Women Leading the 175th
Rep. Mary Isaacson March 28, 2022 | 9:36 AM
Every year for Women’s History Month, Rep. Mary Isaacson, in coordination with community leaders and advocates, select exceptional women living or working in the district, who have lead efforts to improve the daily lives of Pennsylvanians.
This program, Women Leading the 175th, recognizes and honors the impact women are making across the 175th Legislative District.
Each of the 2022 honorees of Women Leading the 175th has been chosen due to the actions she has taken in shaping the future of our neighborhoods and our great City. Each honoree has received a Pennsylvania House of Representative citation formally celebrating each of their contributions.
From Betsy Ross, who sewed together the Flag of our nation, to Mary Ware Dennett who paved the way for reproductive access and rights, to Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm, who inspired generations of women and children to demand justice and equal treatment, to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who taught us that women belong in all places that decisions are being made, to Christa McAuliffe, who urged children and the children in all of us to reach for the stars, to Kamala Harris, our nation’s first Woman Vice-President, to all the women across this nation who contribute in meaningful and far too often unsung ways, our nation has many outstanding women to celebrate in March during Women’s History Month.
The theme for the 2022 National Women’s History Month “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all have cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.
The extraordinary sacrifice and efforts of women across the country working from home, addressing business challenges, organizing food banks, and stepping up to help their communities not only during the COVID-19 Crisis, but we also honor them by fighting for equality, access, and justice every single day.
The 2022 honorees for Women Leading the 175th are as follows.
Honorable Wendi Barish
Judge Wendi D. Barish was elected as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas on November 2, 2021. Judge Barish was born in Northeast Philadelphia and raised in the home of her grandparents. As the recipient of various social services from the City of Philadelphia, she learned early on that government programs and intervention can help lift those who are struggling and give them opportunities to become productive members of their communities.
Judge Barish graduated at the top of her class at George Washington High School. She then attended Brandeis University and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and American Literature with a minor in Philosophy. In addition, she completed programs in Legal Studies and Women’s Studies. Next, she earned her Juris Doctorate Degree at Hofstra University School of Law. While in law school she was an editor of the Labor Law Journal and a member of the Trial Team.
Following law school, Judge Barish returned to Philadelphia. She spent nearly two decades working in the field of employment law and civil rights. Initially she represented employees while working at the Law Offices of Thomas More Holland, after which she went on to represent and counsel employers as an associate at Margolis Edelstein. Thereafter she became a partner at Weber Gallagher and served as Co-Chair of the Civil Rights Department and Vice-Chair of the Employment Law Department. She focused her practice on ensuring that all people with claims of discrimination and civil rights violations were treated fairly and equitably under the laws.
In 2015 she took the next step in her legal career by working in public service for the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). Hired as the Deputy General Counsel of Labor and Employment, she was soon promoted to Senior Deputy General Counsel. She also served as the Acting Executive Vice President of Human Resources. In these capacities she strived to improve the lives of those working for and being served by PHA.
As a lawyer, Judge Barish tried cases in both State and Federal Courts, and amicably settled hundreds of cases. She also served as an Arbitrator and Mediator for both the Federal and State Courts.
Throughout her legal career, Judge Barish has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion. She has prioritized the hiring, retention and promotion of attorneys and staff who have historically not always been given these opportunities.
Judge Barish also gives back to her community through volunteer work. She served on the Boards of Career Wardrobe, the Settlement School of Music in Willow Grove, the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, and Help Hope Live. In addition, she served as an elected Democratic Committeeperson in the 5th Ward and an elected member of the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors. She also can frequently be found volunteering as a “therapy human” for the dogs up for adoption at Doggie Style Pets!
Judge Barish’s path to the bench has been a long one and she has gained countless friends and supporters along the way. It was this tremendous support that resulted in her receiving the highest number of votes in her race in the November 2021 General Election.
