Jamila Harris-Morrison

Executive Director

Jamila Harris-Morrison is a relentless and resilient advocate for vulnerable families and communities. A lifelong Philadelphian, Jamila’s personal and professional experiences inform her firm belief that no one should live in poverty and that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed. In 2017, after a decade with ACHIEVEability, she was named Executive Director. Jamila leads execution of the mission, strategy and operations for ACHIEVEability.

Jamila has dedicated her career to disrupting barriers to success for families in poverty. Over her successive roles with ACHIEVEability, Jamila has managed strategic partnerships that expand and strengthen the organization’s service delivery, overseen development of its database and culture of continuous evaluation and lead the expansion of ACHIEVEability’s community and economic development work to include employer pipeline programs and an advocacy platform. Focused on fostering a healthy and thriving West Philadelphia for all, she partners with diverse stakeholders across sectors to achieve this vision. Key strategies include: strengthening families, preserving affordable housing, creating quality job opportunities and revitalizing the 60th St. Commercial Corridor.

Jamila’s board participation also exemplifies her commitment to equity and ending poverty. She serves on the boards of Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC), Mercy Inc. Catholic Hospital, Together for West Philadelphia and HOW Charities. Jamila has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named a 2018 ”40 under 40” honoree by The Philadelphia Business Journal and one of “10 People Under 40 to Watch” by The Philadelphia Tribune. She has an eye towards continuous growth and improvement: she is a proud alum of Harvard’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM), Bryn Mawr’s Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) and Philadelphia African American Leadership Forum (PAALF).

Jamila holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clark University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice. She is an avid Eagles fan, a loving sister, aunt and daughter, and an excitable line dancer.