Trailblazers
The CSPA 2025 Black Trailblazers
Meet the difference-makers in politics, policy and beyond.
From left to right: Lloyd Freeman, Keola Harrington & Chad Dion Lassiter Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney; Free Library of Philadelphia; Commonwealth Media Services
From city halls to the halls of academia, from courtrooms to boardrooms, these Black Pennsylvanians are progress embodied. Whether advancing communities, educating the next generation or championing a more inclusive world for us all, these honorees include government go-getters, groundbreaking entrepreneurs and compassionate community leaders.
Sheila Alexander-Reid
Sheila Alexander-Reid leads the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s PHL Diversity initiative, which showcases Philadelphia as an inclusive destination for conventions and gatherings. The Spelman College alumna has led inclusion efforts at institutions like the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certificate curriculum. Alexander-Reid currently serves in several leadership positions, including on the boards of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and PHILADELPHIA250.
Dinetta Armstrong
During her 25-year-plus career, Dinetta Armstrong has led the way at federally qualified health centers that provided integrated primary and behavioral health care, hospitals and managed care. That experience, combined with an educational résumé that includes a BS in health policy and administration from Penn State and an MBA in healthcare administration from Temple, has led to her current dual leadership role with Woods Healthcare and The Medical Center at Woods.
April Ashe
A career path featuring more than 15 years of government service led April Ashe to become the executive director of the PA Legislative Black Caucus, where she helps draft legislation that supports businesses of marginalized communities and identities. Her role with the Caucus Internship Program has expanded opportunities for young women working in government. She also organizes events like the K. Leroy Irvis Day Conference, which brings over 150 organizations to Pennsylvania’s State Capitol.
Adeolu Bakare
As chair of the pro bono committee at McNees Wallace & Nurick, Adeolu Bakare leads initiatives to expand the firm's outreach and support for underserved communities. He also serves on the firm's diversity committee. In addition to his legal work, he serves as the board secretary of the Vista Adult Services Organization, a nonprofit organization that serves adults with autism.
Joann Bell
Currently the director of the Philadelphia office of Pugliese Associates, Long Nyquist & Associates, one of the top lobbying firms in Pennsylvania, Joann Bell’s broad experience in government, management and communications earned her leadership appointments by then-Gov. Bob Casey and then-Gov. Tom Corbett, as well as then-Philadelphia Mayors W. Wilson Goode and Michael Nutter. Bell’s distinguished service to the community has earned her a host of honors, including the Operation Push Award and the NAACP’s Exemplar Award.
Rochelle Bilal
The first woman to be elected sheriff in the 181-year history of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, Rochelle Bilal has a decades-long record of being an advocate of community engagement and criminal justice reform. Bilal, a law enforcement veteran who spent 27 years as a member of the Philadelphia Police Department, also serves as secretary of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. She is president of the Guardian Civic League, a law enforcement community oversight organization made up of over 2,500 active and retired Philadelphia police officers.
Samia Bristow
Samia Bristow provides strategic leadership and oversight of a diverse portfolio of programs and services. With over 15 years of experience in program design, implementation, and executive leadership, she is a transformative leader dedicated to driving innovative, high-impact solutions that support families and communities. She advances the organization’s vision of an equitable and just future for all families. She is committed to challenging structural barriers to equity and ensuring that MCC’s programs and services are equitable, client-centered, and of the highest quality. She leads efforts to create meaningful and lasting change in maternal and child health through strategic advancement, community partnerships, and evidence-based policy and practice.
Phil Brooks
Phil Brooks comes to his leadership position at Graduate Philadelphia as a West Philly native who graduated from American International College, where he earned his BS in biology, Brooks served in the AmeriCorps program City Year Philadelphia as a senior impact manager. His passion for education and STEM led him to oversee a wide range of initiatives, from the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education to partnerships with organizations like GSK, Integral Molecular, Harrisburg University and eCLOSE Institute.
Kellie Brown
With close to two decades of nonprofit experience, Kellie Brown serves as the William Penn Foundation’s senior program officer for children and families. Brown, a graduate of Howard University, previously served as regional director for a multi-center child care program nonprofit, and held various roles with social service and clinical mental health agencies in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.
