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Description
Philadelphia, Sept. 7, 2017 – Officials from city and state government joined dozens of children in the Strawberry Mansion community to celebrate the opening of a new Police Athletic League of Philadelphia (PAL) Center in what was once a public school.
A
A
Soon
you
will
see
hundreds
of
kids
walking
in
through
those
doors
back
there
to
be
part
of
our
programs,
which
includes
sports
education
and
cultural
programming.
In
addition
to
that,
they
will
be
able
to
participate
in
many
of
our
activities
and
events.
It
is
here
at
this
very
PAL
Center
that
some
of
our
youth
will
create
some
memories
for
a
like
lifetime.
A
Pals
mission
of
cops,
helping
kids
means
that
police
are
at
the
center
of
everything
that
we
do.
Our
programs
are
facilitated
under
the
leadership,
guidance
and
mentorship
of
a
Philadelphia
police
officer
in
our
ability
to
create
a
positive
impact
among
our
youth
lies
in
the
relationships
that
those
kids
forge
with
the
officers
and
the
communities
that
we
serve.
I
am
happy
to
announce
that
Officer
Ricardo
Hatton.
Where
are
you.
A
A
A
It
is
with
great
honor
that
the
Philadelphia
Police
Athletic
League
unit
will
be
able
to
provide
services
to
the
youth
in
the
community
and
on
behalf
of
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
Police
Commissioner
Richard
Ross,
and
the
Police
Athletic
League
unit.
I
welcome
everyone
to
Strawberry
Mansion
pal.
A
As
everyone
here
probably
already
known,
the
making
of
the
center
took
three
years,
it
took
an
entire
team
of
dedicated
individuals
to
turn
a
vision
to
open
up
a
path
Center
in
this
neighborhood
into
reality.
One
of
those
individuals
was
instrumental
in
helping
power
secure
this
facility,
in
addition
to
identifying
resources
that
we
needed
to
make
this
happen.
So
it
is
with
great
pleasure
to
introduce
to
you,
council
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
ask
them
to
come
up
and
say
a
few
words.
B
Yeah
I'm,
sorry
I'm,
sorry,
I
get
a
little
carried
away.
Folks
I'm,
you
know
I
can't
in
word
see
how
excited
I
am,
as
a
lot
of
you
know
that
I
grew
up
in
this
neighborhood
actually
actually
had
my
statistics
from
when
I
used
to
play
ball.
Y'all
want
to
hear
it
no,
not
today,
not
that
they
all
right,
no
just
kidding
no
but
seriously
folks
I'm,
just
I'm
just
so
excited
and
I
want
to
thank
everybody.
B
There
I
want
to
thank
you
so
much
for
continuing
to
be
the
partner,
and
you
know
the
man
how
we
were
actually
up
for
30,
39
and
yesterday
talking
about
that
partnership
that
we
have
on.
Thank
you
so
much
dr.
heit.
Thank
you
for
agreeing
to
work
with
us
on
this.
True
partnership
between
schools
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
I
want
to
thank
the
community.
B
Remember
when
this
facility
was
on
the
closure
list,
I
mean
that
those
dark
times
the
people
are
on
close
the
school
and
the
community
stepped
to
us
and
I
said.
I
and
I
can't
tell
you
about
some
of
the
things
they
said,
because
we
have
young
people
in
the
room,
but
the
reality
is
they
had
every
right
to
be
concerned
about
what
was
going
on
in
their
community.
At
that
time,
state
Rep
block.
B
You
were
like
one,
the
staff
right
yeah,
so
we
caught
it
and
they
were
right
and
we've
made
a
promise
that
we
were
gonna
figure
out
a
way
to
do
something
with
this
facility
and
it
became
a
disrepair.
The
roof
is
leaking
all
kinds
of
things
happen
and
lo
and
behold
some
folks
from
the
panel
and
they
talked
about
the
need
to
do
additional
pals
throughout
the
city
and
kind
of
like
wandered
in
our
office,
and
we
said
why
not
here
and
the
level
of
resources
that
they
brought
to
the
table
Rob.
B
You
were
already
here
right,
so
you
weren't
counted
as
a
research
who
were
part
of
the
family.
Rob
brief
was
at
the
US
Attorney's
Office
and
bringing
in
Bulma
to
sixers
and
tell
you're
going
to
talk
about
cuz
I
know
I'm,
going
to
miss
somebody
all
of
the
people
that
step
to
the
plate
and
with
minimal
help
from
the
government
other
than
us
getting
out
of
the
way
put
together
this
wonderful
facility
I'm
telling
y'all
this
is
like
wow.
This
is
awesome,
so
I
want
to
thank
everybody
so
much
for
their
support.
B
This
is
going
to
be
something
that
is
going
to
be
extremely
special,
not
only
on
the
opening,
but
as
it
relates
to
our
ability
to
deal
with
our
young
people,
Marquis
I
see
you
in
the
back
and
I
promise.
