Resolution 130675

..Title Recognizing and honoring the d'Zert Club and African Genesis Institute on its 20th Anniversary. ..Body WHEREAS, The d'Zert Club is a Philadelphia-based, non-profit youth organization founded in 1993 by the husband and wife team of Ali and Helen Salahuddin. It specializes in producing positive entertainment, social and cultural activities, and national and international educational field trips for African American and Latino youth; and WHEREAS, The Salahuddins also founded African Genesis Institute, a proactive, educational and cultural program for African-American youth between the ages of seven and fourteen focused on developing an understanding and awareness of the African experience in America. During the 27-month program, students are exposed to their rich and extraordinary ancient African history through bi-monthly classes, seminars and field trips. At the end of the program the students and group leaders sojourn to Africa for the Teen Summit 1000 where they examine the land of their ancestors and share their culture and lifestyle with African youth; and WHEREAS, The goal of the corrective history program is to raise self-esteem, increase literacy, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage entrepreneurship among its students. Its motto is "It is better to build a child than repair an adult" and its mission is "To put its students on the road to being healthy, wealthy and wise"; and WHEREAS, The African Genesis Institute has testimony from parents, teachers, group leaders and other adults who interact with those students who have graduated from the program, and from the students themselves, that the curriculum and sojourn has had a profound positive effect on the students. 97.2 % of those who graduate from the program attend college. In addition, the students' academic proficiency and scores on standardized tests have increased, absences from school, lateness and incidences of disruptive behavior have decreased and their respect for their elders has taken a dramatic turn for the better; now therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the d'Zert Club and African Genesis Institute on their 20th anniversary. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the d'Zert Club and African Genesis Institute as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. ..End