Staff

Hillary Kane

Hillary Kane is the Director for the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND). PHENND is a consortium of over 25 institutions of higher education in the Greater Philadelphia region that seeks to help campuses connect to their communities through mutually beneficial service and service-learning partnerships. Since Ms. Kane joined PHENND in 1999, the organization has increased its membership, developed new multi-university programs and partnerships, and become a leader in the field of service-learning. Under her leadership, PHENND has developed particular expertise in K-16 Partnerships, with an emphasis on college readiness and success. PHENND has partnered with the School District of Philadelphia for over 15 years on all of its GEAR UP grants as well as the K-16 VISTA project which places 20 full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs in public schools and District offices. PHENND also manages the Next Steps AmeriCorps program, which enrolls low-income college students as part-time AmeriCorps members. Last year, PHENND acquired PHENND Fellows, another full-time VISTA project that places members at nonprofit organizations for a variety of capacity-building projects. Hillary is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies. She is also member of the Greater Philadelphia Corporate Volunteer Council, is active in local politics, and is a proud School District parent.

Eden Kainer is the VISTA Program Manager at PHENND. Eden began with PHENND in 2012 as part of the planning team for the VISTA Community Partnerships project, helping build the systems and processes for recruiting, training and placing VISTAs in schools to serve as Community Partnerships Coordinators as well building relationships with hosting principals. Prior to PHENND, she served three years as a Parent and Community Ombudsman with the School District of Philadelphia, and is to this day an active Philadelphia public school parent. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a degree in sociology, Ms. Kainer also received a PhD in Musicology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. For her dissertation, she examined the intersections of popular vocal performance with aural markers of race. Other interests include violin teaching and orchestral performance.

In her work as K-16 Partnerships Manager, Caitlin assumes the dual role of managing PHENND’s growing K-16 Partnerships Network and the 2015-2021 GEAR UP College Readiness and Collaborative Communities (CCRC) sub-grant from the School District of Philadelphia. The K-16 Partnerships Network brings together higher education faculty and staff who manage partnerships with public schools for the purpose of sharing best practices and working with the School District of Philadelphia to help improve and expand K-16 partnerships in Philadelphia. The GEAR UP CCRC project serves 53 middle/high schools in the District and works to build the capacity of schools to address the needs of students for college and career readiness preparation. A key component of the project is partnerships with local colleges and universities. Caitlin will be leading a team of six university partners who will leverage university resources (particularly college student volunteers) in support of the GEAR UP CRCC project. Caitlin joins PHENND after spending the last four-and-a-half years at Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) where she managed a science education outreach program, GeoKids LINKS, in partnership with the Wagner Free Institute of Science and three K-8 Philadelphia schools. She came to Philadelphia as an undergraduate at SJU (B.S. Environmental Science) and went on to Massachusetts where she received a M.A. in Community Development and Planning from Clark University. Besides working to improve opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth, Caitlin loves cooking, gardening, Philadelphia sports, and painting, despite being colorblind.

Dana Kayser is the new Operations Coordinator for VISTA Programs at PHENND. Dana will be working primarily on the monitoring and evaluating of the program, as well as organizing systems and creating and documenting the policies and procedures of PHENND Fellows VISTA. Dana comes to us most recently from working as the Operations Director of YMCA Macedonia and serving in the Peace Corps. A graduate of Goucher College in Baltimore, Dana is originally from New York and has done five(!) years of National Service with AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. She is excited to bring everything she learned from those experiences to help amplify the impact of the PHENND Fellows VISTA program by helping to make data-informed strategic decisions. Besides National Service- Dana loves traveling, curling, dogs, and New York bagels. 

Ben is currently doing their third year of national service with PHENND as the Non-Profit VISTA Leader. Previously they worked with Public Allies Chicago placed at RainReady as the Assistant Outreach Coordinator–building a social media strategy and expanding their fact sheet database–and with City Year Chicago–tutoring youth and coaching on behavior. Ben has also worked briefly with the YMCA of Dublin, Ireland assessing their social media and constructing a needs assessment. Ben has their Master in Urban Planning and Policy with a concentration in International Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and is a proud Penn Stater (undergrad) happy to be back in PA. Ben’s primary research and practical experience are in mobilizing young people within the planning process to increase community potential, believing that assets and direct participation should drive community development. Outside of work, Ben can be seen cooking, at the museums, telling people that Chicago has the superior pizza style, and walking around Philadelphia questioning why so many glorified alleyways–I mean tiny streets–have names.