You
made
all
right.
Okay,
Marquis
is
one
of
our
young
men
from
the
community.
This
is
going
to
be
also
folks
that
you
know
I'm
just
gonna
say
thanks
everybody
for
the
wonderful
participation.
Thank
you
all
so
much
this
is.
B
This
is
so
special
more
than
you
ever
know,
given
the
history
of
this
particular
community
and
this
particular
school.
So
all
of
you,
I,
just
wanna,
say
da
I'm,
sorry
I,
miss
you
I
just
want
to.
Thank
you
all
so
much
right
now,
I'm
not
for
the
lieutenant
I.
Suppose
I'm
told
to
turn
it
over
to
you
for
introduction
right,
but
I'm
gonna
use
a
council
Matic
prerogative
and
I'm
going
it's.
You
know,
I'll
get
to
do
that
record
I'm.
The
councilman
I
want
to
introduce
a
person
I've
known
for
like
20
25
years.
B
You
know
we
don't
talk
about
it,
because
the
knowledge
that
were
old
but
a
person
that
that
we
had
an
understanding
over
a
period
of
time
and
now
in
our
new
endeavors
that
we
committed
to
having
this
true
partnership
where
we
were
going
to
be
focused
on
neighborhoods
neighborhoods
like
Strawberry
Mansion
and
the
neighborhoods
that
you
live
in
and
I
want
to
say
that
that
partnership
continues.
That
partnership
is
thriving.
So
with
that
I
would
like
to
introduce
my
friend
of
like
25
30
years
and
our
mayor,
Jim
Kenney.
C
Thank
you
very
much,
I
think
it's
really
important
that
he
introduced
me
as
his
friend
for
any
of
the
other
reasons
why
we're
together
and
our
partnership
has
been
terrific
and
I
just
want
to
thank
everyone
involved.
I
mean
push
Commissioner
Superintendent
Police
Commissioner
Innes,
as
his
staff
does.
It
does
a
tremendous
job,
all
the
people
who
pitched
in
the
materials
and
I
especially
want
to
thank
the
Sixers
for
one
particular
reason.
C
You
made
sure
it
was
hardwood
and
not
some
other
surface
on
this
floor,
but
it
doesn't
even
sound
right
what
it's
bouncing
on
rubber
its
system,
it's
a
beautiful
floor
and
we
can
maintain
this
forever
and,
if
you've
been
in
some
of
the
I
cluster
and
some
of
these
other
wonderful
places
to
play
basketball,
the
courts
are
old,
but
they're
they
have
a
life
to
them
and
they
have
a
history
about
them.
So
thank
you
very
much
and
our
children
deserve
no
less
than
the
best
and
our
kids
are
getting
the
best.
C
Now
this
this
is
really
fun.
Sometimes
as
I
will.
You
know
when
your
own
jobs,
it's
a
hot,
sometimes
your
jobs
very
hard
and
stressful
and
depressing,
and
you
look
at
what's
going
on
in
the
country
and
around
the
world
and
you're
even
more
depressed,
the
more
stress,
so
these
types
of
events
make
it
easier
for
us
for
easier
for
me
to
want
to
get
up
the
next
day
and
face
and
face
our
challenges.
C
What's
the
most
important
thing
about
pal
and
that's
why
I
am
so
committed
to
making
pal
it
extend
throughout
our
entire
city
and
community,
so
I
want
to
thank
everyone.
That's
been
involved,
I
want
to
thank
all
the
people
here
today
and
I
wanna.
Thank
you
for
your
contribution
in
your
connection
with
our
beautiful
children,
who
will
do
wonderful
things
when
they
become
adults,
if
we
just
keep
sticking
by
them
and
doing
our
best
by
them,
god
bless
you
all
and
think.
A
A
The
Police
Athletic
League
is
also
thankful
to
the
businesses,
organizations
and
individuals
who
generously
gave
of
their
expertise,
materials
and
labor.
To
make
this
all
possible.
We
had
over
40
entities
that
donated
to
the
making
of
this
Powell
Center,
but
I
would
like
to
acknowledge
a
few
that
were
instrumental
in
coordinating
everybody
and
getting
everybody
together
to
make
the
work
possible.
A
The
bowler
group
Don
has
sent
Richard
McClure
Ally
Universal
Ron
Robina
by
McCracken
from
Hermann
Goldman,
who
gave
us
the
air
system
and
the
lab
room
and
the
bathrooms
and
the
officers
office.
The
Carpenters
Union,
particularly
Ron
Cromer,
and
the
Carpenters
Union
apprentice
program,
because
they
were
the
ones
that
donated
the
labor.
A
To
lay
the
floor
that
we
see
right
in
front
of
us
and
on
that
note,
the
sixers
harvest,
Family
Foundation
and
the
sixers
Youth
Foundation
Josh
and
Marjorie
Harris,
who
donated
the
materials
for
the
floor
and
constantly
support
PAL
and
everything
that
we
do
and
it
is
their
generous.
