philadelphia style ® 2015, 2015, i ssue 2 ssue Women of Influence Rise & late spring late Shine THE TODAY SHOW’S TAMRON HALL TALKS ABOUT LIFE AT TEMPLE & WHy SHE’S BAcK IN PHILLy boss ladies changing the conversation, improving our city special section: hoW philadelphia’s DOCTORS are leading in Women’s HEALTH dining out! BEST all-american EATERIES PLUS D’Arcy F. ruDnAy VictoriA cArtAgenA WolFgAng Puck tamron hall tamron phillystylemag.com NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC CHANGING the CONVERSATION We see them on television and read about them in headlines— but while they are breaking news, they are often making news of their own. Meet the seven women who are effecting positive change in Philadelphia right now, from education reform and personal finance to sustainability programs. As told to SARAH JORDAN Photography by BILLY ROOD On the Map MERYL LEVITZ As president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia, the marketing agency behind successful campaigns such as “Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over” and “Philadelphia—Keep Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay,” Levitz is a seasoned veteran who’s busy rebranding Philly into one of the hottest destinations in the world. My First Job: I was a sales clerk in a department store in Chicago, selling menswear and something we called “record albums” back then. On Starting Out: I was teaching continuing education courses [in time management and money management] at the Philadelphia College of Art, now the University of the Arts, and one thing led to another—and here I am at Visit Philly. On Entertaining Out-of-Towners: There are so many choices, and there is something for everyone. It really depends on their interests and how many times they have been to Philadelphia. Daily Essentials: Green tea and lemon water. Silver-Screen Stand-In: Bradley Cooper, because he is talented, local, and can play anything. The Key to Success: Know yourself and know others. Overcoming Work Challenges: It’s a matter of balancing the many demands on our agency, while maintaining a laser focus on our mission. Office Catchphrase: I find myself saying “Your thoughts?” a lot. Pet Peeves: I don’t like drama—or people who use “plethora” when they mean “myriad.” I have a sign in my office that says, I AM SILENTLY CORRECT- ING YOUR GRAMMAR. As a former English teacher, old habits die hard. After Hours: I like to get outside for a Collage jacket, Donna Karan New York ($1,495). Saks walk or a bike ride when the weather Fifth Avenue, 2 Bala Plaza, allows. I love to cook while drinking a Bala Cynwyd, 610-667-1550; saks.com. Top, Brooks nice wine. Brothers ($90). 1513 Walnut Advice to the Next Generation: As St., 215-564-4100; brooksbrothers.com. Pants, the British said during WWII, “Keep Burberry ($750). King of calm and carry on.” Prussia Mall, 610-878-9300; burberry.com. Chatelaine stud earrings, David Yurman ($975). King of Prussia Mall, 610-265-6370; davidyurman .com. Ring, Levitz’s own PHILLYSTYLEMAG.COM 95 The Quest for Education Equality HELEN GYM Community activist and education leader Helen Gym has been a persistent, powerful, and dynamic voice in our civic arena advocating through Parents United for Public Education, which she cofounded, and her newspaper, Philadelphia Public School Notebook, for more support for Philadelphia public schools and for governmental transparency. She has served as executive director of Asian Americans United, founded an arts-based community public charter school serving immigrant children, and presses on tirelessly with her work for equality and access to quality education. Morning Routine: I love being with my family in the morning, that flurry of activity as my three children rush around. I drag it out with them as long as I can—especially as they get older and I realize how precious these moments are. Valuable Work Lessons: Meaningful change happens over time, through sustained work, deep trust, and a sense of humility. Some of the problems we’re tackling in Philadelphia public schools are some of the most deep-seated challenges that our nation faces: poverty, race, a commit- ment to equity, and the role and viability of public institutions. Anyone selling a quick fix or simple solution may not grasp the magnitude of what we need to address. Favorite Historical Figure: It’s tempting to look at famous faces—Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Wangari Maathai—but the Dress, Halston ($445). Joan Shepp, 1811 Chestnut St., people I most admire are the unnamed 215-735-2666; joanshepp.com. masses who built the movement, people with 18k gold dome Albion diamond earrings, David Yurman the moral character and vision to transform ($1,100). King of Prussia Mall, not just circumstance but the fundamental 610-265-6370; davidyurman .com. Cape Cod watch, Hermès ways in