Blew Kind
Blew Kind is a mother, artist, and entrepreneur. She was born and raised in Virginia then moved to Philadelphia for performance school in 2006. She is a lover of the African diaspora, poetry, sustainable business, and bridging gaps between people groups, providing safe spaces to explore, deepen, and be healthy. Blew Kind understands the importance of balanced community to thrive as families and individuals, creating space for self -awareness and self -care. She has owned coffeehouse spaces for more than a decade and is excited to start more generative and creative businesses; and
Blew Kind is the founder and co-owner of Franny Lou’s Porch, a coffee, tea, and community space named in honor of Frances EW Harper and Fannie Lou Hamer. Blew is also Founder and Executive Director of rad.Love which creates, facilitates, and supports programs and resources for marginalized communities including families, elders, black, brown, LGBTQ, low income and special needs in the realm of business, life, education, and the arts in Philadelphia.
Blew Kind is Founder and Owner of Kokuroko, a diasporic and creative educational platform raising free community members living in harmony with each other and the earth. She is also Founder and Owner of Oguyo Consulting, partnering and assisting black and brown folks who are starting businesses or need help with creative opportunities and connection to resources.
Trang Do
Trang Do is a Philadelphia native and Emmy-nominated veteran broadcast journalist, who is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at Rutgers University School of Law. Prior to attending law school, she was a general assignment reporter and fill-in anchor at CBS3 Eyewitness News. Trang’s broadcasting career took her across the United States from Capitol Hill to Huntsville, Ala., to Baltimore, Md., and places in-between. Trang attended Philadelphia public schools from kindergarten through the 12th grade and is a proud alumna of H.A. Brown Elementary, Conwell Middle Magnet School, and Central High School.
Trang was a Mayor’s Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication and a minor in Spanish. She then went on to complete a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, earning the Harrington Award, a faculty-bestowed honor based on journalistic promise and high scholastic achievement. As a product of the School District of Philadelphia, Trang is passionate about supporting public schools and access to education.
She continues to host events and emcee fundraisers for various community organizations, including The Wardrobe, Melmark, and Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. Trang lives with her husband and two sons in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, where she grew up.
Emily Bittenbender
Emily Bittenbender is the Owner and Managing Partner of Bittenbender Construction, LP. Bittenbender Construction, LP is a 100% woman-owned and operated Commercial General Contractor and Construction Management firm specializing in New Construction, Interior and Exterior Renovations, Tenant Fit- Out, and Restoration projects. Emily Bittenbender’s career focus has always been the Design, Construction and Renovations of public buildings and spaces. Early in her career she was hired by the Rendell Administration to jump start the paralyzed system of completing over 300 back-logged capital construction projects within city government.
As Philadelphia’s first Capital Program Director for the CPO, Emily was charged with the responsibility of bringing private sector business practices to the city and completed $454 million of capital projects in 3 and a half years. In January 2000, Emily was hired as the Vice President of Design and Construction for the National Constitution Center to lead a team once again in the Design and Construction of a $137 million dollar museum in Independence Mall.
In 2015, The Philadelphia chapter of the General Building Contractors Association named Emily L. Bittenbender as its new chairwoman — the first female to hold the top post in the organization’s 124-year history. In 2016, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce awarded Emily with Paradigm Award, the region’s most prestigious award for businesswomen. Emily currently sits on the following boards: The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Paradigm Award Committee, the GBCA Executive Committee, The GBCA Diversity Committee, M&T Bank Director’s Advisory Council, and more. This past Fall, Bittenbender Construction, LP was ranked #3 on the “The List” for Women-Owned Businesses by the Philadelphia Business Journal – based on Company Revenue in 2021.
Aimee Thrasher-Hanson
Aimee Thrasher-Hanson moved to Philadelphia in 2005 and immediately became involved in the community by volunteering for both the Fishtown Neighbors Association and the Olde Richmond Civic Association for many of their events, including the River City Festival, Kensington Sculpture Derby, Shad Fest, Meet Your Neighbors party, and more neighborhood events than you can count. She is also a founding member of the Friends of Hackett Elementary; and
She has worked as a librarian for the Free Library of Philadelphia for over 16 years and has served the communities of Fishtown and Kensington in that capacity for much of that time. She lives in Kensington with her partner and two children.
