Here are the pictures and biographies of the panelists for Intersectional Realities Around COVID-19: Impacts on Vulnerable Communities and Partnering to Address the Problems (April 19, 2021)
Rev. Ralph E. Blanks
Rev. Ralph E. Blanks is the Third Pastor of the Vine Memorial Baptist Church. Rev. Blanks previously served as pastor of Harry Hosier, Mother African Zoar and Janes United Methodist Churches and Central District Superintendent.
As an advocate of a holistic ministry, he has sought to enhance the quality of life for others by working with the following organizations: Prudential Insurance Company of America, Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, North Philadelphia Health System, Korean Community Development Corporation, First Hospital Foundation, Greater Philadelphia Health Action, and the City of Philadelphia’s Fair Housing Commission. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Behavioral Wellness Center At Girard.
Rev Blanks has been recognized for his work by several organizations and has received the Community Spirit Award from the African American Interdenominational Ministries, Past President’s Award from the Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, the Human Rights Award from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the Preacher of the Year Award by the Black United Methodist Preachers, the Outstanding Service to Community and Church Award from the City Council of Philadelphia, and the Liberty Bell Award from the City of Philadelphia.
A Masters of Divinity graduate from the Drew University School of Theology, Rev. Blanks has pursued post-graduate studies at Princeton University. He received the Bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College in Arkansas and a diploma in East Central European Studies from the University of Graz, Austria. Rev. Blanks has traveled extensively preaching, teaching, and doing mission projects around the world including: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Korea, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. He is married to Paula Marie Sharp and they have a blended family of 6 children and 9 grandchildren.
Luz B. Colon epitomizes integrity, hard work and passion for service in every detail of Community Service for the last 20 years for the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania in various Governmental roles. Luz grew up in North Philadelphia, in the Kensington section, the very same community in where her roots were planted and continues to serve. Luz’s cultural background and focus on community collaboration has led her to a number of volunteer opportunities and community and government leadership roles.
Luz B. Colon
In March of 2016, Luz was named by Governor Tom Wolf as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission for Latino Affairs (GACLA). Luz has embraced this state-wide leadership role with typical vigor and charm, strongly connecting with near and distant Latino communities throughout Pennsylvania. Luz also has had the pleasure to work for council members such as the former Councilman Angel L. Ortiz and current Council members, Blondell Reynolds Brown & Bill Greenlee. Her position with Councilman Greenlee specifically allowed her to grow into a significant leadership role. These positions have allowed her to service the needs and bridge the gap between the Government and the community.
Through her role as the Governor Wolf’s Latino liaison and her other government and leadership roles, Luz has organized innumerable community events all over the city and state to bring her many resources to help communities.A highlight of her accomplishments locally is that she was one of the founders of the Philadelphia 76ers La Liga Del Barrio Basketball League Organization. Where her leadership role was recognized by Philadelphia City Council in 2015.
As a Latina, she represents the Latino Community and Luz assumes personal responsibility to bring forth and showcase what the Latino community is doing in a positive light in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. She is a current member of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Woman (NACOPRW). She’s also dedicated 15 years as a committee person for the 20th Ward and 10th Division and in 2014, Luz was invited to sit on the Philadelphia Fight Advisory Board, the largest HIV/AIDS comprehensive medical care organization in the Philadelphia area and was recently appointed board member of APM (Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc.)
Luz is the proud mother of two little boys, Joseph, age 15 and Sebastian, age 9. Because Luz is so passionate about growth and knowledge, she is currently enrolled in Community College of Philadelphia pursuing a degree in Political Science.
Chad Dion Lassiter
Chad Dion Lassiter is a National Expert in the field of American Race Relations. Mr. Lassiter has worked on race, peace, and poverty-related issues in The United States of America, Africa, Canada, Haiti, Israel, and Norway, and is called upon frequently by media outlets to provide commentary on race relations and potential solutions.
He is the current Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, where he has legislatively delegated authority to investigate a complaint alleging the occurrence of unlawful discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and commercial property, education and/or regarding public accommodations that have been filed. During his capacity in this position, he has developed and launched a ‘No Hate in Our State Townhall’ to address the surge of White Nationalism in Pennsylvania, a ‘Social Justice Lecture Series’ providing an outlet for the communities in the State to discuss imperative issues and serves as a Racial Reduction Response team for those communities impacted by hatred. He oversees a staff of 84 with three Regional Offices that comprise the 67 Counties in Pennsylvania and manages an annual budget of $12 million dollars. He has also developed programs under his appointment, such as a ‘Global Social Justice Initiative’, ‘Black and Jewish Beloved Community Dialogue’, and the ‘College Race Dialogue Initiative.’
