Josh Blakesley, M.Div.
(he/him)
Executive Director
EMAIL Josh
Josh, a Midwest native, holds a B.A. in Theatre at Northwestern College [IA] and a Masters of Divinity [M.Div.] at Princeton Theological Seminary [NJ] and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ [UCC], Josh, along with WPPA’s founding Board Members, founded the organization in early 2020. His main focuses include: fundraising and development; diversity, equity, inclusion, affirmation and belonging education and training; interfaith immersion; event planning; workplace development and mentoring; media production; and the arts. Josh is also Pastor of Love In Action UCC, an open and affirming congregation featured in a Vox Media episode of Divided States of Women with Liz Plank and in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Josh has 26+ years of nonprofit experience, is a fellow of Interfaith Philadelphia, a founding member of The Society for Faith & Justice, and a Collaborator for Nurturing Justice. He also has written and directed various stage or film productions, and has developed theatre arts curriculum for use in religious and secular settings. Josh enjoys running, playing music, traveling, learning languages, or making strange and funny faces. He lives in Philly where there is typically GOOD trouble to be had.
Heidi Roux, MBA
(she/her)
Director of Immigrant Justice
EMAIL Heidi
Jai Thompson
Support Group Facilitator
(they/them/theirs)
Hi Fam! I’m Jai Thompson; social worker, artist, activist and leader. Most importantly, I am a person! My educational achievements include a Masters Degree from Arcadia University (’18) with an undergrad from Lock Haven University (’14). A West Philadelphia native, I aspire to liaison the access of support and voice across PA and beyond! Come and converse with me! Let’s grow together! We’re in this together. I can’t wait to work with you!
Vena Guzman, MSW, LSW
Support Group Facilitator
(she/her/hers)