Tariem Burroughs
As the executive director of external partnerships at Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, Tariem Burroughs fuses education, public health and community care. In addition to his focus on helping students pursuing their education in public health, Burroughs has chaired organizations like Liberty City and Philly Family Pride, and community groups like SEPTA’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee. He is also a member of Pennsylvania’s HIV Planning Group.
Dawn Frisby Byers
At PA Humanities, Dawn Frisby Byers leads all aspects of traditional and digital marketing, brand development, brand management and strategic partnerships. Her marketing and communications skills have been honed through the years at organizations ranging from HBO and PBS to New York’s legendary Apollo Theater. Since returning to her hometown of Philadelphia, Byers brings her wealth of expertise to organizations such as Mural Arts, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts and the Kimmel Center.
Dr. Crystal Clark
As the chief medical officer of UPMC Community HealthChoices, Dr. Crystal Clark provides clinical leadership across the commonwealth. Lauded for her clinical expertise and commitment to providing the highest-quality health support and care access, Clark is also a senior adviser to the UPMC Center for Social Impact. She received the 2023 Bernard J. Tyson Health Equity Award from the Alliance of Community Health Plans.
Martell Covington
With a family legacy of community engagement, Martell Covington is devoted to service. A graduate of Pittsburgh’s Central Catholic High School and Howard University, and a one-time legislative aide to state Sen. Jay Costa, Covington ran for and won a Pennsylvania House of Representatives seat. Shifting gears after serving briefly as a state House member, Covington now uses his community organizing skills and care to strengthen connections between local communities and UPMC.
Donald Crenshaw
Donald Crenshaw uses his connections at GMA Development Group and his own company, Blue Rock Construction, to provide education and training to the next generation of builders. By restoring vacant structures, he creates opportunities for low- and moderate-income buyers to own their own homes. Crenshaw co-founded the Black Developers Coalition, which connects Black developers, industry leaders and potential employers while advocating for inclusivity and representation in development and housing.
Austin Davis
The youngest lieutenant governor in the country and the first Black lieutenant governor in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s history, Lt. Gov. Austin A. Davis established the first violence-prevention office within the Allegheny Department of Health. In 2018, Davis became the first African American to represent his district in the state House. He chairs both the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and serves on the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council.
Virginia G. Essandoh
As Ballard Spahr’s chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Virginia G. Essandoh develops, supervises and directs relevant initiatives for the firm. As a member of her firm’s senior leadership team, Essandoh focuses her efforts outside the office on giving back as the co-founder, vice president and secretary of the Elpis Children’s Foundation, an organization that supports the care of orphaned children in Ghana.
Linda R. Evers
At Stevens & Lee, Linda R. Evers represents the energy and utilities industries before regulatory and governmental agencies. Evers recently counseled a multi-state utility on cloud technology implementation and helped another client with investments to meet key decarbonization targets. She is a member of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Berks County Bar Association’s Minority Bar Committee, and received the AKA Foundation of Central Pennsylvania’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dymiere Finch
Dymiere Finch holds several positions with the National Center for Urban Solutions, including the key role of executive director for the organization’s operations in the Keystone State. A member of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Commission on Black Male Engagement, Finch is a mentor and community advocate with a passion for the health and well-being of Black men. He has helped lead initiatives and programs that have served over 5,000 individuals and counting.
Leon Ford
Leon Ford is a driving force behind The Hear Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to establish connections between the local community, leaders and law enforcement. Ford, a member of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory & Review Commission, has been recognized for his documentaries “Leon” and “Breaking Bread: A Conversation on Race in America” at the Cannes Film Festival. He is the recipient of President Barack Obama’s Volunteer Service Award, the National Urban League Community Service Award and the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award.
Angela Foreshaw-Rouse
Angela Foreshaw-Rouse spearheads statewide community engagement and operations for the nation’s premier organization for older Americans. As a cross-functional team leader, she provides strategic direction on policy, advocacy and community engagement initiatives. Prior to joining AARP, she worked as the director of daytime publicity for ABC Television’s long-running “All My Children” and as the director of communications and publicity for Court TV. In addition to serving as co-chair of AARP’s Women’s Resources Group, she is on the executive board of Links Incorporated’s Montgomery County chapter.
