Resolution 250959

..Title Honoring and recognizing the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia for over four decades of dedicated service to victims and survivors of violence. ..Body WHEREAS, Since its founding in 1983, the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP) has worked tirelessly to reduce the cycle of violence by providing a wide range of compassionate services to victims and survivors, and by promoting healing, safety, and peace throughout our City; and WHEREAS, AVP began as Families of Murder Victims (FMV), a grassroots effort formed in partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office to serve families who had lost loved ones to homicide, offering vital support, advocacy, and guidance during the most painful times of their lives; and WHEREAS, Over the years, AVP has expanded its services and impact through the establishment of programs such as the Counseling Center (1996), which provides free trauma-informed counseling to children, families, and individuals affected by violence; the West/Southwest Victim Services Program (2005), which supports victims of violent crime in a community-based setting; and the Youth Violence Outreach (YVO) initiative (2016), which delivers school-based, trauma-informed therapy to young people at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence; and WHEREAS, AVP's collaboration with the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office, beginning in 2007, ensures that families receive immediate emotional and practical support in the devastating days following a homicide; and WHEREAS, Through the decades, AVP has earned numerous local, regional, and national honors, including the National Organization for Victim Assistance Excellence in Victim Services Award (1989), the Philadelphia County Medical Society's Outstanding Health Services Award (1994), and the GlaxoSmithKline Community Partnerships IMPACT Award (2004), recognizing its leadership in improving the quality of life and care for underserved Philadelphians; now, therefore, be it. RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors and commends the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia for its outstanding service, steadfast leadership, and lifelong commitment to reducing violence, supporting victims, and fostering peace in every corner of our beloved City. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia as a token of the Council's deepest appreciation and admiration for over forty years of dedicated service to the citizens of Philadelphia. ..End