Board Update: Meet our Five Newest Members
We’re excited to welcome five incredible new members to our Board of Directors this fall! Each brings unique expertise and a deep commitment to advancing gender equity in Greater Philadelphia. Meet these inspiring change-makers below.
Dr. Charles Coe, CPNP, MSN, MPH, MSW, LCSW, C-ACYFSW | Incredible Kids Learning Center Organization
Charles Coe (he/him) is an accomplished leader and advocate with over a decade of dedicated service to social justice, women, and children. As the Executive Director and Founder of the Incredible Kids Learning Center Organization, Charles has positively touched the lives of over 15,000 children, providing essential early childhood educational development, early intervention, scholarship, and supportive services. His visionary leadership has driven the organization to success while ensuring equitable access for underserved communities and empowering women within the workforce to take on leadership roles. Charles serves as the coach, cheerleader, and mascot for children, women, and the community. His personal quote is: “Having belief in someone is a very powerful thing and will have a very profound impact on the person to whom we are blessed to work with. This level of responsibility should never be taken lightly but held in such high regard.”
With a passion for advocacy, Charles also founded Creating Opportunities for Empowerment (COE) Inc., a Social and Human Services Organization servicing both Philadelphia and Atlanta that focuses on crisis intervention, family advocacy, and intensive clinical case management for women, children, and families. Under Charles’ leadership, COE, Inc. has expanded its reach, leading a team of over 100 clinicians and family advocates to deliver personalized care to individuals facing complex challenges. His work in addressing gender disparities, championing wage equality, and promoting early intervention services for women and children showcases his commitment to driving social change and empowering marginalized populations. Charles creates opportunities for advancement when opportunities are not available.
With advanced degrees in public health, leadership development, nursing, healthcare administration, and social work, Charles combines a strong academic foundation with practical expertise. In addition to founding the Incredible Kids Learning Center Organization and Creating Opportunities for Empowerment, He is also a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP), Clinical Trauma Specialist, and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), with additional certifications in children, youth, and family social work.
Beyond his day-to-day work, Charles has received numerous prestigious honors, including being a Presidential Freedom Scholar, Champions of Caring Ambassador, Coca-Cola Scholar, and an alumni and keynote speaker for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Entrepreneurship Program. He is also a recipient of the Philadelphia Governor’s Community of Service and Hope Award and CACFP Leadership and Visionary Award, reflecting his dedication to advancing equity and fostering change in his community. Through his commitment to advocacy, leadership, and personal growth, Charles Coe has truly become a “Champion” of our time, driving change for both women and children and serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration in his community.
Jocelyn Hastings, M.S.Ed | Pew Charitable Trusts
Jocelyn Hastings (she/her) is a mission-driven professional with 10 years of experience in higher education program management and evaluation. In her current role, she supports the Evidence Project at Pew Charitable Trusts. Jocelyn’s work focuses on convening diverse stakeholder groups to reimagine how research can contribute to addressing long-standing societal challenges.
Previously, Jocelyn managed a variety of leadership development and evaluation capacity-building programs at ImpactED at the University of Pennsylvania. Her experience includes designing learning environments and events that tackle real-world challenges and foster social capital among participants. She also coordinated numerous large-scale data collection projects in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia and other public sector organizations across the U.S.
Jocelyn is a lifelong learner who holds a Master’s in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Spanish from Temple University. From studying maternal health in the Dominican Republic to advocating for safe drinking water in North Philadelphia, Jocelyn has explored the socioeconomic determinants of health and well-being for underserved populations.
She believes education and equity are powerful catalysts for positive social change. She is dedicated to curating safe spaces for diverse communities to build knowledge, capacity, and psychological safety.
As a leader in her community, Jocelyn values board governance and has served in key roles on various boards. She previously served as the Vice President of Young Involved Philadelphia and as a board member of Temple University’s Young Alumni Association.
