WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE
WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE
SATURDAY 4.12.2025
105.3 WDAS is honoring phenomenal women all over the Tri-State area and representing to you the 9th Annual WDAS Women of Excellence Luncheon!
RUN OF SHOW
11:00am: Doors open w/ music provided by DJ Doc B
11:45am: Lunch being served w/ Prayer by Minister Nakia Brown
12:40pm: Welcome/Opening Remarks from WDAS’ Loraine Ballard Morrill, Patty Jackson, Frankie Darcell, and Mimi Brown)
12:45pm: Introduction & Remarks of Honoree Kendra Van De Water
12:52pm: Introduction & Remarks of Dr. Beverly Coleman
1:01pm: Introduction & Remarks of Sheroe Dale Sharpe-Lee
1:07pm: Introduction & Remarks of Sheroe Loree Jones-Brown
1:14pm: Introduction & Remarks of Honoree Dr. Dorothy Johnson Speight
1:21pm: Introduction & Remarks of Sheroe Cheryl Ann Wadlington
BRIEF INTERMISSION
1:40pm: Introduction & Remarks of Honoree Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester
1:47pm: Introduction & Remarks of Sheroe Deputy Commissioner Myesha Massey
1:53pm: Introduction & Remarks of Aziza Shuler
2:00pm: Introduction & Remarks of the Woman of Excellence Legend in Music Award Honoree Lalah Hathaway
2:08pm: Introduction & Remarks of the Woman of Excellence Legend in Television and Film Award Honoree Sherri Shepherd
2:17pm: Introduction & Remarks of the Special Honoree / *Proclamation Presentation*
BRIEF INTERMISSION
2:40pm: Jeff Bradshaw Performance
3:10pm: Q Parker Performance
3:40pm: Sunshine Anderson Performance
4:00pm: Closing Remarks – CONCLUSION OF EVENT
LEGEND AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
LALAH HATHAWAY
Five-time Grammy Award winner Lalah Hathaway releases her seventh solo studio album, VANTABLACK, her most empowered and impressive effort to date, June 14th via Hathaway Entertainment/SRG Records. Along with co-producers Phil Beaudreu, Ariza, Warryn Campbell and Eric Dawkins, Hathaway has created a sixteen track sonic landscape filled with dynamic production and superhuman vocals and is joined by feature performances from WILLOW, Rapsody, Common, Michael McDonald, Phonte, MC Lyte and Gerald Albright. In Hathaway’s words, ‘VANTABLACK takes its name from a pigment, the darkest shade of black ever created. It felt so right for me and this project right now because I set out to make the blackest record EVER! And I did. This album represents the multiplicity of what being black means to me. And I love it!’
-
A sought-after collaborator to some of today’s top hitmakers, undeniable music royalty, and vocal abilities matched by few, Lalah Hathaway is an artist, singer/songwriter and producer not to be slept on. A purveyor of many genres whilst sharing Grammy award winning records with the likes of Beyoncé (the only two artists whom have ever won in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category three times), Hathaway’s seven solo albums are complemented by an illustrious track-record of collaborations with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Anderson. Paak, Robert Glasper, Rapsody, Snoop Dogg, Esperanza Spalding and more. Her talents have inspired invitations to the stage from music legends, Prince, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock. As daughter to the late, great Donny Hathaway and the product of an incredibly musical family, Chicago-born and raised Lalah Hathaway has the most soulful of music running through her veins. She has earned praise from Billboard, VIBE, Essence, the New York Times and performed on the highly sought after stages of NPR’s Tiny Desk and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Hathaway held the number one Adult R&B song in 2016 and in 2021 her song ‘Show Me Your Soul’ made the Oscars 2021 shortlist for Best Original Song.
Her current single “So In Love” is climbing the charts as we move into the new era of VANTABLACK.
You can follow Lalah Hathaway at @lalahhathaway
LEGEND AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TV AND FILM
SHERRI SHEPHERD
Sherri Shepherd is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and best-selling author who brings her inimitable, authentic and comedic perspective to daytime with her own #1 new nationally syndicated talk show, SHERRI. Hailed as "TV's New Feel Good Queen," Shepherd’s warm, relatable and engaging personality shine through as she offers her comedic take on the day’s entertainment news, pop culture, and trending topics with the daytime audience. As America's favorite girl next door, her comedy-driven show features celebrity interviews, informative experts, moments of inspiration and amazing everyday people to create an hour of entertainment escapism.
