Voices of Change

Voices of Change is to connect people to information and empower people to engage in social political change.

Aissia Richardson

The Delaware Valley has always been home for me even when I left to pursue higher education in Washington, DC and a career in nonprofit management in San Francisco. I feel fortunate to have lived in large cities, like Philadelphia, and their surrounding suburbs, like Willingboro, NJ, as a child and adult.

As a teen I volunteered at Parents Union, CHOICE and Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center. As I entered my professional career in Philadelphia, I served as the co-chair, and then chair, of a twenty plus member funding board for a local community foundation, Bread and Roses. As my professional career progressed, I became active in community economic development projects in North Philadelphia, creating a business pro forma that has helped secure $1.25 million for the Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporation. As the leader of the African American United Fund, a civic engagement program was created bringing elected officials out of their offices in Harrisburg to meet with the people they represent.

I joined the staff of State Representative Leslie Acosta (PA-197) in December 2014 to further my interest in policies impacting communities of color and the poor. I’m currently serving as special assistant to State Senator Sharif Street.

My Motto: “We are dedicated to the principle that relationships of respect, compassion, and integrity are the building blocks of personal and global harmony. We hold that democracy is not just a political system but also a personal commitment—a continual exercise in freedom of conscience, thought, and moral responsibility expressed through humane deeds. We seek to promote personal moral development and social responsibility through social action, and public advocacy.”

Except from … a statement on where Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism stands at the beginning of the 21st century. Adopted by the National Leader’s Council of the American Ethical Union, November 1, 2008.

Leslie Acosta

Leslie is the founder of USALA media. Her years of public service inculcated a passion to create a culturally inclusive multimedia center in TV, radio and digital news. The vision is to bridge the leadership vacuum in the Latino community; create a platform where community members can hear their own voices; educate, and empower people to change the narrative.

In 2016 Leslie produced and created the radio show “Voices from the Inside” at WTTM 1680am. A talk show that gave Juvenile lifer’s, the opportunity to share and narrate their story from within the prison walls – promoting “Education over Incarceration.”