Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall

Future Leaders Run City of Philadelphia for a Day

PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 28, 2011 -Twenty-six deserving PAL students who have achieved success both in school and in their PAL centers were rewarded for their hard work, dedication and efforts. Lockheed Martin PAL Day at City Hall, a 40-year tradition in Philadelphia, took place on February 28, 2011. Joey Bozzelli, a Gibbons PAL youngster who was selected to be PAL Mayor for the day, has been involved with PAL since he was a child and has participated in all that PAL has to offer. The 26 PAL students were then transported to City Hall where they met with their Government Representatives and were appointed their positions for the day Mayor Nutter spoke to the youth, congratulated them on their achievements and let them know they had their work cut out for them. Nutter’s speech was followed by Bozzelli’s speech, which focused on the wonderful opportunities that PAL provides for youth and echoed Nutter’s sentiments of congratulations. Bozzelli also encouraged all youth to get involved with PAL, mentioning that he doesn’t know what he would have done without PAL.

Following Bozzelli’s speech, the students took the Oath of Office and were called up individually with their representative to be recognized for their accomplishments. Nutter spoke personally with each of the “new government officials” and presented them with a glass plaque commemorating the occasion. Jokingly, Nutter asked the new head of the Philadelphia Parking authority to “help him out with a few old tickets.”

After a meet-and-greet lunch, students were off to work for the day, tackling real issues and running the City Government. PAL Day at City Hall was a huge success, and PAL’s youth constituency deserve to be commended for a job well done. Thanks to Lockheed Martin Corporation for sponsoring this wonderful event, the City of Philadelphia for its partnership with PAL and Charming Shoppes, Inc. and Tate’s Menswear for providing the young women and men with business attire for the day.

PAL Alumna Profile

West Oak Lane PAL’s Shining Star: Paulette Brown

Paulette Brown speaking at PAL's Sponsor & Media Luncheon.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 1, 2011 – Paulette Brown has a remarkable, long list of accomplishments for a 28 year old woman. She is a West Oak Lane PAL Alumna, and credits many of her successes to her time at PAL. Through the guidance of her PAL Center Director, Police Officer Steve Brennan, Brown overcame the challenges of growing up in the inner city, and has blossomed into a wonderful human being who is career-driven and motivated in every aspect of her life. She is truly a shining example of the Police Athletic League and the positive impact it has on the children it serves.

Growing up in the West Oak Lane area of the City, Brown was surrounded by many negatives in her childhood. One day while playing her neighborhood, she accidentally wandered into the PAL Center. Thrilled by what she saw, she enrolled in PAL at the age of 12 with her two younger sisters. “There were so many kids playing different types of games, running around, yelling, laughing and just having fun. But the strangest part to me was that there weren’t any adults running and yelling after the kids, telling them to sit down and be quiet. So of course I knew that I was in a good place and I wanted to be involved with whatever they were offering,” Brown said.

Aside from being able to play in a safe environment and meeting new friends, PAL afforded Brown with a handful of unique opportunities that she would never have been able to experience otherwise. “My membership has allowed me the opportunity to travel to various places around the world, like the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado where I participated in a leadership development program. I participated in double-dutch tournaments, basketball leagues and served as City Council President for a day,” said Brown.

Through PAL, Brown was awarded a college scholarship and attended Millersville University, from which she graduated in 2005. She even credits her successes after college to PAL. “Even after graduating college, my PAL experiences are still influencing my life. Where I was shy as I child, I am now very outgoing. The many competitions have taught me how to work well on a team, which is very useful in my work today,” noted Brown.

While looking back on her experiences at PAL, Brown has nothing but fond memories of her friends, experiences and her PAL officer and friend, Police Officer Brennan. “He has always encouraged me to work hard in everything I do. He made sure that I was involved in different activities; he even made sure that I got home safely after the center would close. Since I was 12, he has gone above and beyond the duties of his job. He has been there for every birthday, every holiday, every prom, every speech and every graduation – even calling just to check on me,” said Brown.

Today, Brown works in Human Resources and is constantly meeting and interacting with new people. She is back in school at Rosemont College, working on obtaining a Master’s Degree in Psychology. Without PAL, Brown notes that she doesn’t know where she’d be today. “There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better person today because of all the life lessons that I learned at PAL. It’s hard to even imagine my life without PAL. Of all the things that I want to know in this world, of all the things I pretend to know, I’m glad I don’t know where I would be without PAL since it has been such an influential part of my life. I know that I am a better person because of PAL. I know other former PAL kids who would say the same thing.”