2021 Board of Directors
Philadelphia Family Pride has had an active, volunteer board consisting of 16 members.
We adopted of our bylaws in 2007 and expanded the board in 2015 with the addition of the Event Planning Committee Chair, and then again in 2017 to add an additional six board members to the existing ten. In the summer of 2019, we added two more who are graduates of the first-ever Community Leadership Pipeline.
The board members serve for one year terms, except the chair who serves for two year terms. The elections are held at our annual Winter Wonderland party each January. The election in 2021 was held at our Virtual Town Hall held on Zoom. (Video on our Facebook page.)
If you are interested in joining the PFP board in the future, please contact Chair Tariem Burroughs. If you’d like to join a committee, follow this link. (Pictured above and to the right, the 2020 PFP Board.)
All email addresses for board members are their first names @phillyfamilypride.org.
We adopted of our bylaws in 2007 and expanded the board in 2015 with the addition of the Event Planning Committee Chair, and then again in 2017 to add an additional six board members to the existing ten. In the summer of 2019, we added two more who are graduates of the first-ever Community Leadership Pipeline.
The board members serve for one year terms, except the chair who serves for two year terms. The elections are held at our annual Winter Wonderland party each January. The election in 2021 was held at our Virtual Town Hall held on Zoom. (Video on our Facebook page.)
If you are interested in joining the PFP board in the future, please contact Chair Tariem Burroughs. If you’d like to join a committee, follow this link. (Pictured above and to the right, the 2020 PFP Board.)
All email addresses for board members are their first names @phillyfamilypride.org.
executive committee
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Tariem Burroughs, he/him
Board Chair tariem@ Board member since 2017. Tariem is completing his PhD in Sociology at Temple University. He lives with his husband, his son, two cats, and a dog in West Philadelphia.
I originally joined PFP because I could not think of a better group, or should I say family, to become a part of when my husband and I took the next step in expanding our family. Now, as a father of energetic little boy, I’m excited to continue to learn from the people involved in this great organization and to expand our community.” |
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Jadzia Axelrod, she/her
Vice-Chair jadzia@ Board member since 2019. Jadzia is a writer and cartoonist who lives in West Philly with her wife and daughter.
When we first became parents, we looked around for a warm, welcoming community that our queer family would feel at home in. PFP has been that community since the day we joined.” |
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Ruby Augustus, she/her
Secretary ruby@ Board member since 2017 “It is an honor to serve on the board of Philadelphia Family Pride. I love PFP because it is imperative for families like ours to have a sense of community and support. PFP provides so many events and resources to LGBT-led families in the Philadelphia area. Every major city deserves an organization like PFP.” |
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Gina Zorzi Cline, she/her
Treasurer gina@ Board member since 2016. Gina is the proud Mama to these two gorgeous kiddos and also an executive at American Reading Company, a K-12 education company. “To me, participating in PFP is a precious opportunity to celebrate our community of Queer/LGBT families as we seek to make a more just world for the next generation.” |
committee chairs
Katy Chatel, she/ze/her/hers
Fundraising
katy@
Board member since 2020.
Katy Chatel makes meaning in this life through connecting with others whether it is climbing trees with her family, social justice volunteer work, writing and editing stories, or checking someone on the roller derby track. She is currently looking for full time work that feels both meaningful and pays the bills.
Fundraising
katy@
Board member since 2020.
Katy Chatel makes meaning in this life through connecting with others whether it is climbing trees with her family, social justice volunteer work, writing and editing stories, or checking someone on the roller derby track. She is currently looking for full time work that feels both meaningful and pays the bills.
Philly Family Pride offers an opportunity to connect with others whose stories are both obviously similar to mine and seemingly different. The programs, workshops, and annual events allow us to develop meaningful community. "
Lori Keslowitz, she/her
Events Planning
lori@
Board member since 2019.
Lori, (pictured in the middle) Jen and Jude live in South Philly with their cat. Lori manages an Airbnb in the family’s home, nannies and is a Local Area Representative at Go Au Pair. Jen is the Associate Dean of the School of Dance at University of the Arts (UArts). Jude is an avid reader and lover of throwing breakable objects.
Events Planning
lori@
Board member since 2019.
Lori, (pictured in the middle) Jen and Jude live in South Philly with their cat. Lori manages an Airbnb in the family’s home, nannies and is a Local Area Representative at Go Au Pair. Jen is the Associate Dean of the School of Dance at University of the Arts (UArts). Jude is an avid reader and lover of throwing breakable objects.
“My wife and I joined PFP shortly after moving to Philadelphia from Brooklyn, NY. Our first child was born in February 2019, and it is very important to us that they grow up around other queer families.”
Mikah Thomas, he/him/they/them
Education and Advocacy
mikah@
Board member since 2020.