which we view one another. ($3,300). King of Prussia Mall, On Perseverance: The civil rights work we 610-992-9730; hermes.com did with high-school-aged Asian immigrant OPPOSITE PAGE: youth to address an abusive climate at their Suede jacket, Marina Rinaldi ($5,255). Saks Fifth Avenue, school was tremendous. The difficulty of 2 Bala Plaza, Bala Cynwyd, speaking up for yourself in a new language, 610- 667-1550; saks.com. Top, Hugo Boss ($245). the integrity to walk away from knee-jerk Bloomingdale’s, King of Prussia reactionary politics and move toward Mall, 610-337-6300; blooming dales.com. Sporty pants, building a broad multiracial, multilingual Nicole Miller ($290). Nicole standard of justice, the focus on caring and Miller Manayunk, 4249 Main St., 215-930-0307; Nicole Miller support within a nurturing community was at the Bellevue, 200 S. Broad one of the most extraordinary struggles I St., 215-546-5007; nicolemiller .com. Titan bracelet, Vita Fede have been a part of. Today, the school we ($290). Intermix, 1718 Walnut work in is significantly better. St., 215-545-6034; intermix online.com. Arceau watch, What’s Next: The unexpected and joyful. Hermès ($3,050). King of Prussia Mall, 610-992-9730; hermes.com. Earrings, Reardon’s own 96 PHILLYSTYLEMAG.COM By the Book SIOBHAN REARDON Siobhan Reardon, president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia since 2008 (and the first woman at its helm), has reinvigorated the library system with some tough love, initiating the providing of free Internet access at neighborhood branches and creating its Culinary Center. This leader is changing how we think about libraries. Childhood Aspirations: I wanted to be a spy—seriously! It was probably the result of watching too many Sean Connery movies. Finish this Sentence: “I find mean- ing in...”: Deep conversations. I love to talk to people, ask questions, have them tell me something about themselves. It’s amazing how often you can find a common thread between people. Silver-Screen Stand-In: How about Sandra Bullock? After Hours: I go home, have a glass of wine, and hang out with my husband. Favorite Historical Figure: Florence Nightingale, because she was gutsy, innovative, smart, thought outside the box, and established an entire profes- sion by recognizing a need. The Key to Success: If you really want something to work, you have to be persistent and passionate. For example, the fundraising for the renovation and expansion of the Parkway Central Library came to a standstill until we rethought how and what was necessary to excite people about the possibilities. We [first had] to understand what the public needed from its libraries before we could come up with a plan. What Makes the Free Library Great: We have a Culinary Literacy Center where we work to improve the literacy skill sets of Philadelphians who are low-literates using cooking as the medium. We have the largest circulat- ing orchestral collection in the world. We have all four Shakespeare folios (in impeccable condition). My Legacy: To be remembered as a positive, upbeat person who cared deeply about her family, her friends, and her community. PHILLYSTYLEMAG.COM 97 Painting the Town Green ATHERINE GAJEWS I As the director of sustainability for the City of Philadelphia, Gajewski is responsible for the implementation of Greenworks Philadelphia, an environmental plan that has garnered national and international attention, and has positioned this town as a leader in urban sustainability. Gajewski’s persistence, smarts, and forward-thinking make her just the person to lead the charge to get Philly green. My First Job: My first real paycheck job was as a white-water rafting guide in Colorado. On Starting Out: I led the grassroots campaign to advocate for a smoke-free law. Then-Councilman [Michael] Nutter was the sponsor of that legislation, which is how we got to know one another. I supported his run for mayor and joined the administration. I’m outdoorsy and a passionate environmental- ist, so I was a bug in his ear about these issues. Once he took office, I got to work with stakeholders and colleagues to help build our sustainability agenda. Greatest Accomplishment: Contributing to this field of urban sustainability. Cities are always at the center of important changes; in our generation, they will have to be at the center of climate solutions, as well. Going Green in Philly: If we are to make deep reductions in citywide greenhouse gas emissions in line with what scientists and world leaders are calling for, we need to focus on energy: reducing its use, expanding energy efficiency, and implementing clean energy. In Philadelphia, the majority of emissions come from buildings. We can make a serious impact by making our building stock more efficient. At the same time, we would be improving air quality and reducing health risks such as asthma.