Sasha Best came of age in New York City and now lives in Philadelphia. She is serving as the PHENND Community Partnerships Coordinator for Alexander Adaire Elementary in the Fishtown neighborhood of lower North Philadelphia. She holds a B.S. in technology from the University of Houston. Over the last two years, she’s been actively volunteering and engaging with different communities throughout the Philly public school system.  She is passionate about supporting neighborhood education and the endeavors of future generations. Her hope in becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA is to learn about the challenges students and their families face and use the many opportunities (both existing and yet to be discovered) that the city offers to help address those challenges. Sasha is a person that commutes to most places by bike using this time to connect with Philly and it’s Brotherly Love vibe.  #FriendsofAdaire

Gina DeRosa is the AmeriCorps PHENND VISTA at the Office of Grant Development (OGD) within the School District of Philadelphia. Originally from Central New Jersey, she is a recent graduate from Saint Joseph’s University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English. At SJU, Gina participated in weekly service and tutored at the campus writing center. This opportunity with OGD perfectly combines the ability to do service and her love of writing. She hopes that this position will help to start her on a career path in nonprofit communications and development. In her free time, Gina enjoys reading, exploring the city, and spending time with friends.   

Born and raised in Montgomery County (Philadelphia’s neighboring suburb), Sydney is thrilled to be serving as an AmeriCorps (VISTA) and Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) Fellow in the Office of Strategic Partnerships. Sydney graduated from Lafayette College in May 2019 with a B.S in Psychology and a Minor in Philosophy. While at Lafayette, she was a Program Coordinator at the Landis Center of Community Engagement where she led different volunteer programs to combat hunger and homelessness as well as achieve criminal justice reform through a restorative art therapy program in Northampton County Jail. Additionally, she served as Lafayette College Hillel Society’s Vice President of Social Action, which enabled her to build the organization’s capacity to champion social justice in unprecedented ways.

Sydney’s learning experiences both in and outside of the classroom deepened her commitment to fighting for justice and dismantling oppressive systems. She is eager to help underserved communities receive equitable resources, and to reform the criminal justice system. When she’s not at OSP, you can find Sydney kickboxing at the gym, cooking vegan dishes, walking through nature, or making memories with her friends and family.

Lane Frazee is the Community Partnerships Coordinator for Walter B. Saul High School in Roxborough. She grew up in Oreland, Pennsylvania, and has lived in and around Montgomery and Philadelphia County for most of her life. Lane is a recent graduate with a B.A. in Peace Studies from Goucher College. Before PHENND, she has worked with an advocacy organization for incarcerated women and girls, and as a bartender at a local brewery.  She is interested in learning about relationships between communities and schools, and how she can help those connections grow stronger. She is especially excited to be working at an agricultural school because she enjoys gardening, food, and all things animals in her free time. In the future, Lane hopes to work towards building self-sustaining communities.

Lydia Heishman grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and is a recent graduate of Juniata College. She majored in Psychology with a minor in Studio Arts, which is what drew her to this position. With years of public service behind her and a passion for the S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) curriculum, working as a Community Partnerships Coordinator at Cook-Wissahickon School seemed like a no-brainer. Lydia believes that everyone learns differently, so looking at education from a myriad of lenses is useful and incredibly important. Creatively allows a sense of exploration, which is key in understanding more complex problems. In her free time, Lydia enjoys running, hiking and trying new foods. 

Markenzie is a recent Political Science and Africana Studies graduate of Rutgers-Camden. Originally from Philly, she comes to us from Sicklerville, New Jersey. Her hobbies include cooking, music (especially Beyoncé), and being around dogs of all shapes and sizes. Markenzie’s VISTA role is a College Access Coordinator position at the School District of Philadelphia. She chose this position because education reform is of interest to her for long term career goals.

