PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration took further shape as she announced, on Thursday, the commissioners of four city departments and several offices.
Parker appointed former recreation commissioner Susan Slawson to run the Parks and Recreation Department, calling it one of the most important departments in the city “in light of recent events” — a reference to two recent mass shootings of high school students. Slawson agreed.
“We are throughout the city of Philadelphia, in every neighborhood. We deal with every community, every ethnic background, so what we do goes hand-in-hand with the police and everything this city stands for,” she said.
Slawson headed the department during former Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration. Most recently, she was in charge of the Dell Music Center in Strawberry Mansion. She says Parker persuaded her to return to city government.
“I believe in the mayor’s mission,” Slawson said. “I believe we’re able to come back and turn this city around and make it safer, make it cleaner, make it greener and bring a oneness to the city of Philadelphia that we have been struggling to have.”
The mayor also appointed Perri DiVirgilio to head the Department of Labor, a popular choice with labor leaders. DiVirgilio has previously served as the department’s director of labor standards.
Parker also appointed new directors for several slightly reconfigured mayoral offices.
Wilfred Speakes becomes Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs. Abu Edwards is now Director of Black Male Engagement. Keiwana McKinney-Forde takes over the Office of Women Engagement (formerly the Office of Women) and Parker created a new Office of Muslim Engagement, which will be headed by Quaiser Abdullah.
She named Will Baker Director of Neighborhood and Community Engagement and said he would be in charge of overseeing the other offices.
“We have to have someone leading the effort to coordinate all the activity to be sure it’s contributing to the agenda,” Parker said.
The mayor also announced she’s keeping Kenney administration alums Jim Leonard and Randy Hayman as records commissioner and water commissioner, respectively. She hasn’t yet announced who will lead the Departments of Human Services, Health or Prisons but said she would take as long as required to find people who share her vision.
Wilfred Speakes becomes Director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs. Abu Edwards is now Director of Black Male Engagement. Keiwana McKinney-Forde takes over the Office of Women Engagement (formerly the Office of Women) and Parker created a new Office of Muslim Engagement, which will be headed by Quaiser Abdullah.
She named Will Baker Director of Neighborhood and Community Engagement and said he would be in charge of overseeing the other offices.
“We have to have someone leading the effort to coordinate all the activity to be sure it’s contributing to the agenda,” Parker said.
The mayor also announced she’s keeping Kenney administration alums Jim Leonard and Randy Hayman as records commissioner and water commissioner, respectively. She hasn’t yet announced who will lead the Departments of Human Services, Health or Prisons but said she would take as long as required to find people who share her vision.