WHEREAS, As an American journalist and former co-anchor of the WCAU NBC 10 News, Renée Chenault Fattah has served three decades proving to be a beacon of journalistic integrity. With ease she illuminated the stories of our communities with compassion, insight, and professionalism; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah has demonstrated leadership, bringing her perspective to each story while simultaneously embodying objectivity. She is an inspiration to her colleagues and viewers alike, earning a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Missouri. After a few years co-anchoring the noon broadcast, she was promoted to the 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news where she spent her next 8 years co-anchoring; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah undoubtedly left a unique mark throughout her journey. She has shown intelligence and grace under pressure, and continues to look in the direction of other’s lives with interest in stories that impact women as well as health disparities because of racial and economic inequality; and
WHEREAS, Through film, Renée Chenault Fattah has helped to voice those who have been impacted by dementia, directing a documentary entitled “In Our Right Mind: Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia’s’ Impact on Communities of Color,” in which she bravely showcased her own journey with her aunt who suffered from the disorder; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah has spoken before university audiences, church congregations and civic organizations about issues concerning health disparities, law, education and ethics, and currently serves as a trustee of Johns Hopkins University and a former trustee of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, served on the board of the Philadelphia Zoo and as a member of the PennTowne Links, Inc; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah has received multiple awards, some of which include the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame Award for Lifetime Achievement in Broadcasting Communications, the Lincoln University Lion Award in Media, the Patricia Grasty Gaines Endowment Award for Multicultural Education, the White and Williams LPP Virginia Barton Wallace Award for Journalism Excellence, the Kappa Community Development Corporation African American Women Achiever Award, and the YMCA Philadelphia Outstanding Achiever Communications Award; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah’s most notable stories included political conventions and the school shooting massacre in Littleton, Colorado, her hometown. She was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Renée Chenault Fattah earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University, where she received the Black Alumni President’s Award, and earned her career in law by first graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she received the Alumni Award of Merit, then working at Hughes Hubbard & Reed in New York City and clerking for the late Judge Damon Keith on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; .now ,therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Philadelphia City Council hereby honors Renée Chenault Fattah for being an active member of the community and for the inspiration she has brought to countless individuals.