The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting operates with a core staff of only four but during our first three years has also supported more than 150 community journalists, professional reporting partners, event speakers, workshop and brainstorming session participants, interns and related consultants and contractors who have also played critical roles in our organizational development, outreach and impact.
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PCGVR core staff
Dr. Jessica Beard is the Director of Research at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting and a Stoneleigh Foundation Fellow. She is a trauma surgeon at Temple University Hospital and a public health research focused on gun violence, prevention and the role of the media. READ MORE
Maxayn Gooden is the Credible Messenger Community Manager at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. Previously, she produced a short documentary in the inaugural cohort of our Credible Messenger Reporting Project and also leads her own gun violence prevention organizations and activities. READ MORE
In 2022, Mark Hecker became part of the PCGVR team thanks to the support of Spring Point Partners. He joined the team as a development and communications consultant, focused on building the organization’s fundraising capacity. READ MORE
Prof. Yvonne Latty is the journalism education advisor at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. She is also the director of the Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication, which has partnered on many of our programs and events. READ MORE
Oronde McClain is the Credible Messenger Newsroom Liaison at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. Previously, he produced a short documentary with support from our Credible Messenger Reporting Project. He also founded and maintains his own foundation. READ MORE
Jim MacMillan is the founder and Director of the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting and our parent organization, The Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting, which he launched during his fellowship at the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. READ MORE
Dr. Jennifer Midberry is the journalism research advisor at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting and an assistant professor in Lehigh University’s Journalism and Communication Department. Jennifer was an author on our first study and has presented our research at numerous conferences. READ MORE
Dashawn Walker is our 2023 Lenfest Next Generation Intern and has joined in our efforts to end harmful news reporting and raise the voices of survivors. He works closley with our newsroom liaison. READ MORE
Previous staff members
Charlotte Barron was a Project Manager at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. She focused on network expansion and collaborating with partners to create a centralized directory of gun violence experts, as well as additional duties. READ MORE
Alison Burdo was the Philadelphia Operations Manager for the Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting, our parent organization. She coordinated planning for our inaugural Better Gun Violence Reporting Summit in 2019. READ MORE
Shannon Hodges was a podcast producer at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting. She primarily focused on product development, branding and strategy related to advancing our podcasting capabilities. READ MORE
Sheila Hodges was the Communications Manager at the Center for Gun Violence Reporting and a Next Generation intern supported by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism. She reported on the work of our Credible Messenger Reporting Project teams and produced social media content. READ MORE
Maria Mitri was a Project Editor at the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, where she managed content related to our Credible Messenger Reporting Project and supporting additional operations. She came to our Center thanks to a Next Generation Award from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. READ MORE
Credible Messenger Reporting Project participants, alphabetically:
Luqman wrote a series of guest commentaries for the Philadelphia Citizen for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Yolanda was a Credible Messenger on "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Sammy Caiola worked as a Professional Partner on "These Philly Gun Violence Activists Are Not Giving Up On Saving Lives" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Tyler was a Credible Messenger on "Humanity Behind the Headlines: Black Men on Surviving in Philly" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
B. McFly worked as a Credible Messenger on "These Philly Gun Violence Activists Are Not Giving Up On Saving Lives" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Taj was a Credible Messenger on "The Lasting Impact: Emotional Scars that Gun Violence Leaves Behind" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Dana was a Professional Partner on "Humanity Behind the Headlines: Black Men on Surviving in Philly" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Taylor was a Credible Messenger on "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Ruth was a story subject on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Tiffaney was a story subject on "Unsolved podcast: Onjanae Thompson" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Aleida was a story subject on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Maxayne was a Credible Messenger on "The Lasting Impact: Emotional Scars that Gun Violence Leaves Behind" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Ronald was a Credible Messenger on "Humanity Behind the Headlines: Black Men on Surviving in Philly" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Cherri was a Professional Partner on "'They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Michael was a story subject in Never Ending Emotions for Credible Messenger Reporting Project. He was also a producer on The Path Forward and is the professional partner in a an upcoming project.
Gregory was a Credible Messenger on "Never Ending Emotions" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Leon was a story subject in "They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Chris was a Professional Partner on "The Lasting Impact: Emotional Scars that Gun Violence Leaves Behind" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Denise was a Professional Partner on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Erin was a Professional Partner on "Never Ending Emotions" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Dorothy was a Credible Messenger on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Solomon was a Professional Partner on "Voices Beyond the Gunfire" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Kimberly was a Credible Messenger on "Never Ending Emotions" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Alisha was a Credible Messenger on "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Yvonne was a professional reporting partner on the "Unsolved podcast: Onjanae Thompson" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Chris Mansfield worked as a video producer on "These Philly Gun Violence Activists Are Not Giving Up On Saving Lives" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Stephanie was a Professional Partner on "Stronger Every Day" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Oronde was a Credible Messenger on "They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Ahmad was a Credible Messenger on for the "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Brian was a Credible Messenger on for the "The Lasting Impact: Emotional Scars that Gun Violence Leaves Behind" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
P.O.C. was a Professional Partner on for the "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Jessica was the professional partner on LuQman Abdullah Philadelphia Citizen guest commentaries for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Emily was a Credible Messenger on for the "Stronger Every Day" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Ikey was a Credible Messenger on the "Unsolved podcast: Onjanae Thompson" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Aapril was a Credible Messenger on for the "Numb to Normalcy: Gun Violence in Philadelphia" for the Credible Messenger Reporting project.
Alyssa was a Credible Messenger on "Stronger Every Day" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Vernetta was a story subject on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Shameka was a Credible Messenger and producer on "Like I'm a Nobody" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project
Vernetta was a story subject on "The Path Forward" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Amir was a Credible Messenger on "Like I'm a Nobody" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project
Brian was a Credible Messenger on "Voices Beyond the Gunfire" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Carmelo was a Credible Messenger on "Like I'm a Nobody" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project
Brett was a Credible Messenger on "'They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Anita was a Credible Messenger on "'They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
walter was a story subject in "Stronger Every Day" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Kenneth was a producer on "They Don't Care About Us' or Do They?" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.
Khali was a Credible Messenger on "Voices Beyond the Gunfire" for the Credible Messenger Reporting Project.