body
WHEREAS, born on August 25th, 1947, and raised in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood, attending David B. Oliver high school, and continuing his education at the University of Pittsburgh, William E. Strickland is a committed, lifelong Pittsburgher; and,
WHEREAS, during his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, after seeing the chaos that erupted following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Mr. Strickland founded the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild as an after-school program to teach children an expanded skill set in his old neighborhood, and provide a peaceful alternative, and escape from the rioting and chaos in the streets; and,
WHEREAS, over the years, Manchester Bidwell Corporation has expanded to offer training and services from horticulture to medical staffing. The MCG Youth & Arts program, the derivative of Mr. Strickland’s original arts program he started 50 years ago, still serves students in our public schools; and,
WHEREAS, Manchester Bidwell Corporation operates under the philosophy of “environment shapes people’s lives” and few people in the City of Pittsburgh can claim to have changed as many environments of fellow Pittsburghers as Mr. William E. Strickland, thus few can say they’ve shaped as many people’s lives; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Mr. William E. Strickland for his unwavering commitment and love to the Manchester Community and to the greater Pittsburgh region for 50 Years; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim Thursday, November 15, 2018, as “William E. Strickland Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.