In honor of International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier introduced and passed a City Council resolution honoring 13 West and Southwest Philadelphia women working to make their communities joyful and safe places to live.
The list included:
Tanja Carter – A community activist in Mill Creek, a block captain, and the founder of It Takes a Village of Helping Hands, a community organization which improves and empowers neighbors by hosting events, beautifying alleys, city streets, and parks, and more.
Callalily Cousar – The President of the East Parkside Residence Assistance (ERPA). In this role, she has established a playground, created a food cupboard, hosted block parties, health fairs, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and tax and resume workshops.
Constance Harris Crews – The President of the Kingsessing Recreation Center Advisory Council, a block captain, a committeeperson, the co-commissioner of the Jayhawks Basketball Program, and the Program Liaison for the Jayhawks 1975 Youth Association.
Terrilyn Donnell – The executive director of Community of Compassion CDC, and Chief of Staff at the Church of Christian Compassion.
Bettye Ferguson – The president of the Belmont Alliance Civic Association CDC (BACA-CDC), which serves no and low-income youth and their families.
Rachel Honore – The founder of Literacy and More, which provides educational resources and connects families with quality education centers.
Cheryl Jackson – The leader of the Concerned Block Captains of West and Southwest Philadelphia and a member of Philadelphia More Beautiful.
Edie Owens-Hightower – The founder of Partners for Success, a community building organization in Kingsessing. She is also a member of the Kingsessing Recreation Center Advisory Board and a Committeeperson for the 2nd Division in the 51st Ward.
Tammy Pullins – The executive director of Bread for Life, a ministry of the Transfiguration Baptist Church that provides hot meals to residents in Mantua.
Tamara N. Staley – The president and CEO of the Philadelphia Juneteenth Family Inc., which organizes and brings awareness to Black History events.
Lorraine Thomas – The operations manager for Southwest CDC. She is also serving serving as a Committeeperson for the 8th Division in the 51st Ward, and on the Neighborhood Advisory Subcommittee.
Kendra Van de Water – The executive director of Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH Philly), which creates safe hangout spaces for teens and young adults in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
Doreen Waller – A community activist, the creator of the Garden of Unity at 56th and Chester.
Text of the full resolution is available here.
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