Former Mayor W. Wilson Goode amongst five awardees to receive Philadelphia Legacies Portrait Awards

The tenth anniversary of the Philadelphia Legacies Awards took place Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the Level III Entertainment venue at 2613 W. Hunting Park Avenue.

- Thera Martin

Founded by Stephen Satell over ten years ago, the concept is to honor and celebrate extraordinary Philadelphians who have achieved great things in their work, community activism, or leadership. This year’s most recognized name of those being honored is W. Wilson Goode, the first African American Mayor of Philadelphia. The actual award itself is a portrait that will be hung in a place of prominence at pre-selected notable buildings in Center City Philadelphia.

This year’s five portrait awardees represent transformative figures whose legacies continue to impact Philadelphia and beyond:

Rev. W. Wilson Goode, Sr. — Philadelphia’s pioneering first African American Mayor who elevated Philadelphia back to a top-tier major city status. His work included planning and developing the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Liberty Place skyline, over 1,000 murals, and community policing initiatives. After his mayoral term, he founded AMACHI, Inc., which has impacted over 300,000 children of incarcerated parents worldwide.

Georgie Woods — “The Man with the Goods” — The legendary WDAS radio voice who became the sound track to Philadelphia’s Civil Rights Movement, mobilizing tens of thousands through his influential platform and historic benefit concerts.

Rev. Dr. Repsie M. Warren: A groundbreaking advocate who shattered barriers as the first woman Vice Chair of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, while revolutionizing accessibility in religious spaces through inclusive deaf ministry.