Influential People

A millennial living in West Philadelphia while working in Southern NJ. In her role as Health Educator at Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, she connects women to programs and resources before, during, and after their pregnancies to ensure high quality comprehensive care. Born in Newark NJ, raised in Strousberg PA, with strong roots from Guyana South America, her background is quite striking.

“I’m a part of a nonprofit organization called the Sierra Leone Youth Association in Philadelphia, PA, which helps youth paint a better path in life, educating them on their parents’ country and culture. I have also been networking through a group called Salone Spice 101, which allows us Sierra Leoneans to interact, do charity work, and help those who don’t have enough funds to go to the hospital when they’re sick. Every time I go to Sierra Leone, I give back. In 2016, I sent two barrels filled with school supplies, clothes, soccer balls, and soccer cleats. Just to see the smiles on everyone’s face fills my soul with joy.”

“Outside of my regular 9-5 as a Safety Professional, I have a passion to promote the importance of protecting healthy hair growth. I have an equal passion for the promotion of African culture to foster a deeper understanding of different Diasporic cultures within our communities. This past year on a trip to Sierra Leone, I started an initiative called FemAfric with a mission to empower women by collaborating creatively with talented hair stylists in Sierra Leone to create hand crafted wigs and crochet braid styles.”

A Morehouse College graduate, Burton is also the founder and creative director of the Anderson Street Project, Philly’s official online platform for uniting local R&B and Black music fans, launched in 2015. Burton was named Volunteer of the Year in 2011 by the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society and named one of the Who’s Next in Communications by Billy Penn in 2016.

Mamady Kaba is Guinean born. He studied International Business and Entrepreneurship at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Kaba is a savvy businessman who co-founded TRIPLE S: Sensational Smart Stick, a premium inhalable aroma diffuser, a non-nicotine product designed to be a better smoking alternative for discerning smokers.

The West Philadelphia native came back to Philadelphia from KCNC TV, the CBS-owned station in Denver, where she had been a reporter and fill-in anchor since January 2014. While in Denver, she distinguished herself with her coverage of the trial of the Aurora Theater Shooter, James Holmes, and Colorado flooding in 2014 for CBS This Morning

At the age of 22, she spearheaded the lifestyle and influencer content for Pelle Pelle – an urban apparel line — gathering big names around the brand including Fetty Wap, Lil Bibby, G Herbo, Remy Boy Monty, Kranium, and Smoke DZA

The Nigerian-born singer’s awards include the Afro Pop Queen at the All African Heritage Awards in Atlanta, Custodian of Yoruba Heritage Award in Dallas, and the Recognition Award for Community Building and Services at the African Caribbean Business Council Awards Dinner in Philadelphia. Adeniji was nominated for the Pittsburgh Emerging Artists of the Year in 2015. She is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and holds a professional diploma in advertising and promotions from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Phillips has extensive experience working with various educational and youth development non profits, including City Year Philadelphia, Summer Search Philadelphia, Breakthrough Philadelphia, Student Bridges in Massachusetts, W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Institute at Princeton University, Spark the Wave, Afro American Cultural Center at Yale, the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable, Northeast Center for Youth and Families, Scholar Academies, Africare, WorkReady Philadelphia, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship and UrbEd.