Body
WHEREAS, a 400 % incarceration rate over the past few decades has had a devastating effect on families and made children the silent victims of crime. More than 8,500 innocent children in Allegheny County have been affected by incarceration of a parent or family member and face emotional, social, academic and financial stressors that place them in a cycle of crime, incarceration and poverty; and,
WHEREAS, Amachi Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization whose mission has been to make children of incarcerated paretns and their families whole. By relying on a diverse partnership of secular and faith-based organizations, Amachi Pittsburgh reaches 200 youth annually not served by other organizations in high crime neighborhoods and connects them to social and civic organizations; and,
WHEREAS, since 2003, Amachi Pittsburgh has provided one-on-one mentoring to break the generational cycle of incarceration, helped to strengthen family ties by providing strength-based support, reunification support to children and parents, and empowers youth to take leadership and advocacy roles in their Amachi Ambassadors program where their experiences are central to organizing and educating their peers; and,
WHEREAS, Amachi Pittsburgh will be having their 10th Anniversary celebration called Amachi Hachi Pachi on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Center for the Arts and will feature special guest, Mel Blount, former Pittsburgh Steeler and NFL Hall of Famer , and his wife TiAnda Blount of the Mel Blount Youth Home; and,
Title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Amachi Pittsburgh for their mission and commitment to mentor and empower at risk youth and congratulates them for 10 successful years ; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Thursday, October 16 , 2014, to be " AMACHI PITTSBURGH DAY " in the City of Pittsburgh.