Lois M. Arnold
Lois M. Arnold was the CEO and owner of the prominent Itno-J University City Salon and Spa Inc. at 4012 Market Street in Philadelphia. She retired from hair and sold the business in 2008 after thirty-three years of being a shop owner. She then opened the Philadelphia ChemoCap Store at 764 S. 4th Street in July 2009. In 2011, she was advised by a marketing company to change the name to Lois A. Wig Boutique.
During that time, she was fitting and styling wigs for women going through chemotherapy and other illnesses that cause hair loss. She also volunteered with hospitals teaching women how to wear a wig properly as well as providing scarf tying tips. Lois worked with the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Good Program” until it ended in 2015. Although she was not a non-profit, she offered discounted wigs for cancer patients that were in need, later deciding to become a 501c3 non-profit. Lois changed the name to Hairs 2 U Wig Bank and moved to a bigger location at 760 S. 4th Street.
Lois recently celebrated 50 years as a licensed cosmetologist. As the CEO of Hairs 2 U Wig Bank, she brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to those who wear wigs because they need to or because they want to. Lois also specializes in the needs of those with medical problems like cancer, alopecia, premature balding, and hair thinning, even teaching about this type of special care at local hospitals. Lois treats each client in a loving way and with the dignity they deserve. She feels privileged to see joy return to her clients’ lives when they feel most vulnerable.
Lois understands the work of experts in Mind-Body and Spirit Medicine and their view that every part of our being is important. She believes that her work helping clients look and feel better is part of that medicine. Lois believes that improving self-confidence and image improves emotional and spiritual health as well, benefiting their mood, attitudes, recovery, and outlook.
Krista Yutzy-Burkey
Krista Yutzy-Burkey is the owner, Executive Director, and creator of PlayArts, an arts and enrichment center located in South Kensington. Krista is a veteran teacher, having taught for 16 years in the Philadelphia school system. She holds a degree in music (harp) from Goshen College, earned her K-12 Music Education certification from Eastern University, and earned a Level II certification in Orff Schulwerk, a play-based approach to Music education, which inspired the concept for PlayArts. Krista is a 2019 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and enjoys partnering with other women-owned businesses in her community. Krista also volunteers as a Community Representative on the School Advisory Committee for Alexander Adaire Elementary, a Philadelphia Public School.
Krista opened PlayArts in 2016, with the mission to provide a beautiful, educational community space for children, parents, and caregivers. PlayArts has since expanded its services to include an arts-immersion preschool, parent workshops, and offsite after school programming at local public schools, offering free and reduced tuition to under-resourced families in those schools.
PlayArts has received multiple awards for its unique, thoughtful, and sustainable design and its innovative business model, including a Grand Jury Award from The Preservation Alliance, the Groundbreaker Award from The Delaware Valley Green Building Council and a “Best of Philly” award from Philadelphia Magazine. Under her leadership, PlayArts has become an essential resource and an iconic business in the neighborhood parenting community.
Krista received her love of early childhood education from her mom and her entrepreneurial spirit from her dad. These days, Krista spends less time teaching, practicing, and making music, but loves her role as a business owner and manager of the world’s greatest staff. When she’s not at PlayArts, you can find her playing card games or reading with her son, Milo, or planning dinner parties with her ever-talented husband (and PlayArts designer/builder), Steve
Rhea Powell
Rhea Powell is a resident of the Queen Village neighborhood where she lives with her family. She is a primary care physician and health policy researcher focused on improving health care. She is the parent of two children at Meredith School and an advocate for safe and well-funded schools. She also is a Democratic State Committee member and a City Committee person for the 2nd Ward, where she is active in educating voters about elections and getting out the vote. In her free time Rhea enjoys running along the Delaware River and supporting the many wonderful restaurants in our city.
