Honoring and recognizing Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center for their outstanding work throughout the Strawberry Mansion Community.

WHEREAS, Kevin Upshur is a graduate of Strawberry Mansion High School and attended Cheyney University. For over 20 years he has worked as a social worker, most recently as a youth detention counselor, serving as a mentor for hundreds of kids; and

WHEREAS, In 2008 Kevin founded the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center when he transformed his mother’s local bar into an education and resource center with after-school and mentoring programs for the youth of Strawberry Mansion; and

WHEREAS, His work at the center has been guided by the words of his late mother, Shirley, who died in 2006, urging Kevin to give back to the community to help curb the violence by creating a place where young people could learn. "My mother is the motivation in this," he told the Daily News during an interview in 2013; and

WHEREAS, The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center has become a safe haven for kids in the neighborhood providing access to computers, a library, healthy meals and trips for students. By providing a productive outlet for Philly youth, the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center hopes to reduce crime among the students; and

WHEREAS, During the summer of 2016, while world was focused on Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention, the Huffington Post visited

North Philadelphia and Strawberry Mansion Learning Center while filming a story on gun violence. This placed a national spotlight on the center for its positive work in a challenging environment; and

WHEREAS,

In August of 2016, a GoFundMe page was created to raise money for the center’s kitchen and bathroom renovation project

. Because of the initial video posted by the Huffington Post, GoFundMe decided to spotlight the center's mission and donated the first $2,000 in the fundraising campaign; and.

WHEREAS, Because of Kevin’s great work,

NBC News Anchor Lester Holt visited the center to highlight the work in the community in a story that aired nationally. Almost overnight, GoFundMe donations began pouring in from people across the country; and

WHEREAS, Kevin has also been featured on the Rachel Ray Show where he was presented with a $25,000 donation from Philadelphia based Beneficial Bank; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Hereby honor and recognize Kevin Upshur and the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center for their outstanding work throughout the Strawberry Mansion Community.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Kevin Upshur as

evidence of the true and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End