ABOUT / TEAM & BOARD
Hello, it’s nice to meet you.
Our team and board are rooted in the neighborhoods we serve — including alumni of our own programs.
TEAM
Executive Director & Founder
She/Her
Hillary Do
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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
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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
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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!
Site Manager
He/Him
Horace Ryans III
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Horace Ryans III is a Philadelphia native and a highly accomplished sociology graduate from Morehouse College, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in Education. Horace has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and a passion for research in race, class, education, inequality, segregation, and social systems. His exceptional performance at Morehouse College has earned him numerous awards and honors, including being named Morehouse College Man of the Year in 2024, a P3 Scholar at Princeton University, and an Outstanding All-Around Achievement Award recipient from the Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education.
Horace's research experience is extensive and diverse. He's served as a Research Assistant at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, where he investigates equity in education technology. Additionally, he has researched as an Undergraduate Researcher at the Morehouse Center for Excellence in Education and as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, focusing on race, place, and education.
He has also co-founded and presided over PropelU, an organization dedicated to mentoring and preparing high school students for post-secondary education. Committed to community service, Horace has volunteered extensively through the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Scholar Program, completing over 1,000 hours of service. He has also participated in various international service projects, such as Project Esperanza in the Dominican Republic.
Youth Program Educator
She/Her
Shaneice Blake
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She is a teacher at West Philadelphia High School, her purpose in life is to help the youth reach their highest potential. She believes all youth deserve an equal opportunity in order to be successful!
Youth Program Educator
He/Him
Kenny Chiu
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Kenny is a Philadelphia-native, raised in both Chinatown and South Philadelphia. He is a community organizer and educator, spending the last several years advocating and working for/in affordable housing, youth advocacy, and ethnic studies. In his free time, he likes to visit and hike different National Parks, coach and play basketball, and read at Alif Brew & Mart. This year, he will begin his first year as a full-time teacher at Gen. Philip Kearny School.
Operations Associate
She/Her
Jennifer Lie
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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.
Accountant
She/Her
Janalyn Guo
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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.
Americorps Learning and Evaluation Fellow
She/Her
Mikaela Zimmerman
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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)
She/Her
Mecca Patterson-Guridy
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Mecca Patterson-Guridy is a rising senior at the nation’s first HBCU, Cheyney University. She started at BOLT as a fellow back in 2023 and is now a second year intern. Mecca realized last year that teaching young people is one of her passions and hopes to do it again in some capacity after graduation. She believes if you actually invest in youth then they can do anything they put their minds to!
Faustine Gultom
Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)
She/Her
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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.
Youth Program Facilitator Intern (BOLT Alumni)
He/Him
Shawn Mays
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Shawn Mays, a South Philadelphia native and Finance major at Howard University, merges his passion for strategic problem-solving with a deep commitment to service. As an Army ROTC cadet and Reservist, Shawn hones his leadership and teamwork skills, aspiring to a career spanning asset management, risk management, and national security. On campus, he actively mentors peers and spearheads community initiatives, drawing on his background in nonprofit and financial leadership programs. Driven by a desire to create lasting impact, Shawn aims to leverage his analytical acumen and public service ethos to bridge business innovation with community empowerment.
Special Projects Intern (BOLT Alumni)
She/Her
Sayda Adiba
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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.
Operations Intern (BOLT Alumni)
She/Her
Nikki Gao
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Nikki Gao (she/her) is a prospective Neuroscience major at Haverford College. Growing up in West Philadelphia, she experienced the disparities in funding, resources, and facilities between schools in the Philadelphia School District and schools outside the district. Her experiences have led to her passion for equity in education. Through working with BOLT, she hopes to learn about what it means to empower youth and center them as leaders of community change.
Jasmine Romero Texis
Operations Intern (BOLT Alumni)
She/Her
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Jasmine Romero Texis is a student at Temple University’s Fox School of Business. Born and raised in Philadelphia to immigrant parents, her upbringing cultivated a strong work ethic and commitment to her community. She is passionate about advocating for equity and opportunity. Her early exposure to her family’s business sparked her passion for finance. Through BOLT, Jasmine has developed professional and leadership skills.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Senior Manager
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chair
Chrystina Barrett
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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.
Puja Upadhyay
Judicial Law Clerk
US Court of Appeals
Vice-Chair
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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.
Lily Reynolds
Director of Federal Infrastructure Strategy
City of Philadelphia
Secretary
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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.
Reuben Jones
Executive Director
Frontline Dads
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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.
Pedro Rodriguez
Community Organizer
Various
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Pedro is a lifetime community organizer who most recently served as Director of Partnerships for the Mayor’s “Philly Counts” (census completion) initiative