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.

Janine Wright joined PHENND as the K-16 Partnerships Manager in the summer of 2020. Prior to PHENND she spent over twenty-five years in the nonprofit sector focused primarily on college access and success, community-based education and engagement and professional development. She served as the Assistant Director for Minority Recruitment at the University of Pennsylvania and was part of the inaugural staff of the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program (later serving twice as its director). Janine also managed the E3 Centers project at the Philadelphia Youth Network and directed the agency’s professional development initiatives for network members.

Janine received both her bachelor’s degree in communications and her master’s degree in urban education from Temple University. She is a proud Philadelphian who remains eternally convinced that the Eagles can do it again.

Malikah comes to PHEND with over twenty years’ experience working primarily in the college access and career education field with High School and first year generation college students. Prior to PHENND Malikah served as the Assistant Program Manager of a non-profit organization called A Better Chance, working to provide access and equity to recruit, identify and place students of color into independent day & boarding schools located throughout the United States. In this role Malikah was able to serve students in the Midwest & MidAtlantic regions.

Before working with A Better Chance Malikah was responsible for managing the Philadelphia Scholars Program with the Philadelphia Education Fund helping to provide supports, mentoring and additional resources with college students who applied for the last dollar scholarship. Malikah started at PEF as the TRIO College Access Coordinator working at Roxborough High School assisting seniors with college applications, filling out the FAFSA, coordinating college trips and providing college readiness workshops to help students get to and through college successfully.

Working with the Scholars Program Malikah learned about food insecurity and the challenges that our youth experience in college. This furthered Malikah to get more involved in her community by becoming a member of the Junior League of Philadelphia and serving on both the Little Black Dress Initiative committee, a fundraiser to combat food insecurity in Philadelphia, as well as the Diversity and Inclusion committee.

Malikah earned her Master’s degree from Rosemont College, and her Bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University. She was destined to be a writer, but after she graduated from college she decided to complete a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer with the Big Brother Big Sister Association, in which she worked as a School-Based Mentoring Intern. This experience propelled her interest and passion for working with youth.

Malikah currently resides in Drexel Hill, PA, and loves to spend time with her family. In fact, she hopes in the near future to write a children’s book with her daughter.

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 completed their third year of national service with PHENND as the Non-Profit VISTA Leader. Currently they work in a part-time capacity providing administrative assistance to PHENND as a whole. 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.

Kenyada Posey, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, is a community organizer. She received a B.A. in Political Science and a M.A. in International Relations from Troy University. During her time at Troy University, Kenyada served in the Political Science Club, Women’s Initiative, and the Black Alliance Club where she promoted leadership behavior, civic engagement, and academic achievement. She chaired Saving Ourselves for Democracy, an organization committed to encourage young people to actively engage in the democratic process and the Montgomery County Democrats–promoting her peers toward civic and political engagement. During her time working with Montgomery City Council, Kenyada helped plan and organize the Montgomery City Summer Youth Job Program. She has also served as an AmeriCorps member at Youth build Charter School. Kenyada passion lies in the future of youth adults in America and around the world. She believes the youth should be trained today on leadership for tomorrow.

Sarah Kaplan just finished a year of service as 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.

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.

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.

Caleb Hettinger is a young professional interested in education, politics, and the environment. He’s originally from Remington IN, graduated with his B.S. and B.A. from Purdue University in 2019, and spent the past year as an Education Service Member at Great Smoky Mountains National Park through CAC AmeriCorps out of Knoxville TN. He’s brand new to Philadelphia and is excited to see the city and learn about its history (once it’s safe to do so)! After this year he plans to get back into teaching before eventually getting his master’s in educational policy.

Chardanay White is a recent graduate of Cabrini University. She gained a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. She spent her time at Cabrini focusing on food insecurity and environmental justice. She plans to use the skills learned in her degree and in person service to serve the greater good of Philadelphia.

Diamond is 21 years old and is joining the PHENND Fellows VISTA project after completing a year with City Year Philadelphia. She has been working with children since she was 16 years old and believes she is called to help children to success. After studying music education for a short period at Clark Summit University, Diamond decided to join City Year and is now using her passion for the success of children to coordinate partnerships as the community partnerships coordinator at Bethune Elementary. Her favorite color is green!

