U. official honors those devoted to community

When Margaret Shapiro arrived in Philadelphia two years ago, she decided that the media concentrated too much on the negative aspects of the city. The Penn Council on Relationships assistant director decided to change that focus soon after she settled in West Philadelphia. Since then, she has become deeply involved with the University community and greater Philadelphia, working on a project that she hoped would open people's eyes to the positive side of their surroundings. She developed a calendar that presented 12 people from diverse backgrounds who are each attempting to improve the city of Philadelphia. Proceeds from the calendar, entitled "Philadelphia Visions," will benefit the projects led by those featured. Shapiro noted that the calendar also serves as a form of public awareness. "I am tired of reading about police scandals," she said. "I thought to myself -- why aren't people who do positive and interesting things more celebrated? Why do we have to always hear negativeness?" As a newcomer to Philadelphia, Shapiro discovered the White Dog Cafe and decided to feature owner Judy Wicks in the calendar. Wicks, who helped Shapiro with the project, uses her restaurant as a place for discussions on social issues. Shapiro said she hoped to commend those who helped their communities. "Philadelphia Visions" is now on sale at local establishments, including the Black Cat and White Dog Cafe. Shapiro said she plans to make the calendar an annual project. She has also been working on writing a book and initiating a non-profit organization through the White Dog called Urban Retrievers. The group is aimed at helping adolescents get jobs and training. Consultation work originally led Shapiro to doing clinical work at the Penn Council on Relationships. Since 1932, the organization has been working with all types of couples, students and West Philadelphia residents. Shapiro is very well known in the clinic as well as in the West Philadelphia community. "Margaret is a very energetic, upbeat, enthused, intelligent woman who brings a lot of clinical expertise to the client load she receives," said Steve Treat, Penn Council on Relationships interim director. Robert Hunt, a Council marriage family therapist, described Shapiro as "a refreshing and talented woman who is invested in the life and community of Penn and West Philadelphia." Shapiro said she hopes Penn students will involve themselves with their community, as she has done.