With support from the Mayor’s Internship Program, the Office of Human Resources built on last year’s Spotlight on City Workers series, continuing and expanding its mission to highlight the people who keep our city running. This past summer, two mayoral interns connected with municipal employees across departments, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at city operations while sharing the stories of nearly a dozen dedicated public servants.
The series began under the leadership of Anfisa Blyumina, an undergraduate student at Temple University studying Communication and Sociology. A few weeks into the program, Kai Moore, a recent Lincoln University graduate with a B.S. in Health Science, joined the Office of Human Resources to help bring more stories to life.
“Not only has this project helped me build skills in video editing, interviewing, and navigating the city’s workforce, but it’s also been a powerful reminder that there’s an important story behind every municipal worker,” Blyumina stated while reflecting on her experience. Moore echoed this sentiment, adding, “Although my time with OHR was short, I’m leaving here with tons of information about several departments within the city. This project helped me gain insight into some of the less known departments that contribute to the larger picture, the wellbeing of our city and its residents.”
Office of Public Safety – Police Assisted Diversion Unit: Reducing the Jail population and recidivism
Our next stop took us to the grand opening of the Kensington Wellness Support Center, hosted by the Office of Public Safety. There, we had the opportunity to speak with Joelle Anderson, Operations Manager for the Police Assisted Diversion (PAD) Unit.
The PAD Unit plays a critical role in supporting Philadelphia’s justice-impacted community, offering alternatives to incarceration, reducing recidivism, and connecting people to vital resources. Beyond their day-to-day work, the team also organizes community events that provide direct support to those in need.
Anderson spoke passionately about the mission: “We offer resources in real time to people in need. People who may be affected by things such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental health, domestic violence, a person re-entering after being incarcerated. We offer an array of services.”
Capital Program Office: Building and improving our City’s facilities
In the Capital Program Office, we met Monique Turner, Contract Coordinator, and Roy Conard, Project Director for the Public Safety Team. Both have long-standing careers connected to the City of Philadelphia and now play vital roles in building and maintaining city facilities. Their work impacts not only municipal employees but every Philadelphian who relies on public buildings, from neighborhood libraries to local firehouses.
Reflecting on her city career, which began when she was just 18, Turner shared: “I basically worked my way up from being an Engineering Aid 1 up to an Engineering Aid 3, and then I began working with the contracts.”
Creative Philadelphia: Raising creative voices through art in City Hall
At the Creative Philadelphia Gallery in City Hall, we had the chance to speak with Tu Huynh, Curator of Exhibitions and Programs. With more than 30 years of professional arts experience, Huynh began his work with the city in 2003 and has since championed the idea of City Hall as a safe, welcoming space where all Philadelphians can share their creativity.
Discussing their latest exhibition, Portraits of Pride and Resilience, Huynh reflected: “Every work of art in it says, ‘I’m here, in the most important civic building in the entire city, and I want to be heard.’”
Philly Stat 360: Providing residents of Philadelphia with crucial data
At the Philly Stat 360 office, we sat down with Andoni Barrica, Business Analyst, and Jenna Lobasso, Data Visualization Specialist. As they explained, Philly Stat 360 was launched as an executive initiative by Mayor Parker to bring greater data transparency to Philadelphia residents.
Both Barrica and Lobasso are relatively new to the municipal workforce but have already found deep fulfillment in advancing Philly Stat 360’s mission. Lobasso, who played a key role in building the website where all Philly Stat 360 data is published, reflected: “I wanted to use my technical skills to make a difference in the city, and that’s exactly what Philly Stat aims to do.”
Neighborhood and Community Action Center 4: Connecting Haddington residents to vital resources
Our next-to-last stop took us to the heart of Haddington in West Philadelphia, one of the 10 locations where Mayor Parker has launched Neighborhood City Halls. There, we met Rennie Parker, Manager of Action Center 4, and Yolanda Lancaster, Community Organizer.
Both Parker and Lancaster are deeply committed to connecting residents with the resources and services they need to solve any problems that may arise. Whether it’s reporting a fallen electric wire or worrying about a potential loss of housing, Action Center 4 is an accessible place where neighbors can find answers and useful direction.
Speaking about her passion for helping others, Lancaster shared, “Whatever I have to do on the back end is nothing compared to the smiles and thanks you get after they receive the services they came in for.”
Looking to the future of our city
We feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to engage with so many dedicated municipal workers, listening to their stories and amplifying their voices. The Spotlight on City Workers series holds a special place in the heart of the Office of Human Resources, as it allows us to hear firsthand how jobs within the City of Philadelphia positively impact a diverse range of employees.
This series truly highlights the numerous benefits and rewarding careers available within our municipality. If you’re considering a career that offers upward mobility, stable income, personal fulfillment, and a supportive work environment, we encourage you to explore the opportunities at work.phila.gov today!