-
With an illustrious career spanning three decades, Shepherd’s longevity serves as a testament to her immense talent and undeniable appeal. Shepherd's ability to connect with audiences of diverse backgrounds and her commitment to authentic storytelling have undoubtedly contributed to her success. Her recent triumphs include winning a 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host for SHERRI; two 2023 NAACP Image Awards, where she took home awards for Outstanding Talk Series for SHERRI; and Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast for her podcast Two Funny Mamas with fellow comedic actress Kym Whitley. Shepherd and Whitley also won in 2022 for Outstanding Lifestyle and Self-Help podcast.
In addition to her NAACP Image Awards victories, Shepherd has also garnered recognition for her exceptional work in the daytime television realm. Her talk show, SHERRI, garnered four 2023 Daytime Emmy Awards nominations for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host, Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup, Outstanding Costume Design / Styling and Outstanding Promotional Announcement. Her recent nominations confirm her commitment to excellence and her ability to consistently deliver standout performances that resonate with viewers.
Shepherd’s multifaceted career also includes roles in several acclaimed television and film projects. She can currently be seen in the HBO MAX series “Sex Lives of College Girls;” and had a guest starring role on the new season of Amazon’s “HARLEM.” She co-starred in the Netflix hit comedy series “Mr. Iglesias;” and as a recurring guest star on ABC’s “Call Your Mother.” Shepherd’s other television credits include “Trial and Error,” “Rosewood,” “Man With a Plan,” “30 Rock,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” “Friends” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” Her film credits include her first theatrical lead role in “Brian Banks,” Netflix “A Week Away,” Lifetime film "Imperfect High," “Precious,” “Think Like A Man,” “Top 5,” “Ride Along 2,” “Walk. Ride. Rodeo,” “Jean of The Joneses,” “Woodlawn,” “One For The Money,” “Abducted: The Carlina White Story,” “Guess Who,” “Beauty Shop,” and more. She was the first African-American woman to host a game show as host of four seasons of “The Newlywed Game. She made history portraying the first African-American version of the Evil Stepmother in the Broadway production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
As a standup comic, Shepherd is always ready to bring the laughs and excitement to the stage. She toured with legendary musicians KEM and Babyface, hosting “The Full Circle Tour.” Shepherd also opened for fellow comedian and friend Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias at his history-making comedy show at Dodgers Stadium, selling out more than 45,000 seats, making it the third biggest comedy show ever and the biggest ever in Los Angeles. In 2019, Shepherd co-headlined the all-female led comedy tour, “Ladies Night Out Comedy Tour,” with Loni Love, Kym Whitley, Adele Givens and Melanie Camarcho.
Through her own production company, Faith Walker, Shepherd launched and co-hosts the two-time NAACP Image Award-winning podcast “Two Funny Mamas” with fellow actress Kym Whitley. A New York Times best-selling author, Shepherd released two books, “Plan D: How to Lose Weight and Beat Diabetes (Even If You Don't Have It),” and “Permission Slips: Every Woman's Guide to Giving Herself a Break."
Beyond her accolades, Shepherd's impact extends beyond the screen. She has become a prominent voice in championing inclusivity and representation, using her platform to advocate for underrepresented communities, children with special needs and women in the workplace. Her dedication to using her influence for positive change is truly commendable and showcases her commitment to making a lasting impact in both the entertainment industry and society as a whole.
With an undeniable presence and a talent that knows no bounds, Sherri Shepherd continues to redefine what it means to be a powerhouse in the entertainment industry. As she continues to push boundaries, inspire others, and captivate audiences worldwide, Sherri Shepherd remains a force to be reckoned with, leaving an indelible mark on the industry for years to come.
You can follow Sherri and The Sherri Shepherd Show through Instagram at @sherrieshepherd & @sherrishowtv
HONOREES
-
Beverly G. Coleman M.D., Professor Emeritus, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center is the first Radiology Division Chief in the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, CHOP. The CFDT is the largest fetal center in the world. Over the past 28 years of service, patients have been evaluated from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. Dr. Coleman retired and transitioned to CHOP when recruited with the Beverly Gilbert Coleman Endowed Chair in Fetal Imaging. She collaborates daily with fetal surgeons, maternal fetal medicine specialists, nurses, psychologists and many others.