We
receive
yearly
that
we're
able
to
continue
to
carry
out
our
programs
at
all
of
our
centers.
So
thank
you.
A
I
also
like
to
acknowledge
city,
floor
supply,
Fred
beech
and
Boehner
bill
price
and
Tom
Amato,
who
was
also
instrumental
in
getting
the
floor,
is
done
school
painting,
Kathy
Ashcroft,
who
coordinated
our
boma
day
and
got
the
entire
gym
painted
all
in
one
day.
Thank
you
part
on
Ruben,
a
West
glass
company,
Paul
and
Rob,
who
came
out
to
clean
the
windows
and
found
me
that
day
that
we
were
cleaning
up
and
said
lieutenant.
This
is
unacceptable.
A
The
windows
are
unrepairable,
so
we're
gonna
donate
all
the
windows
that
you
see
up
there,
so
they
look
awesome
and
that
for
us
a
who
renovated
the
bathrooms-
and
if
anybody
came
here
prior
to
the
renovation
getting
started,
it
was
just
a
big
room
which
they
kind
of
like
broke
in
half
and
rebuilt
both
bathrooms,
which
we
didn't
have
at
all.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you
to
the
community
and
the
parents
that
are
going
to
entrust
their
children
to
our
care,
but
today,
with
I
just
have
a
few
final
words.
We
are
not
here
to
just
celebrate
the
grand
opening
of
the
Police
Athletic
League.
We
are
here
to
celebrate
the
community
that
really
came
together
to
make
this
happen.
It
took
an
entire
team
of
people
that
care
about
this
community
and
are
dedicated
to
this
community
to
allow
us
to
be
able
to
open
up
this
Powell
Center
today.
Thank
you.
D
Thank
You
lieutenant
my
name's
Ted
quali
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
the
Police
Athletic
League,
so
we're
both
a
nonprofit
organization
and
a
unit
of
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department,
coming
together
to
serve
the
children
of
Philadelphia.
You
know
Philadelphia
is
a
city
of
neighborhoods,
but
listening
to
the
lieutenant
talk
and
listening
all
those
folks
and
looking
around
this
room
today,
kind
of
feels
a
little
bit
more
like
a
village,
and
we
are
appreciative
to
be
a
part
of
that
village.
D
You
know
we
hear
that
proverb
all
the
time
that
it
takes
a
village
but
frankly
pal
benefits
and
could
only
exist
thanks
to
the
village.
So
there's
a
lot
of
people
here
to
thank
and
we're
gonna
do
our
best
to
move
through
this.
But
you
know
the
mayor
and
the
police
commissioner
and
City
Council.
They
come
together
to
provide
us
capacity.
D
E
Thank
you
very
much
like
it's
what
a
great
day
it's
so
it's
our
pleasure
up
here,
you
know
like
Marjorie
and
I
are
just
happy
to
be
able
to
be
a
part
of
something
this
special
you'd
be
surprised,
like
you
would
think
right,
an
old
and
older
building
that
no
one's
using
you
know
a
tough
neighborhood,
a
city
that
has
some
people
that
are
doing
a
little
better
than
some
other
people,
a
mayor
that
care
as
a
police.
Commissioner.
That
cares.
E
E
Here
it's
unique
in
the
nation
and
so
I
think
that
we
all
have
to
thank
the
government
of
Philly
the
police
themselves
and
the
communities
for
being
here
and
doing
this
I
mean
the
fact
that
you
are
here
means
that
you
care
and
so
and
and
from
our
point
of
view,
we're
doing
it
because
we
feel
like
we
have
an
obligation
to
do
it
number
one,
but
secondly,
we're
hoping
we
get
an
Allen
Iverson
at
some
point.
Out
of
this.
F
I
would
just
like
to
echo
what
my
husband
said,
but
I
also
want
you
to
know
to
the
parents
in
the
room
and
the
children
in
the
room
that
we're
here,
because
we
care
about
all
of
you
and
because
we
believe
in
you
and
together
I,
look
forward
to
hearing
some
wonderful
things
coming
out
of
Strawberry,
Mansion
and
I
hope
that
this
goes
a
long
way
to
unify
the
community
and
the
police
department,
and
that
we
should
make
Philadelphia
the
great
city
that
it
is.
Thank
you.
G
Well,
good
afternoon,
everyone
come
on.
You
can
do
better
than
that
good
afternoon.
All
right!
This
is
truly
a
joyous
occasion.
Today,
I
mean
whenever
we
open
a
pal
Center,
we're
always
very
elated
I
mean
because
it
gives
the
kids
an
opportunity
to
see
things
and
interact
with
people
they
may
not
otherwise
interact
with,
and
so
while
we
know,
Powell
does
wonderful
things
for
the
young
people,
I
would
be
lying
if
I
didn't
say,
I
have
a
selfish
reason
and
I
was
talking
to
a
lady
here
today
who
was
saying
her
seven-year-old
grandson.
