Philadelphia City Council 2017 Stated Meetings of Philadelphia City Council, 8 Jun 2017

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From YouTube: Council President Clarke Honors Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center 6-8-2017

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From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, June 8, 2017:

Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District) led a presentation on behalf of Council President Darrell Clarke (5th District) honoring and recognizing Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center for their outstanding work throughout the Strawberry Mansion Community.

A

This time the chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell, represent a resolution on my behalf to my good friend, Kevin EPCOR, but mr. Upshaw knows accompany him. Please join the Councilwoman at the podium.

A

Always humble I love it.

B

Thank you for the honor. Mr. president, thank.

A

B

Resolutions on behalf of our president, president Darrell Clarke honoring and recognizing Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center for their outstanding work throughout the Strawberry Mansion community. Whereas Kevin Upshur is a graduate of Strawberry Mansion High School and attended Cheney University. All right.

B

For over 20 years, he has worked as a social worker, most recently as a youth detention counselor, serving as a mentor for hundreds of kids and whereas in 2008 Kevin founded the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center, where he transformed his mother's local bar into an education and resource center. With after-school and mentoring programs for the youth of Strawberry, Mansion Edie.

C

Wow, whereas his work at the center has been a guide guided by his words of his late mother Shirley, who died in 2006, urging Kevin to give back to the community to help curb the violence by creating a place where young people could learn. My mother is the motivation for this.

C

He told the Daily News during an interview in 2013 and whereas the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center has become a safe haven for kids in the neighborhood by providing access to computers, libraries, healthy meals, trips, push these by providing a productive outlet for Philadelphia youth. The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center hopes to reduce crime among the students and.

D

Whereas during the summer of 2016, while whorl was focused on Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention The Huffington Post visited North, Philadelphia and Strawberry Mansion Learning Center, while filming a story on gun violence. This place a national spotlight on the center for its positive work in the challenging environment and whereas in August of 2016, a GoFundMe page was created to raise money for the center's kitchen and bathroom renovation project.

D

Because of the initial video posted by The, Huffington Post GoFundMe decided to spotlight the Center's mission and donated the first two thousand dollars in the fundraising campaign and.

E

Whereas because of Kevin's great work, NBC News anchor Lester Holt visited the center to highlight the work in the community in a story that aired nationally almost overnight, GoFundMe donations began pouring in from people across the country and whereas kevin has also been featured on the Rachael Ray Show, where he was presented with a twenty-five thousand dollar donation from Philadelphia based beneficial bank.

B

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Council of the city of Philadelphia hereby honors and recognizes Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center for their outstanding work throughout the Strawberry Mansion community, be it FURTHER RESOLVED that an engrossed copy be presented to kevin Upshur as evidence of the true and sincere sentiments of this legislative body, and this was introduced and sponsored by the president I'm happy to join him and we're happy that all members are pleased to be a part of it. Thank you.

A

And the chair recognizes Kevin upshore for remarks.

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F

I'm just very honored to be here, it's really emotional for me, because a mother asked me to say you got to do something and I didn't know exactly what to do, because I was already working with young people over 20 years in youth detention at the Youth Study Center. So as time went on, we we transformed the boss. We had a building to work with, so we put books in the build I said: let's open up a bookstore people were saying: you're crazy, open to a bookstore at thirty orphans, office and nothing's going to happen.

F

You know, but really it wasn't about money. It was just about trying to make a difference and have an impact, and you know everybody in this room. I look around has been an influence and encouragement, Councilwoman, Janie Blackwell, who, given us Lucien Blackwell, Humanitarian Award. It touched me really deeply because I said if I can get something in honor of her husband. That means I must be doing the right thing, and you know I really appreciate that and think about my mom all the time, because that's that was you know we listen to our parents.

F

They tell you things that will help you to go to extra mile. So what my mom told me I think about it. I said wow. She really told me to do the right thing and I followed it up and we're doing with things we have an impact and I like to thank councilman Clark, president Clark and his staff they're always there to help quell some o'clock, stops by some time. I think he has a key I mean he just pops up and he's like.

F

What's going on keV how you doing man and on Saturdays, you know he's standing on the corner like one of the corner boys, you know so, everybody's former, that's what you didn't know I appreciate being here. It's an honor and as I look around and see all the council people who you don't know you encourage me when I turn on the television and see meetings, council meetings, I'm encouraged, I'm watching it. You know wow people are making a difference. So thank you so much appreciate your time.

A

That's what it is.