Empowering Workshop: "Who's Empowering Philly?"

Description

Join the Empowering Committee for an uplifting evening to learn about the local organizations, resources, and communities that advocate for Women in the Philadelphia AEC industry. Through a panel discussion with leaders from local Philadelphia organizations, we will share a network of opportunities, programs, and people who share in our mission to provide Professional Women in Construction with tools to empower our community and advance equity for women in Philadelphia. After the panel discussion we will open up the event to round table discussion about how to personally empower yourself and other women in Philadelphia.

MODERATOR

Monica Robinson Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO

Monica is the Director of Community Engagement at the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. She is passionate about social justice, workers’ rights, and civic engagement, having spent over 20 years leading efforts to create real change—first in law enforcement and now in the labor movement. Her journey has always been about breaking barriers and building bridges. Monica was the first woman and person of color to serve as a Defensive and Control Tactics Instructor with the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania where she worked to enhance public safety while supporting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. Now, as Director of Community Engagement at the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Monica brings the same drive to organizing, coalition-building, and empowering communities.

PANELISTS

Mia Held, WTS

Mia Held is a proud graduate of the University of New Mexico with a background in community and regional planning, education, and theater. A Senior Consultant with C&S Companies, Mia specializes in aviation planning with a focus on centering sustainability, accessibility, and community engagement in airport, Master planning, and decarbonization efforts. She is a skilled communicator, presenter, and technical writer. Mia believes in the value of airports as a public good that should be open, accessible, and beneficial to their communities. First and foremost, Mia’s work serves people. Mia marched for marriage equality in New York, served proudly as the first President of her University Gay-Straight Alliance, and now lives with her wife in Philadelphia, PA, proudly advocating for everyone to bring their whole self to work. She currently serves as Director of the WTS Philadelphia Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) Committee and, on the Aviation Administration & Planning Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

Jess Clifford, WiSE

Jess joined JBCI Engineers in 2006, after completing her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Drexel University and became President and majority owner in 2022. Over the past 20 years she has developed an expertise in building facades and a passion for historic preservation. She is Chair of the Structural Engineers’ Association of Pennsylvania's affiliate group Women in Structural Engineering (WiSE) Philadelphia. Jess also serves on the Membership Committee and as a Board Member for the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia. As a female engineer in a leadership role, she strives to support other female engineers at JBCI and represent women in AEC throughout industry organizations. 

Camille Smith, STEMSo(ul)cial

Camille Smith is a chemical engineer, social entrepreneur, content creator who thrives at the intersection of innovation, impact, and creativity. She is the founder of STEM So(ul)cial, a social enterprise dedicated to increasing the representation of Black people in STEM fields. Through social networking events, personal and professional workshops, and membership programs, STEM So(ul)cial creates a sense of belonging and provide opportunities for growth and development.

Illyana Bass, PWC

Illyana Bass is a Philadelphia based architectural designer and community advocate living for the betterment of the community of Philadelphia. She was instrumental to the foundation of PWC Philly’s Empowering Committee while attending Drexel University. Illyana was the first ever PWC Philly scholarship winner in 2019 and has grown to be present Chair of the Empowering Committee. In addition to her leadership role at PWC, Illyana is on the executive board of PhilaNOMA, serving as the Chair of Membership. You’ll likely meet Illyana at a volunteer, education, or community event. She is a talented architectural designer with strong attention to research, visualization, and design solutions. These skills have been developed during her 7 year journey in healthcare design. Illyana envisions a path where she is a community design architect working to improve the social, mental, and behavioral healthcare experience of communities through sustainable design.

Diane Cornman-Levy, Women’s Way

Diane Cornman-Levy is Chief Disruptor at WOMEN’S WAY, a Philadelphia-based gender-justice organization. Diane brings more than 35 years of nonprofit leadership, coalition building, community organizing and fundraising experience to WOMEN’S WAY. A tireless advocate for gender and racial equity, Diane joined WOMEN’S WAY in January 2017 after running for State Representative of the 168th District. Prior to running for public office, Diane founded and built two non-profits and led another nonprofit organization that worked to improve education, health and economic equity for families. In each of these positions, Diane challenged the status quo through forging cross-sector partnerships and designing new programs that increased economic, health and education opportunities for families, teens, returning citizens, and self-taught artists with mental health challenges. During her tenure at WOMEN’S WAY, she led the transformation of the organization including designing a new brand, creating new grantmaking programs, building a citywide, collaborative initiative to advance the economic security of women and leading a year-long intervention to embed antiracism in every aspect of WOMEN’S WAY.

Thank you to our generous Empowering Sponsor!

Trini Construction, LLC, A Certified Minority and Woman Owned Business

Thank you to our host!

Please help us than our generous annual 2025 & 2026 Giving Partners who ensure that we can provide rich events and programming that support our mission this year. Thank you!