G
She
brings
him
here
because
she
sees
the
need
to
improve
police-community
relations
and
so
anything
that
helps
that
along
as
well
is
something
that's
a
positive
for
us.
So
obviously,
like
many
people
before
me,
a
lot
of
people
to
think,
but
the
mere
fact
that
you're
here
in
any
capacity
means
you
care,
and
we
thank
you
for
that,
but
I'd
be
remiss
if
I
didn't
give
a
shout
out
to
the
Powell's
leadership,
Ted
quali,
lieutenant
Cintron
and
Bernie
presenta
all
right.
Thank
you.
So
much.
A
So
I
know
Ted
came
up
here
and
introduced
Josh
and
Marjorie
Harris,
but
I'm
supposed
to
be
introducing
Ted
and
so
Ted
has
been
working
on
this
project
for
three
years
and
he
has
been
very
instrumental
at
getting
us
the
resources
that
we
need
and
kind
of
working
with
everyone
in
the
community
to
make
this
happen.
He
has
really
done
an
outstanding
job
at
making
this
happen
and
I
am
walking
him
to
the
stage
Ted
quali
is
pals
executive
director,
I.
D
D
It's
pretty
interesting,
there's
a
lot
of
shared
values
between
our
two
organizations
and
and
I.
Think
one
of
the
things
that
we
both
recognized
is
the
power
of
sports
right.
Basketball
is
our
most
popular
sport
here
at
PAL
and
and
it's
what
gets
the
kids
in
the
door.
But
then
we
sneak
them
the
spinach
right.
D
That's
when
they
get
to
build
that
that
relationship
with
officer
Hanten
they
get
to
go
into
the
homework
club
in
the
computer
club
and
so
I
can't
tell
you
how
amazing
it
is
to
have
a
partnership
with
with
an
organization
like
the
76ers.
Our
relationship
between
POW
and
the
Sixers
goes
back
40-plus
years
and
it
has
just
continued
to
grow
so
we're
just
thrilled
to
have
Amy
here
from
the
sixers
Youth
Foundation,
to
say
a
few
words
about
their
role
in
this
Thank.
H
How
we
work
within
our
staff
to
provide
over
10,000
hours
of
volunteer
service
to
the
community
that,
and
so
much
more,
is
really
comprises
this
footprint
that
we
have
and
how
we
want
to
help
really
create
a
sense
of
sustainable
change
in
neighborhoods
like
Strawberry
Mansion
and
many
more
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Our
tagline
is
strong
youth,
strong
communities
and
promising
futures.
It's
something
we
live
by,
and
it's
just
again
a
great
honor
to
be
here
today.
Thank
you.
D
Thank
you
Amy,
as
I
mentioned
earlier.
You
know,
so
pal
really
relies
on
the
village.
There's
a
lot
of
partners.
Our
next
three
speakers
are
champions
for
children
simply
put
that's
what
they
are:
they're
champions
for
children.
So
please
welcome
state
representative,
Donna
Bullock,
as
the
council
president
indicated
she's
been
working
on
this
since
before
she
was
elected
elected,
so
talk
about
not
forgetting
where
you
came
from.
I
I
And
this
is
the
Strawberry
Mansion
Wow
and
we
welcome
Straub
the
POW
to
Strawberry
Mansion
today
is
a
celebration.
It
is
a
celebration
of
gratitude.
Thank
you
to
every
single
person
that
lifted
a
finger
made.
A
phone
call
wrote
a
check
to
make
this
happen.
Today
we
heard
all
of
the
names
and
I
just
want
to
say.
Thank
you
one
more
time
for
everything
that
everyone
put
in
to
make
this
Powell
Center
happen
here
in
Strawberry
Mansion.
It's
also
a
celebration
of
community,
the
community.
That
said
we're
not
gonna.
Let
this
building
stand
idle.
I
The
community
that
came
to
my
former
bosses
office
a
few
years
ago
and
said
we
have
to
do
something
and
he
made
me
get
to
work
a
community
that
came
out
when
we
had
our
service
day
rolled
up
their
sleeves
and
worked
with
all
of
the
businesses
and
the
other
partners
and
said.
Not
only
do
we
want
to
make
something
happen
to
this
building,
but
we
are
also
willing
to
put
in
the
work
to
make
it
happen,
a
community
where
law
enforcement
can
foster
relationships
with
our
youth,
as
the
mayor
said,
in
a
positive
way.
I
In
a
positive
environment,
and
not
in
the
back
of
a
squad
car,
a
community
in
which
we
look
for
the
future
when
I
first
went
to
a
pal
in
my
hometown
in
New
Jersey
I
learned
how
to
braid
hair.
That
was
a
big
feat
for
me,
because
the
hair
it
was
not
working.
I
met
new
friends,
I
build
confidence
in
myself.
I
spoke
to
the
young
lady
Shayla
in
the
front
row.
