What are the diverse ways that people and organizations are cultivating peace in Philly? What challenges have they faced, and what progress have they made toward greater understanding and unity in our city? What have been key elements of their successes, and what are their hopes for peacebuilding outcomes in the future? Networking, tabling and food will follow the speaker portion of the program.
Speakers: Todd Bernstein of Global Citizen, Malia Gilbert of Artwell, Rev. Gregory Holston of 57 Blocks Coalition and Karen Cervera of the Welcoming Center and Let’s Talk Philly. The program will be moderated by Hugh Taft-Morales, Leader of the Philadelphia Ethical Society.
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Todd Bernstein is president of Global Citizen, a non-profit, social and racial justice, civic engagement organization he founded in 1995. In 1994, as Pennsylvania US Senator Harris Wofford’s state office chief-of-staff, he helped Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis create the National Martin Luther King Day of Service. Todd founded the Greater Philadephia King Day of Service in 1996, the oldest and largest King Day event in the nation, which he will direct for the 30th year in 2025. Other Global Citizen year-round programs include the citywide Reading Captains early child literacy initiative, Neighbors in Action citizen action workshops, and Conversations on Race, Class, and Power.
Malia Gilbert Neal is a nonprofit executive and fundraiser interested in intersectionality and youth development. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Malia’s professional experience has encompassed a wide range of educational focus areas, including social-emotional learning, out-of-school time enrichment, summer learning loss prevention, and career pathways for students. She currently serves as the Executive Director of ArtWell, an arts education organization that helps young people access the therapeutic, healing, and emboldening nature of art.
Rev. Gregory Holston is a pastor, community activist, and leader who advocates for racial and economic justice. He was the Executive Director of POWER: Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild, which organized over 65 congregations in Philadelphia. He later joined the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office as a Senior Advisor on Policy and Advocacy. He has a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Education from Cheney University.
Karen Cervera co-founded and managed an organization called Let’s Talk Philly! Conversation Circles, where she supported immigrants in building community wellness and overcoming social, professional, and personal integration challenges by building language and leadership skills. At the Welcoming Center, she supports immigrant professionals who are unemployed or underemployed to learn how to navigate the USA job search process and find meaningful employment in their respective fields of expertise.
