John,
From a very young age, I knew Reverend Leon Sullivan was a driving, positive force in the African American community -- and I wanted to be just like him.
In 1959, he organized a boycott of Philadelphia businesses that refused to interview Black youth for jobs. This "Don't Buy Where You Don't Work" boycott was extraordinarily effective. In fact, Sullivan's efforts in our community got the attention of none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself, who asked the Reverend to be a part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
This Black History Month, I can't help but reflect on incredible Philadelphia civil rights leaders like Reverend Sullivan who inspired me to step up and get involved. Growing up in the 1960s, I saw countless African American men and women bravely taking action to make this country better for little Black boys like me.
That's why I'm more committed than ever to work with you to build a stronger Philadelphia -- and a stronger America -- block by block.
Reverend Leon Sullivan was also a pioneer in developing job training programs to create paths to better-paying jobs. His creation of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of America actually became the model for other cities across the country.
This is what always impressed me most about Leon: time and time again, he empowered people to change their own communities. He's the one who inspired me to create the Concerned Citizens of the 10th Ward. And, looking back on it, his effort to build Progress Plaza as America's first Black-owned and Black-developed shopping center provided me with a blueprint for revitalizing West Oak Lane.
This Black History Month, I encourage you to join me in reflecting on the African American leaders who've inspired you, and to support the vital work of local organizations like Philly We Rise and Black Lives Matter Philly.
And most of all, I hope this campaign has inspired you to get involved and think about ways you can work with others in your neighborhood to help build a better world for all of us. That's how we can honor our past and create progress for generations to come.
Thank you,
Dwight Evans
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