Ms. Kim Johnson

We’re a WE, not an I.

Ms. Kim Johnson spoke on behalf of her neighbors on North Dearborn Street at the Dunlap Block Build. A retired science teacher, Ms. Johnson is dedicated to serving her community.

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“If you noticed I have on a red apron. This whole event got to our community, got to the Dunlap neighborhood because of the Red Apron Ladies. They’re a group of ladies around the corner right now giving out food to our community. That food was given out all winter long even though we did not have a building. We had senior citizens standing on the corner giving out food and because of that one of our seniors contacted Mr. Shuja Moore at The Enterprise Center, the satellite center, and this program came here. So, Ms. Babette Hanson who’s not here right now helped to get this program here because she brought The Enterprise Center to our community.

We want to thank Rebuilding Together Philadelphia for making our homes safe; for keeping our homes safe.

This has not only benefited the residents who got their homes repaired; other neighbors have come out and helped to volunteer because we’re a community and even though some people are getting work done we’re all benefiting as a community. In Dunlap we are a “WE” -- we’re not an “I.” 

L-r: Ms. Babette Hanson, Ms. Lilian Gamble, Mr. Shuja Moore (The Enterpise Center), and Ms. Kim Johnson

Because of a lack of resources in our community and a lot of us are seniors who are on fixed income, some of us are low-income, we really appreciate Rebuilding Together Philadelphia coming in and helping us. [...] our neighbors have … spoken to the care, respect, and concern that the contractors have had when they’ve come into our homes. It’s just wonderful. They were in our homes for long periods of time so some of them actually started feeling like families to us.

Robert, I want to thank you for starting this program so long ago. A lot of times we do things and we don’t see the long term implications of it but thank you for having that idea 34 years ago and all of the 2,000 homes and families that you’ve impacted. Thank you on behalf of them.

Just want to say some of the work that was done…I talked to our neighbors that got the work done and they mentioned the roofing, the heating, hot water tank; there was one neighbor that had a leak: she couldn’t figure out where the leak was coming from. They discovered the leak. Railing, windows, stoves, sinks, cabinets, electric, lighting…

Rebuilding Together Philadelphia: all of those that have contributed, thank you.”