I
Today,
it's
a
celebration
for
what
that
means
for
those
young
people
and
what
that
means
for
our
community
and
so
I
just
want
to
say.
Thank
you
again
to
everybody.
That's
played
a
part
in
this
and
I
look
forward
to
many
days
and
many
evenings
celebrating
our
community
right
here
in
this
room.
Thank
you.
D
Thank
You
representative
there's
some
seniors
in
high
school
that
are
in
the
audience
today
that
were
ninth
graders
when
this
project
started
and
we're
gonna
hear
a
little
bit
more
about
that,
because
this
really
began.
As
the
council
president
said
at
the
community
level,
we're
all
good
things
began,
and
some
of
those
folks
are
here
and
we
will
hear
for
them
a
little
bit
later.
But
as
I
said
and
there's
some
kids
over
here,
that
probably
think
they
will
be
seniors
in
high
school.
D
J
How's
everybody
feeling
today
are
you
feeling
good
today?
No,
this
is
a
great
thing,
I'm,
so
pleased
to
be
here.
I
want
to
thank
representative
block
for
her
work.
She
is
a
great
partner
in
Harrisburg,
representing
this
community.
I
want
to
thank
council
president
Clark,
who
is
an
alum
of
this
school
you're,
an
alum
Archie.
J
It
would
destroy
Barry
mansion.
I
know
this
is
the
pal,
but
he
went
to
strawberry
man.
She
actually
went
to
Strawberry
Mansion
with
my
art.
They
went
to
school
together,
they're
the
Strawberry
Mansion
is
such
a
rich
family.
This
is
a
community
in
a
place
that
has
been
a
part
of
my
life
as
long
as
I
can
remember.
As
was
previously
stated,
my
father
represented
this
area
and
we
came
out
here
trying
to
help
families
bring
solve
community
problems
and
working
together
to
address
the
issues
in
this
community
so
long.
J
J
There
are
people
in
this
community
just
won
an
opportunity
to
provide
the
programming
to
their
young
people
and
I
know
that
their
folks
at
Strawberry
Mansion,
who
will
volunteer
to
come
out
and
it
will
make
sure
that
the
children
are
populate
this
Center
and
they
just
want
to
make
sure
we
provide.
We
and
the
government
provide
the
basic
resources
for
them.
J
I
think
it's
also
very
important,
given
the
climate
nationally,
that
we
have
a
Police
Athletic
League,
that
we
have
a
place
where
young
people
can
have
contact
with
police
officers
when,
when
it's
not
about
law
enforcement.
But
it's
about
prevention.
It's
about
making
sure
that
people
understand
that
they
understand
that.
If
you
have
a
problem
as
mayor
candy
pointed
out
when
he
was
a
young
man
and
his
parents
to
him,
you
could
go
up
to
a
police
officer
that
some
of
these
young
people
developed
the
relationships
where
they
can
feel
comfortable.
J
J
Well,
I'm
glad
that
we're
turning
a
page
and
we're
continue
to
make
sure
that
our
Police
Department
has
a
strong
relationship
with
these
young
people,
because
some
of
these
young
people
are
court
pride
need
to
become
police
officers,
because
we
have
to
be
take
responsibility
for
policing
our
own
communities
and
came
and
there's
some
pretty
good
out
job
opportunities
and
being
a
police
officer
as
well.
So
I'm
really
excited
about
this
opportunity.
J
Some
of
you,
young
people,
might
come
out
here
and
play
you
in
some
basketball
we
can
still
get
up
and
down
the
court
I'm
I'm
a
counselor
present.
You
gonna
play
him
whistle
ball
back
in
the
day
he
used
to
could
play
ball,
but
but
no
in
all
seriousness.
This
is
a
great
thing.
I'm
pleased
to
be
a
part
of
it.
I
want
to
thank
dr.
heit,
the
police
department,
commissioner
Ross
and
everybody
who's
made
and
port
made
it
possible.
J
Meet
cross-country,
meet
that
I'm
going
to
try
and
least
see
the
beginning
of
before,
and
if
I
don't
leave
in
a
little
bit,
I'm
gonna
miss
it,
but
I
want
you
understand
that
commitment
to
our
young
people
is
important
and
God
has
a
way
of
sending
our
signals
and
when
he
said
that
young
lady's
name
was
Shayla,
which
is
the
same
as
my
daughter.
That
was
a
signal
for
me.
So
thank
you.
So
much
god
bless.
K
Thank
you,
ladies
thank
you.
Thank
you
and
good
afternoon
everybody.
This
is
indeed
a.
This
is
a
great
day.
It's
the
it's
the
third
day
after
school
started,
and
we
got
off
to
a
great
start.
A
council
president
actually
am
one
who
remembers
everything
that
was
said
in
those
community
meetings
when
we're
talking
about
school
closures
and
I
also
want
to
thank
the
community,
because
they
also
presented
us
with
plans
in
ways
to
think
about
the
use
of
these
facilities,
and
this
is
a
manifestation
of
some
of
those
plans
and
I
want
to
personally.
