July 10th Groundbreaking Event

Great turnout from the community, neighbors, city & state officials, funders and grassroots groups for the groundbreaking of renovations for the new “fusion” Crossroads Women’s Center on Wayne Avenue!  Dignitaries included Terrine Datts of the Commerce Department which awarded us a NED grant, State Rep Chris Rabb, representatives of PIDC and Germantown CDC, architect Van Potteiger, and more!  (photo by Gary Reed) Emcee Dorothy Roberts, professor at U Penn spoke on the great need the center fills in the current climate. With Annie Chambers, National Welfare Rights Union/Baltimore Center Coordinator Phoebe Jones thanks the volunteers, groups, and officials, including those who have passed on: Nancy Carroll,  Betty Ann Workman, Lori Nairne and Ruth Todasco. Messages of support came in from City Councilwomen Cindy Bass and Helen Gym. Selma James, a Women in Dialogue Board member, sent this message on behalf of England: As mothers and other caregivers, this is a very threatening time but also a most hopeful time as we see movements of grassroots people like ourselves exploding in many places in our world.  We expand our power by what you accomplish there and we send our love and congratulations. Carolyn Hill (r) & Jackie Adams speak about the Rummage Sale they run that help keeps the Center going, and how the Center keeps them going. State Rep Chris Rabb, who urges closing the Berks County immigrant family detention center, praises the Center & vows to give his support to the “good troublemakers.” Groups we work with had tables all along one side of the Center Barbara Gurley at the table for groups working out of the center: Every Mother is a Working Mother, the Global Women’s Strike, Payday Men’s Network. Women’s Way was in the house! Friends in many other groups/networks, including March on Harrisburg and Coalition Against Death by Incarceration (CADBI) from the Poor People’s Campaign (of which groups at the Center are also a part), Sex Workers Organizing Project (SWOP) Behind Bars, and plenty of others attended the event! Read Ready Daycare set up a Bouncy House and served water ice.  The Rummage Sale spilled onto the sidewalk.  Final sale before renovations start will be announced soon! Teyona Jackson, Coor of Delphi Outreach Programs at Phila Art Museum, donated her time to run an Art Workshop where the kids made cards for women who mean so much to them – moms, grannies, teachers. Melody McBride-Bey led some really fun games with the kids.  The smiles tell the story here! Pat Albright, Every Mother is a Working Mother Network and Annie Chambers ran the Welcome Table, here welcoming a family about to welcome a new member! Theresa (r) & Sharon Shoatz of Human Rights Coalition. They had information on CADBI’s campaigns at the event, as well. Thanks to all of our food donors: Birch Tree, High Point Cafe, Keith Schenck.  Vanette Jordan and Kai Akwei Bey ran the food table. Phoebe wishes she has a longer arm to get more tickets for the 50/50 raffle.  Thanks to all who came and gave generously! Not pictured but who were there and/or get honorable mention:  « Payday members Dean Kendall who spent a day cleaning the Center so it would look nice(r) for the event, and Eric Gjertsen who video’ed.   « architect Van Potteiger  « John Schellenberg and David Feldman who are part of the Building Committee with Van «  Vaughn Taylor, Heather Hanowitz, Carmel Deane and Victor Hackett from PIDC «  Emily Bittenbender and Galen Polen of Bittenbender Construction «  City officials Terrine Datts, Yvonne Boyd, Karen Fegely, Mike DiBerardinis, Rojer Kerns, Jonathon Snyder, Giana Lawrence, Bob Collazzo, Josh Cruseta « Andrew Trackman and Emaleigh Doley from Germantown CDC  « The Sustainable Business Network, Gardner Realty, Sue Gilfillen, lawyer Steve Masters « Andrea Preis and Ramona Johnson who donated food « Wanda Walker of Read Ready Daycare « Alison Weiss of SOLO « Germantown Friends Meeting « Center intern Jan Wimmer who ran the bouncy house and also helped prep the center. We also thank: « Our sisters in other cities: Solveig Francis who, even though in London, is right there with us every step of the way, Board members Selma James and Margaret Prescod who were out of the country so unable to come, Sidney Ross Risden, Rachel West.  « And everyone who helps keep the center going: Annie, Barbara, Carolyn, Celyne, David, Dean, Donna, Eric, Jackie, Jan, Joy, Kai, Karen, Karriemah, Keith, Marie, Marta, Pat, Patricia, Phoebe, Shandre, Theresa, Vanette, Yvonne.