Women's Commission

Sharon is a small business owner who is currently serving her third term on Sharon Hill Borough Council, founder, and government liaison of the Sharon Hill Art & Culture Commission, (providing free art and cultural programs, festivals, and workshops to Sharon Hill residents). She has devoted her life to public service, community activism, and advocating for women, art, and culture. As an art activist Sharon utilizes her fused artform of poetry, dance, and song to bring awareness to women’s issues and has performed throughout the United States and internationally, as well as, with two women’s collectives, has been featured in both an award-winning documentary film, and short film about the Suffragettes sponsored by the Pennsylvania Commission for Women’s 2021 celebration of Women’s History Month. She authored two books of poetry, and her prose has been published in numerous anthologies, newspapers, magazines, and journals. She resides in Sharon Hill with her husband Assarif and two cats Maximillian and Stinkerbelle.

Tammi is the first female and first African American elected Magisterial Judge in her district, 32-2-37. Her accomplishments include Roster Chair with the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center, and The Summer Academy. Tammi has taught at Penn Wood High School, Lansdowne, PA and Charles Carroll High School, Philadelphia, PA. She is a Peer Coach and a Professional Development Facilitator. Tammi a lifelong resident of Delaware County and she is committed to serving her community and to uplifting women, children, and families.

Pat is an Associate Clinical Professor at Widener University’s Center for Social Work Education and the Program Director for the Master of Social Work campus-based program. She earned her BSW, BA in Psychology, MSW, and Ph.D. from Widener University. In addition to teaching social work practice, Pat has over thirty years of experience working in hospice, child, adolescent, and adult mental health, out-patient counseling, and clinical supervision. Helping women successfully navigate life’s challenges and transitions has been a focus of Pat’s career in her social work practice. A champion of education as the key to self-sufficiency, Pat works to support students in their academic pursuits, to assist them in experiencing the transformative power of education. Pat is a life-long Delaware County resident and has lived in Concord Township for thirty-three years. She and her husband have three adult children and eight grandchildren.

Kamira resides in Chester, PA. She earned her undergraduate degree from Drexel University and completed her Master of Public Administration at Villanova University in 2016. Kamira has worked in higher education for over 15 years, with a focus on creating and providing services and interventions designed to close opportunity gaps for students who are from historically marginalized demographics, challenging socioeconomic backgrounds, and/or are first-generation students. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Student Engagement at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology.

Arnita is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Affinity Care Hospice and an Educator for youth. She is the Founder of Butterfly Empowerment Services Transform (B.E.S.T.)–services for abused women and children. Arnita is also the Founder & CEO of Go 2 Prayer Ministries, Radio Station and Product Line; encouraging people to pray without ceasing, and to be the answer to help others in some way. Arnita is an international music Artist with songs on digital outlets, and Author of the book "Watch God Move". She was licensed as a Minister in 2004 and received an Apostolic Ordination in 2017. Arnita is a graduate from Villanova University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts & Sciences, with a major in Communications, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, where she received a Masters of Social Work. She is presently attending International Miracle Institute for a Doctorate in Christian Theology. Arnita was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Freedom Medal and other honors for excellence in community service. She serves other organizations and is a board member for Broken Wings Literacy Center. Arnita resides in Delaware County and loves her son Joseph Emmanuel, who is a junior in college. She is grateful for her friends and family, especially her Mom who is 96.

Mary resides in Garnet Valley, PA with her husband of twenty-one years and their two teenage boys. She earned her undergraduate degree from Temple University and completed her Juris Doctorate with a Certificate in International Legal Studies from Loyola University School of Law. Mary is a Pennsylvania barred attorney who has been practicing law for over twenty years. She has volunteered over the years in various capacities with the Garnet Valley School District and she also volunteered for Aldea – The People's Justice Center. In her free time, Mary enjoys alpine skiing with the Weekday Skiers local ski group as well as yoga and reading. Mary is delighted to have been chosen to serve on the Woman’s Commission and is looking forward to advocating for the women and girls of Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Nancy is a long-time Delaware County resident who actively supports professional and community initiatives. Nancy is a Pennsylvania certified Level II Instructional Technology Specialist and founder of Cara Tec, LLC where she works with business organizations, non-profits, and schools to support digital technology uses for learning, leading, and collaboration. Through her program, E2Today, Nancy provides educators and organizations with the tools to harness the power of digital technology and social media. She received her master’s degree from St Joseph's University in Educational Instructional Technology and a Distance Learning Certification from Teacher's College, Columbia University.

