Philadelphia Research and Policy

Brisa Díaz-Zorrilla serves on the staff of the Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan civic leadership organization in Philadelphia, as program manager for voter engagement and public education initiatives in the city and across Pennsylvania. As the daughter of Colombian immigrants, Díaz-Zorrilla is committed to serving immigrant communities and promoting civic engagement and local democracy. She taught middle school social studies for four years, in both English and Spanish, and holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and history from Temple University.

Lillian Drake is a public participation planner at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, where she promotes collaboration among city, county, and state officials in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and leads the Public Participation Task Force. Previously, she was an outreach specialist for the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters initiative. She is committed to helping residents, planners, and engineers collaboratively shape the future of their communities. Drake holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and urban studies from Temple University.

Octavia Drinks is the director of general accounting at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, where she oversees internal and external financial audits and budget-to-actual reporting, and where she has led projects aimed at building efficiency and accountability. Drinks specializes in strategic and analytical thinking and practices servant leadership to promote growth within her department. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from La Salle University.

Zoë Ehrenberg is a senior project manager in the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Strategy, where she supports strategic planning efforts. She brings experience in education research, policy advocacy, and school improvement work, all grounded in her years teaching third and fourth grade in New York City and Philadelphia. Ehrenberg is committed to advancing equitable policy and data-informed strategies that meaningfully improve student outcomes and well-being. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Barnard College, as well as two master’s degrees, one in education policy and one in urban teaching, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Thailee Farmer is a recent graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She was involved in extracurricular activities centered on community service, leadership, and professional networking. Farmer currently works as a legislative aide in the office of Philadelphia City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson. Farmer is committed to public service and advancing initiatives that support equity, accountability, and community engagement. With a strong interest in law and advocacy, she plans to enroll in law school and use her career to pursue change within the criminal justice system and the communities it serves.

Kalen Fisher, a Philadelphia native, serves as a special projects manager in the city of Philadelphia’s Managing Director’s Office, where he leads initiatives to improve service delivery and regulatory compliance in the public property, fleet services, parks and recreation, and library departments. He operates as a cross-departmental leader, helping to stabilize complex operations, modernize internal systems, and support executive decision-making. With prior work supporting federal operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisher is experienced in problem-solving and mission-driven public service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Millersville University.

Ileana Fortuño leads the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s regional talent attraction and retention campaign, partnering with employers, government officials, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen workforce pipelines and position the region as a professional destination. With a foundation in the arts and a creative, audience-centered approach, Fortuño focuses on connecting people, place, and opportunity through strategies that support critical industry sectors and advance the region’s long-term competitiveness. She is committed to fostering inclusive growth and vibrancy in the Greater Philadelphia community. Fortuño holds a bachelor’s degree in theater from Rowan University and a master’s degree in arts administration from Drexel University.

Isaiah Franco is the program coordinator for collective activities at the Ceiba Latino Equitable Development Collective, a coalition of community-based Latino organizations in Eastern North Philadelphia. In this role, he collaborates with the collective’s 10 partners to promote economic mobility and inclusion. Franco, who grew up in North Philadelphia, brings extensive experience in data-driven community development and engagement. Before working at Ceiba, he conducted research with Latino communities throughout Ohio to understand the effects of changing immigration patterns on community well-being. Franco holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and Spanish from Wofford College and a master’s degree in environmental sociology from Ohio State University.

James “Bo” Gray serves as the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO’s political and legislative coordinator. In this role, Gray provides political training to the Council’s union affiliates and advocates for legislation benefiting working families in Philadelphia. He works with community groups to build coalitions aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable city. Gray holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and African American studies, as well as a master’s degree in public policy, all from Temple University.

