Honoring East Mt. Airy Neighbors for 40 years of success and accomplishment as it continues to strive to achieve its mission of "Making a Good Community Better."

WHEREAS, During the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s, many of Philadelphia’s white residents were encouraged by unscrupulous realtors to sell their homes because African Americans and other people of color where moving into their communities; and

WHEREAS, In response to this discriminatory practice called blockbusting, Rev. Rudolph Gelsey of East Mt. Airy’s Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration gave a sermon against this practice that inspired a series of meetings amongst neighbors and block associations to fight against this practice and to welcome new neighbors to East Mt. Airy; and

WHEREAS, From these meetings, East Mt. Airy Neighbors, Inc. (“EMAN”) was formed and Rev. Gelsey served as EMAN’s first President and over the years, EMAN and its members have formed many events and community organizations including but not limited to Mt. Airy Day, Mt. Airy Times Express newspaper, Mt. Airy Learning Tree, Mt Airy Schools Committee, Mt. Airy USA CDC, EMAN Child Care, EMAN Community Living, and the Philadelphia Council of Neighborhood Organizations; and

WHEREAS, 40 years later, EMAN is still welcoming new neighbors, fighting against blockbusting, and striving to achieve its mission of “Making a Good Community Better” and to celebrate its 40 years, EMAN is having a 40th Anniversary and Reunion on Sunday, September 17th , from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Brossman Center on the campus of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (7301 Germantown Avenue); and

WHEREAS, With the assistance of former officers and members as ambassadors from each decade, the Anniversary and Reunion will provide EMAN and this community an opportunity to recount and celebrate its 40 years of existence and this celebration will be a chance for new, old, and former members to reunite, reflect, and discuss EMAN and its beloved Mt. Airy community; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor East Mt. Airy Neighbors for 40 years of success and accomplishment as it continues to strive to achieve its mission of “Making a Good Community Better.”

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of East Mt. Airy Neighbors as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End