Goldenberg receives Vision of Hope award

Ken Goldenberg, president and chief executive officer of The Goldenberg Group – one of the Philadelphia region’s real estate developers – has been honored with the inaugural Vision of Hope award from Bright Hope Baptist Church and the Bridge of Hope Community Development Corporation in North Philadelphia.

The Vision of Hope award recognizes distinguished community service, a commitment to minority business enterprise and economic empowerment.

“Bright Hope and Bridge of Hope CDC is proud to honor Ken Goldenberg with our first-ever Vision of Hope award. He is a trailblazer with an impeccable track record of completing developments that have transformed neighborhoods and changed lives here in North Philadelphia, throughout the region, and abroad,” said Rev. Kevin Johnson, pastor of Bright Hope’s 2,500-member congregation.

“Ken is a builder and a dreamer. He’s more than a developer – he’s a developer with heart.”

In August 2008, The Goldenberg Group – in partnership with Bridge of Hope Community Development Corporation - acquired the 4.5 acre John Wanamaker School property, located at 12th Street and West Montgomery Avenue, from the Philadelphia School District.

Last November, the Blue Bell-based Goldenberg Group broke ground on a $100 million new student residence project at the site. The redevelopment project is underway in partnership with Bridge of Hope Community Development Corporation, and calls for a 320,000 square foot, 14-story apartment building that will house 832 beds across 238 residences; 80 parking spaces; and 11,000 sq. ft. of first-floor retail, for occupancy in fall 2014.

The new student residence project team includes Torcon/ Constructure Management, Inc. as general contractor; JPC Group, Inc. as demolition and site contractor; and Wallace Roberts & Todd as lead architect.  Asset Campus Housing has been selected as the property management company.

Financing for the project was provided by M&T Bank as agent, with National Penn Bank and Susquehanna Bank as participants.  The Goldenberg Group was awarded a $6 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant in summer 2011, administered by Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget for acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic and historical improvement projects. Bridge financing was made available by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. The original acquisition loan was provided by The Reinvestment Fund.

“The partnership of Bridge of Hope and The Goldenberg Group is an example of a faith-based organization and business firm working together to make North Philadelphia a stronger community for all people,” said Johnson.

Goldenberg’s commitment to the neighborhoods he works in spawned “People Helping People Philadelphia.”

Since 2007, employees of The Goldenberg Group have taken one full day every month to get out from behind their desks and work together in the community. Some of their volunteer efforts include reading to students at inner city schools; baking at The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, and cooking for the homeless in North Philadelphia; building a Little League baseball diamond in North Philadelphia, and leading cleanup and gardening activities at a variety of schools and community centers.

People Helping People has mobilized an Adopt-A-School program, and recently lent its support to the “Save Stanton” campaign to keep the doors of Graduate Hospital’s E.M. Stanton Elementary School open.  The program extended to clean-up efforts in the classrooms and cafeteria, including the purchase of supplies.  Today, the Goldenberg Group and People Helping People are working similarly with several schools in the Philadelphia area.

Beyond the city borders, People Helping People has a robust program in Kenya and in the Ivory Coast, centered on education, food and medical assistance, microfinancing and community projects.

A memorial service was held Jan. 19 for Carol Ann Sample.

Sample died Jan. 11, 2013. She was 61.

She was born Jan. 30, 1951 to Robert Sample and Ida Hack Sample in Philadelphia. She was educated in the Philadelphia public school system.

Sample was employed with the United States Post Office for many years. She later worked for the Please Touch Museum and maintained other positions.

In her leisure time, Sample enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, singing and listening to the radio and going to casinos.

“Carol was a loving mother, sister, grandmom and friend,” her family said.

Sample is survived by her sons, Charlie, George and Bajar; brothers, Bobby, Leroy and Joseph; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held Jan. 19 at 2135 Moore St.

Services will be held Feb. 9 for Edna B. Gibson.

Gibson died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. She was 79.

She was born on Dec. 5, 1933 to the late Clara and Thonald Brown in Philadelphia.

She attended school in Philadelphia and graduated from Bok Vocational High School. She attended Community College of Philadelphia where she graduated with a degree in early childhood care.

She would later meet and marry Noalon Johnson. From this union, she had a son, the late Michael Johnson. Eventually they separated and she later met and married, Coy Gibson. The couple had six children.

Later in life, she started attending New Hope Temple Baptist Church and began taking classes in evangelism. She graduated and began teaching at the church.

“She was always ready to give you the right advice. Edna always knew what to say and when to say it — like it or not. She loved her family, always being there for them no matter what the situation,” her family said.

