Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell is a seven-term representative of the 3rd District in the City Council of Philadelphia. She was elected to City Council in an historic election that saw her husband elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the late Congressman Lucien E. Blackwell, on the same day that she was elected to City Council.

The former school teacher has developed an historic record of legislation and leadership during her tenure. She is the Chair of the powerful Committee on Finance, which is the third succession seat for Mayor of the City, and Chair of the Education Committee. She is Vice Chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, whose funding was started by her late husband. Councilwoman Blackwell also serves on the Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, Committee on the Environment, and the Committee on Disabled and Persons with Special Needs. She is also the founder of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and Echoes of Africa.

From these important positions on City Council she has helped to fund and provide assistance to numerous African and Caribbean immigrant organizations in the 3rd Councilmanic District and across Philadelphia. Some of the African and Caribbean immigrant groups she has funded include the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA), AFRICOM, the Caribbean Festival, the Sudanese Community Center, the African and Caribbean Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (ACBC), St. Vincent and the Grenadine Organizations of Pennsylvania, Team Jamaica Bickle and many others.

“I am so proud that I represent many Africans and Caribbean in my district in West and Southwest Philadelphia. I got involved with them – maybe 25 years ago… I’ve learned that we are all brothers and sisters. As such, we must love, respect, try to assist one another, and be committed to our families here and abroad. I love this community and am honored to be considered a part of it,” the Councilwoman said.

One of her newest undertakings is her bold vision to create an Africa Town in Southwest Philadelphia. This project will create jobs in the community for our youth, provide capital loans for existing businesses as well as provide resources for new start-up and micro-enterprises.

Africa Town is being designed as a project which will give the neighborhood and community people the resources and technical assistance to fight gentrification and to create wealth for the benefit of the community. Overall, Councilwoman Blackwell estimates that Africa Town, as a major economic development project, will create an impact of nearly $100 million dollars.

As a visionary leader, Blackwell has skillfully written legislation to improve the quality of life in the 3rd District and the City of Philadelphia. Her work with many institutions in the 3rd District such as University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, University of the Sciences and Brandywine Realty Trust has led to up to thirty-five percent (35%) minority participation in construction and increased participation of minority youth serving as apprentices in the building trades industry. Each of these organizations has signed agreements with Councilwoman Blackwell to assure their compliance.

Blackwell, as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, is on a daily quest to eliminate homelessness in Philadelphia. Any day of the week, you can see her staff working diligently to find quality housing for the many men, women and children seeking a decent place to live. Her work with the homeless includes funding many events throughout the year to feed and clothe the homeless. She raises thousands of dollars each year to provide gifts to the children of homeless families and those living in shelters for Thanksgiving and Christmas that extends to 6,000 people in the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Center. Blackwell explains, “Being there for your people, whenever they need you can be fulfilling and humbling at the same time.”

In the area of education, Blackwell has worked hard with the Superintendent of the School District to improve the quality of education for the youth of Philadelphia. She supports the efforts to increase funding for Pre-K, as well as introduced the legislation to return control of the Philadelphia School Board to the local community and terminate the control that was previously held by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

One of the most unpopular words in American cities today is gentrification; the influx of wealthier residents into low-income, often minority neighborhoods, with long-time residents. Gentrification does not only have the tendency to price them out but also to ultimately displace them. When FunTimes raises the heated issue with the Councilwoman by highlighting how it was adversely affecting Black people in Philadelphia, her response was candid and passionate.

“People should hang on. I tell people that are trying to hold onto their property with tax problems to come to me. We will work these things out.” The Councilwoman reassures her district and residents of Philadelphian that are being affected.

However, Blackwell’s work in creating affordable housing in the 3rd District has been impressive. She is proud of the blight removal and new housing construction across the City. Some of the housing projects include the Lucien E. Blackwell Homes that total 1,000 homes for rental and homeownership. Thousands of other rental and homeownership opportunities include Marshall Sheppard Village, Presbyterian Homes, Lex Street, Union Hill Homes, Chaka Fattah Homes, Bernice Eliza Homes and Jannie’s Place. 

Councilwoman’s partnerships to increase affordable housing in the 3rd District includes the Philadelphia Housing Authority, People’s Emergency Center, Habitat for Humanity, 1260 Housing, Drexel and Penn Universities, Pennrose Properties, Inc., Neighborhood Restorations, TJ Properties, West Philadelphia Real Estate, the Lomax Companies, Orens Brothers and many others. 

She is particularly proud of the Lucien E. Blackwell Community Center that was recently completed.

Finally, Councilwoman Blackwell’s has made a life-long commitment to move her community and the city forward and will always work to foster an end to homelessness, neighborhood blight and poor public education. Blackwell said, “As my record shows, through using the tools of public policy, legislation and public engagement we can improve the quality of life for all- regardless of race, class, gender or socio-economic status and I thank God for giving me the honor to be of service to people.”