Staff
Nijmie Dzurinko, 31, is the executive director of the Philadelphia Student Union. She has been working with PSU since 1999. She began as the lead organizer for the Bartram chapter and a year later became PSU’s assistant director. In 2004, Nijmie left the organization in order to help found an international human rights organization, but remained involved on a consulting basis and was responsible for consolidating PSU’s leadership development curriculum during this time. She returned in 2006 as PSU's Executive Director. Nijmie was recently honored for her cutting edge organizing work as part of the Bread and Roses Community Fund's annual Tribute to Change. She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in English and a Masters Degree from Temple University in Urban Studies. Nijmie grew up in Western Pennsylvania, and attended public schools all of her life prior to college. She has been living in West Philadelphia for 14 years.
Erika Almiron, 31, is the assistant director of Philadelphia Student Union. She has been working in Philadelphia with various groups on issues ranging from youth rights, media organizing, housing, and labor. Erika was born in Philly and was raised in Philly, Paraguay, Brooklyn, and Norristown. She is bi-lingual in Spanish and English and most recently has taught Spanish through music and poetry to women and youth at the Riverside Correctional Facility. She is the current organizer for the Bodine chapter.
Eric Braxton, 32, is one of the founders of the Philadelphia Student Union and its first executive director. He now acts as the lead organizer for the West Philadelphia Chapter. Eric is currently pursuing a BA in Liberal Arts at Goddard College.
Phillip Pearce, 20, is the organizing fellow for West Philadelphia High School and the High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). Phillip is a graduate of West Philadelphia High School, and was a member of PSU while he attended that school. Phillip is a skilled organizer and a musician.
Lawrence Jones, 17 is the student organizer for the West Philadelphia High School. He has shown exceptional commitment to PSU for the last three years. Lawrence will graduate from West in the spring of 2008 and has been accepted to Drexel University!!
Megan Williamson, 25, is an organizer with Philadelphia Student Union focusing on school funding and media training. She has worked with various grassroots organizations on issues such as ending violence against women, adressing U.S. imperialism, creating affordable and collective housing, and developing popular education. Her recent work has centered on media organizing and production, including editing a community news magazine and producing a weekly news radio show. She has a BA in Women's Studies from the Unversity of Michigan.
Board Members
Kenneth Anderson, Philadelphia Education Fund
William Baptist, Youth Health Empowerment Project
Nyla Bell, Teacher
Robert Carter, African-American Resource Center
Lai Har Cheung, College Access Program
Susan Landau, Counselor, private practice
Elizabeth Larin, Public Defender
Eric Leslie, Teacher
Anissa Weinraub, Teacher
Philip Wider, Media Tank
Huot He, West Philadelphia Enterprise Center
