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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 20, 2023 FROM: The

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2023
FROM: The Office of City Councilmember Mark Squilla

City of Philadelphia Renames South Quince Street to "Les Harrison Way" to Honor Philadelphia's First African American Drag Queen
- PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 – Philadelphia First District Councilmember Mark Squilla will be hosting a street renaming of the iconic South Quince Street, nestled in the "Gayborhood" between Locust Street and Walnut Street, as a tribute to the memory of Philadelphia's First African American Drag Queen, Les Harrison.
Born Albert Raymond Price, Les Harrison adopted his stage name in the mid-sixties, a name that would define his illustrious career in the LGBTQ+ and drag communities. To his friends and the LGBTQ+ community, he was affectionately known as Les Harrison.
Les's journey began near 7th and Kator Streets, leading him to the vibrant "Gay Ghetto," now celebrated as the "Gayborhood," with South Quince Street at its core.
In the late 60s, he joined the "Fabulous Fakes," a pioneering drag queen group. Despite the challenges of being a young black drag queen in Philadelphia, Les's exceptional talent led to a place in the group's chorus and, later, an invitation to tour the country with the "Fabulous Fakes."
Les also created his own show, "Viva Les Boys," and made history as the first Black Drag Queen in Philadelphia with a touring female impersonation show.

Les Harrison continued to captivate audiences until the Forrest Lounge transformed into the Bike Stop (a leather bar) in 1982.
Beyond the stage, Les paved the way for people of color, drag queens, and female impersonators, tirelessly participating in fundraisers and community events, often volunteering his time out of love for his family and community. His remarkable career spanned over 53 years, leaving an enduring legacy.
The renaming ceremony, presided over by the Honorable City Council Person Mark Squilla, will take place on September 23, 2023, at the corner of South Quince and Locust Streets at 12:00 PM.

Next Tuesday, September 26th, join the Zoning Comm

Next Tuesday, September 26th, join the Zoning Committee of the WSWCA to hear about a sign application for the new Jefferson hospital building on Chestnut Street. The meeting is at 7pm via Zoom.

Our Kid's Bike Ride was a lot of fun! Even the Cou

Our Kid's Bike Ride was a lot of fun! Even the Councilman joined us!

Bike day is happening now! @[17841401575805993:@ag

Bike day is happening now! @[17841401575805993:@agilerascaltheatre] @[17841403291075940:@philaotis] @[17841401503085648:@rideindego] @[17841401013472957:@jeffersonhealth] @[17841459668338312:@phlbikeaction]

Today's the day! @bicyclecoalition @agilerascalth

Today's the day! @bicyclecoalition @agilerascaltheatre @nationalyouthbike

Join the WSWCA and 7 other organizations for a day

Join the WSWCA and 7 other organizations for a day that celebrates cycling and cycling safety. Washington Square West has 4 bike lanes that traverse our neighborhood, and we want everyone to feel confident that they can use them safely! Stop by our Fair at Kahn Park to meet and talk with representatives from Vision Zero, @bicyclecoalition Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and Indego . Bring your bike over and clean it up! The WSWCA will be providing everything you need to wash your bike at our Wash West Bike Wash. Get the kids involved by visiting with the @nationalyouthbike , and decorate your bike with Dara from @agilerascaltheatre . Kids can also get a free youth bike helmet from Stop the Bleed. Adults can stop by the Stop the Bleed table for a free walk-up trauma training. Decorate your bike for our Kids Bike Parade that kicks off at 1pm. Older kids and adults can join our organized group ride at 1:15pm. See the route here! https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit...
The Kids' Bike Parade will be police escorted. There will be no traffic moving in the street during our parade, but parents are still required to walk or ride with their kids. Parade is a short 2.5 blocks, leaving from Kahn Park and ending at Seger Park.

Soujourn Consulting contacted the WSWCA and asked

Soujourn Consulting contacted the WSWCA and asked us to distribute this flyer to the community. Soujourn Consulting is part of the consultant team engaged by The City of Philadelphia to develop a community impact assessment for the proposed arena. You can sign up for the focus group using the QR code.

Come out to Wash West Bike Day to meet with Stop t

Come out to Wash West Bike Day to meet with Stop the Bleed. The American College of Surgeons STOP THE BLEED® program has prepared over 3 million people worldwide on how to stop bleeding in a severely injured person. Nora Kramer from Jefferson Trauma will be on hand to explain their program and offer free walk-up trauma training for anyone who is interested, as well as give away a limited number of kid's bike helmets.

On Saturday, September 16th from 10am to 1pm, come

On Saturday, September 16th from 10am to 1pm, come by Kahn Park to visit with a variety of City and cycling organizations! Here's two:

Take this chance to speak directly with a Vision Zero Ambassador! This Philadelphia program aims to build a safe and healthy city for all Philadelphians while promoting people-powered transportation. Do you have ideas? Share them here!

You've seen Indego bikes all over the city, but have you ridden one? Meet up with Indego at their table to find out all about how it works and pick up some bike swag! If you sign up for Indego as a new user at the table on September 16th, you can get a free month of rides!

What other goodies will you find at the Wash West Bike Day?

Do your kids love to ride, or are interested in ge

Do your kids love to ride, or are interested in getting started? We've got plenty for them to explore at the Wash West Bike Day on September 16th at Kahn Park!

Bring the kiddos and their bikes over between 10am and 1pm for some bike centric art making with Agile Rascal Bicycle Touring Theatre .

