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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 20, 2023 11:57 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Malcolm Kenyatta |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Conveyance of New Freedom Theater |
| The New Freedom Theatre started in a North Philadelphia storefront with the support of the Black People’s Unity Movement. Since its founding in the mid-1960s, the theatre has worked “to chronicle African American History in the performing arts,” with playwrights and artists including James Baldwin, Denzel Washington, August Wilson, Sonia Sanchez, Grover Washington, Jr., and Glynn Turman. Further, the New Freedom Theatre has provided professional theatrical training to tens of thousands of students over the years. As the New Freedom Theatre continues to stand strong in its status as a bastion of Black culture in Philadelphia, its site has preservation needs that come with any structure built in the 1800s. The organization is working to preserve the site’s history so that it can continue to serve its community. To support the New Freedom Theatre in this effort, I am introducing legislation to convey the theatre from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to the organization, New Freedom Theatre, Inc. With this conveyance, care of the New Freedom Theatre can return home. The New Freedom Theatre is a unique and crucial part of Philadelphia’s history and deserves to be treated as such. Please join me in ensuring that its structure is preserved for generations to come by signing on to this proposal. |
Introduced as HB1518