The following neighbors were election to the SOSNA Board of Directors on OCTOBER 14.

(Current Board members running again - ITALICS)

DESARRIE ANDERSON McDUFFIE (23rd and Carpenter): Hello, my name is Desarrie Anderson-McDuffie.  I have lived in the Graduate Hospital area all of my life, but proudly purchased my first home here in 2002.  I have a B.A. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Arcadia University and am a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education.  I worked in social services for over ten years helping disadvantaged families and youth and have acted as a mentor to many in our community.  I am currently a Real Estate Agent at Coldwell Banker-Welker located at 1904 South St and help people in a different way, by focusing on social/economical growth through home ownership and neighborhood development.   I have a strong passion and commitment to improving the quality of life in the neighborhood which I love so dearly. I recently joined the Neighborhood Town Watch and understand that safety is a major concern in our area. I believe in the old adage, “It takes a nation to raise a child” and that we must all become active citizens in our community if we want to make a change.  We must know each other’s faces and names, and smile and acknowledge one another when we pass each other on the street.  That’s what I would like to see in the Graduate Hospital area, a place where we are not just neighbors, but neighbors who care about one another, all working together to create a common goal for a better neighborhood. 

DANIEL CHUNG (20th and Montrose):  Daniel has been a home owner in the neighborhood for 2-1/2 years on Montrose Street and has been living in Philadelphia for 10 of the last15 years. He is a licensed structural engineer and has been practicing architecture for the last 3 years for a local Philadelphia firm that has done urban planning for the city of Philadelphia and Fairmount Park. Daniel has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a master’s in structural engineering and a master’s in architecture. Through his work and education he has a strong interest in community and urban design as well as experience with zoning and building codes. Daniel would like to contribute his knowledge and enthusiasm to the community by focusing on zoning and safety issues. In particular he hopes to build upon the recent successful improvements to the neighborhood to increase the quality of the streetscape and provide walk-ability throughout our neighborhoods.

KEVIN GRAY (19th and Christian):  When I relocated to Philadelphia in 2008, I chose the South of South neighborhood because it was a neighborhood in transition with great potential.  Over a year later, I now have the chance to apply my experiences to help the neighborhood continue to grow. If elected to the SOSNA Board, I intend to play a part in this growth by encouraging smart, sustainable development within the scale and character of the existing streetscape and the neighborhood, while also promoting continued responsible economic and commercial growth. I moved to Philadelphia to take the position of Director of Real Estate Development for the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (a local nonprofit that serves Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond).  As the Director of Real Estate I manage the organization’s development activities, including new construction, rehab projects, and new “Green” building initiatives.  Prior to working with NKCD, I financed affordable housing developments in the New York Tri-State area for Citibank’s Community Development division.    

BRIAN LAWSON (22nd and Kimball):  I have been an active member of the SOSNA Community since April, 2007.  I am dedicated to making this community stronger.  In support of this, I have joined the SOSNA Town Watch, participated in the neighborhood cleanups, and assisted in Nuisance Court and Zoning issues.   I am passionate about increasing quality of life in our neighborhood, in particular, addressing litter and construction.  To address these issues, I have built relationships with City Council and L&I and participate in the neighborhood zoning process, including the Sidecar expansion and 2301 Washington Avenue construction.  I will work to increase the walk-ability of our community.   As the husband of a paralyzed woman, I am familiar with the importance of a community that is accessible to the disabled community, our senior population, and our growing number of mothers and fathers with strollers who require the ability to safely travel the streets and sidewalks. 

MARK SCOTT (15th and Christian): Education: Environmental Engineer; Employment:   Senior Development Manager for Philadelphia Housing Authority;  “Co-owner” of my wife’s Psychotherapy practice at 1904 South Street
Volunteer:
Block Captain, 1500 Block of Christian Street: 2005-Present
SOSNA Board Member: 2006-Present
SOSNA Chairman: 2007-Present
SSWBA member: 2009-Present

My name is Mark Scott, I have been a resident of the 1500 block of Christian Street since my wife and son and I moved here in 2005.  Since that time I have worked tirelessly to improve this neighborhood.  Some specific accomplishments include:
Grant writing for SOSNA to the tune of over $300,000; Helped change voting bylaws to be more inclusive; Worked to lower our overhead costs to dedicate more money to programs and
projects; Worked with the board to purchase a police bike for the 17th police department; Worked with the board to secure 29 new trees to be installed at Stanton and Arthur elementary schools this fall and next spring; Worked with our 5 local public elementary schools to have a neighborhood wide public education forum last spring; Helped to fund the start up of the Friends of Julian Able Park non-profit; Reestablished a strong relationship with Council President Verna’s office, as
well as our state representatives; Active member for the Zoning Work Group, which established the new Zoning Committee; Petitioned to have the fence at Marian Anderson painted; Organized monthly cleanups and tree pruning at Marian Anderson when they were short staffed.