Wilmington City Council Newsletter October 1, 2021

Council Members join Sister Theresa Marie Elitz in building dedication

The Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s celebrated and dedicated their new Amanecer Counseling & Resource Center building at 301 N. Van Buren Street in Wilmington, DE, to Sister Theresa Marie Elitz with a ceremony on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The ceremony highlighted speeches from City Council President Trippi Congo, 5th District Council Member Bregetta Fields, Mayor Mike Purzycki, local and state officials, and board and staff members of the Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s. Community leaders, supporters, residents and friends also attended the dedication ceremony that included music and an open house.

Sister Theresa has dedicated her entire career to caring for at-risk children, adults, and families challenged with mental and behavioral issues. In 2003, she founded a small outreach program at St. Paul’s Church in Wilmington, Delaware. The outreach program evolved, and in 2010 was officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit human services organization and named the Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s (FCCSP). Sister Theresa built a team passionate about mental health and grew the center into a multifaceted therapeutic care program for children, adults, and families with behavioral health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, severe anger, bipolar disorder, or drug and alcohol abuse.

What also makes the FCCSP so unique, is that it speaks to and serves our growing Hispanic population. Thanks to Sister Theresa and her team, our Spanish speaking residents receive quality care from bilingual, culturally competent mental health therapists at the Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s. Not only can a person find assistance at the FCCSP, but Sister Theresa made it a priority that Hispanics also receive accessibility to other physicians, schools, faith-based entities, and other community organizations focused on improving the lives of Hispanics with bilingual services.

The new home will enable the Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s team to welcome more clients, increase their capacity, and help stabilize the neighborhood. For more information visit their website at stpaulscounseling.org

Photos by Yesenia Taveras, Wilmington City Council Director of Communications.

City Council & Staff join in
HBCU Week celebration

Our City Council Members and City Council Staff have been celebrating the 5th Annual HBCU Week and College Fair all week long. HBCU Week, which started on September 26th and will continue through Saturday, October 3rd, was launched by Ashley Christopher in 2017, under the leadership of Mayor Mike Purzycki, to expose local high school students to the history, pride, and academic offerings of HBCU’s. Since then, participating HBCU’s have granted over 3,000 admission opportunities to local students and have awarded more than $18.5 million in scholarships. This year, 56 HBCUs and 10 corporations will participate to discuss admissions, scholarships, and internships. Please visit www.hbcuweek.org to learn of all the in-person and virtual events taking place this weekend.

Our HBCU Alums are as follows:
• President Ernest “Trippi” Congo graduated from Delaware State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

• 1st District Council Member Linda Gray received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Howard University, in Washington D.C.

• 3rd District Council Member Zanthia Oliver graduated from Delaware State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.

• 5th District Council Member Bregetta Fields received her Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from Norfolk State University, in Norfolk, VA.

• Yesenia Taveras, Wilmington City Council’s Director of Communications, graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism.

• Azsana Wing, Wilmington City Council’s Legislative Administrative Assistant, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Spelman College, in Atlanta, GA.

Public Hearing meeting to be held during next Regular City Council Meeting

Our Regular City Council meeting on Thursday, October 7th, will include a public hearing for Ordinance 21-040 to Amend Chapter 48 of the City Code Regarding Uses Permitted in the W-4 (Waterfront Residential/Commercial) Zoning District and Parking Lot Landscaping Requirements for All Waterfront Zoning Districts. The Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. City Council President Trippi Congo is encouraging members of the community in the 4th district to attend the meeting for an opportunity to be informed on the amendments that are being requested. For the agenda, and information on how you attend the meeting, visit our city council website here.

Peace Week Returns

Peace Week Delaware will take place from October 2nd to October 10th to bring together community organizations and people for an annual week of free nonpartisan events to promote harmony, equity and justice in our community. Despite the pandemic, Peace Week Delaware gathered together more than 60 organizations to host events in 2020 and plans to double that number in 2021 with virtual and in-person events. Here’s a list of a few upcoming Peace Week events happening in our city this weekend.

• Visionary Peace Youth Art Exhibit
Description: This year’s exhibition will feature remarkable works from hundreds of young artists describing their views on peace and what a peaceful world looks like. Artwork will be on display October 2nd and 3rd at The Delaware Contemporary. On Sunday, October 3rd at 1:00 p.m. join artists, teachers, and their families for the opening event.
Date: 10/02/2021 – 10/03/2021
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: The Delaware Contemporary
Address: 200 S Madison St, Wilmington, DE, 19801
Contact: Carolyn | 302-656-2721 | cb@depaceminterris.org

• Celebrating SUN Anniversary and Community Walk with WPD
Description: Join us as we celebrate Safe United Neighborhoods (SUN) Anniversary in collaboration with our Wilmington Police Department and other nonprofits for a Community Neighborhood Watch walk and concert.  S.U.N. works year-round to help keep our youth off the streets.
Date: 10/02/2021
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: SUN PARK
Address: E22nd St and Lamotte St, Wilmington, DE, 19802
Contact: Pastor Sandra Ben | prayingground@yahoo.com

• Memorial Service
Description: Memorial Service for Victims’ families who have lost loved ones in the culture of violence throughout the City of Wilmington.
Date: 10/03/2021
Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: St. Joseph’s RC Church
Address: 1012 N. French St., Wilmington, DE
Contact: La Vaida Owens-White | 302-547-3227 | cokparish@aol.com

• Nature Peace Walk; Service Project, Part 1
Description: Take an interpretive 45-minute nature walk at the Wilmington Riverfront, add on another 45 minutes to pull invasive weeds and plant native wildflowers. Meet at the Russell Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge, next to Russell Peterson statue near the Dupont Environmental Education Center Parking Lot, limit 24. Stroll the gravel path in the landscaped garden next to the Riverfront Walkway, continue on to explore the ¼ mile accessible Pond Loop boardwalk through the marsh. Finish at the DEEC building, those registered for Part 2, limit 12, will pull weeds and plant along the Pond Loop Trail.
Date: 10/03/2021 (Rain Date: Saturday, Oct 9, 2:00-2:45 pm)
Time: 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: Russell Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge
Address: 1400 Delmarva Lane, Wilmington, DE, 19801
Contact: Nancy Flanagan | 302-893-5545 | nmf3131@verizon.net

For a full list of events for the entire week, visit https://www.peaceweekdelaware.org/attend-events/

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Media Contact: 
Yesenia Taveras, Wilmington City Council Director of Communications
 302-576-2585 | ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com