Also naming the 600 block of N. 34th Street as "C. B. Kimmins Way" to honor the life and memory of C. B. Kimmins and his service to the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, C. B. Kimmins was a fearless and beloved anti-drug advocate and community pillar in West Philadelphia. Educated at Cardinal Dougherty High School and St. Joseph’s University, he taught in the School District of Philadelphia for thirty years, where he launched himself into advocacy for the students of Philadelphia while looking for nothing in return but the safety of the Philadelphian youth. His students dubbed him C. B., standing for “Cool Bernie”; and

WHEREAS, C. B. initiated after-school programs to inspire students and keep them on the path to success. From the 1970s onward, he consistently encouraged students to avoid guns, bullying, drugs, and violence; instead, he taught his students to learn tolerance for others. By the 1990s, he was partnering with people from all walks of life to spread his message that the students of Philadelphia are valued; and

WHEREAS, Launching his volunteer work outside of the classroom, C. B. became a gang-control worker for the City of Philadelphia in 1967. He then served at the House of Umoja, providing guidance to alienated, gang-affiliated males to transform them into self-assured and productive citizens; his determination to resist crime was deeply rooted in his faith; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, C. B. would stand vigil outside drug houses, preventing dealers from operating at a time when Mantua was overtaken by crack cocaine; he would stand unafraid when his life was threatened. Starting in 2000, C. B. led the neighborhood group Mantua Against Drugs and has been recognizable by his bullhorn and signature sticker/pin-clad hard hat; and

WHEREAS, C. B. was invested in education for the entirety of his life, before his passing he was working towards a PhD from Temple University. C. B. was awarded the 1999 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Involvement Recognition Award by the president of the University of Pennsylvania; he was honored as one of the greatest Philadelphians to ever live by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007, and received recognition from the White House for his advocacy; and

WHEREAS, C. B. was a true family man who dedicated himself to his two daughters and his grandson, as well as his community. He was known for his endless energy and ability to make conversation with everyone he met. C. B. dedicated his life to serving the Philadelphia community, his family, and his faith. His contribution to the fight against drugs and violence on the streets of Philadelphia will never be forgotten

; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the

600 block of N. 34th Street also be named as “C. B. Kimmins Way” to honor the life of C. B. Kimmins and his service to the City of Philadelphia.

End