PHILADELPHIA—It looked like an ordinary summer barbecue. Except the host was a city councilwoman having barbecue at the court yard of City Hall. Hundreds of the guests were homeless people. Information about how to get free medical care and medicine was served with the food. Jannie Blackwell, on the Philadelphia City Council since 1991, has invited the city’s homeless to her birthday party for twelve years.
It was July 10, almost noon on a sunny but comfortable Friday at Dilworth Plaza Southwest of City Hall. Dozens of tables and stands were lined up on both sides of the plaza, with food and drinks on one side and pamphlets and fliers on the other side. Music playing, people dancing, barbecue sizzling, people lining up to get food and drinks, the typical outdoor barbecue scene.
The councilwoman said her birthday is July 15, so the party has always been on Fridays near the 15th. She said the idea came from her late husband Lucien Blackwell. He started the program for the homeless people during Mayor Rizzo’s administration. The party continued when Michael Nutter was elected Mayor.
“Every one deserves to have fun and feel recognized,” she said. “We are all children, brothers and sisters under one God. We have a DJ, food and dancing. Just good feelings of brotherhood and sisterhood. Just to let people know we love them and there is always hope.”
It was July 10, almost noon on a sunny but comfortable Friday at Dilworth Plaza Southwest of City Hall. Dozens of tables and stands were lined up on both sides of the plaza, with food and drinks on one side and pamphlets and fliers on the other side. Music playing, people dancing, barbecue sizzling, people lining up to get food and drinks, the typical outdoor barbecue scene.
The councilwoman said her birthday is July 15, so the party has always been on Fridays near the 15th. She said the idea came from her late husband Lucien Blackwell. He started the program for the homeless people during Mayor Rizzo’s administration. The party continued when Michael Nutter was elected Mayor.
“Every one deserves to have fun and feel recognized,” she said. “We are all children, brothers and sisters under one God. We have a DJ, food and dancing. Just good feelings of brotherhood and sisterhood. Just to let people know we love them and there is always hope.”
In addition to the annual July celebration, Blackwell hosted a Christmas party for 3000 people in 2008 in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “We had a gift for every child,” she said proudly. The councilwoman plans to host the party again this Christmas.
Blackwell thanked the organizations and volunteers who provided food and information on free medical care. It was no easy task to arrange enough food for anyone who wanted to join. “Anyone can show up and eat,” she said. She called those who helped her “angels.” She said, “I am blessed to be able to serve. I am grateful to serve and help.”
When the councilwoman walked into the crowd at the party, many people came to hug her and take pictures with her. Ms. Nelson was one of them. She said Blackwell helped her to get out of a shelter and found an apartment for her. She came to the party to thank Blackwell and tell her she is doing well.
More than a dozen people from churches, City Hall, the police department and the University, a district attorney candidate and friends spoke on stage and thanked the public servant for her generosity and wished her a happy birthday. Mayor Michael Nutter was the guest of honor. He praised Blackwell for hosting the barbecue for twelve years. The party concluded when the Mayor invited the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to the councilwoman.
Blackwell is the Chair of the Committee on Education, Housing and Homelessness, Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance and a member for Ethics and Transportation and a member of the Committee of the Whole Council. She grew up in Philadelphia and taught in public school before her career in politics.
Blackwell thanked the organizations and volunteers who provided food and information on free medical care. It was no easy task to arrange enough food for anyone who wanted to join. “Anyone can show up and eat,” she said. She called those who helped her “angels.” She said, “I am blessed to be able to serve. I am grateful to serve and help.”
When the councilwoman walked into the crowd at the party, many people came to hug her and take pictures with her. Ms. Nelson was one of them. She said Blackwell helped her to get out of a shelter and found an apartment for her. She came to the party to thank Blackwell and tell her she is doing well.
More than a dozen people from churches, City Hall, the police department and the University, a district attorney candidate and friends spoke on stage and thanked the public servant for her generosity and wished her a happy birthday. Mayor Michael Nutter was the guest of honor. He praised Blackwell for hosting the barbecue for twelve years. The party concluded when the Mayor invited the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to the councilwoman.
Blackwell is the Chair of the Committee on Education, Housing and Homelessness, Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance and a member for Ethics and Transportation and a member of the Committee of the Whole Council. She grew up in Philadelphia and taught in public school before her career in politics.