Lloyd Freeman
Among his responsibilities at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Lloyd Freeman ensures that the firm champions diversity and inclusion in the communities in which it serves, and works with clients to meet and advance their own diversity and inclusion goals. He is the founder and chair of the Burlington Camden Achievement Foundation, which offers scholarship and mentoring of male high school students. He previously served as the Garden State Bar Association’s president, awarding a record number of scholarships to underrepresented law students.
William Generett, Jr.
Bill Generett leads Duquesne’s Office of Community Engagement, Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations, and government affairs. A graduate of Emory University’s School of Law and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, he works as executive-in-residence at Duquesne’s Palumbo-Donahue School of Business and is a trustee for a number of organizations, including the Carnegie Museums and the Pittsburgh Foundation.
Katherine Gilmore Richardson
In 2019, Katherine Gilmore Richardson earned the double distinction of becoming the youngest woman in Philadelphia elected citywide as well as the youngest Black woman elected to Philadelphia City Council. In 2024, she made history again as the first at-large member of Philadelphia’s City Council and the youngest person to become majority leader. Among her accomplishments: establishing City Council’s Nonprofit Provider Task Force, which works to improve the way the City of Philadelphia does business with nonprofit service providers.
Mike Goings
In addition to focusing on social responsibility and building relationships with current and future generations of Sixers fans, Mike Goings leads the team’s alumni and influencer relations efforts, including the famed “Bell Ringing” tradition featuring celebrities and personalities. A board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, he has served as a volunteer on the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Planning Committee and as a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern PA.
Darryl Gordon
With over 31 years of experience in human resources, Darryl Gordon has no shortage of career milestones, including achieving ISO 9000 certification for New Holland North America and implementing SAP systems for High Industries, which he has helped expand from one location to five across four states. Gordon is the board president of the Lancaster County Career and Technical Center Foundation and past chair of the Crispus Attucks Community Center of Lancaster Steering Committee for the annual Martin Luther King Breakfast.
Tyrone Hampton, Jr.
At Philadelphia Works, Tyrone Hampton, Jr. is responsible for managing over $25 million in state and federal funding, leading regional strategy, and overseeing the planning, implementation and management of grants, contracts and special initiatives. Hampton, who relies on more than 20 years of experience in workforce development to ensure providers are in compliance, implements contracts and special initiatives and manages projects as part of the PA CareerLink® Philadelphia initiative.
Keola Harrington
As chief financial officer of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Keola Harrington oversees all financial operations for a $300 million budget, including finance, accounting, revenue, payroll, procurement and risk management. She also helps lead the organization’s strategic direction and sustainable growth initiatives. Harrington, a first-generation college graduate, has served on the boards of City Year Philadelphia, the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, Community College of Philadelphia, and the Community of Compassion CDC.
Linda Harris-Ashton
Linda Harris-Ashton, the new executive director for the Public Health Management Corporation’s Campus on Cedar, earned both her BS in organizational management as well as her MBA from Wilmington University in Delaware. With over two decades of experience leading and growing business operations, most recently at Innovage, Harris-Ashton’s wealth of knowledge and expertise helps her improve access, create solutions and offer compassionate care to older Pennsylvanians.
Joseph Hill
With extensive experience in city, state and federal government, Joseph Hill serves as managing director of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Philadelphia office. He is a former adviser to then-U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and has served on the transition teams for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Gov. Josh Shapiro. Hill is also co-founder of Black Leadership Pennsylvania, a nonprofit that aims to empower Black communities through the electoral process.
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Rhonda Hill-Wilson launched her eponymous law firm in 1994, specializing in personal injury cases involving accidents, medical malpractice, nursing-home neglect and product liability. She has twice been honored with the Presidential Award from the National Bar Association, received the Austin Norris Award for Community Service from the Barrister’s Association and was named one of the Top Black Lawyers in the Tri-State Area by The Network Journal.
