Resolution 150060

..Title Also naming 7th Street from Girard Avenue to Poplar Street as "Reverend Martha A. Lang Drive." ..Body WHEREAS, Martha A. Lang was appointed Pastor of Mount Tabor African Methodist Episcopal Church in May of 1983, at its previous location of 22nd and Master with only a membership of 9 children and 6 adults; and WHEREAS, Rev. Lang attended Alabama State Teachers College and came to Philadelphia to attend Temple University. She is a graduate of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Institute, Community College of Philadelphia and the Center for Urban Theological Studies at Geneva College; and WHEREAS, Rev. Lang's dedication to ministry also offered her great distinctions, among them being named Director of Stewardship for the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Senior Pastor of the Mother District of African Methodism. She was the first woman elected as ministerial delegate from Philadelphia to the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1992, and in 1996, became the first female pastor to host the annual conference here in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, With her vision of growth, the church purchased the historical Ukrainian Baptist Church building at 7th and Girard and church membership grew from 15 to more than 600. She led the church with more than $1 million of improvements. WHEREAS, Under her leadership, the church also formed the Mt. Tabor Community Education & Economic Development Corporation. The services of this non-profit include an after school program, an educational African Festival, a motivational and tutorial program, a prison inmate restoration program, a senior citizens program, and an after school program; and WHEREAS, In 2005, Rev. Lang undertook one of the biggest challenges of her career, building a senior housing project adjacent to the church to serve a pressing need in North Philadelphia. In 2009, Cyber Village was complete, a $14 million 56 unit wireless housing complex with a green roof, all for senior citizens 55 and over; and WHEREAS, On January 30, 2014, Rev. Martha A. Lang loss her battle with cancer at the age of 71. She was a proud resident of the Yorktown section of North Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That 7th Street from Girard Avenue to Poplar Street is also named "Reverend Martha A. Lang Drive." ..End