Dr. Coleman received her undergraduate degree in biology from Vassar College in 1970 and a medical degree from Harvard University in 1974. She subsequently completed a radiology residency and was the first abdominal imaging fellow at Perelman. She has had an exceptionally long and distinguished career in radiology serving as Chief of the Ultrasound Section for many years. She also served as the Director of the Abdominal Imaging Fellowship Program from 1993 to 2009. In 2000, she was appointed as the Associate Chairman of the Abdominal Imaging Division, a position she held until her retirement from Perelman in 2014. As the associate chairman, Dr. Coleman had ultimate responsibility for 5 imaging modalities, Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Body Computed Tomography, Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Radiology. Her career spans decades where she served in numerous positions of responsibility for various organizations with election to fellowship in the American College of Radiology, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound, the American Association for Women in Radiology and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Philadelphia.
Dr. Coleman has examined in the field of ultrasound for the American Board of Radiology covering a span of fifteen years from 1998 to 2013 when the examination process changed with no more residents travelling to Louisville for in person examinations. Subsequently, in 2015 she received an ABR Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Coleman received the Louis Duhring Outstanding Clinical Specialist Award from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine in 2021 with a monetary prize that she donated back to the university. The following year in November 2022, she received the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award from the American Association for Women in Radiology. Dr. Coleman has been a leader and expert in the field of ultrasound serving as the Chairman of the American College of Radiology Ultrasound Commission for six years after having spent 3 years on the Council Steering Committee. She was elected as Chairman of the Radiology Section of the National Medical Association and worked for many years as an officer and member of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Coleman rose through the ranks from a general member to become the secretary and treasurer of the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound. She was then elected as president serving a two-year term from 2005-2007. In 2018, she received a lifetime service award. Dr. Coleman has also served in leadership roles locally and regionally in the state of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area including as President of the Greater Delaware Valley Ultrasound Society and the Philadelphia Roentgen Ray Society, PRRS. She was selected as the 101st president of the Pennsylvania Radiological Society, PRS. She was honored by the state society with the Gold Medallion Award in 2013. Dr. Coleman has been chosen as the Honored Radiologist for both this state society and the local society, the PRRS. She has been elected by her local and regional colleagues as a “Top Doc” for Philadelphia magazine’s annual special edition many times over the years from 2008-2024. In 2021-22, Dr. Coleman served as, the first African American President of the American College of Radiology. She delivered an exceptionally well received presidential address entitled “From Here to There in the Land of Opportunity.” Dr. Coleman was honored at the November 2024 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting receiving their Gold Medal Award. Dr. Coleman made history being the first African American female to receive this honor from this international society. In May 2025, she will receive at the American College of Radiology (ACR) Gold Medal, their highest award at the Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
Dr. Coleman has served in various editorial capacities, reviewing manuscripts for different radiology journals including Radiology, the American Journal of Radiology, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Ultrasound Quarterly. She served as an associate editor of Ultrasound Quarterly, the official journal of the SRU for many years. Dr. Coleman’s curriculum vitae lists more than five hundred lectures both nationally and internationally speaking in Canada, Mexico, South America, China, and Russia. She has published approximately 138 peer-reviewed publications, 26 non-peer-reviewed publications, over 112 abstracts and 23 editorial chapters and reviews. She edited the Radiological Clinics of North America and the Diagnostic Radiology Syllabus for the ACR and in addition, she published one textbook. For over 30 years, Dr. Coleman taught the art and science of ultrasound to many residents, fellows, and medical students. Also, over many years, she directed two continuing medical education courses sponsored by the radiology department. The winter courses were held in Mexico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, Panama and other warm climates. Occasionally, ski meetings were held in Aspen or Vail, Colorado. The summer courses were held most often on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as well as in Chatham, Massachusetts.
