Thank you Mayor Nutter for being a great Citizen Hunter, and thank you to all who spent the day honroing MLK not just with words, but deeds. Here's Mayor Nutter's op-ed:
WERE YOU A "day on" person or a "day off" person on Monday?
Did you engage in a service project or decide to stay home?
While many Philadelphians stayed in on a very cold Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, about 60,000 people in the Philadelphia region decided to honor the memory of Dr. King and his call for racial and economic justice with a day of service.
Among 600 service projects, volunteers rehabbed a West Philadelphia community organization's building, weatherized homes, trained reading coaches and packaged meals for the homeless.
By any measure, the 13th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service was a tremendous success, but for Philadelphia to become the prosperous, caring and healthy community we want, much more must be done.
Philadelphia deservedly carries the motto of "the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection." How about another nickname? Philadelphia, City of Service.
I firmly believe we now stand at the gateway to a renaissance in this city based on a new sense of hope, new ideas and new leadership. But government fueled by tax dollars from the city's hard-working families and businesses can't fix all problems.
We need everyone to pitch in and help, and not just once a year in a special event honoring one of America's greatest men.
Part of King's testament is his firm belief that "anybody can be great because everybody can serve." Volunteering your time for one of the city's many worthy causes doesn't only help the cause you've chosen. It also binds you to other Philadelphians who in the past were no more than strangers on the sidewalk.
It builds the caring community we must have to meet the challenges of a global economy that moves manufacturing and service jobs from one end of the earth to the other in a moment's notice.
The public-service choices are many. There are scores of Town Watch groups all over the city. There are neighborhood cleanups and mentoring programs.
But here's an idea. How about volunteering in a school?
To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we need a top-rate school system that graduates students who can read, communicate, do math and understand technology. You can help your child and many others while building your community.
So let's make every day "a day on." Let's think of ways to help because we are truly responsible for each other in our communities and across this city. Call your school or whatever organization that draws your interest.
Do something that helps your neighborhood, and you'll be helping yourself by building the new Philadelphia, City of Service.
Comments (2)
MLK Jesse Jackson Ted Kennedy and Al Gore once ALL opposed Abortion because PP was into EUGENICS as stated By Margaret Sanger the Founder of PP.Jesse Jackson Likened it to Slavery .
Today 55% of Black Babies in Philly Conceived are ABORTED! Margaret Sanger has actually WON!
What would MLK think about ABORTION Today and it's impact on the Black Community?
Posted by: Kevin In Kuwait on January 26, 2008 02:37
Can you Justify the 60,000 Number...
600 Projects
That translates into 100 Volunteers per Project!
I have worked on a Myriad of Volunteer Projects I can't Remember one other Than going to a Rally or a Fundraiser that could utilize 100 Volunteers at a Particular Project at anyone time in any one place? and those Projects are Charity Fund Raisers..with Fulltime staff!
The Cost of the Free Event T-shirt would be Like Half a Million..I have seen on Action News before actual cost of working Supplies...
Are these Numbers something like the Million MOM March led By ROSIE O'Donnell where 110 moms showed up...and the Media Tried to pretend otherwise even C-SPAN with their Tight Camera Angles....
Great Cause but only the facts Madam.. Packaging Meals for the Homeless is a Daily Occurence all over the Delaware valley by Church going Volunteers..
Posted by: Kevin In Kuwait on January 26, 2008 02:59