Mr. Lassiter received his Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Social Work, where he was the A. Phillip Randolph Award winner in 2001 and he received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Johnson C. Smith University in 1995.
Mr. Lassiter is a Co-founder and current President of The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice’s Black Men at Penn, the first Ivy League black male group of social workers. This transcendent group seeks to recruit Black males into the profession, as well as, providing Anti-Racism and violence prevention training to urban and suburban schools around the country and Diversity and Inclusion training for Corporate Entities and Penal Systems.
Mr. Lassiter has been recognized by the Philadelphia Tribune as “The Most Influential African American Leader from 2010-2020”, as the “Young Leaders of the Future Under 30” by Ebony Magazine in 2003 and “Who’s Who among African-Americans 17th edition in 2004 with such notables as Colin Powell and Michael Jordan”. On November 18th, 2019, Mr. Lassiter was inducted into the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice Alumni Hall of Fame.
His previous work includes Executive Director of the Red Cross House with the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania and a Visiting Scholar at West Chester University in the Undergraduate School of Social Work. He was also a former contributing Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice, where he was the 2008 recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Award. He is a former research fellow at the W.E.B. DuBois Collective Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, where he worked on two National Research Projects, P.L.A.A.Y. (Preventing Long Term Anger and Aggression in Youth) and H.I.P.P. (Health Information Providers and Promoters).
Mr. Lassiter has also held several Board of Trustees positions. Including his appointment as a member of the Board of Governors at St. Christopher Hospital for the Children (i.e. 5 years), Board of Trustees for the Philadelphia Prison System (i.e. 8 years) and Board of Trustees for the Community College of Philadelphia (i.e. 5 years).
Chad Dion Lassiter is a pioneer in social work, social justice, and race relations where he hopes to continue to impact and empower.
Stephanie Sun
Stephanie Sun was the first female immigrant appointed the Executive Director of Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (GACAPAA).
Sun worked for government diplomatic agencies in both China and South Korea, and for 3 Fortune 120 international corporations in 3 countries, China, South Korea, and the U.S. She also has experience in corporate philanthropy as a grant analyst working on both international and domestic grants and has also written grant applications.
Sun is a journalist, and served as the senior director of the main local Chinese language newspaper based in Philadelphia, informing and being a voice for the immigrant community, and serving as an advocate for grassroots and marginalized people.
In 2016, Sun collaborated with Philadelphia City Council to organize the first-ever City Council public hearing concerning the Asian Pacific American (APA) community in the history of Philadelphia. And she has been constantly advocating for the rights of crime victims in the APA community, and facilitating their interaction with law enforcement.
Stephanie earned a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media Management in China. She studied for her Ph.D. in International Relations in South Korea.
As the first in her family to go to college, Sun felt privileged to become a tenured college senior lecturer in Asia, and she believes education can help people achieve a better life. Sun is a proud immigrant, and passionate about utilizing her experience of living, working and studying in 3 different countries, communicating in 4 different languages, bringing different ways of thinking, to better serve the diverse APA communities throughout Pennsylvania.
Joyce B. Davis, Moderator
Joyce M. Davis is Opinion Editor for PennLive, which she joined in March 2019. She is veteran journalist, author, communications professional and accomplished public speaker who has lived and worked around the globe for some of the most respected news organizations in the world. She is formerly Director of Communications for the City of Harrisburg.
Davis served as Associate Director of Broadcasting for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, based in Prague, and supervised broadcast and internet services to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. She also worked closely as a senior executive with broadcast services to Russia, Ukraine, Romania/Moldova, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.
Davis spent eight years as an editor and correspondent with National Public Radio and also was Deputy Foreign Editor and correspondent for Knight Ridder Newspapers, once the nation’s second largest newspaper chain.
Davis was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kyrgyz International University for her work in helping to ensure freedom of information throughout the world. She recently was awarded a second honorary doctorate by Central Penn College and is slated to be awarded a third honorary doctorate by Lebanon Valley College at its 2017 commencement.
Davis also was recently honored by being named to the Hall of Fame of Women In International Security and a fellow in Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University.
Davis is a specialist in the Middle East and Islam, and has reported from much of the Islamic world. She is currently working on a book about relations between Christian and Muslim women in the U.S. and around the world.
