Honoring and celebrating Philadelphia's future Black History in its young people and in particular: Mikayla Newkirk, Ramier Jones and Aviannah Mitchell as living examples of the future's promise in the Philadelphia area, as part of the commemoration of Black History Month.

WHEREAS, African American children have and continue to face challenges and obstacles not of their own making, including a harder time in school, less recognition of their successes and more suspicion of their actions and their motives. We as a body choose to recognize the bright African American future among and across our City; and

WHEREAS, Mikayla Newkirk, throughout her high school career has achieved first and second honors and currently ranks second in her class at Building 21 High School while being active in the robotics club, community service, the creative writing club, and completing a Bloomberg Arts Internship. Ms. Newkirk is a senior and will be attending Pennsylvania State University in the fall; and

WHEREAS, Ramier Jones is a junior at George Washington Carver High School for Engineering and Science where he maintains a 4.2 grade point average. Mr Jones is a scholar and also an athlete as a varsity football and track team member. Ramier serves as a mentor to younger children through the BoystoMen program, as a member of Mayor Kenney’s Youth Commission, and is deeply involved SeaPerch Robotics, an underwater robot obstacle course; and

WHEREAS, Aviannah Mitchell, a fine orator recognized at a recent Martin Luther King Day oratorical contest, the president of her school’s student body, an honor roll student who also finds time to cheerlead and serve as a peer mediator. Ms. Mitchell is a senior and holds acceptances to Cheyney University, Cabrini University and Kutztown University among a long list as she decides where to let her light shine forth; and

WHEREAS, All of these stars and icons in the making, in great and diverse ways, have positively impacted the City of Philadelphia and show the City a way forward. These future legends have, and will continue to make their presence and voices heard here in Philadelphia now and long into the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and celebrates Philadelphia's future Black History in it’s young people and in particular: Mikayla Newkirk, Ramier Jones and Aviannah Jones as living examples of the future’s promise in the Philadelphia area, as part of the commemoration of Black History Month.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to these future giants in our City as further evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

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