Honoring and celebrating The Berean Institute for their tireless efforts and contributions to the African-American community by providing education in vocational and business skills, on this the occasion of their 113th Anniversary.

Whereas, Matthew Anderson answered a call, filling the needs of the African-American community in Northwest Philadelphia and assumed the challenges of establishing a church from a small meeting room, creating a kindergarten to educate the children, and developing a training school for those intent on improving their places in society; and

Whereas, In 1899, Mathew and Caroline Anderson founded the Berean Manual Training and Industrial School to “meet the educational and vocational needs of the colored young men and women” of Philadelphia; and

Whereas, The Berean Manual Training and Industrial School had the object of training the head, hand and heart of young men and women, and thus fitting them for the practical requirements of every day life.

Whereas, The Berean Institute's primary mission is to prepare students for the world of work and continuing education. The Berean Institute is a “place to be somebody, where you learn to earn.” It is a post-secondary school for all people and is especially designed to help students achieve their highest potential; and

Whereas, The Berean Institute has enjoyed success through the years in its oldest licensed programs of barbering and cosmetology with a job placement rate of 93% for their barbering school students and a job placement rate of 99% for their cosmetology students; and

Whereas, The Berean Institute has educated the youth of Northwest Philadelphia for work in business and industry, and continued education for advanced degrees. As technology moved industry and business forward, the school developed class offerings so graduates would meet the needs of the day. In 1900, workers were needed for the garment and furniture industries, classes in tailoring and woodworking were offered. In 1950, bookkeepers, typists, and beauticians were called for, and today the business community looks to Berean for students with training in accounting, computer technology, and court reporting; and

Whereas, In 2014, the Berean Institute will submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education to become a two year academic institution and will then proceed to be accredited through the Middle States Association; now therefore

Resolved, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Hereby honors and congratulates the Berean Institute for their tireless efforts and contributions to the African-American community by providing education in vocational and business skills in the fields of cosmetology and barbering as well as other vocational specialties, on this the occasion of their 113th Anniversary.

Further Resolved, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Leandra C. Marshall, Executive Director of the Berean Institute as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End