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Recognizing and Congratulating the 2013 Next Generation of Leaders: Rising Stars.
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WHEREAS, Since 2005, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown has honored the Next Generation of Leaders: Rising Stars; and
WHEREAS, The celebration honors women between the ages of twenty one and thirty nine, who are on the incline of their careers and making a difference in their respective communities; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown will recognize eleven young women who embody leadership and exemplify being a Rising Star in their field of employment and community service; and
WHEREAS, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is pleased and proud to announce the 2013 recipients of the Next Generation of Leaders: Rising Stars award;
WHEREAS, Lorena E. Ahumada is an associate at Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP. She concentrates her law practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, and insurance coverage law. Lorena is on the board of directors of Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas, Inc., and is a past-president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania. She also is a Deputy Regional President of the Hispanic National Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, Shana Booker, a 31-year-old native of Philadelphia and a 2003 graduate of Philadelphia University, is in her tenth season with the Philadelphia 76ers and currently serves as the Marketing Manager. Booker assists with day-to-day operations of the front office, promotions and overall marketing efforts of the team. She also serves as the team's alumni coordinator, maintaining relationships with past players; and
WHEREAS, Kristol Bryant began her professional career in 1999 when she became inspired to turn her love of cooking into a career. Later that year she was accepted into OIC's Opportunities Inn Program under the Chef Chalie Schmidt. In the Spring of 2012, Kristol was named the Chef de Cuisine of the restaurant that she helped open in 2006. XIX Restaurant is an American Brasserie featuring Chef Kristol's cuisine and sweeping views of the City skyline on the 19th floor of the Hyatt at The Bellevue. Kristol has four children Shawn, Faith, Emani and Amere which she absolutely adores and loves fashion; and
WHEREAS, Anjali Chainani has worked for the City of Philadelphia since 2005 and currently serves as Director of Legislation and Special Events for 3rd District Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell. Anjali is also a doctoral student at the University of the Sciences in Health Policy. Anjali's family is originally from Mumbai, India. She was born in Oklahoma City, OK, and has called Philadelphia her home since 2001; and
WHEREAS, Brigitte Daniel is the Executive Vice President of Wilco Electronic Systems, Inc., one of the highest regarded African-American owned cable operators in the nation. Founded by Will F. Daniel, Wilco has provided affordable cable and technology services to low-income communities, governmental and educational institutions in Philadelphia for over 30 years, along with remote surveillance and security system networks throughout the Greater Philadelphia area; and
WHEREAS, Oshunbumi Fernandez is the CEO of ODUNDE, Inc. ODUNDE produces the largest African-American street festival in the country attracting up to 500,000 people; and
WHEREAS, Lindsey Glasgow is a project engineer at Skanska USA where she has worked on a variety of complex construction projects for the pharmaceutical and higher education industries. Currently, she is working as project engineer on a major expansion to the University of Delaware's East Campus Residence Hall Complex. Lindsey graduated from Philadelphia University with a bachelor's degree in architectural studies and a master's in construction management; and
WHEREAS, Stephanie Kosta is an active trial attorney, representing a diverse clientele in complex business litigation, class actions, and government relations matters. After graduating summa cum laude from Temple University, Stephanie received her law degree from Georgetown University. Ms. Kosta is active in many civic, charitable, and nonprofit causes having served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Board and St. John's Chrysostom Church in Philadelphia, been appointed to the Pennsylvania Auditor-Elect Eugene DePasquale's transition team, provided pro bono counsel to children in crisis through the Support Center for Child Advocates, and is an active volunteer with the Law Counsel for Legal Diversity Mentoring Program and with City Year, particularly focused on inspiring inner city girls to reach for their dreams. Her favorite activity, however, is being mommy to her two small girls, Olivia and Vivian, with her husband, Tommy; and
WHEREAS, Rasheedah Phillips, Esq. is a 2008 graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, and is currently employed at Community Legal Services as a staff attorney in the Housing unit. In addition to her work at CLS, Ms. Phillips has served on the boards of many community organizations such as Communities in School and Friends of the Free Library, and been a featured guest speaker at graduations, ceremonies, and workshops to speak on her experiences of being a former teen parent. Ms. Phillips is also an author, with several published motivational essays and short fiction stories; and
WHEREAS, YingYing Shang is 17-year-old high school senior and a Teen Advisor to the United Nations Foundation campaign Girl Up. She is Girl Advisor to the Board of Directors at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and writes for the Huffington Post on behalf of women's and minority rights; now, therefore be it,
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and congratulate the 2013 Next Generation of Leaders: Rising Stars.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to each Next Generation Leader: Rising Star (11) as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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