WHEREAS, A myriad of emotions, including disbelief, sadness, loneliness, fear, anger, regret, guilt, despair and personal loss, is associated with the grief process. While it is manifested differently in each individual during the time of the loss of their loved one, getting support from other families can ease the pain and begin the healing process; and
WHEREAS, The Compassionate Friends organization links bereaved family members to other survivors who, having experienced the same, can offer friendship and understanding to those now going through the difficult period. While sharing their grief, families and friends discover new hope and direction in their lives along with the belief that a meaningful life can exist beyond the present pain. The National Grief Support organization consists of forty chapters in Pennsylvania and over 600 chapters nationwide; and
WHEREAS, After the death of her young child in 1986, Dorothy Johnson –Speight sought support for her grief from the Valley Forge Chapter of The Compassionate Friends. In 1989, after gaining much strength and resolve from the chapter, she realized that no such support existed in central Philadelphia. In September of 1989, Ms. Speight founded the Temple University Chapter- the only African American chapter; and
WHEREAS, Death does not discriminate in favor or against any specific ethnicity; therefore, The Chapter welcomes and encourages the attendance of families from all ethnic backgrounds unified by a common bond - the death of their loved one and the eventual hope of healing through expressing, sharing and understanding the grieving process; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Speight continues to work tirelessly on developing an inner-city chapter that helps not only the family but also the community in which the deceased lived and interacted to understand the nature of the loss that has occurred; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend Ms. Dorothy Johnson-Speight for her dedication to the principles of The Compassionate Friends and for forging linkages to other support systems and resources, in the thirteen years of Temple University Chapter’s existence, that seek to enable individuals and families alike to accept and develop from grief.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Ms. Dorothy Johnson-Speight as further evidence of the sincere sentiments and high esteem of this legislative body.
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