kirk Norwood, David Givens, James Carter and Don Blakeley; and Assistant Coaches - Daphine Goggins, Bernard Savage, Christopher Silver and Robert Gay; and
WHEREAS, The Strawberry Mansion Flag Football league was established in the fall of 2007; and
WHEREAS, Development of the flag football league was important after the conclusion of the baseball season had concluded giving the youth something positive to be involved in; and
WHEREAS, All Strawberry Mansion Flag Football games are played at 33rd and Diamond Streets and coached by volunteer community members including Founder - Derrick Ford, Commissioner - Anthony "Kokonut" Rogers, and Head Coaches -...
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