WHEREAS, PhillyBOLT (Build Our lives Together) is a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating, supporting, and empowering grassroots leaders to drive community-led change, with a focus on elevating residents of low-income neighborhoods to lead transformative initiatives; and
WHEREAS, PhillyBOLT envisions a future where neighborhoods impacted by racial and economic injustice are thriving, led by the residents, and believes that the work of community transformation must be intergenerational, fostering a pipeline of leaders with lived experience; and
WHEREAS, Through the Grassroots Leadership program, Philadelphians with a proven record of community impact receive support to scale their work and are integrated into the Youth Fellowship as part of the broader BOLT network advancing intergenerational changemaking; and
WHEREAS, PhillyBOLT’s guiding principles - seeing problems as opportunities, being curious and asking why, practicing radical candor, delivering outstanding experiences, doing the right thing rather than the easy thing, and always acting in service to the people - have been fundamental in driving positive change and empowering communities across the City; and
WHEREAS, The BOLT Academic-Year Fellowship partners with schools across the City to incorporate leadership development into classrooms, training high school students to serve as “coaches” who mentor their peers, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and skill-building within their school communities; and
WHEREAS, BOLT Youth Coaches and Fellows have collectively dedicated over 100 hours to leadership training, mentorship, and community engagement, exemplifying a deep commitment to personal growth, civic responsibility, and peer service while significantly advancing a culture of civic engagement, social responsibility, and community resilience among Philadelphia’s youth; and
WHEREAS, These students come from schools across the City, including but not limited to Sayre High School, West Philadelphia High School, the Academy at Palumbo, and Olney High School, representing the diverse voices and experiences of Philadelphia’s youth; and
WHEREAS, Their efforts exemplify the transformative power of youth leadership and community-driven change, serving as a model for how young people can shape a more just, equitable, and thriving Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes the students of the PhillyBOLT Academic-Year Fellowship Program for their dedication to community-led change and leadership development and celebrates the fourth cohort of Grassroots Leaders, in the City of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia expresses its deep appreciation to PhillyBOLT for its continued work to cultivate and empower grassroots leaders, ensuring that future generations of Philadelphians are equipped to lead and drive positive change in their neighborhoods and beyond.
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