Lorraine Thomas

For 50 years, Lorraine Thomas has lived in the Kingsessing neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia, dedicating her life to improving the lives of residents. Since 2011, she has served as Operations Manager for Southwest Community Development Corporation, overseeing programs in housing counseling, energy assistance, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, and afterschool programming. She is a Committee person for the 51st Ward, a long-time Block Captain, and serves as a member of the Neighborhood Advisory Subcommittee, where she champions civic engagement and community mobilization. She has mentored students as a Community Preceptor for the University of Pennsylvania’s Bridging the Gaps Program for 25 years. Lorraine also serves on several community and city wide board. A member of the Church of Christian Compassion, Lorraine is driven by her heart for people and works to leverage relationships and pool resources to create opportunities for residents of Southwest Philadelphia. Affectionately called “The Mayor of Southwest Philadelphia,” she is known as a unifier and trusted resource, offering advice, connections, and support to residents and stakeholders alike. Lorraine’s collaborative leadership and passion to continue to make Southwest Philadelphia a safer, cleaner, and thriving community.