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Philadelphia Reparations Task Force

In Jamie Gauthier, Kendra Brooks, News by Jamie Gauthier

On the eve of Juneteenth 2023, Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) and Kendra Brooks (At-Large) introduced a resolution establishing the Philadelphia Reparations Task Force. It received unanimous approval from City Council on June 22nd, 2023.

The Philadelphia Reparations Task Force studies and develops reparations proposals and programs for Black Philadelphians whose ancestors endured chattel slavery and Jim Crow in the United States. The mission of the Philadelphia Reparations Task Force is to provide the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States of America with a comprehensive overview and report on how reparations can atone for the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and institutional racism in America for Black Philadelphians. The vision of the Philadelphia Reparations Task Force is to elevate and protect the full human rights and human potential of Black Philadelphia in real time.

MEET THE PHILADELPHIA REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

Ayanna Walker

Ayanna Stephens, MSEd, Education Coordinator

Ayanna Stephens (Walker) is a Philadelphia native and mother of three children who was chosen by God to serve children. She is currently the Principal at The Workshop School, a project-based learning high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here she leads an amazing group of educators who provide amazing learning experiences for amazing young people. Ayanna has been an educator in the Philadelphia school system for 23 years, serving hundreds of students and teachers. She believes that the greatest teacher is a student first and is also a lifelong learner. Ayanna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and mathematics and Master of Education degree from Lincoln University of PA., School Administration certification from Temple University, STEM professional development certification from NASA and the University of Columbia, PBL leadership certification from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Grand Canyon University. Ayanna’s love for education continues to shape her life, her community and the world.

Kevin Mansa

Kevin Mansa, Economic Justice Coordinator

Kevin Mansa, formerly Kevin Thomas Jr., has been a financial professional and community advocate in the Philadelphia area for close to 20 years. He started his career as a Branch Manager/ AVP for PNC Bank, before transitioning to Entrepreneurship. Kevin established a business consulting firm that specialized in helping non-profits and start-ups gain traction and create organizational structure. In 2015, he joined the Center for Hunger Free Communities where he pioneered the first zero-income financial curriculum designed for people who receive public assistance. Over the next 8 years, Kevin taught thousands of low-income Philadelphians financial literacy and raised awareness for political and systemic injustices. In 2021, he launched Black Royalty, LLC an online education platform that teaches wealth generation for Black people. Black Royalty teaches financial models aimed at multi-generational wealth creation, the eradication of black poverty, and the reestablishment of the powerful black family.

Cara McClellan

Cara McClellan, Esq., MSEd, Criminal & Legal Justice System Coordinator

Cara McClellan is the Founding Director and Practice Associate Professor of the Advocacy for Racial and Civil (ARC) Justice Clinic at Penn Carey Law School, which provides students with hands-on experience working in civil rights litigation and policy advocacy around systemic racism. McClellan joins the Law School from her position as Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., where her work focused on increasing education equity and ending the criminalization of Black people. She gained litigation experience as the lead counsel on several cases, including Smith v. City of Philadelphia, challenging the Philadelphia Police Department’s use of military-style weapons against protesters, residents, and bystanders in West Philadelphia. McClellan has also represented students and families in school desegregation cases and students and alumni as amici in SFFA v. Harvard, defending Harvard’s affirmative action admissions policy. She is the author of numerous law review articles and is a frequent media commentator on issues of civil rights. A Philadelphia native, McClellan graduated from Central High School and spent two years teaching middle school in Philadelphia with Teach for America. McClellan earned her undergraduate degree from Yale, an MSEd from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, and a JD from Yale Law School. Following law school, she served as a federal judicial law clerk.

Dominique London

Dominique London, MS, Urban Planning & Sustainable Development Coordinator

Dominique London is a multi-disciplinary artist and organizer from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a songwriter, performer, and photographer. She has written music for Netflix, and Hulu and is streaming on the world-famous wake-up show on Sirius satellite radio.  Dominique received her formal education from Rosemont College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English literature and communication. She also holds a master’s degree from Temple University in City and Regional Planning and is pursuing a second master’s in Ayurvedic and integrative medicine. After being displaced from her Wynnefield home in the Penn Wynn Apartments, Dominique organized with her community to create housing legislation in Philadelphia; eviction sealing which passed in the City Council in October 2020.  Dominique currently serves as Executive Director for UC Green, the largest and oldest tree tender group in Philadelphia. In her spare time, she stewards her community garden in Cobbs Creek, left by her grandmother, and holds volunteer days for neighbors looking to grow fresh produce.

Jackie Newsome

Jackie Newsome, Esq, M.Div., Law & Policy Coordinator

Rev. Jacqueline (Jackie) Newsome, Esq. moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 2019 after earning her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Prior to attending Emory University, Rev. Jackie earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in politics from New York University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The University of Chicago Law School. Rev. Jackie is a licensed attorney, liberation and womanist theologian, and prison and police abolitionist. Rev. Jackie knows that her unique academic and work experience at the intersection of faith and law will serve her well as the Reparations Task Force Law and Policy Coordinator.

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Dr. Ikemba Ojore, Atlantic World History Coordinator

Dr. Ikemba Ojore is an Assistant Professor and Deputy Chair at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. His research focuses on the transnational relationship between Americans and Sierra Leoneans, with particular emphasis on the influence of American education on the African continent. He holds a doctoral degree in history from St. John’s University and has published a dissertation titled “American Mission Schools and the Albert Academy School for Boys: Roots and Legacy of Colonial Education.” Apart from academia, Dr. Ikemba is actively involved in community organizing and political activism, contributing to organizations such as the AKERELE Leadership Academy, Regeneration180, and InPDUM.

 

 

VOLUNTEER WITH THE PHILADELPHIA REPARATIONS TASK FORCE

The Philadelphia Reparations Task Force is seeking community support to help Task Force coordinators in the following sectors:

  • Economic Justice
  • Public & Post-Secondary Education
  • Health & Wellness
  • Atlantic World History
  • Criminal & Legal Justice System
  • Law & Policy (Domestic & International)
  • Urban Planning & Sustainable Development

Supporters of the task force will be volunteers who work with task force members to study, survey and engage community members with task force activities.

The descendant group is defined as Black and African American descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States, the descendants of Black, Negro, or Colored Americans since 1865, and the descendants of Freedmen emancipated from slavery. The descendant group may include identified “Black” and “African American” residents in the City of Philadelphia of mixed race or heritage so long as one of their native born American parents is a due member of the descendant group.
Supporters of the Task Force do not have to be members of the descendant group! We welcome brother love, sister affection, and kin kindness from the whole 215.
To get involved, email Mary Jones at [email protected]