Title
Recognizing, honoring and celebrating the extraordinary career and legacy of Blondell Reynolds Brown, member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000-2020.
Body
WHEREAS, Blondell Reynolds Brown proudly served in the Philadelphia City Council for 20 years. She is a force of inspiration and serves as an example to women in the City of Philadelphia and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Blondell Reynolds Brown was born in Sumter, South Carolina and was educated in the Philadelphia Public school system where she attended McMichael elementary school and graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls before earning a Bachelors and Masters degrees from Pennsylvania State University; and
WHEREAS, Blondell Reynolds Brown has a proven track record of public service and started her career as an elementary school teacher in the public school system and director of recruitment at Pennsylvania State University; and
WHEREAS, Blondell Reynolds Brown joined the Philadelphia Dance Company, later becoming a dance instructor and a board member for 20 years; and
WHEREAS, After 20 years in public service, Blondell Reynolds Brown was elected to serve the citizens of Philadelphia as an At-Large member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000-2020, where she served as committee chair for multiple committees including Parks and Recreation and the Committee on the Environment. Blondell Reynolds Brown also served as the Majority Whip from 2012-2020; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown worked tirelessly to pass meaningful legislation to improve the lives and opportunities for women, children and families; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown established the Philadelphia Children’s Fund where she was key in negotiating with the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles to require each team to contribute $1 Million annually for 30 years to fund and support programs that improve the quality of life for children within the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced and passed legislation requiring all restaurants in the City of Philadelphia to clearly label nutritional values and information. The legislation was used as the basis for the nutrition portion of First Lady Michelle Obama’s signature program Let’s Move; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced and passed key legislation leading to the establishment of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability which aims to improve quality of life in all Philadelphia neighborhoods, reduce the City’s carbon emissions, and prepare Philadelphia for a hotter, wetter future; and
WHERES, Her “Philly First” legislation fundamentally changed the way Philadelphia awards contracts of $1 million or less by increasing the bidding preference for City owned business from 5 to 10 percent as well as legislation that required those contracting with the City to disclose demographic information to ensure diversity; and
WHEREAS, Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown’s service to Philadelphia has been recognized with numerous awards and acknowledgements including but not limited to: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the School District of Philadelphia, Women’s Way, Girls Inc., Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Philadelphia Business Journal and she was recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s 50 Most Influential Women in the book “VOICES”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize, honor and celebrate the extraordinary career and legacy of Blondell Reynolds Brown, member of Philadelphia City Council from 2000-2020.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Blondell Reynolds Brown, to honor her legacy and show our appreciation for what she has done for the City of Philadelphia.
End