Allison Stadd

As an architect and urban designer, Danielle is uniquely able to translate the skills she uses in capital and planning projects to any strategic challenge. She seeks out challenging initiatives and opportunities that will strengthen urban communities.As an innovative leader, Danielle excels at coordinating multidisciplinary teams and engaging diverse stakeholders. Through her vision and leadership, she consistently identifies opportunities to leverage existing resources and relationships to exceed a project’s potential.Danielle strives to create a more equitable and sustainable urban environment. She is a consummate community advocate and passionately puts her whole self into every endeavor.Danielle is currently serving as the Executive Director of PHILADELPHIA250 an organization planning Philadelphia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026.

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Bonkosi Alyssa Horn is the co-founder of Freedom Apothecary, a lifestyle brand with an emphasis on diversity, representation and accessibility, with 11+ years in brand strategy and innovation at both local and global scales. Also, a mother of two superhero boys and a badass little girl and an inherent ultra-connector of people. Horn is a community-builder and innovator in constant pursuit of growth and making the world a better place.

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Kimberly McGlonn grew up in Milwaukee, the daughter of union workers & small business owners.  Her appreciation of story and impact grounds the values central to her role as the Founder and CEO of Grant Blvd, a sustainable manufacturing start-up which seeks to create living-wage employment opportunities in a sustainable fashion for folks from disenfranchised communities. In this role, she oversees the creative direction, impact & growth strategies for the Philadelphia-based brand. Outside of this role, she supports other social entrepreneurs through her digital platform, “Build It Boldly”.

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Adam McNeil is the President of a grassroots nonprofit organization called SistaTALKPHL. SistaTALKPHL is currently in the midst of creating significant change here in the city of Philadelphia with a mission to support women and children.

They have a community initiative starting back up that will take place this year from September through Thanksgiving where they will provide free laundry services twice a month throughout the city of Philadelphia to support single mothers in need with care package items, diapers, cribs, car seats, and other essentials that a mother may need.

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About Councilmember Jamie Gauthier

Jamie R. Gauthier, a born-and-raised West Philadelphian, was elected to represent the Third Councilmanic District in November 2019. With two decades of experience fighting for fairness, equality, and justice in neighborhoods throughout the city, Councilmember Gauthier brings a depth of knowledge related to community and economic development, grassroots engagement, and nonprofit administration.

With an eye towards tackling gentrification and poverty in the Third District, Councilmember Gauthier’s agenda prioritizes creating and preserving affordable housing, improving educational outcomes, connecting residents to family-sustaining jobs, and advancing small businesses.

Councilmember Gauthier previously served as Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and held prior leadership roles at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia.

After graduating from Central High School, Councilmember Gauthier received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is the only elected official in the City of Philadelphia with a planning degree, offering her a unique perspective on issues ranging from zoning to transportation policy.

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Erike is a practical optimist and effective social designer, engaging and educating people through design experiences for over fifteen years. Throughout her career, these experiences have varied in medium—exhibitions, temporary installations, Pecha Kucha style talks, roundtable talks, online communications, conferences, buildings, charrettes, and workshops—and all of it for ages 0-99 and upward! Erike organizes the worldwide event PARK(ing) Day in Philadelphia to celebrate parks and public space in 180 square feet of street parking. Check out these pop-up parks at #PARKingDayPHL. Her most recent position was at the Center for Architecture and Design in Philadelphia, managing DesignPhiladelphia (the oldest festival of its kind in the country), facilitating family design workshops and special projects support for exhibitions (grant funded Establishing a New Centennial and Designing Motherhood) and summer programs in Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Erike serves on Jefferson’s College of Architecture & the Built Environment Advancement (CABE) Council and was honored in the inaugural cohort of Philly Girls Do Good—recognizing and celebrating women leaders in design and community development. In the fall of 2017, through the Public Interest Design Institute, became a Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) Certified Professional. Erike is currently pursuing a Master’s in Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship at National Louis University in Chicago, and working on establishing a “Design Gym” for everyone while empowering two young daughters (ages 3 and 7) with her spouse in Norris Square/North Philadelphia.

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I was raised in a large family that instilled the values of hard work and service to the community. For more than 25 years, I had a successful career as a real estate appraiser, primarily owning my own company and briefly serving as the Vice President of a major bank in their Real Estate Appraisal division. During much of that time, I was a member of the “Chevra Kadisha,” the Jewish burial society, a volunteer group which prepares the dead through a cleansing ritual. That work was a fulfilling and holy experience for me, and it fueled a growing interest in becoming a funeral director. I also studied chaplaincy and subsequently volunteered as a para-chaplin, visiting people who were homebound or near death. I experienced first-hand the importance of traditions surrounding death and dying, and learned how to be supportive to both the dying and the living during this significant and inevitable life event.