K
That
provides
quality
out-of-school
time
for
you,
our
young
people,
because
you
see
whether
it's
a
pursuit
of
athletics
or
science
or
the
arts
out
of
school
tom
is
exceedingly
and
extremely
important.
And
if
we
can
capture
our
young
people
as
a
part
of
the
Police
Athletic
League,
then
we've
done
some
pretty
significant
work.
K
I
know
they
have
two
gyms
next
door,
but
they
said
they
wanted
to
play
on
this
floor
and
so
to
all
of
the
individuals
who've
made
this
possible.
Thank
you
and
to
members
of
my
staff
in
particular
bill
Foxx,
who
was
I
think
was
here
earlier
bill.
Thank
you
for
your
work
on
this.
A
building
our
buildings
engineer,
who
was
here
at
Strawberry,
Mansion
Derek
people
were
singing
your
praises
earlier.
K
M
M
Introduction
ever
thank
you
so
much
it's
my
pleasure
to
be
here
today.
I
am
sitting
over
here
and
and
listening
to
all
the
comments
that
have
been
made
already.
It's
really
just
a
complete
inspiration
to
see
the
vibrancy
of
this
room,
the
vibrancy
of
this
community.
This
building
reflects
this
community
so
for
Donna
and
for
council
president
Clark.
This
is
this,
reflects
you
and
what
you
know,
and
now
all
of
Philadelphia
will
know
it.
As
I
was
sitting
there,
I
was
thinking
of
a
brief
story.
M
Unfortunately,
at
that
point
in
time
there
wasn't
one
near
his
house
and
I'm
just
so
excited
to
know
that
the
children
in
this
area
have
this
to
come
to
because
you
have
someplace
to
go
after
school
so
to
adopt
the
Sixers
phrase,
trust
the
process.
This
is
proof
of
trusting
the
process
three
years
of
hard
work,
diligence,
perseverance,
persistence
and
every
other
word.
M
We
can
say
that
equates
to
this
end,
product
of
a
place,
that's
going
to
be
filled
with
fun,
excitement,
learning
growth,
the
ability
for
people
to
really
take
and
and
lead
by
example,
and
take
that
example
and
run
with
it.
There
is
a
future
dawn.
Stately,
that's
going
to
come
out
of
here.
There's
a
future
Rasheed
Wallace!
That's
going
to
come
out
of
here!
There's
a
future
representative,
Bullock
who's
going
to
come
out
of
here
and
so
for
the
children
in
this
room.
M
This
is
going
to
make
it
so
that
whenever
you
come
to
the
Criminal
Courts
Building
or
the
Juvenile
Justice
Center,
you
are
there
to
see
examples
of
what
you
can
be
to
see.
Judges
to
see
people
like
myself
and
colleagues
across
the
aisle
who
were
there
to
show
you
what
you
can
become
so
I
just
applaud
pal
I.
Thank
Ted
for
inviting
me
here
today.
M
D
D
This
young
man
is
going
to
be
a
POW
MVP.
The
MVPs
are
the
kids
that
come
every
day,
they're
the
ones
that
spend
hours
after
hours
here
and
they
start
in
a
computer
Club,
and
then
they
go
to
the
homework
club
and
then
they
play
basketball
and
they,
when
we
get
the
tickets
to
the
Sixers
you're
gonna
come
to
the
Sixers
right
awesome
Messiah,
who
are
you
welcoming,
Donna.
D
So
you've
heard
this
acronym
a
few
times
the
building
owners
and
managers
Association.
They
are
some
of
the
biggest
partners
that
the
Police
Athletic
League
has.
What
a
lot
of
people
don't
know
who
they
are?
Don
and
rich
are
the
face
of
boma,
in
my
opinion,
for
better
or
worse,
and
we
asked
them
to
say
a
few
words
about
what
they've
helped
make
possible
here.
O
Yeah
I
think
today
again
my
name
is
rich.
Mcclure
I
am
with
boma,
and
you
know
we
talk
a
lot
today
about
partnerships
and
about
you
know,
taking
a
village,
you
know,
I
mean
ted
talks
about
Don
and
I
being
you
know
the
face.
There
are
a
whole
host
of
folks
in
this
room,
some
of
our
partners
and
associate
members,
and
you
know
that
that
you
know
just
live
and
die
by
these
projects.
I
mean
they.
O
This
is
it's
about
giving
back
to
the
community,
and
you
know
if
our
partners
can
just
stand
up,
and
you
know
all
these
lights
were
all
replaced.
Bathrooms
were
done.
You
know
the
computer
labs,
painting
security
cameras
in
here,
windows
replaced,
and
you
know-
and
you
know
it
just
couldn't
be
done
without
these
folks,
all
Don
and
I
do.
