Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative

Ken Anderson is the manager for government affairs at Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW). He is a political campaign veteran, having served on the Virginia Coordinated Campaign’s voter protection team for the 2020 presidential election as well as the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial campaign of Representative Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) and the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral primary campaign of Jeff Brown. Anderson returned to Philadelphia in 2021 and joined the PGW team in the summer of 2023 following a brief tenure in the nonprofit sector and the mayoral primary campaign. Anderson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., serves as the vice president of planning and operations for the University of Richmond Alumni Association Board of Directors, and is a member of the Germantown Academy Alumni Society Board. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in leadership studies and American studies from the University of Richmond and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Amaury Ávalos (he/him/his) was born and raised in New York and has lived many lives. He is currently the communications director for Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Cluster. Ávalos previously managed funding processes for Seattle’s Human Services Department, overseeing the equitable and collaborative distribution of city tax dollars to programs such as food banks, emergency COVID-19 feeding for elders, and urban farming. Ávalos has lived all over the world, from the rural seclusion of Machias, Maine, to the sprawling metropolises of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. He is a Muay Thai practitioner, a skateboarder, biker, and general thrill seeker. He and Artemis, his harness-trained long-haired tabby, often hang out in the Rail Park in their free time. Ávalos holds a Bachelor of Arts in cultural anthropology from Temple University and a master’s in public administration from the University of Washington.

Rasheeda Bagwell is a re-entry and restorative justice coordinator as well as an activist, advocate, public speaker, and published author. Bagwell has always had a passion for assisting the underserved. Her goal is to assist as many individuals as possible on their journey as returning citizens. Bagwell believes that if you change your way of thinking, you can change your circumstances and your goals can be achieved. Bagwell studied behavioral health at Thomas Jefferson University.

Hillary Do, a Philadelphia native and daughter of immigrants, runs PhillyBOLT (Build Our Lives Together), a nonprofit that works to empower, cultivate, and support grassroots leaders to drive community-led change. Do has a background in civic technology, local government, community organizing, and business strategy and dreams of a Philly where every neighborhood thrives, led by the people living there. She is a Central High School alumna and holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies and computer science from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a Leadership for Society scholar.

Dr. Carissa Forde serves as the associate director for student professional development at the Joyce K. Salzberg Center for Professional Development in the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. In her pivotal role, she spearheads initiatives to foster engagement in internships, oversees employer relations, orchestrates strategic events, including internship and career fairs, and delivers effective career and professional development coaching to students in the College of Liberal Arts. Drawing upon a wealth of experience in higher education, Dr. Forde is dedicated to guiding undergraduate students through the intricacies of career decision-making and helping them uncover their professional passions. Dr. Forde holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in human resources management from Baruch College and a master’s in public health and a doctorate in education from Temple University.

Spencer K. Gober is the associate manager of the office of community and economic development at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), which is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the nine counties that make up the Greater Philadelphia area. Before joining DVRPC, Gober worked in the retail banking industry and was a private consultant on transformative projects at the Port of Philadelphia and Philadelphia International Airport. In his current role, Gober oversees the office of community and economic development’s work on subjects such as community revitalization, the digital divide, mortgage lending disparities, and workforce development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in city and regional planning, with an emphasis in public and private development and land use policies, from the University of Pennsylvania.

Genevieve Greene is a longtime Philadelphia resident with a passion for building trust between the public and their government. She currently serves as director of communications for the Committee of Seventy and is responsible for strengthening the organization’s brand and amplifying its work. Most recently, Greene was operations director for Rebecca Rhynhart’s campaign for mayor of Philadelphia. Before that, Green worked in communications for the Office of the Controller in Philadelphia under Rhynhart. Before joining the controller’s office, Greene was an account coordinator for a health care public relations agency and held several positions with the city of Philadelphia. Greene also serves as the policy chair for the board of the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia. Greene attended community college in Massachusetts, her home state, before transferring to Temple University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communication.

Kareem Groomes is a policy and legislative aide under City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, focusing on economic development research and policy. He facilitates collaboration between developers and the council president to ensure that projects incorporate community perspective. Previously, he served as the special projects liaison for Council President Darrell L. Clarke, and his responsibilities involved economic development and strategic planning, coordinating with municipal authorities and other local agencies to establish metrics of equity and inclusive policymaking, and identifying key industries fostering opportunity occupations. As an editor for Apiary Magazine, Groomes organized community reading, facilitated creative writing workshops, and organized community events aimed at social justice initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a master’s in public policy with a certificate in city and regional planning from Temple University.

