WHEREAS, Mr. Hudgins was a proud Philadelphian who spent his life giving back to the neighborhood that he loved, positively impacting the lives of all those who were fortunate enough to have known him; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hudgins was passionate about his work with local youth across Philadelphia, pursuing employment with the Adolescent Violence Reduction Partnership (AVRP). In his capacity with AVRP, Mr. Hudgins acted as a valuable mentor for young people in some of Philadelphia’s most troubled neighborhoods and helped to stem the tide of violence in our City; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hudgins served as the Block Captain for the 2200 block of McClellan, the street to be named in his honor, and took personal responsibility for beautifying his neighborhood. Whether sweeping the street, emptying trash cans, or encouraging community stewardship with a friendly “pick that up, it’s a trash can right there,” he remained dedicated to improving the quality of life on his block; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hudgins also volunteered his time operating a “taxi” to assist senior citizens in his neighborhood with their daily errands, thus ensuring that his neighbors could live out their retirement with dignity in their own homes; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his years of service with AVRP, Mr. Hudgins volunteered as a crossing guard with McDaniel Elementary School and gave freely of his time to support several other schools in his South Philadelphia neighborhood. He recognized that young people are the future of our great City and worked to build a stronger neighborhood through his dedication to education and community activism; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hudgins’ contributions to the City of Philadelphia and to the 2200 block of McClellan Street in particular were wholly invaluable, and his presence as community leader will be sorely missed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the 2200 block of McClellan Street is also named “James ‘Hott’ Hudgins Way” to honor the memory of James Hudgins, to recognize his years of service to his community, and to memorialize his lasting legacy.
End