Gibson’s family said she was known for the way she liked to dress.

“She had a unique way of coordinating her outfit, always looking her best,” her family said.

In addition to her parents and son, Gibson was preceded in death by her grandchild, Ikeam.

In addition to her husband, Gibson is survived by her sister, Clara Qualles; brother-in-law, Wallie; children, Kim, Carol, Coy, Preston, Gail and Sabrina; daughter-in-law, Karen Gibson; nieces, Val, Shamine and Joann; nephew, John; grandchildren, Rasheeda, Shaniqua, Micheal, Sabrina, China, CoCo, Marniqua, Harry, Sabree, Christopher, Ciya, Daniel, Tia Preston and Niaim Coy; daughter-in-law, Karen and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at New Hope Temple Baptist Church, 711 South 12th St. Viewing will be held at 9 a.m. Services will follow at 10 a.m.

Slater Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Mary Frances Berry, 74, has dedicated her life to championing the rights of people “nobody else would listen to.”

Berry has been the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania since 1987, but she is perhaps best known as the former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

President Jimmy Carter appointed her in 1980, and 13 years later she was named chair by President Bill Clinton.

During her tenure as chair, the commission issued major reports on New York policing practices, environmental justice, affirmative action and voter suppression in the 2000 elections in Florida.

In the 60’s and 70’s, Berry overcame obstacles of race, sex and class to rise to high profile positions in public service and higher education. She was born in poverty in Nashville and spent time in an orphanage with her older brother after her father left her mother.

She attended segregated schools in the South. After graduating from Howard University in Washington, she became one of the first African-American students to earn a Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan and later earned a law degree there.

“When I got there, the head of graduate students said to me he was surprised to see me. I found out what that meant,” Berry remembers. “He said there was one time, a Negro who came through here a few years ago, but he didn’t graduate.”

Before coming to Penn, Berry served as provost at the University of Maryland College Park, chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder and professor of history and law at Howard.

She was President Carter’s assistant secretary for education in the Department of Health Education and Welfare before he appointed her to the Civil Rights Commission. Her time there, from 1980 to 2004, was productive and tumultuous. She butted heads with Carter’s successor, Ronald Reagan, on a regular basis.

“It always amazes me. Reagan has become one of our most beloved presidents, but people forget all the stuff that’s happened,” she said. “He wanted to change the direction of civil rights. He wanted to get rid of civil rights. First thing they decided to do was to replace all the commissioners. They didn’t want anybody watch-dogging. When they got to me, and I sued them, I won. The commission needed to be a watchdog, not a lap dog.”

Berry left the commission at the end of her term in 2004.

For her work in public service and higher education, she’s received 35 honorary degrees. She says that her proudest accomplishment is her work helping to end apartheid in South Africa. In 1984 she co-founded the Free South Africa Movement.

The organization held demonstrations at the South African embassy in Washington that led to Berry being arrested and jailed several times. She was in Cape Town to welcome Nelson Mandela home from prison as the government began tearing down the apartheid system.

Berry, a regular contributor to Politico, is a highly sought speaker and a frequent media commentator who recently appeared on C-SPAN’s “Book TV” discussing one of her 10 books, “And Justice for All: The United States Commission on Civil Rights and the Continuing Struggle for Freedom in America.”

When not teaching courses on the history of American law and history of law and social policy or advising students in African-American history, Berry is working on a book about the history of voter fraud in Louisiana. She says she’s discovered documents that shed light on voter suppression in the state that dates back to the 19th century.

Vera E. McGlotten Glenn was a former educator.

Glenn died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. She was 77.

She was born April 19, 1935 in Media to Dorothy and Jordan McGlotten. She was raised and educated in Media.

As an adult, she moved to Yeadon where she resided with her mother until she married the late Stanley R. Glenn. She raised her family in Yeadon.

She attended Cheyney University and graduated with her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification.

While she was known for her artistic talents, Glenn devoted her entire career to education and was a first grade school teacher at Penrose Elementary School until her retirement.

Glenn attended Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church and was an active and faithful member for more than 50 years.

“Vera devoted her life to doing God’s work and believed in helping those less fortunate whenever possible,” her family said.

Glenn was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She is survived by her son, Stanley W. Glenn; stepdaughter, Lisa A. Glenn; brother, William; daughter-in-law, Lisa; sister-in-law, Shannon; niece, Kayla and other relatives and friends.

Services were held Feb. 4 at Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church, 813 Longacre Blvd., Yeadon. Burial was in Fernwood Cemetery in Fernwood.