Sonja (she/her) is a Midwestern transplant who fell in love with Philly for its walkability, bike-ability, excellent food, and welcoming & diverse arts scene. She joins Coalition staff after more than a decade in the performing arts, working both as an administrator and as an educator/performer. Issues of social justice and sustainability have always been at the core of her values, and so working toward a safer, greener future for all Philadelphians feels right.

When Sonja isn’t working, you can often find her performing with the Chestnut Street Singers, trying to throw a decent bowl at The Clay Studio, or doing something fun (probably bike-related) with her family.

John (he/him) has been a commuting cyclist for more than 20 years. In 1994 he began working as a volunteer for the Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley after attending a volunteer night, and later served as a board member in 1997-98. In 1999 John left Philadelphia for Charlottesville, VA, where he helped establish the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation (ACCT), a bicycle and walking advocacy group.

John joined the Bicycle Coalition as staff in 2001, first as a project manager for the Regional Bicycle Map and the Philadelphia School District’s Bicycle Education and Enhancement (BEEP) Program, then serving as Advocacy Director. He now lives in Edgewater Park, NJ with his wife and two children, and commutes by bike and train via the River Line and Ben Franklin Bridge.

Stephen (he/him) got his start as a public school teacher where he met incredibly smart students who faced barriers that made their success in school and life more difficult than it should have been. He became an organizer out of the belief that young people and their families deserve every opportunity to reach their goals. Ensuring the freedom to travel with reliable, safe, and affordable transportation is a critical way to do this.

Beyond work, Stephen loves riding his bike in Philly and volunteering at local organizations. He is in his 4th season as a BCYC Coach and is excited for students in our programs to become leaders in our city.

Nicole (she/her) joins the team as Policy Director after 5 years as an environmental field organizer in Philadelphia. Originally from Los Angeles, Nicole greatly appreciates how density in the Philadelphia region allows for multi modes of transportation. As an advocate, Nicole believes in making the political process more accessible for all, be that in city public hearings, the voting booth or when requesting basic city services.

Nicole has worked with the nonprofit PennEnvironment and the Fund for the Public Interest. She has a degree in Communications, Legal Studies, Economics, and Government from American University in Washington, DC. Nicole lives in the Fitler Square neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Habib (he/him) joined the Bicycle Coalition in Fall 2022, and brings a passion for cycling and youth. Prior to joining BCYC in this role, Habib was a BCYC coach at Multicultural Academy Charter School for one season. Habib brings 8 years of experience in mental health supporting youth as well as adults in crisis.

Chris (he/him) is a public service professional with varied experience in both the nonprofit and government sectors. Before his time with BCGP, Chris was the Chief Programs Officer for North10, Philadelphia, which he joined in 2019. During his time with North10, Chris established a clear vision for programs and services at the Lenfest Center with special attention to responsiveness from community input. With a special passion for families and young people who are affected by systemic poverty, Chris has worked tirelessly to help empower communities throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

Chris has a Master of Public Administration degree from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree in public administration/nonprofit management from Grand Valley State University. He currently lives in the Fairmount/Francisville section of Philadelphia with his wife and three children.

Jess (she/her) has a knack for multitasking while keeping an eye on the finer details. She joins the team with over 20 years of experience in various administrative and operational roles, with a focus in the tech and non profit sectors, including time at Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and Orbis Solutions, where she worked for the 15 years since the company first opened.

Jess holds a degree in Communications and Media Studies from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Originally hailing from upstate New York, she has called Philadelphia her home for over 2 decades. Jess enjoys nature, comedy, dogs, and currently lives in South Philadelphia with her husband.

Lana (she/her) is absolutely thrilled to step into her role as Education Program Director. Her journey as an advocate for BIPOC in underrepresented spaces, working in team environments, and leadership development has been shaped by her experience as a former Division I collegiate athlete (women’s basketball), as well as many of her personal and professional endeavors. What truly ignites her enthusiasm is the opportunity to align her purpose to helping our youth develop, and using cycling as the vehicle to grow leadership skills and healthy habits.

Beyond work, Lana is an avid cyclist and crit racer (SOAR Foundation Racing), self proclaimed “snack champ,” enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and is open to all of the new experiences life brings!

Uma (she/her) is a West Coast transplant and recent Environmental Studies graduate of Bryn Mawr College looking to learn and grow in electric Philadelphia. Uma grew up among mountains, running, dancing, and biking from school to practices and work. She is a creative, hope-seeker, harmonizer, daydreamer, and believer in her individuality and those of others. As a BCGP staff member, Uma is eager to build reciprocally nutritive relationships across communities, reach more cyclists and pedestrians, and collect an arsenal of inclusion.

Phil (he/him) has been biking Philly for over 10 years, covering miles between arts, activism, and a diverse array of professional capacities—from kitchens to hospitals—across its various neighborhoods and communities. Most recently, Phil spent several years working in education, serving adjudicated youth in Philadelphia’s foster care system. Youth work, community building, and harm reduction remain issues close to his heart, which is why transportation justice with the Bicycle Coalition seems an apt place to hang his hat now.

Originally from New Jersey, Patrick (he/him) studied History at Stockton University and planned to build a career in genealogy. After receiving his undergraduate degree, there was something missing in his pursuit to find the career that felt right. While volunteering at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for three years, he worked with a student with a city planning background which flipped his world upside down.

After researching the city planning role more in depth, Patrick decided to push his career into a new direction. Now equipped with a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Temple University, he is ready to put his degree to use for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia! Prior to taking on the role as Regional Organizer for the Coalition, Patrick served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the city of Lancaster as the Community Development Coordinator for Lancaster Equity CDC. There he focused on equitable and economically driven projects for the city.

Patrick, a West Philly resident, enjoys biking along the Schuylkill River and Wissahickon any day of the week and will occasionally sneak in a few rides on his longboard if the weather allows it!

Elly (she/her) brings nearly 15 years of experience as an educator, program manager and community organizer across Philadelphia. She believes in the power of people coming together to learn and take action together and in the need for Philadelphians to have community control of resources and safe ways to travel.

Elly was a bike commuter for many years and can be spotted biking with her wife and 2 young kids in bike seats travelling to local parks. Elly is deeply committed to racial and economic justice and as a white, queer parent, brings an intersectional lens to her work at the Bicycle Coalition.

Lor (he/him), also known as Lao, has been Breaking for over 13 years and is a West Philadelphia native. The first generation of his Hmong family, Lao began Breaking in high school as creative outlet. In 2008, he made his way onto MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Season 2 dancing with his local competition crew Phresh Select from Philly. Lao has worked with local Philadelphia arts dance organizations and companies such as Repstyles Crew, Rennie Harris Pure Movement, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, I Am Phresh Dance Company, A-Sharp Productions and oliveDance Theatre. As a current ensemble member in olive Dance Theatre, he is now a Teaching Artist for the Pictures and Words program, which uses Breaking as a medium to teach literacy through movement and visual art at The Barnes Foundation.

When he is not teaching third grade students to spin on their backs or to scream and shout in the Barnes, you can find him cycling around the various communities of Philadelphia as the Education Programs Manager for the Bicycle Coalition, advocating and educating local communities about cycling safety, sustainability and a healthier lifestyle.