Dr. Coleman has always maintained an interest in obstetrical and gynecologic ultrasound with a special devotion to unraveling the mysteries of the prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies. She continues to work closely in conjunction with Dr. N. Scott Adzick, Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the CFDT team. In 2016, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded PBS with an Outstanding Science and Technology Programming Emmy for "TWICE BORN: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit." Dr. Coleman was among the physicians featured in this documentary which filmed her scanning a patient. More recently, the CFDT has been awarded the Press Ganey Pinnacle of Excellence award for several years, 2020- 2023. The Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit was awarded the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence award for 2022- 2023. These dual awards were unprecedented in CHOP’s history.
Dr. Coleman has long been a senior steward at Mother Bethel AME Church which is situated on the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African Americans in this country. For over two decades, she has chaired the Missions Commission which must annually plan church programs and activities related to welfare and charity to address the needs of the community and the church members. The commission works in concert with the pastor as well as other organizations of the church including the Missionary Society and the Young People’s Department. Dr. Coleman has been a member of the Penn Towne Links for many years including service as the president from 1982-84. The Links, Inc is an international organization with over 15,000 members and five program facets including Health and Human Services, international Trends, The Arts, Services to Youth and National Trends. As the chair of International Trends, she organized a trip to New York entitled a “Day at the United Nations.” Dr. Coleman is married to Dr. Everod A. Coleman, Jr. DMD, MPH and they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on August 15, 2023.
The Colemans have one daughter, Erin who has been a television morning news anchor at NBC 10 Philadelphia since 2016. Prior to that, she anchored at WSB TV in Atlanta, Georgia. Erin is married to Leon Cord Campbell, and they have 2 children, Carrie 8 and Cord 10 years old.
-
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the U.S. Senate. She was elected in 2024 after serving four terms as Delaware’s sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the House, she served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees health care, the environment, commerce and trade, energy policy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and consumer protection.
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester is proud to represent Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Prior to the Senate, she served in the U.S. House of Representatives for eight years where she championed policies to lower costs, invest in affordable housing, and build an economy that works for everyone. Before Congress, Senator Blunt Rochester served as Delaware’s Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services, Secretary of Labor, and State Personnel Director, as well as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
Senator Blunt Rochester is a leading voice in Congress on workforce issues, the future of work, and building an economy that works for everyone. As former Secretary of Labor and State Personnel Director, she leverages her expertise to advocate for policies that support growth and ensure working families earn a living wage. She founded and co-chaired the bipartisan Congressional Future of Work Caucus in the House. After seeing the impact of empty grocery shelves during the pandemic, she also led the charge in Congress to address the supply chain crisis and bring manufacturing jobs back to Delaware and the United States.
As a former statewide health official, Senator Blunt Rochester brings a broad perspective on health care policy. She has worked as an implementer at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, a negotiator as State Personnel Director, and an advocate as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
She has been committed to reducing health care and prescription drug costs for middle-class families, addressing health disparities in communities of color, and combating the opioid and addiction epidemic. When the Heroin epidemic devastated Delaware communities, she acted urgently and became a member of the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioid Task Force, a coalition of over 100 members dedicated to passing critical legislation to combat opioid addiction. Additionally, Senator Blunt Rochester has played a pivotal role in passing landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act – which both work to lower the cost of prescription drugs and increase access to healthcare for America’s seniors and those with disabilities.
A strong advocate for the nursing workforce, she championed the passage of the TRAIN Act, which protected a key nursing education pipeline to address the nursing shortage. Throughout her career, she has fought for underserved communities and is a leader on public health promotion and programs that help Americans live healthier and longer.
In the 115th Congress, Senator Blunt Rochester became the first Delawarean in over 120 years to serve on the House Committee on Agriculture. She played a key role in crafting the 2018 Farm Bill, a five-year reauthorization that supports the farm safety net, nutrition programs for vulnerable populations, land-grant universities, and agricultural research. A champion of criminal justice reform, she introduced the groundbreaking Clean Slate Act, which seals the federal records of nonviolent offenders. This legislation aims to provide individuals with opportunities to secure good-paying jobs, pursue education, and access housing after reentering society. Research uncovered by the Center for American Progress estimates individuals who are shut out of opportunities because of their criminal records costs the U.S. economy up to $87 billion annually. The Clean Slate Act would help boost the national economy while helping these individuals gain good paying jobs.
