PHILADELPHIA – Twenty-five youngsters “PAL-ed” around with government officials and experienced life in the workplace in an empowering career-development program, the annual Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall, today.
The PAL students joined Mayor Jim Kenney, City Representative Sheila Hess (the program’s emcee), PAL representative and public officials in a morning kick-off ceremony in the Mayor’s Reception Room.
“PAL builds character, sportsmanship and offers productive recreational, educational and social activities that energize and engage our city’s youth” said Mayor Kenney. “I know first-hand, because I took part in and benefited greatly from organized PAL football programs in South Philadelphia when I was a kid, just like countless Philadelphians across all neighborhoods. I would like to thank the dedicated PAL Center supervisors and staff, and Lockheed Martin for supporting the city’s most precious asset: our young people.”
To begin the day, Mayor Kenney — in his first PAL Day as mayor — greeted and addressed the students. He commended the PAL kids, all high school students, on their good deeds and accomplishments. He reflected fondly on the positive influence of PAL on his early life and about his days as a 12 year old participating in organized youth activities at PAL programs in South Philadelphia. Mayor Kenney posed for photos with each of the students and their assigned public officials — along with representatives of PAL and Lockheed Martin, the event sponsor. The 25 adult mentors were from the City, City Council and judicial system.
Mayor Kenney, PAL’s Honorary President, also presented the students with a memento from the City to acknowledge their outstanding academic and community achievements. Many of the young PAL participants are accomplished student leaders, athletes, academic achievers, community volunteers, role models, peer counselors and tutors.
Additional kick-off program participants included Lt. William Eddis, PAL Commanding Officer; Dr. Athole Jacobi, Chairwoman of PAL Board of Education Committee; Ted Qualli, PAL Executive Director; Gerard Fasano, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Lockheed Martin Corporation Information Systems and Global Solutions and supervising PAL Center police officers citywide.
Said Qualli, PAL’s Executive Director: “The chance to spend time with the leaders of City government is a tremendous experience for our children. While shadowing the Mayor, Police Commissioner, or any number of other City leaders, our young people will be exposed to numerous career paths and dozens of people working to make our City a better place. For PAL children to have the chance to participate and inform these conversations is incredible, and we are grateful to Mayor Kenney and our sponsor, Lockheed Martin for making this day possible.”
PAL Day co-founder Sally Berlin, who passed away in 2014 after many distinguished years of PAL service, was acknowledged for her pioneering efforts as a PAL DAY at City Hall co-founder. Berlin, who was a frequent guest of PAL Day even after her retirement, launched PAL Day at city Hall in 1970 in an endeavor to encourage young PAL kids to pursue a career in various fields such as municipal government.
The PAL Center youths participated in an oath of office, recognizing and appointing them “Honorary Public Officials” for PAL Day. City Solicitor Sozi Pedro Tulante administered the oath as part of the PAL DAY swearing-in ceremony. City officials encouraged the PAL participants to get involved in the professional world through internships such as those offered by the Mayor’s Office of Education and other career-assistance programs and opportunities. They emphasized the profound and positive impact that PAL has made through the mentoring of youths by Philadelphia Police Officers and volunteers.
Representing the PAL students, Ziara Singleton presented remarks as the “Honorary Student-Mayor” for the day. She has been a member of the Logan PAL for six years. She is a junior at Philadelphia High School for Girls. Ziara, a student-athlete has participated in PAL’s educational programming including chess, Homework Club and basketball. Ziara plans to attend college and potentially pursue a federal career in the military or in the Secret Service. Said Singleton in her program speech today: “We are the leaders that future PAL youth will look up to, and it is up to us to build on the 68-year legacy of PAL and continue to make PAL a place where cops help kids.”
For 2016 PAL Day at City Hall, the youngsters represented PAL centers from across the city including sites in North, Northeast, South, Southwest, West Philadelphia, Germantown and Tacony. For some of the youngsters, participating in PAL Day served as their formal introduction to the work environment.
Participants were encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the official event hashtag #LMPALDayAtCityHall.
In addition to the Mayor, City Representative and City Solicitor, officials represented were the: Finance Director; Acting Fire Commissioner; Police Commissioner; Chief of Staff; Deputy Mayor for Labor Relations; Deputy Mayor for Policy & Legislation; Inspector General; Chief Education Officer; City Council members; Recreation Commissioner; Deputy Mayor for Planning & Development; President Judge of Common Pleas; Municipal Court; Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement; Chief Administrative Officer; Director of Policy, Deputy Mayor for Inter-government Affairs and District Attorney.
Following the kick-off, the students and public officials enjoyed a networking lunch before visiting various workplaces to learn about the daily operations of local government. The PAL participants spent part of the afternoon experiencing the inner workings of government, with the guidance of designated officials including those from City departments/offices, the judicial system and City Council.
Since 1947 – through the Philadelphia Police Department – generations of young people, from 6 to 18 years old, have benefitted from the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia youth-empowerment programs. Lockheed Martin, a global security and information technology company, has been a PAL Day sponsor since 2006. With a mission of “Cops Helping Kids,” PAL centers are creative and constructive places to expand students’ knowledge through academic and social activities. With 18 centers across Philadelphia serving more than 25,000 kids, PAL offers a variety of sports, education and recreational programs free to local youths. PAL is a vital part of the various services that the City provides to young people in neighborhoods. For more information on PAL programs, visit www.phillypal.com.
The Office of the City Representative organizes special and ceremonial events for the City of Philadelphia and serves as its marketing, promotion, production, tourism/hospitality, public relations and branding arm. The department partners with PAL every year to produce Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall. Be sure to connect with us on social media (@PhillyCityRep) and follow the official event hashtag (#LMPALDayAtCityHall) to stay up to date with the latest information on this event.