2019 PHILADELPHIA LEGACIES WEEK LAUNCHES WITH PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019—10:00 A.M. AT THE CHARLES L. BLOCKSON AFRO-AMERICAN COLLECTION AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY

CONTACT:

Mr. Stephen C. Satell

Founder and Executive Director

Philadelphia Legacies

(215) 432-2898

E-Mail:  bridgingworldsprogram@yahoo.com

          PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) – 12  September 2019 –  Philadelphia is heralded as the “Next Great American City.”  The nation’s fifth largest metropolitan area is home to world class academic institutions;  history and science museums;  and a vibrant creative arts community.  It is  where you will find a plethora of  gifted and talented individuals  -- “legacy makers” – whose stellar accomplishments in business, the creative arts, education, law, medicine, philanthropy, politics, science, social entrepreneurship, and technology expands the trajectory of Philadelphia’s legacy. It is an expansive legacy that is chronicled through Philadelphia Legacies Week which will be observed from 16 September 2019 through 21 September 2019.  Philadelphia Legacies Week was spawned by Philadelphia’s successful hosting of the National Democratic Presidential Convention in August 2016. 

            “Philadelphia’s hosting of the 2016 National Democratic Presidential brought together people from around the nation and the world – many of whom were introduced  for the first time to the great things this city has to offer.  This moved me to create a larger and more inclusive view of Philadelphia – a view that includes its neighborhoods.  Philadelphia Legacies Week is the vehicle through which culture can be effected in positive ways in Philadelphia and bring diverse people together to raise money for organizations that help reduce poverty and solve Philadelphia’s problems,” explained Mr. Stephen C. Satell, the Founder and Executive Director of Philadelphia Legacies (https://philadelphialegacy.org). 

            The observance of 2019 Philadelphia Legacies Week will be launched with a press conference scheduled for Monday, 16 September 2019 commencing at 10:00 A.M. (E.D.T.) at the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection in Temple University’s Sullivan Hall  (first floor) at 1330 Pollet Walk in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Former Philadelphia Mayor, The Honorable Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. headlines the illustrious group of speakers who will explore the influence of Philadelphia’s trailblazers and history makers at the press conference scheduled for Monday, 16 September 2019 at 10:00 A.M.   Portrait unveilings of prominent Philadelphia legacy makers; Philadelphia Legacies Signatures Tours; and a banquet dinner scheduled for Saturday, 21 September 2019 at the world renowned Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College at 4207 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will punctuate the observance of 2019 Philadelphia Legacies Week. 

             School groups and community members will attend the unveiling of the portraits of two 2018 Philadelphia Legacy Award Portrait  winners  --Mr. Acel Moore and Ms. Trudy Haynes – following the press conference at the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.  A Pulitzer Prize Winner and Harvard University Neuman Fellowship recipient, Mr. Moore transformed the way newspapers presented stories about the African American community as he rose from the ranks of reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer to its Associate Editor and  Editorial Board member.  Ms. Haynes became the first African American weather reporter for Detroit, Michigan’s WXYX-TV in 1963 and, in 1965, the first African American news reporter for Philadelphia’s KYW-TV.  She currently hosts an Emmy award-winning television program – the “Trudy Haynes Show” – which airs on Bounce TV (www.bouncetv.com). 

       The Philadelphia Legacies Signature Tour is also scheduled to follow the press conference.  At the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection at Temple University, the Philadelphia Legacy Award Portrait of  the late Mr. Wilton “Wilt” Norton Chamberlain whose basketball career began at Philadelphia’s Overbrook High School will be unveiled.   Mr. Chamberlain was one of the first African American basketball players in the National Basketball Ball Association.  During his stellar career, Mr. Chamberlain set historic records – many of which remain unbroken – while playing the position of center as a member of the Philadelphia Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

          Community members and school groups will proceed to the Church of the Advocate at 18^th and Diamond Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which  will serve as the venue for the unveiling of the Philadelphia Legacy Portrait Award of Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, Co-Founder of the House of Umoja, Inc. (www.houseofumoja.net)  which has a 51- year successful track record in positively transforming the lives of  approximately 3,000 adolescent males in Philadelphia.  Established in 1968 by Queen Falaka Fattah and her late husband Mr. David Fattah, the House of Umoja, Inc. is an internationally acclaimed organization which helped to bring decades of bloody and deadly gang violence to an end in 1974 when gang leaders signed the Imani Peace Pact™ which was created by House of Umoja, Inc.’s co-founder, the late Mr. David Fattah.   Currently, the House of Umoja, Inc. serves as the City of Philadelphia’s organizer and leader for the National Million Father March (www.fathersincorporated.com)  – a position it has held since 2007 – which helps Fathers increase their level of proactivity in their child’s education and encourages children to strive for academic excellence.

           The Philadelphia Legacy Signature Tours proceeds to the Negro Leagues Memorial Statue and a Pennsylvania Historical marker entitled, “African American Baseball In Philadelphia” at Belmont and Parkside Avenues which pays tribute to the Philadelphia Stars, an African American baseball team in Philadelphia, and a member of the National Negro Leagues Baseball which flourished from 1920 through 1951. 

            This year’s Philadelphia Legacy Award winners will be celebrated at  the  Philadelphia Legacies Banquet Dinner on Saturday, 21 September 2019 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  at the Restaurant School.  Honorees include:

·         Historic record setting National Basketball Association player and trailblazer the late Wilton “Wilt” Norton Chamberlain whose basketball career began when he was student at Overbrook High School.  Mr. Chamberlain went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters, Philadelphia Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

·         Francis “Fran” Joseph Dunphy, former Men’s basketball coach for Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania.  Heralded as the “winningest Coach” in Philadelphia’s “Big Five” history, Dunphy was a member of LaSalle College’s 1969 basketball time which is viewed as one of the best teams in “Big Five” history. 

·         Derrick H. Pitts, Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director at the Franklin Institute

·         Stephen Cox, founder and developer of the Greater Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation which has helped numerous minorities throughout seven universities achieve doctorate degrees in the sciences

·         Samuel R.  Delany, prolific author who has made an indelible mark in the science fiction and literary worlds and former tenured professor at the University of Massachusetts who also was a Temple University faculty member for 14 years.

Mr. Mark Jackson will serve as the host of the Philadelphia Legacies Banquet Dinner.  A dynamic commentator for the Philadelphia 76ers, Mr. Jackson played on Temple University’s basketball team under the leadership of its former coach and 2017 Philadelphia Legacy Award Winner, Mr. John Chaney.  Mr. Jackson began his professional basketball career in Europe where he played for the Tofas Bursa, a basketball team in Turkey and Lobos Caja Cantabria and Cantabria Lobos, two basketball teams located in Spain.  He returned to the United States in 2000 where he made his professional American basketball debut as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

          For further information regarding 2019 Philadelphia Legacies Week, visit its website at https://philadelphialegacy.org or by contacting its Founder and Executive Director, Mr. Stephen C. Satell by calling (215) 432-2898 or sending an e-mail to bridgingworldsprogram@yahoo.com.

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