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Power Moves: Nina Ahmad has resigned as deputy mayor to run for Congress

Nina Ahmad at a 2015 press conference. November 30, 2017 Category: ColumnFeaturedLongPeople

Disclosures

Editor's note: The description of Don Hinkle-Brown's role at the Federal Advisory Board has been clarified. (11/30, 10:40 p.m.)

Power Moves is a semi-regular column chronicling leadership movements within Philly’s social impact community. Send announcements to philly@generocity.org.


1. Nina Ahmad has resigned as deputy mayor to run for Congress.

The city’s deputy mayor for public engagement resigned this morning amidst rumors she would be declaring a run against the First Congressional District’s Bob Brady, the recently embattled Philadelphia Democratic Party’s chairman.

City & State PA broke the news that she would be resigning last night. Ahmad confirmed her run today, telling Philly.com she would focus her campaign on diversity and inclusion: “People are ready for a change,” she said.

Generocity talked with Ahmad last year about the Office of Public Engagement’s launch of the Millennial Advisory Committee, a cohort of Philadelphia residents ages 23 to 34 formed in early 2017 to advise policymakers on issues important to them and their peers.

Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement this morning thanking Ahmad for her work:

“Since the start of my administration, Nina has been instrumental in connecting with the City’s key constituencies. She has overseen the Office of Black Male Engagement, the Philadelphia Commission for Women, the Millennial Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males, the Philadelphia Youth Commission and the Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs. Nina also helped shepherd the first ever 2017 State of Women and Girls in Philadelphia summit and report.

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“We thank Nina for her diligent service to the City, and wish her well on her future endeavors.”

GreenLight Fund Philadelphia ED Omar Woodard was also mulling a run for Congress earlier this year but has not formally declared. He did not return a request for comment on Thursday morning.

<em>DeAnna Minus-Vincent. (Courtesy photo)</em>

DeAnna Minus-Vincent. (Courtesy photo)

2. Benefit Data Trust’s DeAnna Minus-Vincent is getting into politics.

Sort of: The chief engagement officer of the Center City nonprofit that connects low-income people with public benefits has been named to New Jersey governor-elect Phil Murphy’s budget transition team.

“As a lifelong New Jerseyan, I am passionate about making the state better for my neighbors,” Minus-Vincent wrote in an email. “Each and every one. I hope that my diverse experiences will make me an asset to the team as we brainstorm solutions to tackle really tough issues.”

Minus-Vincent has worked in the nonprofit and government sector for over 20 years, including three years as director of the Office of Institutional Advancement at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton.

3. Ariella Cohen is leaving Next City for PlanPhilly.

The editor-in-chief of the national urban policy news site will become the local urban planning news site’s managing editor on Jan. 2. Cohen will replace PlanPhilly transportation reporter Jim Saksa, who has worked as interim managing editor since Ashley Hahn’s departure in June. Saksa will remain on staff.

Next City is hiring an editorial director in her stead: Check out the job description here.

<em>Don Hinkle-Brown. (Courtesy photo)</em>

Don Hinkle-Brown. (Courtesy photo)

4. Reinvestment Fund’s Don Hinkle-Brown will help advise the Federal Reserve Board.

The Philly CDFI’s president and CEO will join the Community Advisory Council of the United States’ central bank’s board in 2018.

The council advises the board on policy issues and “is composed of a diverse group of experts and representatives of consumer, workforce, and community development organizations and interests, including from such fields as affordable housing, economic development, labor, small business, and asset and wealth building.”

Hinkle-Brown received the “Asset Manager of the Year” award from the Global Social Impact Investment Steering Group (GSG), an international organization that oversees national advisory boards focused on impact investing, on behalf of Reinvestment Fund this summer.

<em>Dr. Julie E. Wollman. (Courtesy photo)</em>

Dr. Julie E. Wollman. (Courtesy photo)

5. Widener’s president has joined Global Philadelphia Association’s board.

Dr. Julie E. Wollman joins the likes of GreenLight’s Woodard, Global Philadelphia ED Zabeth Teelucksingh and Visit Philly CEO Meryl Levitz.

“At Widener, our mission includes preparing our students to become global citizens,” Wollman said in a statement. “I know these kinds of experiences build awareness and skills that are vital for our graduates’ success so I am pleased to take on this new leadership role in advancing the region’s global profile and reach.”

6. Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau’s head will co-chair this national business coalition.

PHLCVB President and CEO Julie Coker Graham has been named named co-chair of Meetings Mean Business, a national coalition of business leaders to highlight the importance of trade shows, conventions and the like.

She is the first African American woman to serve in this position and will begin her term in January.

<em>Julie Coker Graham. (Courtesy photo)</em>

Julie Coker Graham. (Courtesy photo)

7. Cranaleith Spiritual Center has a new ED.

Charlene Flaherty joined the Somerton-based nonprofit conference and retreat center in early November. She previously worked as the Southwest director for the national Corporation for Supportive Housing in Arizona.

8. The Pennsylvania Ballet picked Shelly Power as its new executive director.

Power joins the $12 million arts nonprofit after holding leadership positions at Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland and Houston Ballet Academy. She replaces David Gray, the org’s head for three years before his June departure.

Power takes the helm after a tough few years at ballet, including dancer layoffs and staff departures.

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