Honoring the 17th Annual My City, My Place, Brighter Futures Awards Event and commending members of the Public Awareness Committee for working to include people with mental retardation in everyday community life.

WHEREAS,

The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased to participate in the 17th Annual My City, My Place, Brighter Futures Awards Event; and

WHEREAS,

This event is sponsored by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services and this year’s celebration has the theme of ARTWORKS!; and

WHEREAS

, We join in tribute to this year’s honorees, through whose efforts citizens with mental retardation have experienced opportunities for community inclusion; and

WHEREAS,

These honorees include: a residential skills trainer who promotes independence, a life-sharing partner, a woman who resided in a nursing home and is now living a self determined life, a woman who uses mental retardation support services and has a career, and two professional dancers who volunteered their time to teach people with mental retardation to dance so that they could perform in a local talent show; and

WHEREAS,

Every year the Public Awareness Committee coordinates this event and several others celebrating the enriching contributions individuals with mental retardation make to our City; and

WHEREAS,

The outstanding work of the Public Awareness Committee which includes recipients of services and supports, family members, service providers, advocates and other stake holders needs to be recognized; and

WHEREAS,

In an effort to better achieve community inclusion for those with mental retardation this committee established a City-wide campaign called “It’s All About Community!”; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, Honor the 17TH Annual My City, My Place, and Brighter Futures Awards Event and commends the Public Awareness Committee for working to include people with mental retardation in everyday community life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

That

a

n Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to this year’s awardees and members of the Public Awareness Committee for the 17th Annual My City, My Place, and Brighter Future Awards Event.

End