PRESS RELEASE: Sharmain Matlock-Turner to Receive Prestigious Philadelphia Award

The award ceremony will take place on June 6, 2023, at The Market at the Comcast Technology Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for its first in-person gala since 2019.

“Sharmain Matlock-Turner has never been afraid to confront seemingly insurmountable challenges in order to improve lives,” said Philadelphia Award Board Chair, Pedro A. Ramos. “While Sharmain’s career accomplishments are worthy of recognition, it was the courage of leadership she displayed throughout 2022 as a founding member of The Civic Coalition to Save Lives that made her a unanimous pick for this year’s award.”

“The trauma of gun violence devastates individuals and our communities every single day,” said Matlock-Turner. “None of us can confront this public health crisis alone. I am proud of our work as a growing regional coalition dedicated to bringing all voices to the table and finding solutions.”

The Philadelphia Foundation and the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with Urban Affairs Coalition, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Equity Alliance, in 2022, brought together a coalition of more than 70 civic, business, philanthropic, non-profit and faith-based organizations to address the issue of gun violence in Philadelphia. The Coalition, which has grown to more than 90 organizations, has partnered with the City of Philadelphia to catalyze a broad civic effort to provide the collaboration, data, tools, and resources to drive adoption of evidence-based, human-centered, sustainable strategies.

A recent poll by the Lenfest Institute for Journalism found that 64% of Philadelphians reported hearing a gunshot in their neighborhood over the previous year. Nearly half (49%) say that gun violence has a major negative impact on the quality of life in their neighborhood, with higher percentages among Black and Hispanic residents.

“I have had the privilege of calling Sharmain a friend for more than a decade, and have seen the incredible impact her work has had on Philadelphia and the people who live here,” said Susan Jacobson, president of Jacobson Strategic Communications and Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber Board. “Sharmain is one of our City’s greatest leaders.”

As CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC), Matlock-Turner has grown the organization’s budget from $20 million to over $100 million. Under her leadership, the organization has become the nation’s largest Black-led fiscal sponsor, bridging the gap between low-income communities and financial services. By providing stability and continuity through fiscal sponsorship and shared service offerings, UAC saves its nonprofit partners millions of dollars each year.

Ms. Matlock-Turner is co-founder and chair emeritus of the 24-year-old West Oak Lane Charter School in Northwest Philadelphia. She also serves on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Uplift Solutions, Entrepreneur Works, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. She also serves on the board of trustees of Peirce College and the Foundations Inc. National Advisory Board. She is a founding member of the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors.

Her work to confront gun violence is one of many notable and complex challenges that Matlock-Turner has confronted during her career. UAC’s priorities include building wealth in urban communities, investing in financial education, advocating for underserved communities, developing youth and young adult resources and education, and civic engagement. She has worked tirelessly to provide the same opportunities for everyone, especially people of color and individuals within low-income communities.

As CEO, Matlock-Turner has grown UAC’s budget from $20 million to over $100 million. Under her leadership, the organization has become the nation’s largest Black-led fiscal sponsor, bridging the gap between low-income communities and financial services. By providing stability and continuity through fiscal sponsorship and shared service offerings, UAC saves its nonprofit partners millions of dollars each year.

She has a B.S. in education from Temple University. In 2005, she was one of three Philadelphia nonprofit leaders selected to receive a scholarship to the Harvard Business School’s nonprofit leaders’ summer program.

“Sharmain Matlock-Turner has had an incredible impact on the lives of people in underserved communities throughout Philadelphia,” said UAC Board Chair James Mergiotti. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this prestigious award. We are better off because of Sharmain’s leadership, and I am grateful that she is leading the way to address gun violence, the biggest crisis we face today.”

About the Philadelphia Award: Founded by editor, philanthropist, community leader, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward W. Bok in 1921, the annual Philadelphia Award recognizes citizens of the Philadelphia region who acted and served on behalf of the best interests of the community in the previous year. Since its inception, the Philadelphia Award has recognized the achievements of more than 80 distinguished individuals, including industrialists, educators, lawyers, political figures, scientists, physicians, members of the clergy, social activists philosophers, musicians, artists, architects, and writers. The Philadelphia Award is administered by a Board of Trustees and carries an honorarium of $25,000. Visit philadelphiaaward.org.

About the Urban Affairs Coalition: The Urban Affairs Coalition unites government, business, neighborhoods, and individual initiatives to improve the quality of life in the region, build wealth in urban communities, and solve emerging issues. Visit UAC.org for more information.