Cheryl Thompson-Morton is a Program Manager at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. In this role Cheryl supports the Institute’s mission to invest in and develop programming for individuals and institutions that create a more equitable news ecosystem in Philadelphia.Cheryl leads Lenfest’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy. This work centers on four areas of focus: support for individual journalists of color; investment in media enterprises founded by people of color; diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in mainstream outlets; and collaboration between players in the Philadelphia news ecosystem. Current programs include the Lenfest Next Generation Fund, the Community Listening and Engagement Fund, and the Philadelphia News Ecosystem Collaboration Grant Program.
Prior to her work at the Institute, she worked at the Camden County Police Foundation as an Outreach Coordinator, where she worked to build relationships between the community and the foundation to cultivate support.
Cheryl graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University.
"We have to recognize we haven’t gotten it right and that getting different voices in the room is not enough," says guest columnist Cheryl Thompson-Morton.
Philanthropy has the ability to repair and evolve itself, but only in relationship with communities, say guest columnists Cheryl Thompson-Morton, Roxann Stafford and Nuala Cabral.