Leslie John, Esq. | retired partner, Ballard Spahr
Leslie John (she/her) has over 37 years of experience as an antitrust litigator. She is a retired partner of Ballard Spahr where she was the Practice Leader of Ballard Spahr’s Antitrust and Competition Group and Co-Leader of its False Advertising Litigation Team. Leslie has been recognized for her antitrust acumen in Chambers USA and for years was among Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation nationwide. Leslie was honored as the “Best of the Bar” by the Philadelphia Business Journal, a “Top Women in Law” by The Legal Intelligencer, and “Litigator of the Week” by Global Competition Review. She is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Leslie volunteers with numerous organizations relating to equity and inclusion and access to justice. Prior to joining the Board, Leslie served as General Counsel to WOMEN’S WAY for nearly 15 years. Leslie serves on the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group Board of Directors. She was PDLG’s Co-President (2019 to January 2023) and Vice President (2016 to 2018). She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation where she served as the President (2019-2020), Vice President (2017-2018), and Secretary (2013-2016). She is a member of the Forum of Executive Women. She is a past recipient of the Albert S. Dandridge, III Business Law Section Diversity Award, presented by the Business Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Leslie is a member of the Bars of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of California. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from the U.C. Berkeley School of Law.
Ada Okafor, Esq. | American Board of Surgery
Ada Okafor, Esq. (she/her) is an award-winning lawyer and DEI strategist with a track record of transforming organizations.
She currently serves as General Counsel and Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer for the American Board of Surgery, the national certifying body for general surgeons. She is the first person of color to hold these positions in the organization’s 87-year history.
As a DEI and workplace culture thought leader, Ada delivers cutting-edge information, modalities, and best practices in order to infuse DEI into the fabric of the organizations she works with. She leverages data analytics, coaching, facilitated discussions, workshops, keynote speeches, and educational training to promote diversity, cultivate a culture of belonging, and foster employee well-being, innovation, productivity, and retention.
Ada has received numerous awards including being named a “Top 50 DEI Professional” by OnCon, a “Top 100 Powerful DEI Leader” by Proven Base, and a “Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive Leader” by Diversity MBA. In addition, she has been recognized as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star” by City & State Philly, a “GC with Impact” by the Legal Intelligencer, “50 Women to Watch” by Corporate Counsel Business Journal, “Top 50 Women Leaders in Law” by Women We Admire, “Top 100 Lawyer” by the National Black Lawyers, United Nations “Most Influential People of African Descent (UN MIPAD)” Global Top 100 Health and Wellness Edition, “Best of the Bar” by the Philadelphia Business Journal, and a “Next Generation Emerging Leader” by Corporate Counsel Women of Color.
Ada is an active member of various professional organizations including the Chief Diversity Officers Network, the Women’s General Counsel Network, the Diverse Lawyers Network, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the American Board of Medical Specialties Bar Association, the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Leadership Development Committee of the DC Bar, the Steering Committee of the American University Washington College of Law Alumni Association (AUWCLAA), and the AUWCL Health Law and Policy Program Alumni Advisory Council.
She holds a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University, a J.D. from American University Law School, and a B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
Outside of work, Ada enjoys spending time with her husband and their three young children. She also enjoys traveling, cooking authentic Nigerian cuisine, photography, graphic design, listening to podcasts, and hosting bespoke gatherings.
Amy T. Wilson, CFA | Glenmede Investment Management LP (GIM)
Amy T. Wilson, CFA, (she/her) is the Director of ESG Investing and a Portfolio Manager for Glenmede Investment Management LP (GIM). Ms. Wilson guides the firm’s approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing in public markets by leading the integration of ESG criteria across fundamental equity investment strategies and supporting the firm’s existing quantitative, ESG-oriented strategies. This oversight includes serving as a co-portfolio manager on a Women in Leadership strategy which invests in large cap companies with women in significant roles and tilts toward companies that exhibit stronger gender equality policies, practices, and improving gender equity metrics. Ms. Wilson is a key member of GIM’s Investment Stewardship Committee − a team focused on GIM’s shareholder engagement efforts including oversight of proxy voting and co-filing of shareholder resolutions, where relevant.
Prior to this role, Ms. Wilson served as a Research Analyst, supporting the President of GIM in client portfolio management and firm strategy. Before joining Glenmede, Ms. Wilson served as an Underwriting Officer managing a portfolio of Healthcare and Public Finance clients at PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Ms. Wilson earned a Master of Business Administration with honors through the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated as Student Marshal, summa cum laude, of Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, a minor in international business, and honors in finance and secondary education as part of the Schreyer Honors College. Ms. Wilson is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder.