Chesa Ramacciotti is an AmeriCorps PHENND VISTA in the Sustainability Office at the School District of Philadelphia. She received a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University and a Master of Environment Studies from The University of Pennsylvania. A nature lover, Chesa enjoys connecting people, especially youth, to their environment as it can impact how they think and act in their adult lives. She is excited about this opportunity at the district as it combines her two passions: education and sustainability. Her ultimate goal is to work in the sustainability field, assisting both communities and individuals to not only be sustainable, but also flourish. In her free time, Chesa likes hiking the trails in her home state of New Jersey, exploring the diversity of Philly, and cooking.

Elena Rece is serving as the Community Partnerships Coordinator for Ziegler Elementary School. Elena graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Bloomsburg University in 2018. Originally from Philadelphia, she is eager to give back to the community for everything they have to her. In the future, Elena would like to pursue a career in higher education. She is bilingual, and loves to travel.

Austin graduated from Penn State University in the spring of 2019 with a degree in Community, Environment, and Development. During those four years he studied community development and the implicit environmental impact on a variety of scales. This year Austin will be serving as the community partnerships coordinator at Paul L. Dunbar Elementary School. He is excited for this opportunity to initiate positive change on a local level and help develop sustainable solutions for inner-city schools.

Tracie Slade is thrilled to serve as the Community Partnerships Coordinator VISTA through AmeriCorps for the Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School! She was raised in Connecticut and relocated to Philadelphia to serve as a VISTA and to continue her studies at The University of Pennsylvania. She earned a B.S. in both Biology and Psychology in May of 2019 from The University of Bridgeport. Tracie aspires to be a physician-scientist who practices in underserved populations part-time and conducts research in public health. As a physician-scientist she plans to being influential in implementing public interventions to improve health disparities. In her free time, Tracie loves to read, eat at different restaurants and spend time outdoors.

 Cody Swan is from Wilkes-Barre, PA. He recently graduated from La Salle University where he studied public relations. This AmeriCorps position caught his attention because of his passion for education reform and his extensive background in community development. Cody is excited for his new role and looks forward to making a positive impact on others the way so many educators have impacted him. When he’s not serving with AmeriCorps, he enjoys playing the piano, hiking, cooking, and reading non-fiction.

Jordan Burgh is the AmeriCorps PHENND VISTA at Fiesta Schoolyards. Jordan Is from Ambler Pennsylvania, she is a recent graduate from Syracuse University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English. At Syracuse University, Jordan was the  Social Media Chair for the Syracuse University Boxing Team and headed the volunteer and marketing board bringing the USIBA National Championship to Syracuse University. This opportunity with Fiesta Schoolyards perfectly combines her love for writing and marketing. She hopes that this position will help to start her on a career path in communications. In her free time, Jordan enjoys singing and has plans to start a band in the Philadelphia area.

Erin Davison is the PHENND Fellow at Philadelphia Legal Assistance, an organization that provides free legal services to low income Philadelphians. In her role, Erin is working to build the capacity of the Medical Legal Community Partnership to serve the socio-legal needs of clients impacted by the opioid epidemic. Erin is a proud graduate of Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) where she studied International Relations with a concentration in Health Ethics and
Economics. During her time at SJU, she interned at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, the European Parliament, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services, and Women’s Campaign International. Since graduating, Erin has focused on exploring the ways in which a
Trauma-Informed framework can be applied to the women’s empowerment continuum and nonprofit sector. She looks forward to continuing this exploration at Philadelphia Legal
Assistance and is thrilled that her role allows her to work at the intersection of law, public health, and community development. When she isn’t working, Erin enjoys exploring Philadelphia, practicing yoga, thrift shopping, and reading.

Adrienne grew up in Mexico in the southern state of Puebla. It was through early childhood experiences that she developed a passion for peace and social justice. In 2013 Adrienne took a year off between high school and college to learn more about her interests before pursuing a degree. She lived in Albuquerque, NM and worked at a community arts center and Montessori elementary school assisting in art education. Her interest in education developed throughout this year and led her to take several education courses in college. Adrienne pursued a degree in Peacebuilding and Development at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and received a Bachelor’s degree in 2018. The intersections between education and peace work are evident and important in the current US context and beyond, and Adrienne is excited to see how she encounters the two in Philadelphia Public Schools. 