A limited number of kids may receive a free bike helmet from STOP the BLEED

National Youth Bike Council is a youth-led organization that helps get more young people on bikes! Talk with Bike Council reps at their table to get resources, ask questions, or find out how to join a ride.

Bring your decorated (or not!) bike to Kahn at 1pm to join the Kid's Bike Parade! Riders in his short 2.5 block parade must be accompanied by an adult on foot or bike.

Join the board of the WSWCA for our September meet

Join the board of the WSWCA for our September meeting. We are re-convening after a summer break! Catch up on what we've been up to, and hear from 2 special guests, both from Mural Arts. Sarah Kolkert will tell us about a 7th Ward Windows project that Mural Arts needs your help with, and Nyasa Hendrix will tell us about the opening of a new mural at 13th and Pine called "Finally on 13th!".

More guests and topics may be added.

Links for zoom meetings can be found on our calendar at the link in bio.

New to cycling? New to the City? Get information

New to cycling? New to the City? Get information and resources at Wash West Bike

Day on Saturday, September 16th from 10am to 1pm at Kahn Park!
Meet with Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia to find out about all the programs they offer for all cyclists- new, experienced, adult, youth, LGBTQ, women, and beyond. Grab some bike goodies too.

Chat with National Youth Bike Council to find out how you can help build community through their youth-led events and projects! Hang out until 1:15 to ride along with Bike Council members for our Wash West Group Ride!

Apartment dwellers rejoice! The Washington Square

Apartment dwellers rejoice! The Washington Square West Civic Association is giving you a chance, the space, water, soap, brushes and sponges to clean up your bike at the Wash West Bike Wash on Saturday, September 16th at Kahn Park during our Bike Day event!

Bring that sparkly baby to Kahn at 1:15pm to join a Group Ride around the neighborhood! Group rides are a great way to get to know the streets and other cyclists. This ride is led by our WSWCA volunteers and members of the National Youth Bike Council . All riders are welcome!

Don't have your own bike? You can always rent one through Indego at one of their many stations in and near Wash West! Join as a new member of Indego at their table during Bike Day and get a free month of rides!

Over the past few months, the Office of Campus and

Over the past few months, the Office of Campus and Community Engagement has increased awareness and education around Food Security and its impact on Jefferson and our regional communities.

On September 19th, Student Affairs will present a Food Security Summit, with special guests, Steven Ritz, Founder and CEO of the Green Bronx Machine and Evan Ehlers, Founder and CEO of Sharing Excess.

This is an invitation to our Community Partners to participate in the evening's events.

Registration is extended through Friday, 9.15.23. Register Here: https: //forms. office .co m/r / 3HtKtPKM4j

The evening Food Security Summit will include a:

5 pm - Rescue Food Pop-up Market

6:00 pm - Dinner

6:30 pm - Summit and Speaker Presentation (featuring Steven Ritz, Evan Ehlers, and Charlie Pohl)

It is with great delight that Mural Arts is able t

It is with great delight that Mural Arts is able to extend an invitation to you for the Finally on 13th! Mural dedication and block party happening on September 23rd 3-6pm at 13th and Pine!

This project has been two years in the making, it came to us through the community mural department’s application process by way of Jacen Bowman. Designed by Nile Livingston and painted by a brilliant team of artists, the mural will be celebrated and dedicated in a manner to match. The mural celebrates the Philadelphia Ballroom Culture history, it spends time coloring the lives and stories of black trans women and the spectrum of people who follow in their footsteps. Inspired by the vibrant 80’s coupled with true to form portraits, this mural puts a spotlight, an ever shining sunlight on the LGBTQIA history that lives here at the center of Philadelphia.

Finally on 13th is a celebration and opportunity to give flowers to the Philadelphia Icons that have paved the way and help define a worldwide culture. We will be joined by Kevin JZ and VJ the DJ to help us usher in a new reign and a full welcome back to 13th street. There is also an after party to be hosted by Level Up from 6-9pm.

We're baaaack! And better than ever?! Wash West Bi

We're baaaack! And better than ever?! Wash West Bike Day Re-Do, coming at you on Saturday, September 16th from 10am to 1pm. We've got all the groups you were looking forward to meeting with, and we have added Stop The Bleed Project. Come by Kahn Park to meet representatives from all these great organizations! Get one on one time for questions and answers, pick up some swag, and join us on a group bike ride!

We regret the potential conflicts our rain date may have for observers of Rosh Hashanah, but we hope you might still be able to join us a little later in the day!

Mural Arts needs your help! They are looking for

Mural Arts needs your help! They are looking for available short-term display spaces for a project about the history of the 7th Ward of Philadelphia. Do you have or know of any residents in your neighborhood who would like to volunteer their window or storefront for the project?
They are looking into temporarily using windows in the neighborhood to showcase art relating to the history of incredibly important Black Americans who resided in the 7th ward. Check the map within the post to see if you reside or own a business within the historic 7th Ward, and reach out to sarah.kolker@muralarts.org to inquire about participating!

Go team! Huge thanks to all the board members and

Go team! Huge thanks to all the board members and volunteers who helped make Hot Summer Night a success!
Want to get that red shirt? Get involved! Join the WSWCA as a member, a volunteer, or a board member! Annual board elections are this November. Need more info? DM us or send an email to info@washwestcivic.org to inquire!

Come celebrate with us! We are at the Jefferson Ca

Come celebrate with us! We are at the Jefferson Campus at the corner of 10/Locust. #hotsummernights #washwest #activatethenight

Vendors and community members setting up !

Vendors and community members setting up !

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