Our Staff Includes:

Ann Evans Guise, the Program Director, oversees each program with assistance from part-time community monitors. Ann Guise has history of social justice and action as a member of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960's to Not in Our Name in 2003. She brings passion, vision and urgency to the program. She is highly regarded by school staff, parents, and the community. Ann Guise holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with significant graduate course work in education and African American Studies. Her vision is influenced by Paulo Friere, Jwanzaa Kunjufu, and Kwame Ture

Community Monitors assist with the implementation of all projects are Vera Gillette, Virginia Speights at the T.M. Peirce School and Olive Lawson, and Phyliss Glenn at the Whittier School. All women are parents of Bright Light students.

Volunteers

Super Nova: A project of the American Medical Student Association Temple University co-ordinated by Amira Bass, a Senior pre-med student receiving degrees in both Psychology and Biology

Young Writer's Project: For 8 years, Joann Markman and Marilyn Day have run a program for third graders to write and illustrate books about their own experiences that are reproduced, bound, and placed in the classrooms for circulation.

Literacy Tutoring: 30 students from the Woodlyn School in Stratford, PA participate in individual tutoring sessions at least four times each year. 4 students participate weekly. Sally Stevenson, a retired reading specialist, tutors students twice weekly.

Our Advisory Board (in alpha order)

Mary Bonner, Teacher Peirce School
Ella Forbes, Chairperson Graduate Studies, African American Studies, Temple University
Jessica Fuller, Bright Light Parent
Robert Gray, African American Freedom and Reconstruction League
Jeffrey Hart, Project Director, Art Sanctuary
Ray Jones, Mayor's Office, City of Philadelphia; North Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Director
Tiffany Savage, Bright Light
Lenora Smith, Principal, John G. Whittier School
Sharon Sobukwe, Assistant Professor, Political Science Department, Rutgers University, Camden
Mary Ellen Thomas, Accountant, Presbyterian Homes
Ruth Williams, Children's Literacy Advocate, Board Member: Philadelphia Orchestra, Project Forward Leap, and Children's Literacy Initiative
Valerie Williams, Teacher, John G. Whittier School
Shively Willingham, Principal T.M. Peirce School