Amber Burns
Amber Burns is a writer and content creator living in Philadelphia. A proud #TempleMade alum, she has loved growing her brand and career in the City of Brotherly Love.
Amber first began creating content as a high school senior. Since then, she has grown her blog and expanded to creating on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Her perspectives, book recommendations and storytelling style has helped her amass a following of over 15,000 engaged community members
Amber is the host of the Podcast, Thank You For Asking, which launched in March of 2021 and has received tens of thousands of downloads worldwide. The show focuses on having authentic conversations to make listeners feel less alone.
Priscilla Lo
Originally from Hong Kong, Priscilla Lo relocated to Philadelphia from New York City in 2004. She is an advertising research executive with Publicis Health Media, a media advertising agency in the health and wellness category. She started volunteering with the McCall Home & School Association in 2015 when her son entered kindergarten and worked her way to the role of HSA President in the spring of 2021. In February of 2021, she founded a parent-led grassroots advocacy group called “Philadelphians for Open Schools” to advocate for an end to virtual learning in Philadelphia public schools, when schools around the country started opening for in-person learning. In addition to her advocacy work, she sings with the Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, one of the oldest choruses in the country, and serves on its Board of Directors. In the Fall of 2021, she joined the Board of Managers of the Philadelphia City Institute, whose primary role is to support our local libraries and their programming to improve literacy among kids and youth of Philadelphia
Christine Jacobs
Christine Jacobs is an experienced executive with over 30 years of broad functional and management experience, which included managing power plants across the US and leading pharmaceutical production plants in North and South America. She raised three children in the Philadelphia suburbs but when the children were independent, she elected to retire early and use her leadership skills and passions in new ways. Moving to Philadelphia has enabled her to try new things. Christine holds a BS in Industrial Engineering and an MBA from Stanford University. She is an enthusiastic learner and traveler, having visited all 50 states and over 100 countries.
Christine is on the Board of the People’s Emergency Center in Philadelphia. Christine joined the Finance committee to apply her budgeting, forecasting and operations leadership skills in managing housing options for the homeless and for community development. She is now the Chair of the Finance Committee and has led their investment management process and has helped them bring about legal compliance. Throughout her career Christine worked to change perceptions of women in leadership and she continues to talk to groups about the continued need to level the playing field for women. She is a co-founder and Executive Director of Represent PA, a PAC supporting the election of more women to the PA legislature, and she is the Treasurer of its Federal PAC.
Lucy Erdelac
Lucy Erdelac is Executive Director of Queen Village Neighbors Association. Since 2018, she has channeled her nonprofit experience, marketing expertise, and entrepreneurial know-how to reinvigorate and grow this 52-year-old organization, positioning it for even greater community impact through its volunteer-driven mission. Today, QVNA is stronger than ever in helping improve quality of life by delivering community stewardship, advocacy, and service. Service and its value to others have been a continuing theme for Lucy.
Her first job, as a congressional staff caseworker, entailed helping solve constituents’ problems by cutting through government red tape. For her, that experience proved the value of service through advocacy and perseverance. While the discipline of marketing fed her entrepreneurial spirit, Lucy craved the grounding that only volunteerism can fill. An invitation to create and teach agency management courses for a Villanova certificate program helped satisfy her desire to give back in service to adults preparing for a new career. Service and its value to others are ever-changing.
On the volunteer front, she expanded her focus to serve as a marketing consultant and writer for nonprofits. For more than a decade, Lucy volunteered her time and expertise through the Philadelphia Arts + Business Council. As a result of a successful public relations promotion for a small theater group, Lucy was honored with the Council’s Volunteer of the Year Award at its annual business luncheon. Another volunteer marketing project led to an invitation to join the Board of Directors of Art-Reach. Its nonprofit mission resonated with Lucy -- Art-Reach shares access to the joy of arts and culture by serving people who otherwise would not have that experience. Lucy co-chaired the Art-Reach board for nine years, helped guide its growth, and led the organization’s search for an Executive Director when the founder retired.