After hearing concerns from homeowners in North Bethany Beach about an error in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s coastal mapping, Senator Blunt Rochester introduced the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act in her first term, which corrected the error, supported environmental preservation, and became her first bill enacted into law. She has since spearheaded the SHORRE Act to improve coastal resilience up and down Delaware’s coastlines, so communities and homeowners are protected from rising seas and extreme weather. She authored legislation that invested $100 million to decarbonize the Port of Wilmington. This federal investment came as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program in the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2022. And in 2024, she co-led the bipartisan Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act (BEACH Act). This legislation addresses climate-driven risks like flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise by amending and reauthorizing the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) and updating critical coastal maps.
Born and raised in Wilmington, Senator Blunt Rochester graduated from Padua Academy. She earned a degree in International Relations from Fairleigh Dickinson University and, as a working mother, completed her master’s degree in Urban Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Delaware. She resides in Wilmington, Delaware. She is the proud mother of two adult children, Alex and Alyssa, and mother-in-law to Ebony. She is also the grandmother of her first granddaughter, Lennox.
You can follow Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester on Instagram at @senlbr
-
Aziza Shuler is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the Weekend Anchor for CBS News Philadelphia. A dedicated storyteller, Aziza’s reporting spans a broad spectrum—from the everyday breaking news and critical political issues to uplifting stories that spotlight the resilience, heart, and excellence within Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
Her journalism career began as a multimedia journalist in Yuma, Arizona, where she honed her ability to connect with people from all walks of life. With an unwavering commitment to truth and storytelling, Aziza strives to illuminate the human experience through her work.
A proud Washington, D.C. native, Aziza earned her B.S. in Communications from St. John’s University and also attended UCLA. Her work has been recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists, reflecting her dedication to journalistic excellence and representation.
You can follow Aziza Shuler on Instagram and X at @azizashuler
-
Dr. Dorothy Johnson Speight was born to be the mother of Khaaliq Jabbar Johnson but at the young age of 24, his life was taken, not by illness or accident, but by an act of violence over a parking space dispute. Grief-stricken and enraged by this senseless act, Dorothy channeled that pain into the founding of Mothers In Charge, a grass-roots organization dedicated to violence prevention, education, and intervention.
Working with a small group of mothers dealing with similar circumstances, Dorothy envisioned an organization that would provide support to grieving families as well as awareness and education to the public to prevent others from enduring the pain after the death of a loved one due to an act of violence; she could never have imagined that her passion project would be the voice of a movement.
Mothers In Charge's mission is to help improve the quality of life for many men, women, and families and work for safer communities in the City of Philadelphia. While addressing issues of violence prevention with many support programs, Mothers In Charge currently offers programming for men and women returning home from incarceration, which is a trauma-informed, holistic approach to violence prevention. Amongst those reentry programs is one specifically designed for women, "Women Working For A Change" (WW4C), an evidence-based program for women recently released from prison. The goal of our reentry program is to keep the formerly incarcerated person home to stabilize their lives and the lives of their children.
Along with many accolades for her violence prevention work, The Philadelphia Bar Association honored Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight. with the Inaugural Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson Community Justice Engagement Award. This award honors the work of individuals or organizations that have succeeded in promoting justice in and for our communities and individuals who are justice-involved. In recent years, she was honored to be part of the transition teams for public safety for Governor Josh Shapiro, as well as for Mayor Cherrelle L. Parker.
