Engaging Pennsylvanians
to Empower Communities
New PA Project Education Fund
Our Mission
The New PA Project Education Fund is dedicated to empowering Pennsylvania’s underrepresented and underserved communities of color, immigrant communities and the youth through civic education and year round engagement to ensure full participation in the democratic process.
About The New PA Project Education Fund
The New PA Project Education Fund (NPPEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Pennsylvania’s underrepresented and underserved communities of color, immigrant communities, and the youth by providing civic education and year round engagement to ensure full participation in the democratic process.
Year Round Engagement & Civic Education
The New PA Project Education Fund believes in empowering everyday Pennsylvanians by providing the resources and tools necessary for participatory civic engagement. In order to build power in communities, it is vital that we help give a voice to the underserved and underrepresented. Through town halls, community events, and voter registration efforts, we will help our communities have their voices heard.
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Meet Our Team
Kadida Kenner
Founding Executive Director of New PA Project & New PA Project Education Fund
Kadida Kenner is the founding executive director of the New Pennsylvania Project, a voting rights organization modeled after the successful New Georgia Project founded by Stacey Abrams in 2014. The New Pennsylvania Project’s primary focus is to civically engage, register, mobilize and empower often-ignored constituents, especially the youth, and communities of color in rural, urban, and suburban Pennsylvania to transform and expand the electorate in the Commonwealth. Kadida is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice issues and is motivated to empower and excite the electorate to enthusiastically vote in every election — all the way down the entire ballot. In addition to working on voting rights, Kadida also serves as co-chair of Why Courts Matter – Pennsylvania, an advocacy campaign seeking to protect the independence of our state and federal courts, and educate the electorate about their importance. The Temple University graduate resides in the Philly suburbs and counts civil rights organizing icon, and Pennsylvania native Bayard Rustin as her hero.
Laila Marting Garcia
Director of Organizing
Laila is the Director of Organizing with the New Pennsylvania Project. Laila’s leadership catalyzes the power of people to make positive changes in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Previously, she was CASA Pennsyvlania Regional Lead Organizer, where she led thousands of families to advocate for Puerto Rican equity, climate justice, and immigrant justice. She holds a Masters of Arts in International Relations, Security, and Development from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, focusing on non-violent movements in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Laila has served as program manager for human rights and anti-corruption work in Germany, Morocco, Syria, and Saudi Arabia and speaks six languages.
Katy Personette
Director of Development & Policy
Katy Personette is the Director of Development and Policy with the New Pennsylvania Project. Katy is passionate about advocating for social justice issues and bringing that spark of activism and engagement on policies to folks in Pennsylvania and beyond. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of Campaigns with PA Budget and Policy Center, focusing on the We The People-PA campaign where she advocated for progressive policies including a fair share tax, adequate and equitable funding for K-12 education, fair housing and a fair return for work among others by calling for bold action from state lawmakers. Katy worked with partners and community leaders to organize and build power across the state to win economic justice and build a stronger, healthier, and more just future for all Pennsylvanians. Katy graduated from Kutztown University where she studied Anthropology and Sociology. After realizing her passion for political activism, she transitioned out of the corporate world and started as a statewide community health organizer for PA Health Access Network. Katy loves baseball, her favorite team being the New York Yankees, Coldplay and cuddling with her dog Nova.
Ben Gillespie
Regional Organizing Director for Bucks & Montgomery Counties
Ben Gillespie is the Regional Organizing Director for Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Ben is passionate about engaging communities to recognize their collective strength and fight for justice, equity, and opportunity. He is a fervent believer in the power of the people over systems of oppression. Ben has worked on numerous political campaigns, many in the region that he now oversees. Before working in politics, he worked with adults with developmental disabilities. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he studied Criminology and Political Science.
Kristi Rines
Kristi Rines is a Community Engagement Associate for Dauphin and Cumberland Counties.
She was born and raised in rural Chambersburg, PA, where she has enjoyed growing up on the swim team and having access to great state parks for hiking. Sadly, her hometown today is also the only municipality in the state of 71 to have passed and then repeal a non-discrimination ordinance, which provides explicit protections for ethnicity and LGBTQ+ identity. While she still stands with marginalized communities in Chambersburg, she is grateful for the opportunity to reside in Harrisburg and contribute to The New PA Project’s mission.
Kristi received my BA in Communication & Rhetoric and Women’s Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, which helped develop my passion for media literacy and intersectional social justice, respectively. Kristi has spent about 7 years in Pittsburgh before returning to Chambersburg, where she completed a Master of Social Work at Shippensburg University. While she has enjoyed a couple years in mental health therapeutic support, in recent years, she has grown to love applying what she has learned over the last decade to community organizing and activism. Specifically, she is continuing to invest in racial justice, anti-sexual violence, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and pro-democracy movements.
