NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy Executive Editor / Co-Executive Director

This headshot of co-executive editor Roxanne Patel Shepelavy accompanies her bio on The Philadelphia Citizen's mastheadRoxanne Patel Shepelavy oversees the workings of The Citizen, including its editorial content.  She also writes and edits stories about solutions to problems in Philly.

Roxanne has been a Philadelphia journalist for more than two decades. She’s an award-winning magazine writer whose work in national and regional magazines explored the effects of war; the moral and literal cost of healthcare; kick-ass female athletes; art capers; self-help scams; and a range of women’s and social issues.

Roxanne is passionate about Philadelphia, a city she loves and worries over in equal measure.

Connect

Stories by Roxanne Patel Shepelavy:

The Citizen Recommends: Total Impact Summit

The theme of ImpactPHL’s annual gathering of socially-conscious investors is “Modeling the Future Economy.” Learn what that means — and how Philly can benefit — on May 1 and 2

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

WATCH: Sue Jacobson on Going For It

The businesswoman and former Chamber of Commerce board chair won the Chamber’s prestigious Paradigm Award for women last month. Her speech is a font of leadership wisdom we should all heed

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Listen: What Philly Can Learn from America’s Fastest Growing City

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker talks to our podcast hosts, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, about how she’s guiding her Texas city through a population boom that benefits everyone. Hint: It’s just common sense

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Art for Change: Art Is a Verb That Means Change

The Forman Arts Initiative hired its first executive director, Adjoa Jones de Almeida, to shape their vision for an exhibit and engagement space centering their vast art collection and local community. Just don’t call it a museum

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

The Citizen Recommends: Early Morning Rave for Voting

Daybreaker co-founder Radha Agrawal brings her non-alcoholic, early morning dance party back to Philly to celebrate our freedom to celebrate (and vote). Join the fun outside City Hall on April 12

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Citizen of the Week: Vivek Babu

Thanks to the efforts led by Drexel’s undergraduate student president, the university will for the first time give students the day off for voting and engagement on Election Day 2024, the latest in a string of election advocacy successes.

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Is the PPD Transparent Now?

In the aftermath of January’s police killing of Andrew Spencer, the Philadelphia Police Department did something kind of unheard of in the recent past. Could this be … change?

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Citizen of the Year Awards: Mike Innocenzo

For his work helping to stand up the Civic Coalition to Save Lives, the PECO CEO and Chamber of Commerce Board Chair is this year’s Lewis Katz Corporate Citizen of the Year

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at [email protected] or call (609)-602-0145.