Is
we
pick
up
a
phone
and
make
a
call
and,
and
these
folks
respond
and
it's
because
of
the
community,
it's
about
giving
back
so
I
hope
the
community
enjoys.
O
D
Sit
down
I'm
rich,
please
say
up
here
for
a
minute
and
council
president
Clark.
Could
you
please
come
up
here
just
for
a
quick
moment,
so
so
you
know
in
order
for
Pao
to
continue
its
operations,
we
spend
a
lot
of
time
fundraising
and
we
have
a
level
of
fundraising
that
we
call
founding
partnerships
and
collectively
what
the
council
president
has
done,
and
the
value
of
the
boma
has
risen
far
above
and
beyond
what
we
have
as
a
founding
partnership
and
so
we'd
like
to
unveil
a
plaque.
D
We'll
get
some
photos
afterwards
on
this
all
right
now,
we're
to
one
of
the
most
important
pieces
of
the
day,
I
would
say,
is
to
recognize
the
community
members
and
we
put
them
last
so
that
they
stuck
in
your
memory,
because
these
are
really
the
folks
that
made
this
possible.
It
truly
does
take
a
village
and
so
I'm,
just
gonna
ask
a
few
people
to
come
up
here.
I
have
a
list.
D
Forgive
me,
there's
a
lot
of
people
and
some
of
them
aren't
here
today,
but
some
of
them
are
so
I
know
that
we
have
miss
sherry
brown,
MS,
Tania,
Parker,
Tonetta,
Tyrone,
Rob,
Reid,
I,
think
you're,
part
of
the
community.
Is
there
anyone
else
I'm
missing
right
now,
so
these
folks
fought
the
good
fight,
as
we've
heard
a
little
bit
when
we
had
the
bola
volunteer
day.
You
said
a
couple
of
words
and
you
said
a
couple
of
words.
Would
you
mind,
maybe
just
echoing
a
little
bit
of
those
sentiments,
please.
L
First
of
all,
I'd
like
to
thank
the
creator
for
giving
us
strength
to
do
what's
been
done.
Secondly,
I'd
like
to
thank
my
community
for
backing
me
and
elected
me
to
go
forth
with
this
project
and
third
of
all,
but
most
importantly,
I
want
to
thank
the
students,
the
Strawberry
Mansion,
because
it
was
because
of
you
that
we
went
forth
to
get
this
with
a
survey
that,
at
the
time
class
2017
answered
when
it
was
ninth
graders,
saying
that
they
wanted
the
Powell
Center.
L
That
became
our
mission
because,
as
it
is,
the
doctor
roof
said
tell
them
we
are
rising
for
where
there's
unity
there
is
strength
and
I
can't
rise
without
you,
and
you
can't
rise
without
me,
because
I
may
be
part
of
the
present.
But
you
are
our
future
so
to
the
students
of
Strawberry
Mansion
to
the
community,
Strawberry
Mansion,
please
enjoy
our
Powell
Center,
because
we
all
rise.
N
One
of
those
residents
that
was
coming
to
the
council
president's
office
saying
what
we
gonna
do
with
this
building.
She
was
a
very
emotional,
so
I
get
up
Italian.
Thank
you
guys,
mansion
are
we
in
the
mansion?
Are
we
in
the
house
and
we
are
so
glad
to
have
this
house.
We
talked
glad
that
pile
is
here.
This
has
been
a
theme.
That's
been
taking
years,
as
you
all
have
heard.
We
are
thankful
for
a
wonderful
partners
with
the
power
and
let
me
tell
you
something
about
power
power.
N
You've
got
some
nice
friends,
you
guys
got
some
good
friends.
I
had
the
opportunity
to
of
engaged
the
power
program.
This
summer
my
son
was
enrolled
in
an
odd
tennis
camp
and
he
got
so
much
more
out
of
that
camp
than
just
tennis.
He
was
engaged,
he
felt
safe.
He
learnt
new
people,
aren't
new
friends.
We
even
got
to
meet
Santa
Claus
in
July,
because
the
PALS
good
friends
so
because
he
felt
safe
because
it
was
a
closer.
That's
in
our
neighborhood
I
felt
safe
and
I'm.
N
Going
to
tell
you
how
I
know
I
felt
safe,
I
was
not
blowing
up
officer,
hitting's
phoned
yeah
parents,
I,
think
office
ahead
and
called
me
more
than
I
called
him.
But
yes,
I
was
very
excited
and
we're
excited
to
have
Powell
in
the
community.
It's
very
important
for
us
to
bridge
those
relationships
with
our
police
officers,
with
our
schools
and
the
repurpose
these
builders
that
we
see
in
this
neighborhood.
It's
like
Strawberry
Mansion
that
are
just
sitting
there
like
ghosts.
One
of
the
things
I
asked
my
son
after
the
program
was
over.
N
I
asked
them
well
how'd.
You
like
hanging
out
with
police
officers.
He
said
mom
they're
cool
they're,
just
guys
they
have
jobs
that
make
them
carry
guns.
