Resolution 140846

..Title Honoring Rosalind McKelvey for her commitment and dedication to services for the deaf and hard of hearing residents of the Eighth Council District. ..Body WHEREAS, Rosalind (Roz) McKelvey was born and raised in Philadelphia. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Florence Garrett, Ms. McKelvey began advocating for the deaf and hard of hearing in the Eighth Council District at a young age; and WHEREAS, Realizing that the deaf and hard of hearing had no access to interpreters in religious settings, Ms. McKelvey founded a ministry interpreting for the deaf and hard of hearing in her church. Since 1976, Ms. McKelvey has served as the Deaf Advocate and Special Needs Ministry Director for Germantown Deaf Ministries. Currently, Ms. McKelvey facilitates the only volunteer deaf advisory board for the Philadelphia Managing Director's Office of Emergency Management; and WHEREAS, Ms. McKelvey worked as a special needs paraeducator at The Pennsylvania School of the Deaf for over twenty-one (21) years; and WHEREAS, Ms. McKelvey, as a member of the Wakefield 49ers Community Development Group, hosts numerous events aimed at bringing awareness to issues concerning the deaf and hard of hearing residents and fostering community amongst all of the residents of the Eighth Council District; and WHEREAS, The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania honored Ms. McKelvey as their Hearing Person of the Year; and WHEREAS, Ms. McKelvey's commitment and dedication to serving her community is truly commendable and deserving of recognition; now, therefore be it, RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors Rosalind McKelvey for her commitment and dedication to services for the deaf and hard of hearing residents of the Eighth Council District. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to Rosalind McKelvey as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. ..End