Sara Guiang is an Americorps VISTA and PHENND Fellow at Philadelphia’s Juvenile Law Center. Sara was born and raised in Las Vegas, where she received her Bachelor of Social Work degree with a minor in Creative Writing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is passionate about using trauma-informed care as a tool for social justice work and empowering youth and young womxn. Her past experience includes advocacy for youth in the foster care system, case management with clients with varying degrees of trauma, and mentorship for both youth and womxn. Sara is also a writer and lover of vintage, comedy, films, books, and book stores. She hopes this year as a VISTA PHENND Fellow will give her the opportunity to break barriers towards access to services for young people as well as strengthen her skills in community, policy and nonprofit work.

Haley Iriondo is serving as a data analyst and program developer for District 1199c Training and Upgrading Fund. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in December 2018 with a B.S. Biobehavioral health. She is from Northern Virginia, right outside D.C. While in Virginia, she volunteered for a therapeutic riding program where she taught people with disabilities how to ride horses. She also enjoys oil painting and playing music in her band. In the future she hopes to go back to school to pursue a career in nursing. Overall, she is very excited to understand the inner workings of nonprofits and to get to know the fun city of Philadelphia.

Sarah Kaplan is the Alumni & Post-Secondary Program Services Coordinator for Starfinder Foundation. Sarah was raised in South Jersey before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a degree from the University of Southern California. There she studied history, psychology, and writing. She believes that all kids should be given access to resources that foster growth and help achieve success. She now has returned to the South Jersey/Philadelphia area, where she enjoys exploring new running routes and searching for the best Thai and Mexican restaurants. She hopes to get involved with and learn more about the communities of Philadelphia while expanding her knowledge of the nonprofit sector.

Katie Murphy is the PHENND Fellow at Playworks, a nonprofit that believes in the power of play for every kid, and everyone. She is a recent graduate of Eastern University with a dual degree in Social Work and Spanish. Prior to her role at Playworks, Katie served as a Community Partnerships Coordinator VISTA through PHENND at Bayard Taylor Elementary School. Katie loves to do yoga, play field hockey, cheer at track & field events, eat ice cream, and spend time with friends! As a native of southern Maryland, Katie has been loving her time in  Philadelphia, and is super excited to be a part of the great work Playworks is already doing in the Philly community.

Cooper Richardson is the Community Development Associate VISTA at SEAMAAC, an organization that serves immigrants and refugees in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!) with a degree in International Studies, and a Spanish speaker. Prior to her role as a VISTA, Cooper taught English in Costa Rica to adults living in extreme poverty. Cooper enjoys spending time at the beach, practicing yoga, running, and meeting new dogs. A native of southern New Jersey, Cooper is excited to get to know the diverse communities of South Philly and to call the city of brotherly love “home”!

Leah Schare is spending her year of service as the Mentor Management and Recruitment VISTA for the department of Youth and Gateway Programs at JEVS Human Services. She recently graduated with a degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies from Hofstra University in her hometown of Long Island, New York. A fan of traveling, hiking, horror movies, museums, and podcasts, Leah is excited by the chance to integrate herself into Philadelphia’s community in a proactive and positive way. Leah also hopes to use this year with AmeriCorps as a chance to learn more about the nonprofit sector as a stepping stone toward her long-term goal of working in nonprofit management. In terms of her work with JEVS, Leah’s goal is to bolster the Youth Mentorship program in a way that makes it even more impactful for young adults in the community.

Originally from Newport News, Virginia, Evan Waddill studied international politics, French, and African Studies before coming to Philadelphia to serve as this year’s West Philadelphia Alliance for Children Fellow. She is looking forward to learning about the various communities in West Philadelphia by partnering with libraries around the area, as well as learning more about the education system in general. She seeks to understand the ways in which political changes at the state and city level have lasting impacts on equity and access to resources and long term community/individual development. She is excited to be working with a smaller non-profit, where she will benefit from seeing many different aspects of the work that they do. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and being outdoors whenever possible, especially when she is exploring new places. She also enjoys reading and creating art. Evan is not yet sure what the future holds for her, but she wants to work in human rights and is interested in expanding her work focus to an international level, perhaps by working for the government or an international NGO in the future.