Finley Poskarbiewicz is thrilled to be serving as a Community Partnerships Coordinator at Comegys Elementary School in Southwest Philly. They recently graduated from Arcadia University with a degree in Theatre Arts, and completed an apprenticeship with InterAct Theatre Company. They are passionate about theatre and art being used for social causes and making a positive impact on their community, and hope they can use this Service Year to help the students and families of Comegys Elementary make the most of their education experience.

Hayden started the school year as the Community Partnerships Coordinator for Cook-Wissahickon in Northwest Philadelphia. After one semester at the school, they have moved on to a new role at PHENND supporting the development of a new subnetwork, PHENND Sustainability. They have lived and worked all along the East Coast, from Miami to Vermont. They graduated from Green Mountain College in 2017, and are currently working on an M.S. in Environmental Policy at Drexel University. Outside of AmeriCorps, Hayden likes to cook and write music. They live in Center City Philadelphia with their partner and two cats, Mercury and Picard.

Hi I am Ivy and I work for AmeriCorps as a community partnerships coordinator at Dunbar elementary. I aid in bringing in outside resources to the school based on the needs of the students. My goal by working as a liaison between the school and community is to expand and sustain long term connections that will promote student success.

A Pittsburgh native, Kaelin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied Political Science and History. She is interested in better understanding the intersections of education, mass incarceration, and policy. She is most passionate about mutual aid, food, and art. She looks forward to building relationships with the community and understanding how to best serve and empower children in their schools and neighborhoods. In the future, she is hoping to pursue a graduate degree in Education Policy.

Hi! My name is Madeleine Sagebiel (she/her/hers). I was born and raised in the Bay Area in California. I graduated from Dickinson College in 2020 with a major in Sociology and a minor in French. I am now proudly serving with Americorps VISTA as a Community Partnerships Coordinator at Andrew J. Morrison Elementary School in North Philly.

Maria is a 2017 graduate of Temple University and is currently back at Temple pursuing a Master of Social Work. Her educational background is in International Business and Spanish, and she has spent her professional time post-graduation working with adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. In her free time, Maria enjoys volunteering with Back on My Feet, Red Cross blood donations, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors community aid. She also enjoys running, yoga, reading, live music, and good food.

Marina Schlosser is serving as the Community Partnerships Coordinator for Ziegler Elementary School. Marina graduated with a B.A. in Government/Political Science from the College of William and Mary in 2020. Originally from the DMV area of Washington DC, she is eager to learn and grow in this new Philadelphia community and make it her new home. In the future, Marina is considering to puruse a career in law, most likely immigration law, due to her Mexican background. She is bilingual in Spanish, while also having a beginning level of comprehension of French. She loves to be outdoors whether it includes water activities, hiking, or playing sports; loves to travel, explore different places and experience new cultures; and loves to eat and try new foods.

Meg Graham is serving as the Community Partnership Coordinator at The Philadelphia High School for Girls.  After graduating from The College of New Jersey in 2019 with a B.A. in International Studies, she has been exploring the nonprofit field and is excited to continue to work for the community.  Originally from northwest New Jersey, Meg spent a semester abroad in Busan, South Korea where she attended school and volunteered at a local tutoring center to help students practice their English language skills. Meg was drawn to PHENND because of the chance to continue to make an impact in the lives of students. In her free time, she loves to play rugby, hike, and garden.

I am excited to return to Philadelphia to work with SEAMAAC. I studied urban studies at the University of Pittsburgh. I am passionate about creating and preserving equitable public spaces, as I spent the past year in Baltimore working with communities transforming vacant land. I am excited to work with the diverse community around Mifflin Square Park and the S 7th Street business corridor. Previously I have worked many food service jobs where I had the pleasure to sell Danny Devito a grilled cheese sandwich. On some evenings you may be able to find me on the SoPhiE food truck at Mifflin Square Park!

Becky is serving as a PHENND VISTA for Fiesta Schoolyards. They are from Connecticut but moved to Philadelphia to get their B.A. in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from Temple University. After graduating, Becky began researching nonprofit work, and is excited to get hands on experience at Fiesta Schoolyards. When not at work, they enjoy reading, hiking, and baking with their friends.

