About the Author

Lora A. Bynum, is a Program Analyst born and raised in the North Philadelphia. Lora attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she received her Bachelors of Art in Criminology. She then went on to receive two Masters Degrees. The first was a Masters of Science (MS) from Saint Joseph's University in Criminal Justice and the second was a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from Villanova University. Growing up in North Philadelphia helped Lora understand the importance of a good education, but even greater, the importance of reaching out to help those in need. Since 2010, Lora has been devoted to passionately serving individuals in vulnerable populations, in particular at-risk youth and those with Intellectual disAbilities. Lora is passionate about social justice, cultural competency, urban policy, strategic planning and non-profit management. Lora's hobbies include: doing hair and make-up, "you-tubing", traveling, shopping, reading, research, spending time with friends and family, and volunteering. Growing up in North Philadelphia, Tiaisha (Ti) Dandy was acutely aware of the social and economic conditions that threatened the vitality of her neighborhood. Wanting to make a difference in her community, Ti sought higher education as a means to do so. After graduating from Roxborough High School, she attended Albright College (Reading, PA), receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications. Setting her sights on the nonprofit sector, Ti assumed various leadership positions and gained experiences working collaboratively with politicians, lawyers, and school administrators to address a number of community-wide concerns. With a focus on social policy, she later attended Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, receiving two Master Degrees; a Masters in Social Service (MSS) and a Masters in Law and Social Policy (MLSP). Lora and Ti met while working as Program Analysts for the City of Philadelphia. Having no idea that they shared similar backgrounds and similar desires to succeed, they soon found themselves with a common goal of transforming Philadelphia's youth culture. As a result, they also began transforming their lives. They agree that you must do more than tell youth "You can do whatever you set your mind to." It is imperative to take the goals and needs of the youth as seriously as they do their own, because in North Philadelphia, a dream deferred doesn't "dry up like a raisin in the sun." It explodes.