Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Jen Weikert is a mission-driven social impact leader, fundraiser, and strategic problem solver with more than twenty years of experience leading and advising local, regional, and national nonprofits.

Prior to her role at Summer Search Philadelphia, Jen was the Executive Director of Covenant House Pennsylvania, a $6M non-profit committed to providing shelter and supportive services to young adults who are experiencing homelessness. In this role, Jen steered the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, scaled and diversified revenue, enhanced the organization’s continuum of housing and services, and kicked off construction of a new 12-unit housing and administrative facility in Philadelphia.

Jen has also served as Executive Director for College Possible Philadelphia and Chief Development Officer for Children’s Literacy Initiative, two organizations that helped students from low-income backgrounds use education as a lever to reduce inequality and open up opportunities. She was an adjunct professor at Temple University.

A first-generation college student, Jen received her MA from the University College Cork Ireland and BA from La Salle University. She resides in Philadelphia with her husband and son.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Lily joined the Summer Search staff in August 2023 with an interest in social and educational systems. She believes in the importance of a strong educational foundation in transforming the trajectory of one’s life.

In the past, she has completed research on the black-white achievement gap in high school students and facilitated discussions on the implications of race in the present. Additionally, she is entering the Master of Public Administration program at Northeastern University in Fall 2023.

Lily continues to pursue ways to create opportunities for underrepresented communities. She hopes to positively impact young adults through assisting them with professional development and building the necessary skills for their careers. She is passionate about expanding educational and career spaces to create a more equitable environment for youth in the Boston area. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and staying active outside work.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Daris is passionate about helping youth recognize their strengths and reach their full potential. Since earning her master’s degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in children and adolescents from Montclair State University, Daris has used this theoretical foundation to provide youth with the support and resources they need to thrive.

Daris has worked in various settings supporting youth. She was an advocate counselor at a transfer high school, providing post-secondary planning, career readiness, and mentorship to youth from the ages of 16-21. Daris also has experience in grief work. At Imagine, a center for coping with loss, Daris provided trauma-informed grief support to youth and their families. At Imagine, Daris also focused on providing further access to grief support services in Spanish. Her most recent role involved working with the youth ELITE program in Middlesex County to provide case management, career guidance, and crucial resources to help youth obtain their high school equivalency and/or enter in-demand training programs. Daris is excited to continue supporting youth in her role at Summer Search.

Daris is a first-generation Dominican American. In her free time, Daris enjoys spending time in nature and taking walks in flower gardens and arboretums. She also enjoys finding beautiful places to have a picnic. Daris really enjoys traveling and visiting new cities and countries. Her guilty pleasure is watching reality TV shows such as The Bachelorette and Love is Blind.