The Civic Coalition to Save Lives today announced the appointment of the Rev. David W. Brown as its new executive director, through a partnership with Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication. An expert in communications and a seasoned convener, Brown is an associate professor and serves as the college’s assistant dean for community and communication. In also leading the Coalition, Brown will work to deepen collaborations across the university and health system and with over 100 community organizations, employers and civic organizations in the Coalition.
Brown succeeds the Coalition’s founding executive director, Estelle Richman, a leader with extensive experience in public health and social service sectors. Richman came out of retirement to lead the Coalition and advance its mission of saving lives by supporting the City and community organizations focused on gun-violence intervention through increased coordination and resourcing.
During her tenure, the Coalition mobilized over $1.5 million in grants to fund vital intervention work, partnering with city and community-based organizations engaging directly with those at risk. It has educated more than 1,200 stakeholders about how and why intervention is key to reducing gun violence in the near-term, creating a broad and collaborative network of individuals and organizations committed to its cause. Richman was also instrumental in launching the Gun Violence Intervention and Coordination Center (GVICC). A 501c3 organization, GVICC was created by the Coalition to support coordination of services among existing evidence-based community violence intervention (CVI) and hospital violence intervention programs (HVIP), working in partnership with city agencies.
Following the transition in leadership, Richman will return to retirement and continue to contribute as a volunteer member of the Coalition’s steering committee.
“I am honored to continue and build on the incredible work that Estelle Richman has led,” Brown said. “I look forward to building on the Coalition’s achievements and expanding our efforts to further engage across sectors and communities in support of effective and sustained efforts that continue to reduce gun violence and save lives.”
An ordained reverend in the United Methodist Church, Brown was named a “Champion of Change” by the Obama Administration. With a background in advertising, public relations, diversity advocacy, and media management, he brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Brown founded BrownPartners, a distinguished minority-owned advertising agency in Philadelphia. He also served as general manager of WURD, Philadelphia’s only Black-owned talk radio station, where he led a major revitalization of the station, refreshing its programming and expanding its reach.
Pedro Ramos, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Foundation and a founding member of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, emphasized that Brown’s background equips him to effectively engage a broad range of stakeholders, and advocate for policies supporting gun violence prevention and intervention.
“David’s deep ties to the community, both through his role at Temple University and his ministry work, allow him to cultivate and steward the trust needed to support successful intervention strategies,” Ramos said. “His understanding of our communities ensures that the Coalition’s efforts are responsive to the unique challenges of different neighborhoods.”
David Boardman, dean of the Klein College of Media and Communication at Temple, said having Brown in this role will expand Temple’s already robust engagement in addressing community issues.
“We’re especially excited about being able to leverage the resources of the Klein College, and our talented students and faculty, to help address the profound challenges of gun violence in Philadelphia,” he said.
Brown is known for his ability to bring together diverse groups, a quality that is vital for leading an organization composed of business leaders, civic organizations, and community groups. His leadership style, characterized by inclusivity and collaboration, will help unite stakeholders around the common goal of reducing gun violence.
“David’s ability to effectively engage and influence varied audiences is critical for raising awareness, shaping public opinion, and advocating for policies that support gun violence prevention efforts,” said Shawn McCaney, executive director of the William Penn Foundation and founding member of the Civic Coalition to Save Lives. “The Coalition is confident he will lead with integrity, innovation and a deep commitment to the community.”
McCaney noted that Brown’s strategic insight will enable the Coalition to align its intervention strategies with broader governmental initiatives, ensuring maximum impact.
“I am confident that under David’s leadership, the Coalition will continue to drive its agenda forward with a renewed focus on community engagement, resource allocation, and the development of new strategies to address the complex and evolving challenges of gun violence,” Richman said.
About the Civic Coalition to Save Lives
In 2022, The Philadelphia Foundation and William Penn Foundation, alongside partners including the Urban Affairs Coalition, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Comcast Corporation and Philadelphia Equity Alliance, spearheaded a coalition aimed at addressing the city’s gun crisis. The Coalition unites business, non-profit, community, faith-based organizations, and other key institutions to save lives through evidence-based intervention strategies. It enhances collaboration by providing resources such as data, tools, and coordination to support the City and community organizations. A key initiative, the Gun Violence Intervention Coordination Center, serves as a single point of accountability and coordination to strengthen and streamline gun violence intervention efforts for high-risk individuals in Philadelphia.
Media Contact
Maureen Garrity
(215) 205-2676
maureen@jacobsonstrategic.com