Kristi Rines
Data & Quality Control Manager
Kristi Rines
Data & Quality Control Manager
Kristi Rines is a Community Engagement Associate for Dauphin and Cumberland Counties.
She was born and raised in rural Chambersburg, PA, where she has enjoyed growing up on the swim team and having access to great state parks for hiking. Sadly, her hometown today is also the only municipality in the state of 71 to have passed and then repeal a non-discrimination ordinance, which provides explicit protections for ethnicity and LGBTQ+ identity. While she still stands with marginalized communities in Chambersburg, she is grateful for the opportunity to reside in Harrisburg and contribute to The New PA Project’s mission.
Kristi received my BA in Communication & Rhetoric and Women’s Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, which helped develop my passion for media literacy and intersectional social justice, respectively. Kristi has spent about 7 years in Pittsburgh before returning to Chambersburg, where she completed a Master of Social Work at Shippensburg University. While she has enjoyed a couple years in mental health therapeutic support, in recent years, she has grown to love applying what she has learned over the last decade to community organizing and activism. Specifically, she is continuing to invest in racial justice, anti-sexual violence, LGBTQ+ rights, feminism, and pro-democracy movements.
Taiba Sultana
Regional Organizing Director of Northampton & Monroe Counties
Taiba Sultana is a Regional Director of Northampton and Monroe counties. Sultana is a councilwoman of the city of Easton. She defeated 20 years incumbent, making a history for becoming the first Asian, Muslim, immigrant and first woman of color to be on the Easton City Council. She serves as a member of Governor Wolf’s Commission on Higher Education and as a member of the College Textbook Policies Advisory for the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.
In the past, Taiba has served as an executive member of the International Youth General Assembly and has been invited to international youth conferences as delegate and speaker. She also served as a member of Emgage PAC and the advisory council of the PAK Political Action Committee.
Taiba is a social activist and has been active with numerous campaigns and political organizations. She has extensive knowledge of political activities and has maintained a focus on current political issues at the local, state and national levels.
Katie Zemaitis
Regional Organizing Director for Allegheny County
Katie Zemaitis is one of the New Pennsylvania Project’s regional organizing director for Allegheny County. Katie is a lifelong Pennsylvanian and has spent her life making meaningful ties in the region. She believes that energizing and mobilizing people to vote is the most powerful way to make change both locally and nationwide. Katie graduated from Allegheny College where she studied Political Science and Global Health Studies. After graduating, she worked with the Pennsylvania House Democrats in a first-of-its-kind legislative deep canvassing effort. Establishing meaningful relationships with voters and volunteers alike motivates Katie in her organizing journey.
Nancy Lopez Sosa
Regional Organizing Director for Chester and Delaware Counties
Nancy Lopez Sosa is the Regional Organizing Director for Chester and Delaware Counties at The New Pennsylvania Project. Nancy is passionate about mobilizing communities of color and advocating for social justice issues. Previously, she worked as a community organizer for the Farmworker Support Committee where she provided labor education to immigrant, Latino farmworkers in Southern Chester County, and mobilized them to advocate for immigrant justice and fair wages.
Nancy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Anthropology and Latin American Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She was born and raised in Central Mexico and currently resides in Oxford, Pennsylvania.
Dyneco Gibson
Community Engagement Associate for Chester County
Dyneco Gibson is the community engagement associate for Chester County. Her passion for community activism began in Rochester, NY where she mentored youth and volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care, worked in the disaster services department for the American Red Cross, and the Mobile Crisis Team where she assisted people who were having a mental health crisis.
Now a resident of Coatesville, Dyneco believes this work is important to her because she wants her teenage daughter to know that as a minority woman, her voice is important. And, for her to remember that African Americans and women did not always have the right to vote.
Dyneco is a lifetime member of the NAACP. She received her Associate’s degree from Monroe Community College in Human Services.
Board Members
Marlene Katz, Chair
John Neurohr, Vice Chair
Dwayne Heisler, Treasurer
Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy, Secretary
House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton
State Representative Patty Kim
State Representative Summer Lee
Volunteer with us!
An educated constituency is an empowered constituency. Make a difference in your community. Learn more about how you can become a volunteer.
Get in touch!
For general inquiries, please contact: info@newpaprojecteducationfund.org
484-861-8398
P.O. Box 453, West Chester, PA 19381
Donate to the New Pennsylvania Project Education Fund
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