Her next career brought a reversal of roles. Now serving as Executive Director of a nonprofit, she found herself working with clients who were themselves volunteers. As chief staff officer for a nonprofit association of self-employed professional organizers, Lucy led the implementation of an aggressive strategic plan that included the integration of new technology to bring the association into the 21st century. For her achievements, Lucy was presented with the Special Service to the National Association of Professional Organizers Award for her vision, commitment, and perseverance. Lucy’s strategic vision, commitment, and perseverance are now focused on the work of QVNA: working closely with its Board of Directors and an ever-growing cadre of volunteers and guiding the implementation of its mission of improving quality of life for community residents.
Chastity Fogel-Houston
Chastity Fogel-Houston is a longtime resident of Northern Liberties. She is the CEO of No Libs Nannies, a company that provides a blanket of services, securely covering all childcare service needs including newborn care, nannies, babysitters, and family assistants.
She is also a Board Member of the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association and a Judge of Elections in Ward 5, Division 32. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting, planning events, cooking, traveling with her family, and doing whatever she can to better the neighborhood.
Jessica Craft
After working in financial services, Jessica Craft founded Rock to the Future (RocktotheFuture.org) in 2010 with the mission of supporting current and life-long wellbeing for Philadelphia youth through free, student-driven music programs. She believes in the power of music to change lives and that arts should be accessible. A Temple University graduate with a degree in Business Administration and Economics, Jessica has been featured in the New York Times, named a Local Leader at the PA Conference for Women, and received the Designing Leadership award from the Arts and Business Council of Philadelphia.
Katherine Levins
As chief lobbyist for the Temple University Health System, Katherine Levins works to preserve access to the highest quality of health care for its North Philadelphia and Riverward communities and medical education to build the next generation of healthcare professionals.
She is also a leader in Temple Health’s efforts to ensure equitable healthcare for our communities throughout the pandemic, bring accessible health services for women into our diverse neighborhoods and to build innovative partnerships that create affordable housing for seniors, families, and those with substance use disorders.
Katherine Levins has worked tirelessly in her current role as well as in her educational pursuits, continuously improving upon her knowledge and expertise.
Education:
Temple University School of Law, JD, August 1994
Temple University School of Business, MBA, August 1994
Widener University School of Business, BS, May 1983
Bar Admissions: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania & Supreme Court of New Jersey
Rosaline Yang
Rosaline Yang currently serves as the Operations Manager and Youth Program Coordinator, bringing more than four years of management, program, and community engagement experience to the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC). Rosaline is responsible for managing PCDC’s most recent affordable housing development, N. 12th Family Homes, which added 13 units in 2019 to a community facing increasing gentrification and displacement.
As the Youth Program Coordinator, Rosaline is responsible for organizing and implementing after school programming serving 250+ AAPI youth annually. In addition, Rosaline assists with Crane Community Center management, Chinatown’s first community center and hub for PCDC programs, recreation, learning, and culture. Rosaline leads the weekly Chinatown Food Distribution events at Crane, helping to increase food security for over 500 families with over 5,000 lbs. of fresh produce, shelf stable items, and culturally appropriate food per week.
Rosaline first joined PCDC in 2017 as the Special Projects and Marketing Intern. In this role, she supported PCDC’s annual YeShi Night Market attracting over 20,000 visitors, event planning and coordination, marketing outreach, and civic engagement efforts. In 2018, Rosaline transitioned into a full-time role as the Youth Program Manager, which provided her the exciting opportunity to increase community impact, recruit youth, engage residents, as well as lead scheduling, programming, and promotion initiatives.
Mariana Hernandez
Mariana Hernandez was born in El Mirador Ixtacamaxtitlán Mexico in 1978 and has always been a master of the stove. Drawing from the roots of her Abuela Victoria’s cooking, Mariana strives to preserve her experiences and traditions from both of their grandmothers. Mariana enjoys cooking tamales, sopes, tortillas, salsas and moles. She is committed to sharing her experiences, heritage and dishes with others in a way that is both satisfying and comforting.