Jennifer Hall is a culture and communications specialist within Philadelphia’s Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, where she leads citywide employee engagement and workforce culture initiatives. With a background in finance, adjudication, and cross-departmental operations, Hall brings a systems-level approach to strengthening organizational culture, improving collaboration, and deepening the sense of purpose and belonging among public employees. She has spearheaded initiatives focused on workforce recognition and community impact and is passionate about fostering leadership development, inclusive workplace practices, and environments where people are empowered to lead. Hall holds an associate degree in communication from the Community College of Philadelphia.

Laura Kim is associate director of community relations at Penn Medicine, where she oversees the Penn Medicine CAREs grant program and leads systemwide volunteer initiatives that connect employees to service opportunities throughout Philadelphia. She has worked to build strong, trust-based partnerships and has collaborated closely with community organizations, particularly in West and Southwest Philadelphia, to advance shared priorities. Kim serves on the executive board of Together for West Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve community health outcomes. She holds an associate degree in paralegal studies from the Community College of Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in professional and liberal studies from Saint Joseph’s University.

Sarah Kuchan is a legislative assistant for Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson in the 2nd Councilmanic District. In this role, she supports policy research and legislative drafting, manages parks and recreation renovation projects, and oversees funding initiatives for improving existing facilities. Her work is grounded in a commitment to public service, with a focus on ensuring that all Philadelphians have access to clean air, clean water, and safe, high-quality green spaces. Kuchan holds bachelor’s degrees in environmental science and political science from Temple University.

Elizabeth Leonard is a program coordinator in the Office of Community Impact at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She manages a portfolio of community partnerships that collaborate on CHOP’s Healthier Together initiative, which aims to improve children’s well-being through evidence-based programs that address social drivers of health. In previous roles at Bloomberg Philanthropies and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Leonard worked on advancing tobacco control and food policies through public-private partnerships, research, and policy implementation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and political science from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in public health from New York University.

Michael Lyle serves as advancement manager at the Science Center, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia that seeks to drive local economic growth and to advance transformative health care solutions around the world. Lyle oversees prospect research in addition to assisting with events, operations, and logistics. Before joining the Science Center, he was assistant director of the Bard College Fund and program coordinator for chapel music at Duke University. Lyle holds a Master of Music in conducting performance from the University of Texas at El Paso and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Grove City College. He serves as board vice president of the West Chester Cooperative, a community-owned grocery store in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Maggie Morrin serves as operations manager for the Independence Business Alliance, the LGBTQ+ chamber of commerce for Greater Philadelphia. She manages the chamber’s member relations, events, and social media, supporting and providing resources to LGBTQ+ business owners, nonprofit organizations, and community and corporate partners. Morrin, who has extensive experience in Philadelphia’s nonprofit sector, is passionate about mission-driven work. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Portland.

Roxanna Pasquier, a Philadelphia native, is the program coordinator at Penn AI, an initiative at the University of Pennsylvania that seeks to drive interdisciplinary and responsible innovation in artificial intelligence through strategic collaborations between academia, industry, and policymakers. She is deeply committed to finding trustworthy, ethical, and sustainable approaches to AI and supports the development and execution of interdisciplinary research and education. Pasquier holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Barnard College.

Ashlee Phillips is the manager of workforce partnerships at Philadelphia Works, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance economic growth in the city. She oversees cross-sector collaborations, manages high-profile contracts, and designs initiatives to strengthen employment pipelines in southeastern Pennsylvania. Phillips strives to connect strategy with community impact and to build partnerships based on trust, and she is committed to equity, clarity, and sustainable change. She holds a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Howard University.

Dominique Picuri serves as executive coordinator in the Commissioner’s Office at the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, where she provides operational, strategic, and policy support. Previously, Picuri held community-centered positions focused on youth development, family support, civic engagement, and volunteer leadership with the Free Library of Philadelphia, NET Community Care, and City Year Philadelphia. Picuri holds a bachelor’s degree in English from La Salle University and a graduate certificate in public policy from Temple University, where she is enrolled in the Master of Public Policy program.

