5368191 ACR 20-294, Ward 4 Democrats Fifth Annual Ethel Delaney Lee Awards Dinner Recognition Resolution of 2014

A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION

 

20-294 

 

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 

December 2, 2014

 

 

To recognize and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of the Ward 4 Democrats of Washington, D.C.

 

WHEREAS, since 1975, the Ward 4 Democrats of Washington, D.C., has conducted the affairs of the Democratic Party in Ward 4 through conducting programs such as voter registration and Get Out the Vote, which have resulted in strong victories for Democratic candidates in Ward 4 and across the District of Columbia;

 

WHEREAS, the Ward 4 Democrats Annual Ethel Delaney Lee Dinner was established in 2010 to honor the accomplishments of Mrs. Lee as a founding member of the Ward 4 Democrats, a member of the D.C Democratic State Committee, and a continuing advocate for the residents of the District of Columbia;

 

WHEREAS, the leadership of the Ward 4 Democrats has been highlighted by some additional extraordinary individuals;

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Donna Ellis was selected as the Ward 4 Democrats 2014 Woman of the Year;

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Ellis has been a member of the D.C Democratic State Committee, a member of the Ward 4 Executive Committee, President of the Democratic Women’s Democratic Club, Vice President of the D.C Federation of Democratic Women, and Eastern Region Director of the National Federation of Democratic Women, which included 13 states; 

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Gary Thompson was selected as the Ward 4 2014 Democrats Man of the Year;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson has served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the Chevy Chase Community since 2007, serving as its Chair from 2009-2012, and will be retiring at the end of 2014;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson’s community involvement includes facilitating compromises on construction work in his Single Member District, including Oregon Avenue, saving the E6 Metro bus route, advocating for changes to the proposed zoning regulations, and working with individual businesses and residents, and he was appointed by Councilmember Bowser to chair the 2010 Ward 4 Advisory Neighborhood Commission Redistricting Task Force;

 

WHEREAS, Ms. Virginia Ali received the Ward 4 Democrats President’s Award of Excellence in 2014;

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Ali and Ben Ali opened the doors to Ben’s Chili Bowl in August 1958, and the years have proved the food and friendship to be outstanding;

 

WHEREAS, known affectionately as "Mom" or Mrs. Ben, Mrs. Ali has touched the lives of everyone she has encountered, and although she has achieved near celebrity status, her demeanor has never changed – with her natural poise and sophistication, she still exemplifies the pure, wholesome values instilled by her parents; she lives a philosophy of giving love and kindness to everyone she meets and today is considered the “Matriarch of U Street”;

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Roselyn Payne Epps is being recognized posthumously for her service to the Ward 4 Democrats;

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Epps was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, came to Washington, D.C., to attend Howard University, became a rotating intern with the United States Public Health Service at Freedmen's Hospital in Washington (later renamed Howard University Hospital), began a pediatric residency with the hospital in 1956, and 2 years later became its chief resident;

 

WHEREAS, in 1961, Dr. Epps became a medical officer with the District of Columbia Department of Health, overseeing a program that aided disabled children and their parents, and founding the High Risk Young People's Project, which brought together several university health science departments, community organizations, and government agencies within the District;

 

WHEREAS, the Council of the District of Columbia declared February 14, 1981, Dr. Roselyn Payne Epps Day in Washington, D.C., and although Dr. Epps passed away, her contributions to the Ward 4 Democrats and the District of Columbia remain an inspiration to everyone;

 

WHEREAS, Mrs. Minnie Green is being honored posthumously for her continued dedication to her community;

 

 

WHEREAS, known as the “boss lady” in Ward 4 Democratic jargon, Mrs. Green supported numerous political candidates on the campaign trail, always encouraging them to read Psalm 37 for victory;

 

WHEREAS, as a community activist, Mrs. Green enjoyed being a part of the action, knew how to get the job done, spoke her mind, and pulled no punches, and she believed fervently in the power of prayer and held deep religious convictions;

 

WHEREAS, along with a group of coworkers, during the civil rights movement Mrs. Green helped to desegregate Crevella’s Wayside Inn in Silver Spring, Maryland, and during the late 1980s, Mrs. Green initiated the first citizen Wise-Up Orange Hat neighborhood crime-unit patrol in Ward 4;

 

WHEREAS, always one who wanted to help those who could not help themselves, Mrs. Green served 20 years as a driver, chairperson, and board member for the upper Northwest Washington Meals-On-Wheels, delivering food to those who were unable to purchase or prepare their meals, and while her passing left a void in our hearts, her wisdom and legacy will remain with us;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Joseph Bishop is being acknowledged posthumously for his commitment to his family, community and politics;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bishop devoted his spare time to helping friends and neighbors and developed an interest in local politics, serving 3 terms as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Chevy Chase from 1997 to 2002, serving on the Public Service Commission, and actively advocating in many venues on behalf of D.C. citizens and consumers;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bishop additionally was very active in the mayoral campaigns of Anthony Williams, Adrian Fenty, and Mayor-Elect Muriel Bowser, and he loved going out on the campaign trail with the candidates and trying to persuade voters to listen to, read about, and vote for his candidate prior to and on Election Day;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bishop became well known among the senior citizen community for his knowledge and enthusiastic support of ways to improve seniors’ quality of life, such as advocating for the use of magnets and the drinking of alkaline water;

 

WHEREAS, Mr. Bishop’s passing in October 2012 was a tremendous loss to his family, the community, and the entire city, but his advocacy for seniors and his civic engagement will live with us forever;

 

WHEREAS, North Washington Neighbors, Inc. (“Neighbors, Inc.”), received the Ward 4 Democrats Community Service Award in 2014 for its commitment to integration and fair housing in the Shepherd Park, Takoma, Brightwood, and Manor Park communities;

 

WHEREAS, beginning in the 1950s and working originally in Southeast D.C., Neighbors, Inc., brought this same dedication to Ward 4, fighting unscrupulous real estate agents who attempted to grab houses at rock bottom prices by falsely warning residents that their real estate values would decline or that schools would be degraded, or used other methods such as renting small houses to large families and telling neighbors the families had purchased the house; and

 

WHEREAS, while, over time, many communities have become integrated, the work of Neighbors, Inc., continues on such projects as revitalizing Georgia Avenue, Walter Reed redevelopment, schools, and many other quality of life issues.         

 

            IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia commends and recognizes the Ward 4 Democrats of Washington, D.C., for its outstanding work and contributions, and further recognizes the individual leadership of Donna Ellis, Gary Thompson, Virginia Ali, Roselyn Payne Epps, Minnie Green, Joe Bishop, and North Washington Neighbors, Inc., for their distinctive efforts.

 

Sec. 2.  This resolution may be cited as the “Ward 4 Democrats Fifth Annual Ethel Delaney Lee Awards Dinner Recognition Resolution of 2014”.

 

Sec. 3.  This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.