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Project

Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative

Sections

Meet the Team

Chris Arlene Project Director

Chris Arlene leads Pew’s policy team for the Philadelphia research and policy initiative. His work on government effectiveness ranges from implementing technical assistance agreements that support improving government programs and practices to collaborating with policymakers and civic partners on convenings that link Pew research to potential policy solutions.

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Jennifer Clendening Principal Associate

Jennifer Clendening serves in a research and project management role for Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, focusing on health, housing, and civil legal system issues in the city. She previously worked for various workforce development and health policy organizations, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Clendening holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Muhlenberg College and dual master’s in public administration and bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Larry Eichel Senior Adviser

Larry Eichel is a senior advisor to Pew’s Pew’s Philadelphia research initiative. The project seeks to provide timely, impartial research and analysis on key issues facing Philadelphia for the benefit of the city’s citizens and leaders.

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Gilda Grant Administrative Assistant

Gilda Grant provides administrative, technical, and training support to Pew’s Philadelphia program, including The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, civic initiatives, and the Philadelphia research and policy initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Drexel University.

Thomas Ginsberg Senior Officer

A founding member of Pew’s Philadelphia research team, Thomas Ginsberg focuses on economic and business development, city finances, and immigration issues in Philadelphia through data and policy analysis. Before joining Pew, Ginsberg was a longtime journalist and editor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a certificate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Maridarlyn Gonzalez Senior Associate

Maridarlyn Gonzalez is a senior researcher with Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, focusing on immigration, equitable infrastructure, and the annual State of the City report. Gonzalez has prior experience in housing, transportation, public engagement, and community development. Before coming to Pew, she worked in shelters and managed a bi-state housing and energy conservation program. Gonzalez also worked at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, supporting transportation and English proficiency initiatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in geoscience, energy, and policy from the Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in geospatial technology and geodesign from Thomas Jefferson University.

Elinor Haider Senior Director

Elinor Haider oversees Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy work. In this role, she leads Pew’s efforts to partner with Philadelphia’s policymakers and civic stakeholders to address barriers to economic mobility and learn from national experts about solutions that have been effective at improving government performance and accountability in peer cities.

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Rishaun Hall Associate

Rishaun Hall is responsible for communication and coordination among Pew’s policy and research team in Philadelphia, the City Council of Philadelphia, and other city stakeholders. Hall has been an advocate for the Philadelphia community since the age of 14; he served as chair of the Philadelphia Youth Commission and was a national leadership council member of Generation Progress. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Wheeling Jesuit University (now Wheeling University) and is pursuing a master’s in public policy from West Chester University.

Jun Ho Phue Associate

Jun Ho Phue is an associate with Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, where he focuses on research into housing affordability. Before joining Pew, he was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the Philadelphia Division of Housing and Community Development, assisting with housing policy research. Phue holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Maryland.

Octavia Howell Manager

Octavia Howell helps manage Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy team. She leads the initiative’s housing research portfolio, which explores how poverty and local economic trends affect the availability, affordability, and quality of housing in the city. She is an expert and primary author on Pew reports addressing poverty and safe, affordable housing in Philadelphia.

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Katie Martin Project Director

Katie Martin leads the research team for Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative. Her areas of focus include the project’s annual State of the City report, citywide resident polling, and Pew’s analysis of the municipal civil legal system.

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Sandra Shea Senior Officer

Sandra Shea shapes strategy for the Philadelphia research and policy team’s work and serves as the primary editor for all of the project’s research products.

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Alix Sullivan Officer

Alix Sullivan is an officer with Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative. Her work focuses on the city’s fiscal health and government performance. Before joining Pew, Sullivan worked at a Philadelphia-based consulting firm on projects covering those same topics, as well as housing and economic development, in the Philadelphia region and beyond. Sullivan holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from James Madison University and a master’s in social policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Catie C. Wolfgang Officer

Catie C. Wolfgang is an officer with Pew’s Philadelphia research and policy initiative, focusing on workforce and economic development. Before joining Pew, Wolfgang held multiple roles in city government, including as Philadelphia’s inaugural chief service officer, and most recently as the senior director of workforce policy and strategy in the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. She has a long-standing passion for education and has taught at all levels, from elementary school to college. She previously served as executive director of Big Picture Philadelphia and associate director of the University Community Collaborative at Temple University. Wolfgang holds a bachelor's degree in history from Cornell University and a master's degree in urban education from Temple University. She is a Jesuit Volunteer Corps alumna and a long-time champion of Students Run Philly Style.