A Message from the Center
for Health Justice Director

I have always believed that where you come from strongly influences how you see the world and how you choose to move in it.

As a lifelong member of West and Southwest Philadelphia, my journey has been grounded in community, shaped by a rich lived experience, and strengthened by years of working across spaces that have not always been designed to connect. That duality has stayed with me, and it is what brought me to this work.

At the Center for Health Justice, we are guided by a vision of opportunity and wellbeing for all people and neighborhoods. Being Rooted in Justice is both an anchor and a call to act with urgency, to lead with intention, and to remain accountable to the people and communities at the heart of our work.

What matters most to me, and what drives this Center, is people. Our team, whose brilliance, dedication, and heart make this work real every day. The patients, employees, and colleagues across the university and health system who trust us to help drive meaningful change. Our community partners, who have given their time, trust, wisdom, and friendship, continue to shape this work, making it stronger and more impactful.  Our neighbors, who have embraced the promise of what we are building together. And our young people, including those in our LeadIN program, who hold a vision for the future that challenges us to be better, braver, and more responsive.

As CHJ moves forward, we invite you to join us on this journey as co-designers of the future we all deserve. We want to create space for new ideas, shared power, and collective action, all while ensuring that our work remains people-centered, results-driven, and a steady anchor for our patients, partners, and neighbors.

This work is deeply personal to me. It is where my purpose, my values, and my professional path meet. And it is a responsibility I carry with humility.  As you read this report, I invite you to reflect, to engage, and to join us. The path ahead requires all of us, and together, we will continue to build what justice looks like in action.

- Nicole A. Thomas, Ed.D, MBA — Director