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Executive Director & Founder

She/Her

Hillary Do

  • Hillary is a Central High School alumnus (class of 272!) who graduated from Harvard in 2017 with a degree in Social Studies and Computer Science. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was a Leadership for Society Scholar. She has a background in civic technology, local government, community organizing, and business strategy. She dreams of a Philadelphia where every neighborhood thrives, led by the people living in them.

Deputy Executive Director

She/Her

Jude Husein

  • Jude Husein is a passionate advocate for underserved communities. Born in Jerusalem and raised in North Philadelphia, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s in Strategic Communication from La Salle University. A TEDx speaker and Pew Emerging Leaders Corps alum, Jude contributes to various civic and community initiatives focused on equity and representation.

    She was named one of the 2025 Arab America Foundation 30 Under 30 and honored as Activist of the Year by The Philadelphia Citizen for her leadership in political advocacy, strategic planning, and grassroots organizing across the Commonwealth.

Learning & Evaluation Manager

He/Him

Jalen Belgrave

  • Jalen is a graduate from Elizabethtown College, where he received his B.A. in Legal Studies with minors in Communication, Data Analytics, and Economics. While at Elizabethtown, Jalen founded the Elizabethtown College Chapter of the NAACP along with the Social and Civic Leadership Academy, which helped motivate at-risk high school students to pursue a college education. He also developed a financial literacy program to help high students become connected with resources to plan their journey for college readiness and success. Jalen seeks to positively impact communities by empowering people of color to be agents of social change through peacemaking and social justice. Jalen also received his Masters in Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. He is excited to use his past experiences and interests to further the work being done at PhillyBOLT!


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Youth Program Educator

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Sullena Staton

  • Sullena, a Philadelphia native and Northeast High School alum, is a University of Pittsburgh graduate who competed in Division I track and field. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences, which she now uses to promote all-around healthy living.

    She volunteers in Haiti, providing wellness education and resources to underserved communities. Most recently, she launched Rising Athletes Tumble Gym with the R.A.C.E. Foundation, focusing on youth empowerment through fitness and mentorship. As a dedicated community leader, Sullena continues to guide the next generation through Bolt's Youth Program, sharing her knowledge, skills, and life experiences to help others thrive.

Operations Associate

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Jennifer Lie

  • Jennifer was born and raised in South Philly and stays deeply connected to her community through organizing local events that bring people together. Currently studying sonography, she’s passionate about creating spaces where Philly youth can learn, grow, and thrive. Jennifer hopes to use her skills and experiences to give back to the city that shaped her.

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Accountant

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Janalyn Guo

  • Janalyn is a CPA and the founder of Vested Gator, a consulting business that aims to make financial literacy and management accessible to nonprofits and small arts organizations, so that they can have the fiscal tools and skills they need to flourish. She loves working with artists and activists fighting for positive change in their communities. She lives in South Philly and enjoys writing, going to plays, and eating her way through Chinatown. 

Special Projects Intern (BOLT Alumni)

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Andrea Lie

  • Andrea is a student at Swarthmore College studying Engineering and Computer Science. She was born and raised in South Philly where she joined BOLT during a city wide discussion with city representatives about what mattered to the youth. She hopes to carry this drive and value throughout her career.

Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)

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Sayda Adiba

  • Sayda Adiba (she/her) is a Health Sciences major at Drexel University with hopes of becoming a pediatric physician assistant. Born and raised in West Philly, she joined BOLT in 2023 and found a space to grow as a leader and advocate. Through BOLT, Sayda deepened her commitment to youth voice and community empowerment. She hopes to share her experiences with others and inspire more young people to get involved in shaping the future of their city.

Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)

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Gianna Tran

  • Gianna Tran (she/her) is a freshman at Temple University majoring in Chemistry on a pre-dental track. She aspires to become a pediatric dentist to improve healthcare access for children in low-income communities. Growing up in Southwest Philadelphia, she witnessed various barriers that have impacted many families, including her own. These experiences have shaped her passion for civic engagement and community organizing. She has worked with local organizations to promote educational equity, environmental justice, and youth empowerment. Gianna hopes to inspire others to create systemic change. 

Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)

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Faustine Gultom

  • Faustine is a student at Thomas Jefferson University studying Health Sciences. She is passionate about youth leadership and helping young people recognize the power in their voices. Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Faustine became involved in community work through programs that centered youth empowerment. Through BOLT, she hopes to continue uplifting and advocating for youth voices.

