LEADERSHIP Philadelphia just announced its Connectors and Keepers class of 2018

LEADERSHIP Philadelphia launched its Connectors and Keepers program two years ago as a way to connect professional up-and-comers to each other and the city in the hopes of encouraging them to stay for the long haul.

The seven-month, invite-only program involves team building, professional development sessions and community service projects.

Yesterday, the 2017-2018 cohort was announced, and as with previous years, there are plenty of familiar names for the social impact crowd.

We spy, among others, Philly Geek Awards co-organizer Neil Bardhan; APIARY magazine cofounder Lillian Dunn; Code for Philly head Dawn McDougall and Philadelphia FIGHT comms pro Evon Burton.

(Hefty disclaimer: This editor is on the list, and several Technically Media-affiliated folks have been associated with the program in the past.)

Social impact orgs are represented well, too: Peep names from Back on My Feet, Urban Affairs Coalition, Children’s Literacy Initiative and CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia.

But what jumps out most is the number of technologists represented, such as FixList founder Stacey Mosley and Stimulus founder Tiffanie Stanard. LEADERSHIP Philadelphia CEO Liz Dow said that was intentional.

Technology “is an important segment of the economy and underrepresented in Core [LEADERSHIP Philadelphia’s more intensive seminar program for mid-level professionals] because many tech people believe that they do not have the time or funds to take the class,” she wrote in an email. “The Keeper class does not require the same level of financial or time commitment, so we bring that sector into our alumni ranks by including more tech people in the Keeper class.”

As for what she’s most excited by, Dow named the group’s diversity.

“We are intentional about recruiting for diversity of all kinds,” she said. “We want to build bridges between sectors and people who would not normally intersect. We are thrilled with the variety of people in this class.”

Here’s the full 2017-2018 cohort:

• Neil Bardhan — Founder, Bardhan Consulting
• Evon Burton — Marketing and Outreach Supervisor, Philadelphia FIGHT
• Evan Cantiello — National Program Director, Back on My Feet
• Nigel Charles — Community Development Assistant, LISC
• Adara Combs — Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
• Danielle Cooper-Williams — Director of Equity & Cultural Proficiency, KIPP Philadelphia Schools
• Andrew Dalzell — Chief of Staff to Rep. Jared Solomon, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Darrell Davis — Manager, Local Government and Civic Affairs, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
• Rebecca Davis — Manager, Oyster House
• Casandra Dominguez — Manager of Business Retention & Retail Attraction, Center City District
• Lillian Dunn — SPACES Artist Residency Program Manager, Village of Arts and Humanities
• Muhga Eltigani — Founder, NaturAll Club
• Laura Fielden — Buyer, A.C. Moore
• Allison Frick — Director of Outreach and Education, The Hacktory
• Emma Fried-Cassorla — Owner, Point of Origin
• Katherine Gilmore Richardson — Chief of Staff, Philadelphia City Council
• Kevin Gold — Program Director, Education Plus Health
• Vincent Gumbs — Project Manager, Urban Affairs Coalition
• Amara Madu Hahn — Sr. Director Human Resources, Comcast
• Erica Hope — Managing Partner, Wishbone Restaurant LLC
• Frank Iannuzzi — Legislative Director, Office of Councilman Derek Green
• Kimberly King — Lighting Specialist, CS Illumination
• Mark Kuhn — CEO, Oat Foundry
• Christian Kunkel — CEO, Slate
• Brendan Lowry — Founder, Rory Creative
• Danielle Mancinelli — Early Literacy Specialist, Children’s Literacy Initative
• Katie Martin — Senior Associate, The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Dawn McDougall — Operations Manager, PromptWorks
• Brenna McGinnis — Evaluation and Hospitality Collaborative Manager, Broad Street Ministry
• Antoinette Minor — Program Manager, Clarifi
• Stacey Mosley — Founder and CEO, FixList
• Sarah Mueller — Founder and Director, cineSPEAK : alternative cinema
• Jordan Parisse-Ferrarini — Executive Director, Trades for a Difference
• Rachael Pritzker — Legislative Council, Office of Councilman Allan Domb
• Caitlin Quigley — Director of Communications, Office of Councilmember Helen Gym
• Abby Rambo — Community Relations Director to Rep. Brian Sims, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Kathryn Epps Roberson — Cofounder, AEC Partners
• Pamela Selle — Software Engineering Lead, IOpipe
• David Silver — Founder and President, REC Philly
• Joshua Silverbauer — CEO, Grue & Bleen
• Kiera Smalls — Marketing Manager, Indego Bike Share
• Jamaine Smith — Senior Community Experience Director, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia
• Vanessa Snyder — Attorney, The Axelrod Firm, PC
• Tiffanie Stanard — Founder and CEO, Stimulus
• Saadiq Stewart — President, Ampersand Risk Managment
• Reginald Streater — President, Temple Law Student Bar Association, Temple Law School
• Shahrukh Tarapore — Head of Engineering, Arcweb Technologies
• Michael Tedeschi — Owner, Interactive Mechanics
• Jessie Tettemer — Independent PR and Content Marketing Specialist
• Jonathan Todd — Director of Talent Development, Department of Commerce, City of Philadelphia
• Lauren Vague — Business Development Manager, UpLift Solutions
• Justin Victor — Attorney, Morgan Lewis
• Phillip Waller — Community Strategist, Advanced Manufacturing, SecondMuse
• Adrienne Webb — Community Relations Coordinator, WHYY
• Sarah Wengryniuk — Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Temple University
• Julie Zeglen — Generocity Editor, Technically Media