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,
Roberto Morales Velez
Roberto is a carpenter and repointing specialist by training and building maintenance manager by experience. He is the Property Manager for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Germantown’s four (4) buildings.