Mariana brought her culinary skills and expertise to Philadelphia in 2006 with Julio Riviera, her champion and partner. They married in 2019 and have two children Christian and Juan. Her family currently lives in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. Her efforts to provide traditional Mexican cuisine in the style of Puebla and Mexico City to Philadelphia should be commended. From passing down the inspiration their grandmothers gave them to providing an authentic and cultural experience to surviving and growing during the COVID-19 crisis, the never say die spirit of Mariana Hernandez has led to a thriving and growing endeavor which in the words of Mariana Hernandez “shows our full potential.”
Her phenomenal experiences and childhood is best summed up by Mariana who says, “These special times always centered around good food. With immigration and the layers of generations that follow, that experience can sometimes be lost in translation.” Mariana Hernandez continues to translate her traditions and cultural heritage through delicious food for future generations and customers to come.
Ellen Yin
Ellen Yin is Co-founder and Owner of High Street Hospitality Group which operates some of the country’s most celebrated dining establishments including a. kitchen + bar, Fork, High Street Philly, The Wonton Project, and High Street Provisions in Philadelphia and High Street on Hudson, in Manhattan. She is a multi-year nominee including this year for “Outstanding Restaurateur” by the James Beard Foundation Awards and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Yin is involved in several community-centric organizations including the Sisterly Love Collective, Independent Restaurant Coalition, and sits on the Board of “The Philadelphia Award,” among others.
Molly Parzen
Molly Parzen currently serves as Interim Executive Director at Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania, the statewide political voice for the environment. As Interim Executive Director, she works with her team to elect environmentally responsible candidates to state and local offices, advocate for strong environmental policies, and hold our elected officials accountable to safeguard the health of our communities, the beauty of our state, and the strength of our economy.
Ms. Parzen has worked at CVPA for over 10 years, previously serving as the Assistant Director and Development Director. Before working for CVPA, she worked as a campaign manager and finance director for political campaigns in the greater Philadelphia area. She has worked for candidates at every level from local County Council to Congress.
Jessica O’Neill
Jessica O’Neill and her family have resided in the 175th since 2007. Jessica is an environmental lawyer who has worked for the federal government, first for the EPA and later as an Assistant United States Attorney, and in private practice. Jessica is now a Senior Attorney at Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, a statewide organization that works to protect our air, water, and land and empower citizens to build sustainable communities for future generations. She focuses on water quality and watershed protection, as well issues related to the petrochemical and fracking industries that threaten our health and environment across Pennsylvania.
Jessica serves on the board of NL Arts, a community arts organization that inspires children to be creative thinkers and to value community through arts education. Jessica also serves as the president of Friends of Adaire, a non-profit organization supporting Alexander Adaire Elementary School in Fishtown. For the past five years, Jessica has also been involved with local elections, and currently serves as the Judge of Elections for Ward 5, Division 34. Jessica enjoys spending time in her community garden in beautiful Liberty Lands Park with her children.
Amal Bass
Amal Bass serves as the Director of Policy and Advocacy and an attorney at the Women’s Law Project. She provides legal representation and engages in public policy advocacy in a variety of areas, including pregnancy/caretaking discrimination and accommodation, Title IX athletic equity and sexual harassment, reproductive rights, and employment rights. She was chair of the Pennsylvania Campaign for Women’s Health, among Billy Penn’s “Who’s Next: Law,” and a former co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Women’s Rights Committee. Amal received her BA from Yale College and her JD from Harvard Law School.
We should always remember the words of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who inspires and challenges us daily to “fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Thank you so much to each honoree for her efforts, example and lasting contributions to our community, the Commonwealth and all around the world.
May you inspire future generations of women leaders to celebrate, honor, and treasure their history as well as make their own.