Mikaela Zimmerman Headshot

Program Support Coordinator

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Mikaela Zimmerman

  • Mikaela was born and raised in Appalachian central Pennsylvania. She studied sociology and criminology at The Pennsylvania State University and West Virginia University where she earned her Ph.D. in 2022. She specializes in systemic injustice, equity-based research, and actionable insight consultation. She has led projects examining rural political identity, dialogic conflict, collateral consequences to incarceration, and has provided expert testimony on racial impacts of proposed State legislation. She served in WVU's first Social Justice Research Fellowship cohort, supported labor rights in rural WV with the Office of Budget and Policy, and co-founded WVU's graduate student union. She is passionate about connecting others, solving complex problems, and being an advocate.

Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)

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Ashley Tellez

  • Ashley (she/her) is a Health Professions major at Temple University with a deep passion for empowering youth across Philadelphia. She has collaborated with numerous organizations advocating for immigrants' rights and creating safe, inclusive spaces for young people. Through her work with BOLT, Ashley continues this mission—believing that fostering safety and belonging is key to helping youth recognize their power and potential as future community leaders! 

Our Board of Directors

Danielle LaGuerre

Trusts and Estates Associate
Bank of America

  • Danielle LaGuerre was born and raised in Philadelphia by her amazing parents who migrated from Haiti. She is a proud product of the Philadelphia Public School System. Some of her best years in the public school system were spent at the only high school for girls, Girls High. She attended East Stroudsburg University on a full academic scholarship, obtaining a B.S in Political Science and it’s where she discovered her love for philanthropy and volunteering. She has a J.D from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, graduating with the Leadership Achievement Award. She also has a Tax LLM/Estate Planning Certificate from Temple University Beasley School of Law. She is currently an AVP, Wealth Strategies Associate for Bank of America’s Wealth Strategies Group. In addition to BOLT, Danielle is involved with Philly VIP and the Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center handling pro bono cases for members of her community.

Pedro Rodriguez

Community Organizer
Various

  • Pedro is a lifetime community organizer who most recently served as Director of Partnerships for the Mayor’s “Philly Counts” (census completion) initiative

Mike Lee

Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania

  • Mike Lee  is the ACLU of Pennsylvania as executive director. A born and raised Philadelphian, Mike is a proud alumni of Central High School (259). He served for six years in the administration of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, as director of government affairs, supervisor of adult diversion, and chief of staff. Mike founded and served as executive director of Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, a nonprofit legal aid firm that helps change the narrative around criminal records through direct legal service, advocacy, and education. In his early years practicing law, he specialized in criminal defense and had a number of clients who had been prosecuted during the Occupy protests. Mike was also a regular legal observer, including during the G20 protests in Pittsburgh in 2009. 

    Mike is a graduate of George Washington University with a degree in communications and was part of the inaugural class at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law in 2006. 

Ngan Tran

Director of Multicultural Affairs City of Philadelphia

  • Ngan Tran serves as the Director of Multicultural Affairs for the Office of Immigrant Affairs in the City of Philadelphia. She is experienced in Operations and Non-profit management and graduated with a Bachelor's degree focused in Political Science and Sociology from Lehigh University.

Puja Upadhyay

Attorney
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.

  • Puja is a lifelong Philadelphian and Central High School alumnus (272). She has a background in health policy, public health, and public interest law. Puja is interested in improving the social determinants of health for underserved communities. Today, she does employment law and commercial litigation.

Reuben Jones

Executive Director
Frontline Dads

  • Reuben is the founder of Frontline Dads which provides mentoring, leadership development and comprehensive support to “at-risk” youth, single fathers, and formerly incarcerated citizens.

T. Leslie O'Rourke

VP Acquisition Marketing Strategy JP Morgan Chase

  • T. Leslie O'Rourke, a Philadelphia resident and native of Indianapolis, IN, is a dynamic professional with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Wilmington University. With over 12 years in the financial services industry, Leslie is an adept marketer and relationship manager. Her passion is to serve the community, something that was cultivated since adolescence. In addition to BOLT, Leslie is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, PA Chapter.

Chrystina Cappello

Senior Manager
Deloitte & Touche LLP

  • Chrystina made Philadelphia home in 2006 to attend Drexel University and study architectural engineering. After college, she pursued consulting with a focus on construction and has since found her passion working with federal grant funding. She has had many hobbies through the years including blogging, singing, and hosting parties, all tied together by her love of community building.

Lily Reynolds

Director of Federal Infrastructure Strategy
City of Philadelphia

  • Lily Reynolds, currently serves as the Director of Federal Infrastructure Strategy for the City of Philadelphia. In this role since 2022, she leads the City’s coordinated response to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aiming to invest over $1 billion in Philadelphia over five years. Lily’s leadership ensures that public works projects result in equitable outcomes for Philadelphians, especially increased economic opportunity for workers and businesses. Lily and her husband have called Philadelphia home since 2019 and are expecting their first baby in early 2025.