THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY JOHNSON, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, McCALL, MILLARD, MURPHY, MURT, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PAYTON, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 17, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 17, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing, during the observation of "Women's History Month"

in March 2009, the contributions of Dorothy Allen, Josephine

Blow, Lois A. Fernandez, Minnie Moore-Johnson, Lillian Ray,

Betty B. Richardson Smoot and Emma Wilson.

WHEREAS, March 2009 is "Women's History Month," and

Pennsylvania has many women who have contributed greatly to the

progress and tradition of this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, While many of these women have already received wide

recognition for their contributions, there are countless others

who are less well known but are nonetheless woven into the

fabric of our history; and

WHEREAS, Seven women of this Commonwealth who deserve

acclamation during "Women's History Month" have served the City

of Philadelphia for decades; and

WHEREAS, Dorothy Allen began the Barrett Educational

Community Center in 1976 to offer a safe haven for children and

youth and to provide resources, food and services to

neighborhood adults, personally financing the center and

continuing to work during acute illnesses and through personal

tribulation; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Allen recently turned over the center's

operation to her granddaughter, Tiphanie White, who now serves

as its executive director; and

WHEREAS, Josephine Blow has served as Chester Avenue Business

Association's president for the past 20 years, is a

committeeperson of the 51st Ward, a board member of the African

Cultural Alliance of North America and serves on planning

committees for Southwest Pride Day, Thomas Avenue Town Watch

National Night Out Celebration and Garden Homes; and 

WHEREAS, Ms. Blow belongs to the Southwest EPIC Stakeholders

and its Safe Corridor program, the 12th Police District Advisory

Council, the South West Action Coalition, Project NEAT and

Intelligent Sisters Improving Selves (ISIS), is an elected

member of the board of the Southwest CDC Neighborhood Advisory

Committee and has been involved in the planning and

revitalization of the Chester Avenue business corridor; and

WHEREAS, Lois A. Fernandez holds a master's degree in urban

planning from Antioch College and worked for the City of

Philadelphia from 1970 to 1988, fighting gang violence, engaging

in parent counseling and supervising children in foster care, as

well as innovating social programs in the Philadelphia School

District; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Fernandez has played a significant role in

preserving and perpetuating African culture since 1972, which

was highlighted through her work on the host committee of the

Corporate Council of Africa's 2001 meeting in Philadelphia; she

founded ODUNDE, Inc., initiated the ODUNDE Festival in

Philadelphia in 1975 to celebrate African culture and has served

as ODUNDE, Inc.'s president for the past 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Fernandez has received numerous awards for her

vision and service, and, in 1967, she sued in Federal Court,

successfully, for the removal of the term "illegitimate" from

the birth certificates of babies of single mothers; and

WHEREAS, Minnie Moore-Johnson is the founder and chief

executive officer of Concerned Parents, Inc., a nonprofit

organization that provides services to citizens in Philadelphia

who are less fortunate, elderly, homeless, or ex-offenders; the

organization provides educational support, food, clothing,

affordable furniture and appliances and links clients with

service agencies to find additional resources and employment;

and she personally has increased the annual Concerned Parents,

Inc., senior citizens Thanksgiving dinner from 15 meals served

in 1968 to 25,000 meals served in 1988; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Moore-Johnson created the Job Development

program at Temple University, which offers courses on ex-

offender job training, as well as training in ex-offender social

work and job development, and has received numerous accolades,

honors and awards for her many contributions; and

WHEREAS, Betty B. Richardson Smoot has run a successful real

estate transactions and tax preparation office since 1968,

serving the people of west Philadelphia as a real estate

salesperson since 1953; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Smoot served for many years as executive

director of the Mt. Zion Unity Development Corporation, was a

founding member of the Schuylkill Women's Coalition, has been

very active at her church for more than 70 years and currently

serves as a member of the Business and Professional Women's

Ministry and the church choir, and is the recipient of numerous

awards for her community and governmental service; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, after serving as deputy to three drug

czars, Lillian Ray was appointed the first African-American

female drug czar of the City of Philadelphia, capping an

industrious career in law enforcement and community organization

combating drug violence and crime through efforts such as

Stinger Square Community Services, interracial sports leagues,

computer training centers, literacy classes, food pantries,

enrichment workshops and the creation of the Peace Wall Mural in

the heart of the racially torn Graysferry section of the city;

and

WHEREAS, The mother of nine children, Ms. Ray has received

numerous awards and honors and serves on many boards, most

notably the Interdisciplinary Youth Fatality Task Force,

Pennsylvania Justice Fellowship Task Force and Philadelphia

Health Management Corporation Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, For many years, Emma Wilson was the unwavering force

and youth advocate at Dixon House, serving as director of Camp

Unami, a residential summer camp for city children in rural

Pennsylvania; supervising a program to provide summer jobs for

youth; making Dixon House available for group dances and

gatherings; and organizing trips for young people in order to

expand their horizons; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson's commitment to youth and family safety

led to her involvement with the Safe Corridor Project and

despite recent personal health concerns, Ms. Wilson remains

active in the community; and

WHEREAS, The commitment to social and community involvement

exemplified by these seven women is worthy of celebration and

praise; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize, during

the observation of "Women's History Month" in March 2009, the

contributions of Dorothy Allen, Josephine Blow, Lois A.

Fernandez, Minnie Moore-Johnson, Lillian Ray, Betty B.

Richardson Smoot and Emma Wilson.