Dr. Mark Bergel, Executive Director and Co-Founder

Dr. Bergel has nearly 40 years of leadership in poverty and health-related initiatives. He has founded and led multiple organizations that have impacted hundreds of thousands of people in poverty. Honored as Washingtonian of the Year and inducted into multiple Halls of Fame, he has received numerous local, regional, national, and international awards. He also recognizes that awards are meaningless unless we solve the problems in front of us.

Dr. Bergel’s perspectives differ from mainstream approaches to poverty, believing that the solutions lie not with government or even nonprofits but with individuals and groups in every sector, including people living in the communities where opportunities are most needed.

Dr. Katherin Ross Phillips, Treasurer & Co-Founder

Katherin is a co-founder of The Shared Humanity Project. She worked for many years studying the reach and effectiveness of policies that support low-income working families. Katherin received her Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Syracuse University.

Dr. Pamela Loprest, Vice President

Pam recently retired after more than three decades of critical work at The Urban Institute, where she was a Senior Fellow and Labor Economist at the Income and Benefits Policy Center. Pam’s research focused on policies to enhance the economic well-being of disadvantaged persons through work. Pam received her Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Polly Poffenroth, Secretary

Polly is a mental health counselor with extensive experience working with adolescents and adults in diverse settings. She holds a Masters of Arts degree in Community Counseling and a Masters of Science degree in Health Education and Promotion.

Lisa Stranksy, Board Member

Lisa has been instrumental in the development of multiple nonprofit organizations focusing on poverty eradication. Lisa has also been a top producer in the Washington area residential real estate market for the last 20 years and was recognized by the Wall Street Journal and Real Trends as one of the top 1000 agents in the country. Lisa earned a Bachelors from Miami University and a Masters from American University.

John Phillips, Chair of the Advisory Committee

After his recent retirement from a successful career as a trial attorney and partner at Bartlit Beck, John now serves as the Chair of The Shared Humanity Project’s Advisory Committee, launching in June 2025. John also serves as a mentor and career preparation coach at a Master’s Apprentice Program in Denver, Colorado. In this position, John supports young adults’ development into skilled construction trades. John holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.S. in Political Science from Northwestern University.

Lily Nisenbaum, Senior Associate

Lily serves as the Senior Associate at The Shared Humanity Project, where she supports the strategy and implementation of organizational and development initiatives. Lily holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College and brings experience from the consulting, government, and nonprofit sectors. Driven by a passion for creating meaningful change, Lily is dedicated to advancing lasting solutions to systemic social challenges.

Jada Wilson, Intern

Jada is a content writer and editor with a background in literary analysis and research. Jada is passionate about anti-poverty work, recognizing that countless individuals and families in the United States struggle to meet basic needs despite their hard work. Jada is committed to educating others about poverty and providing resources to those in need.

Geneva Luteria, Intern

Geneva is a master’s student at Clemson University with a previous Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Political Science from the University of Alaska Anchorage. In her role with The Shared Humanity Project, Geneva will contribute to the 7 Years or Less initiative by integrating research analytics with media presence and communications. Geneva is deeply motivated by the work nonprofit organizations can do in addressing poverty in their local communities.