Chelsea Smith is thrilled to be serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in May 2020 with a B.A. in International Relations and History. During her time at SJU, Chelsea served as co-president of a student organization designed to facilitate respectful political dialogue, conducted two independent research projects, and interned with the European Parliament.

Daniel Parsons is the Communities Project PHENND Fellow at Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, a judicial advocacy nonprofit that educates Pennsylvanians about statewide judicial systems and processes. Daniel was born and raised in Montana and recently graduated with a dual degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Montana. Prior to his time at PHENND, Daniel worked in the Admissions & Career Services Office at the Blewett School of Law at UM and as a representative in his student government. He also spent a summer in the United States Senate as a legislative intern. Daniel is looking forward to his time at PMC and in aiding the expansion of legal education and services across the state of Pennsylvania. In his free time, he can be found hiking in the mountains, fishing in the streams, and playing rugby with his mates.

Originally from Detroit, MI, Dominique is now in Philadelphia, working with Philadelphia Legal Assistance’s Pennsylvania Farmworker Project. Since discovering a passion for working with refugees and migrant workers in college she has worked with refugees and immigrants in various capacities. In 2017, she packed up everything and left to serve with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. While in the Dominican Republic she served initially as a Youth Development Promoter, then as a Regional Volunteer Leader. She’s really excited to be a PHENND Fellow and for everything this year will have to offer!

My name is Dylan Poje and I am a PHENND Fellow at Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Through PLA I will be assisting in the implementation of free legal service for low-income patients at District Health Centers in Philadelphia. This project interested me due to the focus of the two-way relationship between health and community development. I graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, where I also had the chance to lead the college’s open mic for two years. For the past year I served in AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps as an individual assistance specialist, with the goal of helping people before, during, and after disasters. When not working I love to make my own bread and pasta, go for runs, play guitar, and explore food spots in Philadelphia.

Gem is a multidisciplinary creative working towards social change and they will be serving at YESPhilly as a Community Center Coordinator.

They were born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they developed their love of art, community, and all the space between. Gem is a graduate of NC State University, where they studied Fashion and Arts Entrepreneurship. At NC State, they worked for The Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs to create programming and find opportunities for self-starting womxn, served as president of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority Inc., a cultural organization for Asian womxn, and served as the Vice President of Public Relations at the Multicultural Greek Council.

Throughout their studies, they ventured into the world of non-profits, from a community-centered arts space to a global public health organization. Gem hopes to use their time as a PHENND Fellow to apply their creativity and leadership to empower students and the community at YESPhilly.

When they aren’t working, you’ll probably find them rollerskating, perfecting their bagel recipe, or learning how to make rugs.

Kate Nichols is excited to be working as the Community Engagement Fellow for Cradles to Crayons. They are originally from Chillicothe, Ohio, about an hour south of Columbus. Earlier in 2020, Kate graduated with B.A.s in Physics and English from Ohio University. In their free time, they love to write, read, and cuddle with their cat, Vincent.

Livia Popko is a PHENND Fellow with Global Citizen at Girard College, who will be working to develop and implement a service-learning program that ignites passionate high school students to lead meaningful change in Philadelphia. Livia joined PHENND after working in Istanbul for four years as a teacher and planner, managing Bilfen’s Native English Program for Year 4 students. After graduating from TCNJ, she enjoyed volunteering with the Community Learning Center in West Philadelphia and now strives to collaborate with an ever-widening network of activist organizations and nonprofits around the city.

Luke Kim hails from Moorestown, New Jersey. A recent graduate of Lehigh University, Luke found himself with his political science major and two minors in music and history as a PHENND fellow stationed at the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children. Excited to create impactful change at the fundamental, he is ready to tackle these interesting times with a huge smile and an open mind. When Luke is not focusing on his responsibilities, you can find him reading, hysterically laughing at Youtube videos on repeat, napping, cooking, enjoying long walks on the beach, or spending time with his family.

