Resolution 250547

..Title Also naming the 1900 block of N. Judson Street as "Sister Mary Scullion Way". ..Body WHEREAS, Sister Mary Scullion has dedicated her life to the service and advocacy of homeless and mentally ill individuals, starting in 1978, and has tirelessly worked to improve the lives of those most in need, making significant contributions both locally and nationally; and WHEREAS, Sister Mary co-founded Woman of Hope in 1985, providing residential and support services to homeless, mentally ill women, and in 1988, she founded the nation's first Outreach Coordination Center, coordinating private and public agencies to support chronically homeless individuals living on the streets; and WHEREAS, In 1989, Sister Mary, alongside Joan Dawson McConnon, co-founded Project HOME, an innovative organization that has grown from an emergency shelter into a nationally recognized initiative, providing supportive housing, employment, education, and health care for homeless and low-income individuals; and WHEREAS, Project HOME's impact extends to nearly 1,000 units of housing, two businesses that provide employment for formerly homeless individuals, and community initiatives such as economic development, homeownership, and the Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs, which offers educational and occupational programming in North Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, In 2015, Project HOME opened the Stephen Klein Wellness Center, a model for integrated healthcare services, providing primary care, behavioral health, dental services, a YMCA, pharmacy, and wellness programs to individuals experiencing homelessness in one of Philadelphia's most impoverished areas; and WHEREAS, Sister Mary has served as a powerful advocate for the rights of homeless and mentally ill individuals, including successful efforts to secure voting rights for homeless persons and a landmark court decision protecting the fair housing rights of individuals with disabilities; and WHEREAS, Sister Mary's leadership has been recognized nationally and internationally, including being named by Time magazine as one of the "World's Most Influential People" in 2009, receiving numerous honorary doctorates, the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, and the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship in 2002; and WHEREAS, Sister Mary's commitment to serving others has extended to her roles on the Board of Trustees for St. Joseph's University and the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, as well as her leadership in chairing the Hunger and Homelessness Committee for Pope Francis's visit to Philadelphia in 2015; and WHEREAS, This Council expresses its deep gratitude to Sister Mary Scullion for her exceptional contributions to addressing homelessness and mental illness, her unwavering advocacy for marginalized communities, and her extraordinary leadership in making a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals. We honor her remarkable achievements and affirm our commitment to supporting her continued efforts in fostering a more just and compassionate society; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the 1900 block of N. Judson Street shall also be named as "Sister Mary Scullion Way" FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Sister Mary Scullion as evidence of the true and sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body. ..End