You can follow Dr. Dorothy Johnson’s Speight’s organization Mother’s In Charge on Instagram at @mothersinchargeinc
Kendra Van De Water
sheroes
-
Loree Jones Brown has served in top leadership positions in the nonprofit, higher education and government sectors, including Managing Director, or chief operating officer, of the City of Philadelphia, chief of staff for Rutgers University—Camden, chief of external affairs for the School District of Philadelphia, and executive director and chief of staff for the Philadelphia School Reform Commission. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of Philabundance, a hunger relief agency serving nine counties in southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. A graduate of Princeton University and Spelman College, she has been recognized for her dedication to public service. Loree has participated in two international fellowships programs: Eisenhower Fellowships and the British-American Project. An advocate for nutrition security, she serves on the boards of Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger Free Pennsylvania, is a member of the Feeding America national Policy, Engagement, and Advocacy Committee, and is chair of Feeding America’s Mid-Atlantic Region. Loree also serves on the boards of Jefferson Health Plans (formerly Health Partners Plans, vice chair), the Independence Foundation, and the Eisenhower Fellowships (executive committee). She currently chairs the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Economic and Community Advisory Council and the City of Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity Oversight Board. She served as the board chair of the Philadelphia Health Partnership and as a former board member of a wide range of civic organizations, including Project HOME, the Committee of Seventy, the Police Athletic League (PAL) the World Affairs Council, Operation Understanding, the Philadelphia Planning Commission, and the African American Museum of Philadelphia. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
You can follow Loree Jones-Brown and Philabundance on Instagram at @loreedjones & @philabundance
-
Serving the City of Philadelphia with over 27 years of dedicated service since 1998, Deputy Commissioner Myesha S. Massey embodied excellence and leadership within the Philadelphia Police Department. As the first female Captain of the 35th Police District, Deputy Commissioner Massey strives to inspire future leaders while fostering a strong commitment to community safety and well-being.
Deputy Commissioner Massey’s career journey spans various roles, from her early days as a patrol officer, school resource officer, and victim services officer, all while working in the community she grew up in, highlighting her dedication to public safety and outreach. In 2015, advancing to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in the 18th Police District, working as the community relations supervisor, then advancing to another critical position as an investigative supervisor in the Special Victims Unit, where she partnered with organizations like the Women’s Law Project, Philadelphia Children Alliance, to investigate cases using procedural justice and prosecution while supporting victims of abuse. In 2018, she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant while assigned to the Office of Professional Responsibility; her focus was on enhancing professionalism within the ranks through the Municipal Police Officers Course 2020. Currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner of the Community Partnerships Bureau, she has led initiatives to improve Philadelphia’s quality of life while collaborating with intergovernmental agencies across the city and state of Pennsylvania.
As a dedicated board member of Philadelphia’s Clean and Green Committee and the Philadelphia Nightlife Board, she manages vital quality-of-life operations and departments, including the Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement Unit, Neighborhood Services Unit, Community Relations Unit, PAL, and Citywide Vice. Through these initiatives, her work is to create a safer, more vibrant Philadelphia for everyone.
Deputy Commissioner Massey’s educational achievements include a dual M.B.A. from Holy Family University in Human Resource Management, Workforce Development and a B.A. in Criminal Justice, Business Management. Various certifications from Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Leadership Philadelphia, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
-
Cheryl Ann Wadlington is a global change agent and leading consultant in the field of personal growth.
Recognized by the White House as a 2016 “Champion of Change,” Wadlington was honored for her leadership and work in developing extracurricular enrichment for marginalized girls. The national fashion and beauty journalist founded and became chief executive officer in 2004 of Philadelphia-based The Evoluer House.
Under Wadlington’s leadership, the organization has delivered award-winning empowerment programs over the past 21 years to more than 10,000 teen girls of color experiencing unique social and emotional challenges and barriers to success. The Evoluer House works to equip the most underserved girls nationwide with essential tools to become college-bound and careerready, thus breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty. As a testament to its success, 100 percent of Evoluer House graduates attend four-year colleges or other institutes of higher learning.
Wadlington is an alumna of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. With countless proclamations for her contributions to youth development from such dignitaries as the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Senate and General Assembly, she has had an impact that has transcended borders.
Bermuda’s former Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith applauded Evoluer House’s exemplary program for moving girls toward greatness. The London-based NGO A Safe World for Women recognized the organization for its efforts in nurturing at-risk girls. Wadlington has also partnered with government officials in Kenya from the Kiambu County Justice and Legal Committee to empower girls in the east African nation.
One year before Wadlington was named a White House “Champion of Change,” President Barack Obama recognized the Evoluer House for 11 years of service to young, urban girls. In 2020, she was one of 10 women in the nation selected by the world's No. 1 beauty brand L'Oréal Paris, as a Women of Worth. And in 2022, she was appointed to the Fashion Institute of Technology's inaugural Alumni Advisory Council
You can follow Cheryl Ann Wadlington on Instagram at @theevelouerhouse and @EvoluerHouse on Facebook.
