Community Connections Collaborative is all relational and in constant motion. Within each monthly meeting (primarily through zoom), we meet new people, get updates from others, and talk with each other about topics of common interest to grassroots leaders. The meetings are facilitated by Ted Hewson. Participants often invite others they know to join in the conversations. The relationships developed overtime have led to several collaborative projects, including those listed in that section of this website.
Rather than attempt to list ongoing participants, what follows are descriptions of the primary leaders who help guide and make this work possible.
37th Ward Community That Cares Coalition
Pastor Clarence Hester – Programs include Community Engagement, Youth in sports, Violence Prevention and Victim Services
Stan Pokras – Publisher, Wikidelphia.org – A great source of information about various services and organizations serving the North Philadelphia community.
It Is Not Your Fault
Yvonne Hughes – Advocate, Activist, Trainer especially for those with disabilities
Gail Pryor, AD Human Services, Member of House of Faith Baptist Church
Gail Pryor – Family Support Peer Specialist for Community Behavior Health (CBH) and Mentor for Temple Family and Friends.
My passion is in strengthening good will with Family Friends & Grandma Kids Programs Clientele and Volunteers, welcoming and promote a rapport building of new Clients/Volunteers, to Enhance the program presence in the communities.
Jeff Gehris, PhD
Jeff Gehris, PhD, Associate Professor, Temple University, College of Public Health, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Helps educate students about trauma-informed practice and the interplay of trauma and physical activity. Interested in helping community members with opportunities for wellness and forming community partnerships.
Patty Hewson, PCD(DONA), CRNP
Patty Hewson, PCD(DONA), CRNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Manager, Unity Clinic and Health Center Director, Camp Dreamcatcher
Ted Hewson, MBA, Health Administration
Ted Hewson, MBA Health Administration, previously Sr. IT Financial Specialist at Temple University Health System, now “retired”, serving as Facilitator for Community Connections Collaborative, as well as Positively Philadelphia Collective and 37th Ward Communities that Care Coalition Workgroup for Community Outreach and Resource Assessment.