2005 Symposium
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2005 Franklin Symposium Program
First Annual Symposium
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
| Keynote Speaker: | Michael J. Fox, Founder and Chairman of the Michael J. Fox Foundation of Parkinson’s Research |
| Moderators: | Donny Deutsch, Chairman & CEO, Deutsch Inc., Author and host of the Big Idea on CNN Dr. Richard J. Gelles – Moderator, Dean, The Joanne and Raymond Welsh Chair of Child Welfare and Family Violence, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania |
| Panelists: | Ms. Frances Barchi, Student, Masters Program in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania Mr. Benjamin Davies, Student, Masters Program in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania Mr. Donny Deutsch – Moderator, Chairman & CEO, Deutsch Inc., Author and host of the Big Idea on CNN (University of Pennsylvania Graduate) Ms. Deborah Brooks, President & CEO, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease Dr. Richard J. Gelles – Moderator, Dean, The Joanne and Raymond Welsh Chair of Child Welfare and Family Violence, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania Ms. Gloria Guard, President, People’s Emergency Center Dr. Femida Handy, Associate Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania; Academic Advisor, Penn’s Masters Program in Ms. Feather O. Houstoun, President, William Penn Foundation Dr. Donald F. Kettl, Stanley I. Sheerr Endowed Term Professor in the Social Sciences, University of Pennsylvania; Director, Fels Institute of Mr. Laurence A. Levy, Director, Giuliani Partners, L.L.C. Mr. John G. Loeb, Senior Vice President, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation Mr. Thomas M. McKenna, Director, The Fels Certificate Program in Nonprofit Administration, Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania; former National Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Mr. William A. Meyer, Chairman, Meyer Jabara Hotels (University of Pennsylvania Graduate) Mr. Benjamin R. Pierce, Executive Director, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Sister Mary Scullion, Executive Director, Project H.O.M.E. Mr. Alan D. Simon, Chairman & CEO, Omaha Steaks International Inc. (University of Pennsylvania Graduate) Dr. Kenwyn Smith, Associate Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania |
| BFLS Award Recipient*: | Cynthia F. Figueroa, Executive Director, Women Against Abuse, Inc. |
*Award is given to an upcoming leader in the nonprofit industry.
2005 Recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Leadership Award
Cynthia F. Figueroa
Executive Director, Women Against Abuse, Inc.
Cynthia F. Figueroa currently serves as the Executive Director of Women Against Abuse, Inc., the largest domestic violence agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Women Against Abuse operates the only domestic violence shelter in Philadelphia County and also provides legal services, including representation as well as transitional housing services to victims of domestic violence. Figueroa serves as a Board member for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and was appointed by Mayor John F. Street to the Mayors’ Task Force on Domestic Violence where she co-chairs the social services sub committee.
Most recently, Figueroa served as the lead in a collaborative process to develop the Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline. The new Hotline has enhanced the domestic violence resources while streamlining access and information for City systems. In addition, Figueroa has played an instrumental role in securing new federal resources for the City through the Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women. This leadership resulted in over 1.3 million new dollars for 2006.
Prior to Figueroa’s tenure at Women Against Abuse, she was an employee at Congreso de Latinos Unidos for five years, serving first as the Manager of the Women’s Wellness Department and then as a member of its Executive Team developing and leading the Division of Behavioral Health Services. Before coming to Philadelphia, Figueroa held various social service positions in Detroit, MI, involving H.I.V. counseling, domestic violence, and work with incarcerated women.
Figueroa was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Miami, Florida. In addition to her work at Women Against Abuse, she currently serves as the Second Vice Chair of the Board for Planned Parenthood of South Eastern Pennsylvania and is the Secretary of the Board for Congreso de Latinos Unidos. She is married and lives in Mt. Airy and holds a degree in Fine Arts from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.