Title
Renaming and designating the property commonly referred to as the Charles Baker Recreation Center, located at 5433 Lansdowne Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the "Charles Baker and Carol Baker Rice Recreation Center".
Body
Whereas, Carol Baker was born on April 11, 1943, in Philadelphia to Charles and Mary Baker. Carol grew up on 55th Street near Master Street in West Philadelphia where every resident was family. Carol attended Philadelphia public schools and graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, class #127 in 1961; and
Whereas, Carol matriculated at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Then, in 1963, Charles Baker, the patriarch of the family and the City of Philadelphia's Commissioner of Records, suddenly died. Carol transferred to Penn State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science; and
Whereas, In 1964, Carol was initiated into the Delta Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a service sorority, at Penn State University. Later, Carol joined the Omega Omega chapter in Philadelphia. She became a Life Member and received the distinguished title of Golden Soror after serving the sisterhood for 50 years. She held several leadership positions in the chapter and served as President of the 1926 Foundation, Inc.; and
Whereas, Working with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and maintaining leadership roles, enabled Carol to connect with Philadelphia communities over the span of 35 years. Her journey began as a Summer Play Leader with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. Carol then became the Administrator for The Neighborhood Youth Corp during Philadelphia Mayor James Tate's tenure. Thereafter, Carol served as the Administrative Officer for the Summer Food Program and Summer Play Streets Program, as well as the Community Outreach Coordinator with summer day camps. Working with anti-poverty programs, training youths in job placements and connecting youth to recreati...
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