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Memorial Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell For the purpose of dedicating a memorial at the City of Annapolis Pip Moyer Recreation Center in honor of the late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell (D-MD), the first African-American elected to Congress from Maryland.
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CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 19-25
Introduced by: Mayor Buckley
Co-sponsored by: Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderwoman Finlayson
A RESOLUTION concerning
Memorial Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell (1922-2007)
FOR the purpose of dedicating a memorial at the City of Annapolis Pip Moyer Recreation Center in honor of the late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell (D-MD), the first African-American elected to Congress from Maryland.
WHEREAS, Parren J. Mitchell was a trailblazing figure in American politics, serving as the first African American Congressman from Maryland, elected as a Democrat to the 92nd Congress and re-elected to seven succeeding Congresses from January 1971 through January 1987 ; and
EARLY YEARS
WHEREAS, Parren J. Michell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 29, 1922, to Clarence Maurice and Elsie Davis Mitchell, and attended Baltimore public schools, graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in 1940, received his A.B. from Morgan State College in 1950, received his M.A. from the University of Maryland College Park in 1952, and undertook graduate work in sociology at the University of Connecticut; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell served as a commissioned officer and company commander in the United States Army, 92nd Infantry Division, from 1942 through 1945, and received a Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell served as:
• Professor of sociology and assistant director of the Urban Studies Institute of Morgan State College.
• Executive director of the Maryland Human Relations Commission from 1963 to 1965;
• Executive director of the Baltimore Community Action Agency from 1965 to 1968;
• Supervisor of probation work for the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City from 1954 to 1957;
• President of Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. from 1969 through 1970;
• Delegate to the Maryland State Democrat convention in 1972; and
U.S. CONGRESS
WHEREAS, Parren Mitchell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by Maryland's District 7 and sworn in January 1971; eventually serving as the House at Large Whip; a member of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs; the chair of the Committee on Small business; a member of the Subcommittee on Minority Enterprise and General Oversight; the chair of the Task Force on Minority Enterprise; a member of the Subcommittee on Access to Capital and Business Opportunities; a member of the Joint Economic Committee; a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus; and the chair of the Subcommittee on Minority Economic Development and Housing; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure in Congress, Rep. Parren Mitchell (D-MD) championed legislation to address issues such as education, housing, healthcare, and job training, including:
• The Higher Education Act of 1965: A landmark piece of legislation that expanded access to higher education for millions of Americans;
• The Fair Housing Act of 1968: A law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status;
• The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977: A law that encourages banks and thrifts to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Representative Mitchell was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and played a pivotal role in shaping the national agenda on issues of racial equality and social justice; and
MEMORIAL
WHEREAS, Rep. Parren J. Mitchell (Ret.) passed away on May 28, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Rep. Mitchell's legacy continues to inspire and motivate future generations of leaders to strive for a more just and equitable society and
WHEREAS, The Annapolis Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee has partnered with the City of Annapolis on previous occasions to ensure that the role and contributions of prominent Maryland citizen advocates are not forgotten and are honored within our State Capital, including the Foot Soldiers Memorial; and
WHEREAS, The Annapolis Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee is paying for the memorial, and has contracted for its design and construction;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that: the City of Annapolis hereby honors the life and legacy of U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell by placing a memorial at Pip Moyer Recreation Center located in Truxton Park at 273 Hilltop Lane in Annapolis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that:
1. The City expresses its most profound gratitude for the late Rep. Mitchell's unwavering commitment to public service and his tireless efforts to improve the lives of all Americans; and
2. A copy of this resolution be sent to the Mitchell family, the Congressional Black Caucus, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and others who the Mayor deems appropriate; and
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this resolution shall take effect upon passage.