Sharon Booker uses her political platform to make democracy a reality in the lives of the underserved. Booker is concurrently serving a second term as a member of Sharon Hill Borough Council and the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee and she is in her a first term on the executive committee of the Pennsylvania Democratic State Party.
Pamela J. Rich-Wheeler has served over 1,000 clients and currently serves on numerous business boards throughout Philadelphia. She is also a former president of the National Black MBA Association. Aside from her non-profit work, Rich-Wheeler previously owned and operated PJ Travel and Tours, a for-profit travel agency she sold after five years. Her latest venture is a youth entrepreneurship program that helps introduce young people to the world of business. She also founded an enterprise competition that provides women with coaching and seed capital to start-up their business.
Oshunbumi Fernandez-West heads the ODUNDE Festival, the largest African-American festival in the U.S. After taking over the festival at a young age, Fernandez-West gracefully fulfilled her role, expanding the festival so that it now has a $30 million economic impact on the State of Pennsylvania. She also expanded the brand into ODUNDE365, allowing her to provide year-round African-American programming in schools, community centers and public venues. This includes cultural classes in African Dance, Afrobeat Hip Hop, Yoga, Karate, Modeling and a array of other programs.. Fernandez-West is often asked to speak on her work to increase cultural awareness and expression
After serving as the Communications Manager for City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s office, Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown joined the Philadelphia School District in 2018. In her role, she is responsible for directing the development and planning of strategies regarding government relations and the passage or defeat of legislation of interest to the Philadelphia School District. Sharpe-Brown juggles her day job with telling the stories of local nonprofits and small businesses through her passion projects as the founder and principal of On Point Communications, LLC, a public relations and communications firm.
In 1993, Gamble co-founded Universal Companies with her husband, Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, Kenneth Gamble. Their mission was to revitalize South Philadelphia by providing a holistic approach to community development in an area that had faced a great deal of crime and poverty.
Christine Brown has dedicated more than 25 years of advocacy work with the Beech Companies, a community development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life for North Philadelphia residents. She serves as the director of Beech Community Services, a nonprofit within Beech Companies and program director of the Alston Beech Foundation. Brown began in 1992 as an administrative assistant and was promoted through the organization to her current role.
Bobbi Booker has a hefty resume; she has worked across the journalism industry in both radio and print. This multimedia reporter found her niche reporting on culture, lifestyle and entertainment. Her experiences include serving as the host of “Spirit Soul Music on Ovations,” a specialty music show on WRTI-Fm 90.1, an NPR-affiliate as well as writing for news outlets throughout Philadelphia. During her time reporting, Booker has interviewed many of America’s biggest stars including Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder. Booker recently accepted the position of President of the Pen & Pencil Club, the oldest press club in America.
From a young age Archima Major knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, she knew she wanted to find a way to help those who didn’t have access to services they needed. She found her path in ophthalmology, a male-dominated eye care field. She resiliently pushed through and achieved numerous degrees and completed multiple placements. She holds the distinction of being the youngest person to ever receive a fellowship with the World Council of Optometry in the history of the institution.
As the CEO of A Lawful Truth Enterprises, LLC, Andrea Lawful-Sanders focuses on helping to develop children and adults into the best versions of themselves. She is the chair of SE PA Cares, an arm of the national CARES mentoring movement spearheaded by Susan L. Taylor. She also acts as a consultant for police departments, helping them improve community relations.
After returning to school later in life, Aminata Sy, went all in. She began by pursuing a career in journalism. That led to her writing for publications such as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Tribune and The Daily Pennsylvanian. Her stories focused on the African-American and African immigrant experience. In 2016, Sy interned at Philadelphia City Hall and wrote talking points for the mayor.
