TEAM MEMBERS.
John Elliot Churchville,
PH.D., JD
Founder, President & CEO
John is an author, scholar-activist, educator, business and social change entrepreneur, and attorney. He is Managing Partner, The Churchville Triad Group, LLC, and the founder and CEO of Liberation Fellowship Community Development Corporation.
Ben
Bowens
Vice President
Ben joins the board of Northwest CLT with a background in communications, specifically in the non-profit sector. He currently serves as the Director of Communications for Western States Center
Nancy-Ellen Churchville
Secretary
Nancy-Ellen Churchville is a native Philadelphian, author, painter, sculptor, wife, mother, and grandmother. She is President and COO of Liberation Fellowship Community Development Corporation. A retiree from the healthcare industry after serving as a Certified Medical Revenue Manager, Systems Analyst, Anatomy and Physiology instructor and third-party billing/coding instructor, Nancy now devotes her time to sculpting and painting commissioned pieces. Her artwork can be found at
nancyellenchurchville.shop
Rae Vassar
Treasurer
Rae is a community activist and organizer who has done paid, volunteer, and community service work in nearly every section of Philadelphia, including Germantown.
Dante Leonard
Dante Leonard is the co-founder of We Embrace Fatherhood nonprofit organization. He currently serves as HopePHL’s Commercial Corridor Manager for Lower Lancaster Avenue providing approximately 220 corridor businesses with technical assistance, connection to resources, and programs to support the economic viability of Lancaster Avenue. He serves on the Byrne Criminal Justice Initiative, management team as well as the Philadelphia ReCast Community Advisory Council.
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Ellen Somekawa
Ellen Somekawa has been the Executive Director of the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) since 2014. From 1996 to 2014, Ellen was the Executive Director of Asian Americans United where she carried forward the organization’s commitment to creating intergenerational spaces for young people to come to consciousness and to serve their communities.
Leslie Billhymer
Leslie is a seasoned Urban and Architectural Designer who currently serves as Managing Principal at Corona Partners Real Estate, Philadelphia, PA. A Certified Energy Manager and Certified Passive House Consultant,
Bryson Jones
Bryson received a bachelor’s degree in Applied Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship from Brigham Young University-Idaho. After working in varying school systems including charter and public for many years, Bryson transitioned into a full-time career in Real Estate Brokerage with Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, specializing in Commercial Leases and Sales.
Sonya T. Nickerson
Sonya T. Nickerson is the Assistant Project Manager at The Maple Corporation. She has five years of experience in affordable housing property management, as well as five years in housing development. She is a certified Assisted Housing Manager (AHM) with expertise in grant funding programs such as CDBG/HOME, FHLB AHP, PHARE, and Local Share Account. Additionally, she has experience in the Land Bank acquisition process.
Raheela Iram
Raheela Iram is a construction management professional with a master's degree in ConstructionManagement and a year of experience in the field. She earned her Bachelor's in Architecture inIndia, where she worked as an Architect and Project Manager. Over her five-year career, she hasled teams designing LEED-certified, eco-friendly projects, demonstrating her commitment tosustainability and community development.