DesignPhiladelphia proudly announces the 2nd annual Justice Alliance in Design Education (JADE) Fellowship. This initiative, in collaboration with local colleges and universities, aims to foster a diverse and inclusive culture within Philadelphia's architecture and design education space. Inspired by the success of programs like the Posse Foundation, the JADE Fellowship is built on the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students can drive significant individual and community development.

The JADE Fellowship supports a cohort of six undergraduate students from underrepresented communities and is committed to creating a community and culture that not only nurtures personal career growth but promotes a more inclusive environment for all design students and emerging professionals. Rebecca Johnson, the Executive Director of DesignPhiladelphia, shared her enthusiasm: “Through the JADE Fellowship, we are not just supporting individual talents; we are actively shaping an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse design community right here in Philadelphia.”

We are honored to introduce our JADE Fellows for the year 2025:

• Kamal J. Rhodes, Community College of Philadelphia
• Promise Nkhono, Drexel University
• Tavia Mitchell, Penn State University
• Hanna Awad, Temple University
• Wilnie Rose Papillon, Thomas Jefferson University
• Julia DiMeo, University of Pennsylvania

Learn more about this groundbreaking initiative here.