Terrance Hobson
With 30 years of nonprofit experience to his credit, Terrance Hobson currently serves as chief learning officer at the Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance. Hobson’s previous roles run the gamut of service opportunities, including stints at the Urban Affairs Coalition, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Caring People Alliance, and the Philadelphia Education Fund. With a mission to combat poverty and empower urban youth and communities, Hobson is a 2024 graduate of the Urban League of Philadelphia’s Leadership Development Institute.
Brandi Hunter-Davenport
Whether helping young people realize their dreams or fighting for Pennsylvania seniors, Brandi Hunter-Davenport makes a difference through her work at Triad Strategies, where she is a senior associate. Hunter-Davenport, who holds a master’s in journalism from Florida A&M University, has extensive experience in state government, having directed communications for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and served as a deputy press secretary to then-Gov. Ed Rendell. Outside the office, Hunter-Davenport’s commitments include serving on the board of the American Heart Association of the Capital Region.
C. Frank Igwe
Frank Igwe founded Moravia Health in 2012 and has grown it into one of the state’s premier home health care agencies. Under his leadership, Moravia Health serves thousands of patients across the commonwealth and is both Medicare- and Medicaid-certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and accredited with the Joint Commission’s coveted Gold Seal of Approval, reflecting best-in-class care nationwide. Igwe, who holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, has also been a fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Dixieanne James
Health care executive Dixie James has served as president of the Central Region for Jefferson since 2023, when that health system merged with her former employer, the Einstein Healthcare Network, where she worked for 15 years, including as president and COO. In her new role, she is responsible for strategic growth, market alignment and integration of health services involving $3.3 billion in operating revenue. James also holds leadership roles on the boards of Philabundance and the Philadelphia chapter of the American Heart Association.
Kenyatta Johnson
Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson has served in City Hall since 2011, following his time representing the 186th district in the state House of Representatives. A longtime public servant who began doing the work of the people by founding the nonprofit Peace Not Guns in 1998, Johnson has made economic development, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization three of his top legislative priorities during his time in office.
Saniah M. Johnson
As the CFO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Saniah Johnson applies her decades of experience and expertise in corporate finance, strategy, mergers and acquisitions, compliance and risk management to fulfill the organization’s mission to “build transformative companies and the communities that help them thrive.” She also sits on the board of trustees of Virtua Health System, where she chairs the Audit Committee, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce’s Select Greater Philadelphia Advisory Board.
Adrianne Jones
Adrianne Jones oversees admissions and enrollment for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Philadelphia campus, as well as the school’s campuses in Suwanee and Moultrie, Georgia. Jones, who is working on a Ph.D in higher education, is expanding outreach, refining communication and building a more inclusive student body by strengthening connections with prospective students. She is a member of the American Association of the Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education.
Jazelle Jones
Appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in 2024 to her current leadership role, Jazelle Jones’s service to the City of Philadelphia spans two decades, including as deputy managing director and director of operations for the City of Philadelphia. As the chair of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Jones also holds operations meetings for productions held each year in Philadelphia.
Chad Dion Lassiter
Chad Dion Lassiter is the first social worker ever appointed to a Presidential Appointee Commission. A national expert on race relations, he was named to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans by President Joe Biden. Lassiter co-chaired the Civil Rights in Education Committee as the lead author on a report provided to the Biden-Harris Administration. He has been an adjunct professor at West Chester University since 2008 and has served on the board of governors to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children since 2016.
Kenneth Lawrence Jr.
In addition to his leadership role at Highmark Blue Shield, Kenneth Lawrence is the chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority – the first African American to hold that role. Lawrence, known for his work with the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Merck & Co., Temple University, and his consulting firm, Public Affairs Strategies, has served on the boards of the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association.
Gary Lee
Gary Lee leads the only governmental commission in the country whose mission is to invest in initiatives and ideas that improve economic growth in historically marginalized communities. Under Lee’s leadership, the commission has invested $3.5 million in small businesses and created a $2.3 million small business fund. Before his work with the commission, Lee served as the chief operating officer for Erie County. He is a partner with the Erie Racial Justice Policy Initiative.
