Born and raised in Northwest Philadelphia, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas is the third youngest of nine children of a Philadelphia school teacher and a child care provider. Through Sankofa Freedom Academy, Lincoln University and the Thomas and Woods Foundation - Thomas has put the success of young people at the forefront of his work. Whether in the classroom, on the basketball court, or in City Hall - he believes that education, opportunity and coalition building is the way to make a Philadelphia that works for all of us.
Councilmember Thomas has non-profit, government and private sector experience which allows him to hear multiple sides of an issue and receive input from a variety of stakeholders. He has helped young people get the best possible education, provided out-of-school time (OST) programming, strengthened communities of color and worked to improve civic education across the city.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, in his freshman year on Council, was named Chair of the Streets Committee and Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Committee. He also sits on the Appropriations, Disabled and Persons with Special Needs, Education, Creative Economy, Legislative Oversight, Parks and Recreation, Public Health, Public Safety, and Technology Committees. These committee roles and the legislation he has passed highlight Councilmember Thomas’ vision to make Philadelphia work better for every family. Whether addressing gun violence, providing pandemic relief or making the city government more transparent - Thomas believes in a government that works for the people and improves the basic quality of life for all.
A proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Councilmember Thomas has a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State and a Masters of Education from Lincoln University, the oldest degree-granting historically Black college in the nation. He still actively coaches basketball at Sankofa Freedom Academy and is President of the Coaches Association. Thomas lives in Oak Lane with his wife Klissa and their sons, Isaiah Jr. and Isaac.