Are you interested in helping to shape the future of Philadelphia?
On Saturday, June 23, 2018, Mayor Kenney will join the Millennial Advisory Committee (MAC) for the first-ever Philadelphia Millennial Forum. The forum is a citywide gathering of Millennials where the MAC will discuss and gain feedback on policy and program recommendations that they will submit to the Kenney Administration. These recommendations will focus on social justice, neighborhood change, and the financial future of Philadelphia’s Millennials.
If you’d like to get involved, register for free and join us on Saturday!
While you’re there, learn how you can impact change in Philadelphia and hear about some of the amazing opportunities available to millennials!
And while you’re here, check out some of the millennials already working in City government and why they chose to do what they do.
Orlando Almonte
Language Access Program Manager
Office of Immigrant Affairs
Time with the City: 2+ years.
“As a child of immigrants, I feel that the work of the Office of Immigrant Affairs holds a special place in my heart, especially knowing that our work can and does make an impact on our communities. As an added bonus, I get to tell City employees that ‘jawn’ doesn’t translate into other languages.”
Jeanette Bavwidinsi
Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteer Service (SERVE Philadelphia)
Time with the City: 15 months.
Twitter: @modelcitizen44
“I am so humbled that every day I have the unique ability to work at the intersection of civic engagement, volunteerism, and community education. The people I meet, the stories I’m told, and the memories I get to share with perfect strangers are what makes my job so special. For that reason, I truly believe that government’s role, whether large or small, is to make the lives of its citizens better. Our office works tirelessly to ensure that Philadelphians from all walks of life are able to find sustainable ways to be more involved in their respective communities and the city at large.”
Lauren Cox
Communications Director
Department of Commerce
Time with the City: 6 years.
Twitter: @LaurenCox08
“What I enjoy about working for the City is that I’ve had the opportunity to take on such a wide variety of projects and responsibilities. As a City employee, you have to be able to work outside your area of expertise; and, as someone who loves a challenge, that has been really exciting for me.”
David Gould
Deputy Director, Community Engagement and Communications
Rebuild
Time with the City: 1.5 years.
Twitter: @DGould_PHL
“As someone who grew up in Philly, I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to work on Rebuild, which will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to fix parks, recreation centers, and libraries across the city. Every day I get to come into work knowing that I’m working to improve neighborhoods in my hometown and support the work of dedicated community members — it’s a true privilege.”
Christina Hernandez
Director of Legislation
Mayor’s Office
Time with the City: 6.5 years.
“I grew up knowing that I wanted to use my education to make my community a better place. When I came to Philadelphia for school, I fell in love with the city and its people, and I chose this as my new home. I love my job because I get to work hard every day with an incredibly dedicated group of people who are all trying to make Philadelphia a better, more equitable city.”
Rachel Hooper
Communications Director
Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR)
Time with the City: 3+ years.
LinkedIn: Rachel Hooper
“I have a passion for social advocacy for individuals overcoming adversity and groups who face policy obstacles. My special interest is disability rights. I see Philadelphia as a role model city for diversity and opportunity. My graduate degree is in social work and my undergraduate degree is in broadcast journalism so working with the PCHR in communications represents my ‘dream job,’ a position that combines my skill sets where I can leverage the influence of the media to effect change in the community.”
Yuan Huang
Assistant Director of Policy
Mayor’s Office of Policy, Legislation, and Intergovernmental Affairs
Time with the City: 4 years.
Twitter: @yuanlhuang
“There are two main reasons why I love working for the City and why I love my job: the people and the work itself. I’ve never really liked doing one thing all the time, and in my current position, I’ve been able to build a diverse portfolio of projects such as the Philly Bev Tax, pre-K, gun violence prevention, and the expansion of evidence-based research. My colleagues are truly some of the smartest, most passionate, and most creative individuals I’ve ever worked with and they continue to inspire me every day!”
Nandi O’Connor
Policy and Digital Content Manager
Mayor’s Office of Policy, Legislation and Intergovernmental Affairs
Time with the City: 2.5 Years.
Twitter: @NandiOCee
“As someone with roots in Philadelphia, it’s incredibly rewarding to work for a City that has heavily influenced the person I’ve become. In my role, I have the opportunity to help develop data-driven, evidence-based approaches to policymaking as well as communicate those efforts with the public on digital platforms in fun, exciting ways. I love being able to work on a diverse team of passionate individuals who genuinely enjoy coming to work everyday — it’s infectious!”
Logan Peterson
Special Projects Coordinator
Mayor’s Office of Education
Time with the City: 2 years.
Twitter: @logpeterson
LinkedIn: Logan Peterson
“In May 2016, I joined the City as part of the Mayor’s Internship program. Eight months later, I was offered a part-time policy analyst position in the Mayor’s Office of Education (MOE). Since May, I’ve been serving full-time as a special projects coordinator. In the early winter of 2015, I attended my first School Reform Commission meeting. At the time, I was planning to pursue a career in business. After seeing the systemic issues facing the School District, and the sheer passion and care parents have for their children’s education, I knew that public service was a better fit for the impact I want to have.”
Brian Tom
PR Officer & Investigative Analyst
Office of the Inspector General
Time with the City: 6 months.
“I’ve always had a strong connection to Philadelphia, and I’ve always felt accepted and supported by this community. So, I wanted to give back to the city that I felt really helped me become the person I am today by fighting to ensure that no one takes advantage of my fellow Philadelphians. If I’m able to make even one person’s life just a little better, I’ll feel that all of the work that we do here at the Office of the Inspector General will be worth it.”
Tia Watson
Special Assistant to Executive Director
Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity
Time with the City: 3 years
“Working for the City of Philadelphia was a strategic decision. I wanted to be in a position that allowed for opportunities to listen to the community and what they needed, collaborate with awesome and intelligent individuals, and have the creative autonomy to make decisions that positively improve Philadelphia communities. Transitioning from a career in Federal Government, to working for City Council and now the Office of Community Empowerment has been rewarding in that it took me from a position of sort of being an overseer to now being on the ground! I’m in the thick of it, and I love it!”