Maggie O’Connor is excited to spend her VISTA year of service working at Urban Tree Connection in West Philly. A recent Wellesley College graduate, Maggie majored in Environmental Studies with a focus on policy and community development. She grew up in South Jersey and looks forward to strengthening her relationship with the city and its many communities. When she’s not at work, Maggie loves to hike, cook, paint, sew, and do the daily crossword in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ola Onawole is serving as the Organizational Data Specialist at the District 1199-c Training Fund. She was born in Norfolk, and has lived and worked all over the DC, MD, VA area.  You may call her Ola, Oladoyin, Doyin, or any portion of her Yoruba name that you choose! You can even call her “honey turns to wealth” (the translation of her first name). Ola is a former applied behavior analysis therapist, non-profit program manager, and therapeutic case manager who developed a passion for community data storytelling and program evaluation while studying Psychology and African American Studies at the University of Virginia. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Health at Drexel’s Dornsife School of Public Health in Community Health and Prevention. Her favorite things include sweet potatoes, Spotify music playlists, sight-seeing, all things of the African diaspora, and helping others see their own personal strengths. The thing that she is most excited about is the opportunity to uplift the Philadelphia hospital union workers’ stories of triumph and resiliency through data collection and analysis.

As a recent graduate of Haverford College, Owen is passionate about urban planning and social inequities that arise from it. As a former soccer player, he enjoys supporting his favorite team and coaching. When he is not working out or doing some sports related, he loves to garden, bike, hike, and babysit. One interesting fact about him is that he is an avid fan of Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives show on Food Network.

Samantha Drummond is the PHENND Fellow at HIAS Pennsylvania, an organization the provides multifaceted services to vulnerable “to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from all backgrounds in order to ensure their fair treatment and full integration into American society.” (hiaspa.org) Her role as a health coordinator is centered around expanding the organization’s capacity to connect low-income vulnerable immigrants to much-needed healthcare education and services.

Samantha is a recent graduate of Rutgers University – New Brunswick, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. During her time at Rutgers, Samantha was a site leader for the university’s alternative break department, in which her group explored some of the complexities of financial insecurity and community development in West Atlanta, Georgia. She also participated as a community research assistant for a local non-profit organization, devoted to empowering victims of domestic abuse. During, her free time, Sam enjoys reading, exploring local museums and events, and spending time with friends.

Yasmeen Malik graduated from Kutztown University in 2019 with a B.A. in Anthropology with a double minor in Political Science and Spanish. Yasmeen recently finished a year of serving with AmeriCorps NCCC as a team leader in the Pacific Region. The PHENND program was attractive to Yasmeen because of the opportunities that it provides to the communities here in Philadelphia. Everyone deserves a good education and no one’s circumstances should stand in their way of receiving that education

Jessica Miller is an AmeriCorps PHENND VISTA in the Sustainability Office at the School District of Philadelphia. She received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Oregon in 2019. She is excited to bring her passions for sustainability and education together in this role. Jessica is eager to experience life in Philadelphia and get involved with and learn from the community. In her home state of Oregon she enjoys exploring the Cascade Mountain Range and finding natural swimming holes.

I grew up in Washington, DC before heading out west, going to school and working between Portland, OR and Eastern California. I graduated with an English degree from Reed College in 2020. Though my academic interests have been focused on literary analysis and theory, I’ve made my way to PHENND because I want to serve and work in cities. At the Office of Grand Development I’ll work to support teachers, principals, and parents in their efforts to improve the quality of public schools in Philadelphia. Though I don’t know where I’ll be in several years, I know that I want to be working in cities, aiding in building the most equitable spaces for the most number of people. In my free time this year I’ll be baking bread, exploring Philadelphia by bike and on foot, scouting out good coffee shops, and chipping away at the reading list that I let pile up while I was busy in school!

Katja Krieger is an AmeriCorps PHENND VISTA in the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the School District of Philadelphia. She received a B.A. from Ithaca College in Culture and Communications with a concentration in Education, Research and Policy. Both her communications and education coursework have served as lenses emphasizing the significance of cultural identities and multimodal communications in education and policy. She hopes to apply her skills derived from her coursework as well as experiences creating mentorship and after-school programs to her work in Philadelphia. Ultimately, she strives to be an active listener, advocate, and voracious reader. Some day she hopes to get a graduate degree in education policy, teaching or law. When Katja isn’t listening to education podcasts she enjoys going to concerts, hiking and skateboarding.