Natasha R. Luddington
A longtime industry professional, Natasha R. Luddington has over two decades of financial services law experience guiding her in her multiple leadership roles at Fulton Financial Corporation. Luddington, a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School’s Executive Banking School, played key roles in Fulton’s acquisitions of Prudential Bank in 2022 and the assets of Republic First Bank in 2024.
Blake Lynch
After spending nearly two decades at the intersection of the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, Blake Lynch took on his latest role last year: government relations professional with One+ Strategies. Lynch, who previously served as senior vice president and chief impact officer at WITF Public Media, is also a commentator for ABC27’s weekly public affairs show, “This Week in Pennsylvania.” He is on the board of directors for the Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Health and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation.
Malik Majeed
Malik Majeed is a rare business triple threat. He serves as president, CEO, and general counsel at PRWT Services, Inc. and US Facilities, Inc., where he focuses on business processing solutions, facilities management and infrastructure services. Majeed, who earned his BA, MBA, and JD from Rutgers, is a member of the finance committee for the board of trustees at Neumann University.
Joanna McClinton
Joanna McClinton, the first woman to serve as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, is no stranger to firsts. She was previously the first woman elected House Democratic Caucus chair and Democratic leader. McClinton, who was first elected to represent her Philadelphia and Delaware County district in 2015, is a former public defender. During her tenure as speaker, House Democrats have passed more than 400 pieces of legislation, many with bipartisan support, and secured record investments in educational funding.
Mark McKoy
Mark McKoy heads operations for the Aqua division of Essential Utilities, which ranks among America’s largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas providers. On any given day, McKoy can be found leading Aqua teams that provide support to more than 900-plus field and plant operators across eight states via tools, training and resources. McKoy, who holds an MBA from Monroe College, also volunteers with the Global Mentorship Initiative.
Lanna Watkins Minor
Lanna Watkins Minor blends business and technology by leading high-performing teams known for strong employee engagement and results at investment management behemoth Vanguard. In addition to mentorship efforts that include coaching professionals and students, she is the Convener for the Delaware County Black Caucus and is a proud advocate for the Black community in Delaware County. Committed to service, she is pursuing a Nonprofit Board Leadership Certificate at La Salle University.
Tonya Moody
After beginning her career with AmeriHealth Caritas more than 30 years ago, Tonya Moody’s latest leadership position with the company has her leading the Pennsylvania and South Carolina Medicare VIP plans. In that role, she serves dual eligible members, providing senior leadership, strategic direction, and oversight to drive financial and operational compliance. She has served as an innovation adviser to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is treasurer of the Sayre Health Center Board.
Kesha Morant Williams
Kesha Morant Williams oversees the academic divisions and programs of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, where her role encompasses admissions, financial aid, student success, K-16 partnerships and continuing education. For her work on behalf of Pennsylvanians’ equitable access to higher education, Morant Williams, who holds a doctorate in health and relational communication from Howard University, was recognized with Penn State Harrisburg’s 2023 Alumni Achievement Award in 2023 and the NAACP Lancaster’s Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El Higher Education Award in 2024.
Cherelle Parker
Cherelle Parker is the 100th mayor of Philadelphia – and the first woman ever to hold the position. Previously the youngest African American woman elected to the state legislature, where she chaired the Philadelphia delegation, Parker was elected in 2015 to represent her native Northwest Philadelphia in City Council before rising to become majority leader. As mayor, she has prioritized efforts to clean up trash, improve road safety, tackle entrenched drug problems and revitalize the city’s downtown through return-to-office initiatives.
Jordan Rambo
Jordan Rambo brings two decades of corporate experience to Accenture, where he is currently the managing director in the firm’s utilities practice. In addition to working with corporate partners and utility clients to foster long-term business growth, Rambo, a Leadership Philadelphia graduate, played a crucial role in Accenture recently being named Graduate Philadelphia’s Corporate Citizenship Partner of the Year. He serves on the board of that organization, in addition to a role on the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia board.
