WHEREAS, Lillian Ray is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia and a product of the Philadelphia public school system, having attended Alcorn Elementary School, Audenreid Junior High School, and Edward W. Bok High School. Ms. Ray received formal training from the United States Department of Treasury, the Office of Substance Abuse and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, the Midwest Academy of Neighborhood Organizing in Rockhill, South Carolina, and the Philadelphia School District’s Student-Assistance Program; and
WHEREAS, Lillian Ray’s community organizing efforts began in 1973, when she brought together a group of mothers to address the issues of gang violence in Philadelphia, in particular in her longtime neighborhood of Grays Ferry. During the 1980s, this group incorporated their efforts under the name Stinger Square Community Services. Mrs. Ray served as the organization’s Executive Director, and implemented and developed youth and community based programs and services, including an interracial sports league, computer training centers, the Stinger Square Steppers Drill Team, literacy classes, food distribution networks, and senior citizen enrichment workshops; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, after serving as Assistant Deputy Mayor in the Mayor’s Office of Gun Violence and Drug Control Policy, Lillian Ray was appointed the first African-American female drug czar of the City of Philadelphia. While in this capacity, Mrs. Ray was responsible for identifying and coordinating City, state, and federal resources for anti-drug initiatives and developed and implemented criminal justice strategies that are still practiced today; and
WHEREAS, Lillian Ray helped form Grays Ferry Unified, a diverse organization comprised of various religious, social, civic, and community members whose mission was to promote and maintain peace, unity, and love throughout the Grays Ferry area. Her experience with the group led to the creation of the iconic Peace Wall Mural in the heart of Grays Ferry; and
WHEREAS, Lillian Ray has received numerous awards from various social, civic, political, and business organizations, including the Senator Roxanne Jones Community Service Award, Philadelphia’s Anti-Drug Crusaders Award, the Channel 10 Spirit of Philadelphia Award, and the Mayor’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Mrs. Ray also serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Interdisciplinary Youth Fatality Task Force, the Pennsylvania Justice Fellowship Task Force, and the Health Management Corporation Advisory Board; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby honors Lillian Ray’s dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia and to her beloved Grays Ferry neighborhood, and that South 31st Street, between Grays Ferry Avenue and Wharton Street, shall henceforth be known as “Lillian Ray Way”.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Lillian Ray as evidence of the sincere respect and appreciation of this legislative body.
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