Vince Gumbs has worked for nearly a decade to make Philadelphia more equitable and inclusive for small and diverse businesses. Coupling leadership positions in the public sector with private sector consulting experience has made Gumbs well-rounded in his approach to economic development. Now serving as supplier diversity and inclusion manager for the University of Pennsylvania, he continues to champion economic inclusion for underrepresented business owners. Gumbs, who has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Morehouse College, is a Philadelphia native who resides in the city with his wife and two children.

Maya Heiland serves as director of science, technology, engineering, and math education initiatives at the Science Center and collaborates with a small but effective and successful team to deliver hands-on, mentored STEM programming to middle and high school students in Philadelphia. Her roots are in informal science education, and she has taught in a variety of settings across the country. Heiland thrives in building sustained collaborative partnerships across sectors to create more equitable STEM career pathways that greatly benefit Philadelphia teens. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Drexel University.

Vinh Ho is a business services manager for the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, serving as a direct line for businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs in Philadelphia. In this role, he focuses on training and grant programs as well as providing guidance in navigating city policies and regulations. Ho has worked to build relationships with his neighbors and local businesses and also serves as a block captain. He is committed to living in the city and advocates for every neighborhood to have vibrant commercial corridors that provide goods and services tailored to the needs of local residents. Ho was born and raised on the Northside of Syracuse, New York, and has been in Philadelphia since his time at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor’s degree in urban studies with a minor in business economics and public policy.

Joselynne Jones, is currently serving as the program director at KenCrest West Early Learning Center. Before joining KenCrest in 2018, Jones worked at the Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance (formerly Diversified Community Services) in South Philadelphia, where her passion for being a part of active change in her city grew. She is an advocate for children and families and believes that every child can excel if given the tools necessary to succeed. Jones is a board member for Spectrum Health Services, a federally qualified health center. She has volunteered for the Rittenhouse Square Flower Market Foundation, Chosen 300 Ministries, Young Chances Foundation, and Sharing the Love Foundation. She is also the judge of elections in her precinct, 34-15, where she assists her neighbors with voting. Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaching, a master’s in education, and master’s in nonprofit management, all from Eastern University.

Michael Kendall is the manager of public finance for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Before joining SEPTA, Kendall worked for six years at a Fortune 15 corporation with progressive roles in underwriting and risk management as well as financial planning and analysis and served as a business finance officer. Kendall holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from Covenant College.

Hagop (Jack) Keshishian joined the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) as the senior civil engineer for the advanced facilities management department. Since then, he has held various positions and is currently serving as the vice president of maintenance operations. PHA is the fourth-largest public housing authority in the country and the largest landlord in Pennsylvania, housing over 68,000 residents with a consolidated budget of over $650 million. Keshishian also volunteers on the executive board as treasurer for the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR), a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian relief to orphaned Armenian children and adults with disabilities throughout the world. Keshishian holds a professional engineer’s license in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been a Philadelphia resident since he immigrated to the U.S.

Michelle Lopez is the director for the Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership at Community College of Philadelphia. In 2018, Lopez launched Community College of Philadelphia’s #CCPVotes student democratic engagement program, which recognizes the college as a voter-friendly campus. Lopez is an advocate for students and spearheads the Fostering Caring Connections program, in which existing and prospective students who have been in foster care can find support and safe spaces on campus. Lopez launched Voluntarios En Accion, an older adult volunteer program for Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Latinx communities in Philadelphia. Lopez received the Woman of Merit Award from Al Dia that highlights Lopez as a “mold-breaking” woman, Lopez holds a Bachelor of Arts in corporate communication from Penn State University.

Devika Menon is the service design and delivery practice lead at Philadelphia’s Service Design Studio. She brings experience in human-centered design, strategy, and visual communication to her work, which focuses on making government services more people-centered. Navigating the U.S. immigration system has only deepened her desire for humanizing and demystifying the complex, interconnected government systems and services that shape and dictate aspects of our lives. In her role, Menon has led and supported projects that span trauma-informed services, employee complaints processes, zoning appeals operations, equitable community engagement practices, and more. Menon holds a bachelor of Arts in animation and film design from MIT Institute of Design and a master of arts in social design from Maryland Institute College of Art.

Ashley Miscevich manages local government advocacy and engagement for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. In this role, she is responsible for managing programs and initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth and help move the chamber’s local advocacy agenda forward in City Hall. Miscevich completed a three-year term on West Vincent Township’s sustainability committee, where she helped to advance the township’s clean energy and sustainability goals. Before joining the chamber, Miscevich worked at the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce and the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College.

