Thursday, November 16, 2023, was a day filled with celebration for the Strawberry Mansion Community and an opportunity to uplift those who continuously work to better the lives of our families and youth.
The best part of being from Philadelphia is learning our hometown stories and history and understanding that regardless of struggles, obstacles, and even stereotypical views, people in our communities make things happen.
Though the event was a big win for the Strawberry Mansion community, it was also a picture of what we all know–there are people in our neighborhoods, those unsung heroes, who get up every day and go out and make a difference in our communities. You may not see their work on the news or hear their names shouted from a megaphone, but they are out here working every day to ensure our kids and communities succeed.
So, on November 16, the Phillies came out to celebrate and recognize one of these unsung heroes, Kevin Upshur, the chairman and founder of the Strawberry Mansion Center. Upshur was named an “Inspirational Hometown Hero” and was saluted for his commitment to Strawberry Mansion. He started the learning center in 2008 at the site of a former bar owned by his mother, Shirley. Upon her death, Shirley left the building to her son and told him to use the space to do something positive for the community. Today, the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center is a free, safe haven for kids that provides after-school and summer programming for children in grades 5-12 in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia.
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