If you’ve ever attended the Odunde Festival, browsed the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park, or celebrated at the Caribbean Festival at Cherry Street Pier, you’ve experienced the work of people like those just appointed to Philadelphia’s two immigrant affairs commissions.
This month, the city announced a fresh slate of members for the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs (MCACIA) and the Mayor’s Commission on Asian and Pacific American Affairs (MCAPAA) — two bodies that give immigrant communities a real seat at the table in city government.
These aren’t just ceremonial appointments. Commission members help shape policy, connect residents to social services, support economic development, and keep cultural traditions alive in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Many come from the frontlines of community work: organizations like ACANA, the Filipino Executive Council, the Bangladesh Welfare Association, and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation are all represented.
Among those returning to the MCACIA are Jannie Blackwell, a former Philadelphia City Councilmember; Christopher Chaplin, Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Philadelphia; and Barbara Wilson, longtime organizer of the Caribbean Festival. Joining them are six new members, including Jean Wintz-Dabney of the Young Caribbean Professionals Network and Raaenn Billey of the Caribbean United Leaders Collective.
On the MCAPAA, familiar faces like John Chin of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and Cliff Akiyama of Gemma Services are back, joined by eight new members including Gao Ly Vang, Tiffany Chang, and Sophia Lee.
Returning Members — MCACIA
- Jannie Blackwell, former Philadelphia City Council member
- Voffee Jabateh, ACANA
- Eric Edi, AFRICOM
- Youma Ba, Echoes of Africa
- Christopher Chaplin, Honorary Consul of Jamaica in Philadelphia
- Josephys Dafils, Haitian-Americans United for Change
- Barbara Wilson, Caribbean Festival
- Rev. John Jallah, AGAPE Senior Center
- Helenmay Bady, Antigua and Barbuda Assn of Greater Philadelphia
- Eve Elie, Eve of Strategy LLC
- Kylla Herbert, Saint Kitts and Nevis Tri State Association
- Joy Ogbonnaya, Mahaba Children Company
- Alain Tchegnon, Global African Diaspora Network Inc.
- Amber Harris, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
New Members — MCACIA
- Jean Wintz-Dabney, Young Caribbean Professionals Network
- Raaenn Billey, Caribbean United Leaders Collective
- Kimisha Simpson, Ignite Jamaica Fund
- Maureen Smith, The Welcoming Center: Immigrant Leadership Institute
- Betty Muglugeta, Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Philadelphia.
- Michelle Neil, Global Jamaica Diaspora Council Northeast USA
Returning Members — MCAPAA
- Cliff Akiyama, Gemma Services
- Dewi Broadhurst, FACTS
- John Chin, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
- Aowtad Chowdhury, Bangladesh Welfare Association of America
- Ruben David, Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia
- Grace Rustia, AARP
- Mathew Tharakan, Indian Association
- Andrew Toy, PACDC
- Grace Wu Kong, Oak Health
- James Zhang, Sino American Business & Travel Association
New Members — MCAPAA
- Noel Abejo, Asian Bank
- Kenneth Wong
- Tiffany Chang, Protecting Immigrant Families
- Sophia Lee
- Roman Ventura, Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia
- Gao Ly Vang, Temple University School of Pharmacy
- Samuel Chueh, World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
- Michael Balan, City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
Taken together, these 30 individuals represent decades of community organizing, cultural leadership, and lived immigrant experience — exactly the kind of knowledge that should be informing how Philadelphia’s government serves its residents.