Gwendolyn is a long-time resident of Delaware County. She currently works as the Community Outreach Manager for State Senator Tim Kearney in Media, and she previously worked in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a chief of staff to a State Representative. Gwen earned her master’s degree in leadership from Penn State University in 2021, and her bachelor’s degree from West Chester University in 2018. Gwen also has an associates degree from Delaware County Community College where she was awarded the prestigious Alumni Professional Achievement Award and gave the keynote speech at graduation in 2019. Gwen currently resides in Eddystone and has one daughter.

Yumeno currently serves as the District Office Director to a State Representative in Delaware County. Originally from Ohio, she holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences from The Ohio State University. Prior to relocating to Pennsylvania, Yumeno worked as the Legislative Aide to an Ohio House Representative, where she assisted with the policy work for the OH House Higher Education Committee and led the planning and execution of the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus initiatives. She now resides in Drexel Hill and also serves as the Advocacy Committee Chair for NExT Philadelphia, an affinity group of young professionals with the Urban League of Philadelphia, and Vice-Chair for the NAACP Main Line Branch Political Action Committee. In every position, Yumeno is passionate about advocating for greater equality, equity, and justice for all women and girls.

Deborah has lived in Delaware County for most of her life. She currently works as the System Director, Community Health, and Outreach for Main Line Health. She has worked for Main Line Health/ Riddle Hospital for over 31 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Neumann University and a master’s degree in Nursing from Wilmington University. She was selected as a finalist for Nurse.com Nursing Excellence GEM award (2015), the Pennsylvania Nightingale Award (2014) and was featured as a Top Nurse in Main Line Today in both 2021 and 2022. Deborah also served as a nurse in the United States Army Reserve, she retired as a Major after serving for 20 years. Deborah is an active community volunteer, serving as a Girl Scout leader for many years, volunteering for the 4-H and serving on the Foundation Board for the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. She is currently an active volunteer for her church. She is very excited to serve on the Woman’s Commission and advocate for women of all ages from Delaware County. Deborah currently resides in Middletown Township with her husband of 37 years, Ven. They have four daughters, Heather (36), Lauren (32), Natalie (22) and Jessica (18) and one grandson, Carter (1).

Farida’s commitment to equity and belonging are demonstrated through the various nonprofit organizations that she founded or chaired on her own time with no compensation. The Youth Leadership Development Program was co-founded by Farida to empower high school children to gain leadership skills through training and mentoring. The Network of Indian Professionals was focused on supporting undergraduate and graduate students primarily of Indian origin through a focus on professional development, community service, cultural and political awareness. Farida led as the President and held every role on the board for nearly 10 years. Share Our Secrets (SOS) was co-founded by Farida to help adults get ahead in their lives through direct mentoring and coaching from accomplished leaders in society

Elleanor Jean Hendley is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and pioneer among Philadelphia’s African-American women in television news. During her career at CBS 3, Ms. Hendley was the only woman of color to produce and host a weekend primetime magazine show, City Lights, and served as the Education Reporter for the Eyewitness News team. While working full-time in television news, Ms. Hendley used her platform to help empower girls of color by creating Teenshop, Inc.(1985), a nonprofit weekend volunteer-based life skills and college prep program for girls with goals. Chapters are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California, with a record of 3500+ alumnae and 100% college acceptance. Ms. Hendley is the also the Founder/CEO of Elleanor Jean Hendley LLC, an education consulting company whose programs include Girls Achieve, an in-school empowerment series for middle school girls based on the Teenshop curriculum. Ms. Hendley’s memberships and recognition include: The Links, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Charter Member of the PA Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Commissioner on the Delaware County Women’s Commission; Philadelphia Business Journal Woman of Distinction, Take the Lead Award, Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, WDAS Woman of Excellence, and Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Dominion Theological Seminary. A graduate of Ohio’s Central State University, Ms. Hendley attended the Sorbonne in Paris, France and is a jazz piano student, seamstress, crafter, and world traveler.