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WHEREAS, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Deborah “Debbie” Friedman was trained as a Physician Assistant at the Medical College of Wake Forest University, later practiced in both in-patient and out-patient psychiatric settings, and then, returned to Pittsburgh, working in the community development sector, and;
WHEREAS, 25 years ago, Debbie was hired as the first Executive Director of Jewish Residential Services, granting her the perfect opportunity to combine her professional interests: the importance of community and serving individuals with disabilities, and;
WHEREAS, during her 25 year tenure as Executive Director, Debbie developed a deep-seated passion for helping individuals with disabilities to lead more meaningful lives and cultivated skills in needs assessment, community evaluation and partnership development, and;
WHEREAS, Debbie navigated the often-complex landscape of county, state, and federal resources, developed partnerships, and acquired funding for the development of five buildings throughout the Squirrel Hill neighborhood to better serve the needs of people with intellectual and psychiatric disabilities, and;
WHEREAS, Debbie has received numerous awards in recognition of her success, including the Doris and Leonard Rudolph Award for Jewish Community Professionals, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s Citizen of the Year award, and Distinguished Career Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, and;
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Debbie Friedman and her 25 years of service to the Pittsburgh community as Executive Director of Jewish Residential Services, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Thursday, June 30, 2016 to be “Debbie Friedman Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.