WHEREAS,
Maribelle Mackenzie was born in South Philadelphia, attended Philadelphia High School for Girls and graduated from South Philadelphia High School; and,
WHEREAS,
When she turned 20 in the summer of 1940, Ms. Mackenzie accepted a two-week job at a Bible school in Chinatown in the summer of 1940 at the age of 20. While she did not speak Chinese, she stayed in Chinatown to help Chinese immigrants adjust to life in the City; and
WHEREAS,
Ms. Mackenzie - known as Mitzie throughout Chinatown - was a staff member at the Chinese Christian Church and Center for 61 years, beginning by working in the young adult group at the center and becoming its director by the time the center dedicated its church building in 1949; and
WHEREAS,
Before Mitzie's retirement in 1991, she could count hundreds of accomplishments including the establishments of the center's Boys' Club, Girls' Club, kindergarten, and English as a Second Language program; and
WHEREAS,
In addition to work at the Center, Mitzie was a board member of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation from the 1970s until early this decade and of On-Lok House, a senior citizen home on 10th Street near Spring Street; and
WHEREAS,
Mitzie Mackenzie provided personal support and encouragement to, and served as a positive role model for countless Chinatown residents and young people; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,
That Spring Street between 9th and 10th Streets is also named in honor of Maribelle Mitzie Mackenzie.
End