Mikah Thomas is a transplant to Philadelphia by way of Alabama, currently working as the Trans Equity Project Recruiter at GALAEI. By promoting his lived experiences as a transgender person, Mikah strives to ensure opportunities for success for the TLGBQ+ Philadelphia community.
Mikah continues to acknowledge the intersections of both his own gender & sexuality, parenthood, and mental health and those of others. Mikah aims to be very hospitable while creating safe and affirming spaces for the community.
Mikah hopes the work helps to provide visibility to the trans community, combat stigma, and create community. Additionally, Mikah is on the board of Transgender Coalition of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Family Pride, alongside as a Brand Ambassador for the National Trans Visibility March. Mikah has been working diligently on a workshop, “Breaking the Binary between Studs and FTMs,” a workshop to hit 2021 conferences.
Education and Advocacy
mikah@
Board member since 2020.
Mikah Thomas is a transplant to Philadelphia by way of Alabama, currently working as the Trans Equity Project Recruiter at GALAEI. By promoting his lived experiences as a transgender person, Mikah strives to ensure opportunities for success for the TLGBQ+ Philadelphia community.
Mikah continues to acknowledge the intersections of both his own gender & sexuality, parenthood, and mental health and those of others. Mikah aims to be very hospitable while creating safe and affirming spaces for the community.
Mikah hopes the work helps to provide visibility to the trans community, combat stigma, and create community. Additionally, Mikah is on the board of Transgender Coalition of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Family Pride, alongside as a Brand Ambassador for the National Trans Visibility March. Mikah has been working diligently on a workshop, “Breaking the Binary between Studs and FTMs,” a workshop to hit 2021 conferences.
Naomi Washington-Leapheart, she/her
Membership
naomi@
Board member since 2021.
Naomi is a faith organizer and PFP parent. Naomi was our conference keynote speaker in 2018.
Membership
naomi@
Board member since 2021.
Naomi is a faith organizer and PFP parent. Naomi was our conference keynote speaker in 2018.
Members at Large
Kristin Baglieri, Kristin
kristin@
Board member since 2021.
Kristin is a psychotherapist and children's educator who lives in Philadelphia with their family.
kristin@
Board member since 2021.
Kristin is a psychotherapist and children's educator who lives in Philadelphia with their family.
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Shelli Branscomb, she/her
shelli@ Board Member since 2019. Shelli is a Black queer parent and clinical social worker based in Philadelphia. "I joined Philadelphia Family Pride because I wanted to support an organization that focuses on the magical gifts, self-determination and resilience of queer families." |
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Tiffany Byrd, she/her
tiffany@ Board member since 2020. |
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Hunter McCorkel, she/they
hunter@ Board member since 2019. Hunter is a nurse by training, but currently a stay-at-home parent. Hunter is a gardener and nature lover, and lives in Mt Airy with their wife and kid.
“We are the first of our close friends to have a baby, so when we got pregnant we knew we would need to build new community. Philadelphia Family Pride has been a fantastic way to meet other queer families, and Philly is lucky to have this organization.” |
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Sebastian Miller, he/him
sebastian@ Board member since 2020. Sebastian (pictured, right) was born and raised in Florida. He and his husband made the move to Philly when they were expecting their second son. Sebastian made the decision to carry both pregnancies several years after coming out as transgender. As of Jan. 2020, their kids are 2.5 years old and 9 months old and are the greatest things to happen to them, even when they're driving them nuts!
PFP to me means a chosen family and being understood and accepted. So much of parenting is cis/het oriented, and it's refreshing to have a queer space to be at ease with ourselves." |
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Rebecca Levin Nayak, she/her
becca@ Board member since 2019. Becca lives in Mt. Airy and is a family law attorney. |
“I became involved in PFP before starting my family and found the conference and other events a great place to learn. Now that I have a son, PFP has been a great place to build connections and community!”
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Adam Podowitz-Thomas, he/him
adam@ Board member since 2017. Adam, his husband Stephen, and their daughter Edie live in Bryn Mawr. Adam is an attorney, originally from North Carolina.
PFP to me means a chosen family and being understood and accepted. So much of parenting is cis/het oriented, and it's refreshing to have a queer space to be at ease with ourselves." |
Skott Stotland, he/him
skott@
Board member since 2021.
skott@
Board member since 2021.
Our Staff
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Stephanie Haynes, she/her
Executive Director stephanie at phillyfamilypride.org Staff since 2009. Pictured here (left) with her wife and kids in May 2019. Stephanie is in her 13th year with PFP and is a full time, stay at home, homeschooling parent and a volunteer on the Philadelphia Mayor's Commission for LGBT Affairs. She also enjoys running and photography. My wife and I joined PFP shortly after our twin boys were born. We knew one other two mom family, but wanted to expand the opportunities for our children to meet other LGBTQ families. Attending PFP events has been a great way to connect and normalize our family for them." |