Antonio Romero is a Philadelphia-based education and community development leader with extensive experience working across public systems, higher education, and neighborhood-based organizations. He serves as director of the Temple University Community Gateway, where he leads strategies to coordinate community engagement programs, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and align university resources with community-identified priorities. Previously, Romero was associate director for diversity initiatives in Temple University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. He also served as a community school coordinator with the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education. Romero holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Temple University.

Jimmy Salfiti serves as economic development manager at the Center City District, which seeks to deepen the vitality of Center City Philadelphia. He previously worked in research roles for several of Philadelphia’s major institutions, including the Philadelphia Zoo, the Community College of Philadelphia, and the real estate investment firm Jones Lang LaSalle. He also held internships with the city of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, and the Philadelphia Land Bank. Salfiti received a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Rodolfo Santos is a community organizer who seeks to transform grassroots advocacy into tangible policy victories and community wealth. In New Jersey, he spearheaded the participation of Jersey City Tenants United, a tenants’ rights nonprofit organization, in Right to Counsel JC, and helped pass the campaign’s core legislative goals. He is motivated by a belief that authentic leadership requires both the ability to orchestrate high-impact coalitions and an unwavering commitment to including marginalized communities in decisions. Santos holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Stockton University.

Frank Schultz serves as vice president for government and external affairs at Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, where he helps guide strategy for engaging policymakers, community leaders, and key stakeholders throughout the region. He works closely with senior leadership to align government relations efforts with strategic, policy, and operational priorities. Schultz previously worked in the United States Senate for more than 15 years, overseeing constituent services, community outreach, and relationships with local leaders. Schultz holds a bachelor’s degree in law and justice studies from Rowan University and a law degree from Rutgers Law School.

Peter Silow is vice president of conduit services at the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., where he oversees the deployment of high-impact economic development grants to projects and organizations throughout Philadelphia. He also works closely with the city of Philadelphia on special initiatives, including the development of Lower South Philadelphia. Silow holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston University and a master’s degree in economic development from New York University.

Tiffany Spraggins-Payne serves as director of the Power Up Your Business program at the Community College of Philadelphia, where she leads initiatives aimed at strengthening small businesses as engines of economic mobility and neighborhood vitality. She works at the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and public policy, applying data-informed, human-centered strategies to deliver measurable outcomes for Philadelphia’s workforce and economy. She graduated from the Community College of Philadelphia and holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast, telecommunications, and mass media from Temple University, as well as a Master of Business Administration in strategic design from Thomas Jefferson University.

Sullena Staton, a Philadelphia native, is a youth educator with PhillyBOLT (Build Our Lives Together), a nonprofit organization that seeks to cultivate grassroots leaders. She is deeply involved in the local community, working closely with youth through education, mentorship, and leadership development. She is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where young people can grow academically, physically, and emotionally. Staton also teaches health and wellness using an integrative approach that supports both mental and physical well-being. Through her work, she is committed to strengthening communities by connecting education, wellness, and youth empowerment. Staton holds a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Nnena Ukwa, a certified public accountant, has spent her career with the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), where she serves as senior vice president of finance. She is committed to financial integrity, operational excellence, and the advancement of PHA’s mission of providing affordable housing for city residents. Ukwa has extensive experience overseeing complex public-sector financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, treasury management, and strategic financial planning. In her work at PHA, she has strengthened financial controls, enhanced reporting standards, and supported key organizational initiatives, including asset repositioning, mixed-finance development, and long-term fiscal sustainability. Ukwa holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Business Administration in finance from La Salle University.

Tara Woody is an associate at Partners for Public Good, where she coaches and supports cities in procurement innovation. Previously, she was the manager for strategic initiatives in Philadelphia’s Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, where she oversaw programs related to innovation and creative thinking in the public sector. In her city government work, Woody redeveloped and managed Safe Routes Philly, the city’s transportation safety education program in the Office of Complete Streets (now the Office of Multimodal Planning). In the Office of Innovation and Technology, she helped implement a first-time permit navigator application for Philadelphia residents and businesses. Woody holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in public policy, both from Temple University.