Velma Redmond
Civic and business leader Velma Redmond is an attorney who has served as divisional general counsel of American Water and held numerous leadership and legal roles at its subsidiary, Pennsylvania American Water. Currently, she is president of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania and serves on the board of Cargas Systems, AAA Central Pennsylvania and the High Companies. She is a past chair of the boards of both the Milton Hershey School and the Hershey Trust Company.
Eric Reed
Eric Reed leads public policy and state government affairs for Verizon’s Pennsylvania & Delaware Region, synchronizing the telecommunications giant’s technology and entertainment businesses with legislative initiatives. Under his leadership, Verizon was the largest 2024 awardee of Capital Project Funds grants among the state’s broadband providers and recently partnered with the City of Philadelphia to establish broadband connections at city-owned recreation centers. Reed is a board member of Team Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s public-private economic development partnership.
Carlos Roberts
Dr. Carlos Roberts, a champion of health equity, is a vice president at WellSpan Health, where he serves as the chief medical officer for WellSpan Health’s Women’s & Children’s Service Line. A graduate of Howard University’s College of Medicine, Roberts previously held leadership roles at York Hospital, including as vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, director of minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and president of the medical staff.
Melissa Scott
As the City of Philadelphia’s chief information officer, Melissa Scott leads information technology infrastructure and operations for Pennsylvania’s largest city. Under her tenure, Philadelphia has modernized its tax collection software, decommissioned old voting machines and bolstered productivity at the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Scott, who joined the city’s staff nearly a decade ago, has also held roles at Drexel University and the state House of Representatives.
Reggie Shuford
Reggie Shuford, a well-known civil rights attorney and social justice advocate, currently leads the Independence Foundation, a nonprofit supporting local organizations catering to underserved communities. Shuford previously served over a decade as executive director of the ACLU Pennsylvania, where he doubled both membership and staff and more than tripled the budget to $6.6 million. He is also a former senior staff attorney at the national ACLU and directed the North Carolina Justice Center in his home state.
Eugenia South
In her numerous health justice leadership roles, Dr. Eugenia South is leading health system initiatives to dismantle structural racism, transform the experience of low-wage earners, and help close the racial wealth gap. South, the Ralph Muller Presidential Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, has published widely on health equity in such news outlets as NPR, the American Journal of Public Health and Time Magazine.
Richard Southerland
At the University City Science Center, Richard Southerland is the senior real estate director, overseeing construction and tenant projects for a 2-million-square-foot campus. Most recently, he partnered with a developer to construct One uCity Square, a 400,000-square-foot life sciences building in the Philadelphia neighborhood. Southerland, a 30-year industry veteran and HVAC specialist, has played a role in developing, designing, constructing and managing over 1.5 million square feet of office and lab space development, design construction and management.
Harry O. Stinson III
Harry O. Stinson III currently serves as interim vice president for institutional advancement at Lincoln University, where he is also executive director of the Lincoln University Foundation. As chief of the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services, he boosted the operating budget for athletics by 20% and the scholarships budget by 30%, and spearheaded a rebranding campaign that included the debut of an updated logo. Stinson, who holds a master’s in sports administration, previously served as COO and deputy athletics chief at the University of Delaware.
Blane Stoddart
Blane Stoddart is the CEO of BFW Construction Project Managers, Greater Philadelphia’s largest Black-owned construction project management agency, and its associated construction and development businesses, with projects throughout the Keystone State and metropolitan New York City. Most recently, Stoddart was part of the team behind Jefferson’s new $762 million Honickman Center. The Wharton graduate also founded the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s CEO Access Network, co-founded the Anti-Defamation League’s Black Jewish Alliance and serves on the Governor’s Commission on African-American Affairs.
Kary A. Stone
Kary Stone, a nationally recognized social work expert, oversees strategic partnerships, research, and impact at Covenant House International, where she is a senior vice president. Over a career in human services – most notably as president of The Moriah Group and executive director of the Child Welfare Information Gateway – Stone helped shape national best practices and policies around child protection and foster care. A former leader of Maryland’s Social Services Administration, she currently chairs the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work’s board of advisors.