Andrew Niemynski is the program manager for the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s Built to Last program, which provides necessary home repairs to low-income Philadelphians. Prior to this role, he served as the housing coordinator for HIAS PA, assisting refugees in their housing needs as they arrive in Philadelphia. Over 2½ years, Niemynski found safe and affordable housing for nearly 700 refugees. Niemynski has also done community development work in South Philadelphia and Baltimore. A second-generation Polish American from the Philadelphia area, he is passionate about housing, public transportation, and immigration issues and is excited to serve the city that gave his family the opportunity for a better life. Niemynski holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ángel Ortiz-Siberón serves as the vice president of research and strategic initiatives at Esperanza, a multiservice nonprofit organization in Hunting Park. In this capacity, Ortiz-Siberón supports the founder and CEO in developing new projects, including emerging applied research and community engagement efforts on anti-poverty policy. He previously worked as the inaugural health policy research fellow for the Moses/Weitzman Health System, where he helped launch a Washington, D.C.-based policy division focused on health care for underserved populations. He is a member of the Philadelphia Continuum of Care Board for Homeless Services and served on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s transition committee on health and human services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Mellon Mays fellow and Harry S. Truman Scholar.

Niyah A. Palmer serves as the assistant director of communications, helping to lead correspondence for Philadelphia’s first Black female mayor. A Philadelphia native, Palmer was raised in the Strawberry Mansion area by a single mother. Before her current position in the Mayor’s Office of Communications, Palmer was a special assistant to the managing director, the start of her long-term commitment to public service. In this role, she used her communications expertise to serve as special assistant and communications assistant. Palmer brings passion to everything she does. A first-generation college student, Palmer holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic legal management communications from Howard University.

Ashley Pollard is the deputy director for implementation in the mayor’s Office of Policy Planning and Delivery in Philadelphia. In this role, she supports the development and execution of the office’s strategy and project portfolio to improve city services and policy implementation in alignment with the mayor’s priorities. Skilled in systemic thinking, Pollard collaborates with city departments to manage and coordinate their service delivery projects. She started her career as a second grade teacher in Durham, North Carolina. and is passionate about supporting government accountability. Pollard received a Bachelor of Arts in public policy studies from Duke University and a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University.

Pallavi Rao Directs Organizing And Partnerships For City Council member Nicolas O’Rourke. Rao is an experienced organizer and policy analyst with expertise in labor and social policy. Before joining O’Rourke’s office, Rao served as a labor organizer and union researcher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy of science and technology from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in history from Swansea University, and a master’s degree in history and philosophy of science and technology from Princeton University where she is currently completing a doctorate in history.

Morgan Robinson has executed small- to large-scale programs and events, worked with diverse groups to foster community cohesion, and spearheaded multimillion-dollar contributions through capital campaigns for the Please Touch Museum, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the American Cancer Society. Currently, she is the associate director of foundation relations, at the American Association of Cancer Research, directing nationwide efforts with family foundations to support cancer research. She recently served as president for Young Involved Philadelphia, was a member of the 2022-23 Buchholz Fellowship cohort and is currently vice president for the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Fox School of Business and a Master of Science from the School of Sport, Tourism, and Hospitality Management, both at Temple University.

Leah Schare joined Philadelphia Works in early 2023 as the manager of training and upskilling in the operations business unit. She is responsible for managing occupational skills training contracts for PA CareerLink Philadelphia customers and coordination of adult education and upskilling services in the PA CareerLink system. Schare also oversees the implementation and management of the organization’s learning management system. She has always been driven to give back to her community, which led her to serve in AmeriCorps in 2019 and ultimately introduced her to workforce development. Schare has been working in the field ever since and is passionate about creating equitable access to career opportunities for Philadelphians. Schare holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hofstra University.

Suzanne Staherski is a research and policy analyst at the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA), where she monitors and conducts analysis of Philadelphia’s budget and long-term fiscal stability. Before joining PICA, Staherski served as a research assistant at Villanova University and the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. She has contributed to a variety of policy-related research projects covering fiscal and monetary policy, income and wealth inequality, and LGBTQ representation. Staherski holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and political science from Eastern University and a master’s degree in political science from Villanova University.

Cassie Tomkins McKinley is the senior director of government and civic affairs at Visit Philadelphia, where she spearheads the organization’s government relations strategy and civic engagement projects. Before joining Visit Philadelphia, Tomkins McKinley worked at the University of Pennsylvania in the Office of Government and Community Affairs and the Fels Institute of Government. She completed a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Chicago, working at a nonprofit teaching girls sports, health, and leadership curriculum. Tomkins McKinley serves on the board of Global Philadelphia and as a committeeperson in Ward 38. She is an alumna of Saint Joseph’s University and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.