2017-2018 Fellows

Jennifer has dedicated her life to making sure that every Philadelphian has a fair chance at success. She has a career in economic development (Campus Philly), serves on education-focused nonprofit boards (Neighbors Investing in Childs Elementary, Friends of Neighborhood Education), is a block captain, an elected committeeperson (36 Ward), and a catalyst for community resources (Diversified Community Services). Through all of this work, Jennifer collaborates with organizations and individuals to build a coalition of leaders who can effectively use politics and activism to create change. Jennifer is the recipient of the 2017 Emerging Leader Award from the Forum of Executive Women, 2016 Women’s History Month Community Leaders City Council Citation, Billy Penn's 2016 Next Community Leaders award, and 2015 South Philadelphia Change-maker award. She has participated 2017 Philly Girls Do Good co-hort, the 2016 LEADERSHIP Philadelphia Connectors & Keepers class, and well as a graduate of the 2012 Center for Progressive Leadership and the 2011 Citizen's Panning Institute. She graduated from the University of the Arts with a B.S. in Media & Communications. Jennifer resides in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philly with her husband, Tivoni and daughter, Ava.

Gaige is a Director on Comcast’s Government Affairs team in Philadelphia. In his role, Gaige supports the implementation of the company’s regulatory and legislative initiatives with local governments, and advocacy efforts across the 6,000 communities that Comcast serves. Prior to joining Comcast, Gaige worked as a legal research assistant at Villanova University’s Widger School of Law, where he received his J.D. and M.B.A. in 2015.  A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Gaige arrived in Pennsylvania by way of Lehigh University, where he received his B.A. and was a member of the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse team. Gaige enjoys volunteering and serves on the boards of Lehigh’s Young Alumni Council, Comcast’s Young Professionals Network and Philly Set Go, Philadelphia’s first millennial political action committee. When he isn’t working, Gaige enjoys reading and staying active - exploring a new Philly neighborhood and  playing pickup basketball at Seger Park are amongst his favorite weekend activities.

Chris Havener grew up in New Britain, Bucks County.  After graduating from Princeton, Chris moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania law school.  Upon graduating from law school, Chris worked as an associate in the Labor and Employment group at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius for seven years.  While at Morgan Lewis, Chris volunteered for the Committee of Seventy and provided employment counseling to many non-profits, including Teach for America and Moving Traditions.  In 2015, Chris joined the Aramark legal department, where he currently serves as the Associate Vice President and Assistant General Counsel in charge of the Employment Law team.  Chris lives in South Philadelphia with his wife, Siobhan, and their two children, Michael and Henry.

Nathan was born in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to the Philly area in 2002 to attend Haverford College, where he studied molecular biology and Spanish literature. After spending two years doing lab research, he started at Penn for medical school and graduate school. Nathan stayed on for his residency in internal medicine, as well as his subspecialty training in oncology. He is now in the final years of his fellowship specializing in treating patients with leukemia, and spends most of his time in a lab developing new ways to use the immune system to fight cancer. In the wake of the 2016 election, he started a group called Moving Philly Forward, focused on helping to educate people about the structure of Philadelphia government and supporting candidates for local office. His wife is also an oncologist, although treats children, and they have a 16 month old son named Max.

Jason Tucker is a lifelong Philadelphia resident. Jason attended Germantown Friends School in Northwest Philadelphia before leaving the area to attend Amherst College in Massachusetts. After graduation, Jason returned to Philadelphia and worked as commercial real estate broker at Cushman and Wakefield before attending Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. 

Following law school, Jason practiced law as a litigator at a small Philadelphia-based law firm before returning to real estate. He currently works as a Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for The Goldenberg Group, a commercial real estate developer. 

Jason has always loved Philadelphia. He’s the one proudly proclaiming that Philadelphians “Invented America.” Jason serves in a dual capacity on YIP as a member of the Programming and Advocacy committees. His particular interests skew to the idiosyncrasies of Philadelphia’s local politics and as well as urban policy, planning, and education.