Community College Of Philadelphia Honors Local West Philadelphia Neighborhood Leaders

PHILADELPHIA, PA, APRIL 25, 2004 - Community College of Philadelphia will pay tribute to six individuals from West Philadelphia for their outstanding contributions at its Fourth Annual Distinguished Leadership Awards Breakfast to be held at the College's West Regional Center, 4725 Chestnut Street from 8:00 am to 9:30 am on Friday, April 30, 2004.

Each year, the awards ceremony recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions as leaders in education, community service, business, faith-based activities, as an elected official and as a high school student.

This year's West Philadelphia leaders to be honored include:

    • The Honorable Vincent Hughes
      State Senator
      7th Senatorial District

 

    • Glenn Bryan
      Assistant to the Vice President & Director of City & Community Relations
      University of Pennsylvania & University of Pennsylvania Health System

 

    • Evelyn Marcha-Hidalgo
      CEO/Executive Director
      Intercultural Family Services, Inc.

 

    • Reverend Wendell Mapson
      Pastor
      Monumental Baptist Church

 

    • Blane F. Stoddart
      Co-Founder & Executive Director
      The Partnership Community Development Center

 

  • William N. Walker
    Graduating Senior and Honor Student
    Central High School

 

Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes - who began his political career in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has established a reputation for proactive politics and a proven track record of solid achievement and effective constituent service. As a Senator, he introduced legislation to establish a jobs program to create 10,000 jobs for welfare recipients. He followed this measure with legislation that created the Pennsylvania Health Care Trust (PACT), a program designed to expand the existing Children's Health Insurance Program and form an adult version that would provide affordable health insurance to Pennsylvania residents who are not covered by their employer or by existing government programs. During his term as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLCB), a post he held from January 1991 to December 1994, he lead the PLCB's redistricting efforts, which succeeded in creating a second Congressional District in Pennsylvania with a majority of minority residents, and secured $36 million in capital improvement funding for Cheyney University. Senator Hughes' activities extend far beyond the legislative arena. Seven years ago he founded the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund and Golf Classic to honor his father's legacy as an advocate for higher education. He has also sponsored the Pledge to Excellence Youth Conference, which provides workshops and resources on health, education, cultural and athletic programs for the youth of Philadelphia.

Glenn Bryan - is a lifelong resident of West Philadelphia and a University of Pennsylvania alumnus. In his role as Assistant to the Vice President and Director of City and Community Relations, Mr. Bryan has worked closely with city officials to facilitate University efforts to advance community economic initiatives ranging from education to housing, and collaborated with the University's health system regarding community outreach and development activities. Prior to his work at Penn, Mr. Bryan's leadership skills and commitment to the community were evident in his successful administration of services to disadvantaged citizens with special needs for various non-profit organizations in the region. Mr. Bryan's commitments to his work and his community have earned him numerous community recognition awards, as well as, community and civic board appointments, including: Vice Chairman of the Committee of Seventy; the Board of Directors for Organized Anti-Crime Community Network; and the Executive Board of the People's Emergency Center.

Evelyn Marcha-Hidalgo - a visionary leader who has been at the helm of Intercultural Family Services, Inc. (IFSI) since 1981, has led the agency to a position of prominence in Philadelphia. Under her leadership, IFSI has made remarkable strides in the expansion of its services, programs and quality improvement measures. Highly-regarded as a valuable resource to government and private agencies, Ms. Marcha-Hidalgo currently serves on several committees in various capacities that include: Board Member of The Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services; Steering Committee Member of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Minority Health Task Force; and a Member of the Board of Governors of the Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia.

Reverend Wendell Mapson - is pastor of the historic Monumental Baptist Church founded in Philadelphia in 1826. Reverend Mapson received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia; a Master of Divinity Degree from Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, PA; and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of two books: The Ministry of Music in the Black Church and Strange Fire: A Study of Worship and Liturgy in the African American Church. Reverend Mapson is Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. He is also an adjunct professor at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Vice President of the Baptist Minister's Conference of Philadelphia and vicinity.

Blane F. Stoddart - is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Partnership CDC (Community Development Corporation), a non-profit organization dedicated to the provision of affordable housing and economic development in West and Southwest Philadelphia. The Partnership CDC has built over 330 units of affordable housing and invested over $54 million in West Philadelphia in the past eight years. By 2007, The Partnership expects to invest another $50 million. Mr. Stoddart is also the Chairman and Founder of the The ServiceWorks Company, a for-profit subsidiary of The Partnership CDC that employs a staff of 80, half of whom are welfare recipients. ServiceWorks provides painting, pressure washing, housekeeping and special services to businesses and special service districts throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Mr. Stoddart has been honored and recognized by various organizations for these and many other valuable contributions to the community.

William N. Walker - graduates with honors this year from Central High School. In the fall, Mr. Walker will be off to the University of New Haven or Western New England College to pursue a degree in Business Economics or International Business. His ultimate goal is to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, Judge James Young - and one day become Judge William Walker. Mr. Walker has devoted much of his time and talents to community service. He is a coach for a neighborhood summer basketball league and works with neighborhood children and adults who are learning computer skills at the Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (PCAH) Computer Center. When it comes to the international business arena, Mr. Walker is already gaining valuable knowledge and experience at the Philadelphia Zoo where he has the opportunity to work people from different backgrounds and cultures.