So
I
said:
okay
pass
that
along
southern
young
people
that
you
meet
and
then
the
last
thing
I
asked
them.
I
said:
well,
how'd
you
like
the
program
overall
and
he
was
like
I
got
so
much
more
out
of
it.
You
know,
I
really
enjoyed
you've,
got
to
go
to
fun
trips
and
meet
some
fun
people.
N
He
said
you
know
we
had
some
glitches
every
now
and
then,
but
one
thing
about
those
officers
mom
they
just
made
it
happen.
I
was
like
okay,
so
all
your
professionals
here,
our
young
people,
are
watching
us
and
they
are
waiting
for
us
to
make
it
happen.
So
in
our
new
house
and
in
Strawberry
Mansion
with
Powell
with
your
new
building
and
your
wonderful
partners,
let's
make
it
happen
for
our
neighbors
and
youth,
since
your
babies,
I.
P
P
It's
extraordinary
and
while
I
just
want
you
to
know,
I'm,
really
not
a
member
of
this
community,
although
some
people
have
said
I'm
a
brother
by
a
different
mother,
but
I
spent
a
lot
of
time
in
this
community
and
I
want
you
to
know
that
it
was
because
of
conversations
that
I
had
with
Cheri
and
Tonetta
and
Tanya,
and
we
said,
let's
come
together
and
try
to
create
this
school
as
a
community
center
and
to
have
a
pal
Center,
and
it
took
a
lot
of
work.
I
can't
tell
you
how
much
work
it
took.
P
There
are
so
many
people
here
that
I
want
to
thank
individually
and
I
will
thank
individually,
but
I
am
thrilled.
I'm
excited
I
just
want
you
to
know
that
I
am
now
with
the
Attorney
General's
Office
of
Pennsylvania
three
and
a
half
years
ago,
I
was
with
the
US
Attorney's
Office
and
I.
Thank
them
for
this
opportunity
to
have
been
able
to
participate,
to
show
the
community
that
law
enforcement
isn't
just
about
arresting
people,
because
you
can't
arrest
your
way
to
a
safer
community.
D
D
You
know
the
guys
that
laid
the
floor
by
the
way
did
that
for
free,
so
there's
boma
that
did
all
this
other
stuff,
and
please
take
a
look
at
this
this
this
powerpoint
over
here
you
will
see
before
and
after
that
will
blow
your
mind
but
fred
or
excuse
me,
the
folks
from
dove
lynn
and
city
flooring
and
and
all
those
folks
did
all
the
labor
on
this
in
line
didn't
match
the
colors
to
the
Sixers
blue
and
the
PAL
blue.
Just
incredible.
All
of
those
folks
are
listed
on
this
here.
D
These
will
be
on
permanent
display
here.
So
all
of
this
happened
over
the
last
three
years
to
get
us
to
today,
and
this
is
the
end
folks
and
then
we're
going
to
have
a
little
basketball
clinic,
but
all
of
this
happened
and
now
we
have
to
make
sure
that
we
can
continue
to
operate
tomorrow,
and
so
I
am
beyond
thrilled
to
tell
you
that
Geico,
a
longtime
corporate
partner
of
the
Police
Athletic
League,
has
come
on
to
adopt
this
Center.
So
Geico
is
providing
us
ongoing
funding
support
this
Center.
L
Wow,
thank
you
so
much
to
everyone.
You
know
what
gecko
the
tough
thing
about
being
at
the
back
end
of
the
program.
Sorry
about
the
tail
folks,
it
comes
with
the
lizard.
All
the
great
stuff
has
already
been
said,
but,
as
it
has
been
mentioned,
we're
a
longtime
corporate
partner
with
pals.
They
have
proven
themselves
to
be
an
essential
partner,
especially
here
in
Philadelphia,
and
we're
just
so
proud
to
be
back
again.
L
So
I'm
glad
I
wrote
something
down
because
all
the
great
stuffs
been
said
I
just
want
to
know
on
behalf
of
Geico
and
particularly
our
local
associates,
who
you'll
see
many
more
of
their
faces
here.
The
ones
that
serve
our
customers
in
the
Philadelphia
region
on
a
daily
basis,
I'm
very,
very
proud
to
represent
our
supporter
pal
by
adopting
the
Strawberry
Mansion
Center.
L
So
let
me
just
reiterate
something
before
we
finish,
because
I
know
the
kids
are
getting
a
position,
that's
always
a
clue.
So
we
talked
about
the
fact
that
safe
fun,
developmental
programming
for
youth,
it's
important
and
when
a
community
comes
together
folks
for
youth,
such
as
what
you've
done
here
today.
That
gets
the
geckos
attention.
All
right,
Geico
is
very
pleased
to
join
all
of
the
officers
and
the
staff
and
the
other
community
partners
in
celebrating
today.
So
let's
celebrate
folks
thanks
so
much
for
what
you've
done.
We
look
forward
to
the
future.