Lakisha R. Sturgis
At Temple Health, Lakisha Sturgis manages programs that promote health equity as the Philadelphia health system’s director of community care management and population health. Her outreach initiatives include an expansion of mobile van services and the launch of the Healthy Together Hub, a permanent health screening and education resource in partnership with ShopRite of Fox Street; together, these programs have reached more than 10,000 individuals. In 2024, she received the Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s Health Equity Leadership & Social Justice Award.
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas serves as majority whip of the Philadelphia City Council, where he also chairs the Education and Legislative Oversight committees and serves as vice chair of the Children and Youth Committee. A former educator and longtime North Philadelphian, Thomas serves as an at-large councilmember, a basketball coach at Sankofa Freedom Academy and president of the Coaches Association.
Shalimar Thomas
Shalimar Thomas is the executive director of North Broad Renaissance, a community organization working to transform one of Philadelphia’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Under Thomas’ leadership, NBR recently launched the North Broad Business Improvement District, introduced the #ThinkBroad podcast, and unveiled plans to transform a vacant lot at Broad and Spring Garden Streets into a multifunctional destination for the nation’s 250th anniversary and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Thomas served on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s transition team and currently chairs the Philadelphia Commission of Human Relations.
Duane Thornton
As vice president for development and strategic partnerships at the Urban Affairs Coalition, Duane “DJ” Thornton nurtures the 50-plus partnerships with area organizations that define the Philadelphia nonprofit. He also surpassed last year’s fundraising goal to bolster a portfolio of public and private funds, helping facilitate important local youth development and economic inclusion programs. Previously, Thornton led corporate partnerships at United Way Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey; he currently serves on the Radnor Township School Board.
Derrick Tillman
Since founding Bridging the Gap Development in 2006, CEO Derrick Tillman has built or redeveloped more than 100 safe, accessible and energy-efficient homes, with a focus on traditionally underserved communities. He has been the driving force behind multi-family, single-family and commercial properties, and made BGD an active partner in weatherizing some 1,000 homes throughout seven Pennsylvania counties. Driven by a mandate to end homelessness and make homes more accessible, Tillman is an active board member of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.
Celeste Trusty
A crusader for criminal justice reform, Celeste Trusty directs state legislative affairs for Families Against Mandatory Minimums, where she works closely with families, lawmakers and other advocates to modernize sentencing law structure. Trusty previously served as secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons under then-Gov. Tom Wolf, who appointed her to the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, and is currently a member of the Defender Association of Philadelphia’s board of directors.
Moses Wamalwa
Kenyan-American changemaker Moses Wamalwa advances environmental equity at Humane Action Pennsylvania, where, as programming director, he oversees the organization’s Plastics Collaborative, an effort to reduce single-use plastics. He also directs the Youth Steering Committee, which connects young leaders with mentors to foster empowerment networks. In addition, Wamalwa founded Meza by Musa, which celebrates Kenyan cuisine as a bridge for cultural connection. He supports Black culture and community-driven creative initiatives as a board member of the AudaCITY Art Alliance.
Gibran Washington
As CEO of Ethos Cannabis, Gibran Washington is among the first Black businesspeople to lead a top multistate cannabis operator. Washington was previously vice president of retail, supply chain, and wholesale, spearheading initiatives that improved profitability and engagement before taking the top job in 2023. His two decades of corporate leadership include opening dozens of new locations and acquiring businesses as vice president for a hospitality outfit.
Tony B. Watlington
Since being appointed superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia in 2022, Tony Watlington has jump-started a post-pandemic turnaround that led to his being named Superintendent of the Year for 2025 by national peers at the District Administration Leadership Institute. Watlington, who holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of North Carolina, recently celebrated growing enrollment and rising standardized-test scores among SDP’s 200,000 students that outpaced those of comparable large urban districts nationally.
Jonathan Young
A rising star in both labor and politics, Jonathan Young is the political director for the influential Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. In addition to crusading for fair wages and labor practices, Young has partnered with the Camden County Technical Schools to develop a vocational trade curriculum. In addition to his work with the Carpenters, he currently heads the New Jersey Association of Counties and serves as vice president of the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council.
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