By 2009, I knew it was time to close my business and to pursue the calling to become a licensed funeral director. As a result, I then enrolled in the Funeral Services program at Mercer County Community College. I was fortunate to gain my mandatory experience credits by working part-time at Bringhurst Funeral Home. I will always remember the day I came for the interview. I was given the royal tour of West Laurel Hill Cemetery and the funeral home, and I immediately knew I wanted to work here. I was impressed by the beauty of the grounds and buildings, the well-equipped prep room, the state-of-the-art-crematory, and especially the diversity of staff and clientele. In particular, I have been so moved and inspired by serving people from so many faith traditions at Bringhurst.

Patricia lives in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia with her life partner of 25 years and their two teenage children. She is currently the Funeral Home Manager and Supervisor at West Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Inc. at West Laurel Hill Cemetery & Funeral Home. She is a former treasurer of Congregation Mishkan Shalom, is a member of the Reconstructionist Chevra Kadisha, and is the Judge of Elections in the 13th District of the 9th Ward of Northwest Philadelphia.

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Fergie moved to Houston, TX from Ireland in 1987 and left Houston two weeks later. Hated it!

With only a thousand pounds borrowed from his father (well paid back at this stage) and without a green card, Fergie moved to Philadelphia. He got a job, a bike and a house-share and hasn’t stopped hustling since.

Fergie arrived in Philly from Houston on a Saturday night and was working in the Cherry Hill Mall at 9am the following morning. Fergie has delivered tacos to brothels, worked food counters, painted houses and was an artist’s assistant. Most of his work was in restaurants and bars. He worked as a bus boy, waiter - not a very good one - but was mostly a bartender - very good one.

Fergie landed a job bartending at McGlinchey’s at 15th and Spruce which became a launching pad for him. Fergie has an amazing ability to remember people’s names and that and his bubbly personality launched him into the lives of many Philadelphians.

Fergie opened his first bar with Wajih Abed in 1994, the eponymously named Fergie’s Pub. After that came the famous Monk’s Cafe with Tom Peters, Nodding Head Brewery, Grace Tavern, Beer Bistro Toronto, The Anderson Hotel in Scotland, The Belgian Cafe which later became The Fairview and his most recent venture The Goat, off of Rittenhouse Square. After reading all of this Fergie thinks he should have more money in his pocket. Fergie has been well bruised by the year 2020. He says 2020 = ten times the work for one tenth of the money.

He has always been a fan of theatre and has been a massive supporter of small theatre and the arts. He was board president of Brat Productions for many years and is currently a board member of Inis Nua Theatre Company which produces new plays from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Fergie ran the Late-Night Cabaret of the Philadelphia Fringe Arts Festival for many years providing them with a much-needed funding stream.

Fergie has been honored by City Council for his work with the arts and by the State Legislature for his work with Lutheran House. He also loves rock n’ roll. He invented Live Band Karaoke which packs out his pub every Friday and Saturday night (or used to anyway). Fergie and friends have recreated the Last Waltz several times now while raising money for charities. They plan to do another one this Thanksgiving with the funds going to musicians.

Fergie also likes sex and drugs.

Fergus Carey plays the role of Fergie in the City of Philadelphia.

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David Dylan Thomas is the author of the book Design for Cognitive Bias from A Book Apart and is the creator and host of the Cognitive Bias Podcast. He has developed digital strategies for major clients in entertainment, healthcare, publishing, finance, and retail. He has presented at TEDNYC, SXSW Interactive, Confab, An Event Apart, LavaCon, UX Copenhagen, Artifact, IA Conference, Design and Content Conference, and the Wharton Web Conference on topics at the intersection of bias, design, and social justice.

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From December speaker Lois VoltaI’ve gotten myself into a lot of trouble being “all about love” because love is confrontational, and many times a double-edged sword. I would like to bring a realist approach to Biophilia. It is the road less traveled and there can be many casualties along the way. When we talk about Biophilia, and being in a state of love for all life, it is imperative that we recognize obstacles. What is keeping you from biophilia right under your nose in your own home? What type of clutter, dirt, and hard work is getting in the way? 

The event was sponsored globally by MailChimp, Skill Share, and, Basecamp