Community leadership is about creating change today while making sure future generations understand the people who helped shape their history for Tyrique Glasgow.
That commitment was recently highlighted by Billy Penn at WHYY in an article about the successful effort to rename Philadelphia’s former Taney Street in honor of Caroline LeCount, a Philadelphia educator and civil rights activist.
Tyrique, executive director of the Young Chances Foundation (YCF), was one of the community leaders who spent years helping make the change happen.
Nearly Six Years of Community Advocacy
Young Chances Foundation helped lead the effort as part of the Rename Taney Coalition. The coalition brought together residents, community organizations, and advocates who believed the street’s name no longer represented Philadelphia’s values.
The street had been named after former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who wrote the infamous Dred Scott decision.
For Tyrique, changing the name was also an opportunity to educate future generations.
As he told Billy Penn:
“[The name change idea] came from us collectively thinking about not just today, but about tomorrow’s mission.”
The effort took nearly six years. Coalition members worked with residents, gathered community feedback, partnered with elected officials, and continued pushing the effort through two city administrations.
Honoring Caroline LeCount
The community ultimately chose Caroline LeCount, an educator, principal, civil rights activist, and advocate for the desegregation of Philadelphia’s public transportation system.
Philadelphia City Council approved the renaming in 2024, and the change took effect in 2025, officially turning the former Taney Street into LeCount Street.
The coalition’s work went beyond the street sign. It also raised money for a gravestone honoring LeCount and helped create a coloring book to introduce children to her life and accomplishments.
As Tyrique explained:
“All of those things bring awareness and literacy.”
Executive director of the Young Chances Foundation Tyrique Glasgow and community activist Samaya Brown stand below a LeCount Street sign. They advocated for years to get the street’s name changed to this (Violet Comber-Wilen/Billy Penn).
Leaving a Legacy
The LeCount Street project is about more than changing a name. It is about deciding whose stories deserve to be remembered and shared with the next generation.
For Tyrique, the hope is that Caroline LeCount’s name and legacy will remain visible in Philadelphia for years to come.
“For us to have something that will hopefully stand the test of time is very important.”
The effort reflects the heart of Tyrique’s work: bringing people together, creating meaningful change, and building something that lasts.
It’s about helping communities level up and leave a legacy.
Read the Full Story
Read the Billy Penn at WHYY article to learn more about Caroline LeCount and the community effort behind LeCount Street.