Twilight in the Garden

Chekemma J. Fulmore-Townsend, MSW

Chekemma is an energetic thought leader with demonstrated results in non-profit excellence, and transformative philanthropic strategy.  Her career reflects a deep commitment to young people, promoting equity and dismantling poverty.  Her impact is evident in the outcomes she creates and well documented by many professional accolades; including helping more than 135,000 young people.

She now serves as the President of the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust and Hamilton Family Foundation.  She draws on her experience in research, social work, and systems change to inform strategic investment and achieve the philanthropic vision and mission. Before joining the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, Fulmore-Townsend invested 17 years with the Philadelphia Youth Network. Her work has transformed the employment landscape for students, building partnerships with non-profits, city and state government, foundations, and businesses throughout Philadelphia.

Chekemma serves as a Trustee of the Community College of Philadelphia and chairs the Student Outcomes Committee. She was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro to the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board and serves as Chair of the Youth Committee. She also serves on the Learn Fresh and United Way Boards, and is also a member of the Delaware County Board of Managers for Juvenile Justice.

Chekemma has shared her insight and expertise with a range of international audiences, including appearances at the White House, United Nations, as well as statewide and national summits across the country. Her professional experience reflects a unique combination of nonprofit management, philanthropy, education, workforce, youth development, policy reform, and systems transformation.

Chekemma is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work and her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.  She is a proud wife, and mom of two daughters and serves as Chaplain for the Chester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Lamar Gore

Lamar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology from Delaware State University and the University of Massachusetts, respectively.  He has been the Refuge Manager at John Heinz NWR at Tinicum since 2014, where the refuge team focuses on changing the face of how the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) comes to “know” the community at a personal level.  He works to view all that we do in conservation with and through a community lens.

He was raised in New Jersey, and as a child, had an affinity to explore and engage the outdoor world.  His time with the Service began in 1991 on a multi-state work experience from Tennessee to Massachusetts, where biology was his only focus, but over the years as a biologist, regional biologist, diversity & EEO supervisor, and mid-level administrator, he began to understand a glaring problem in the conservation world, which was an inability to relate with the people we serve.  This is what changed his trajectory for the future.  He landed in Philadelphia in 2014 with the task of continuing the conservation mission through the lens of knowing and working with the community.  His team works to identify community needs that align with Service priorities, creating community green space, as well as creating and deepening community connections with the outdoor world.  One of his most important beliefs in his work is the introducing and engaging of the public from K-12, which builds a foundation for the future.