“There’s no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and improve the world.” — Diplomat Jacob J. Lew

Whatever your politics, it’s reasonable to say that the last four months have been plenty demoralizing for folks working in the public sector and those who depend on them, be it at the federal, state or local level. We’ve watched public sector jobs unceremoniously disappear — along with the respect that for so long has been afforded citizens who choose to devote their careers to service.

That’s why the search for the 2025 Integrity Icons — city workers who model the highest standards of that elusive trait — felt more meaningful than ever.

Since 2020, The Citizen has collaborated with Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Accountability Lab to “name and fame” city workers who demonstrate the highest degree of integrity. After putting out a call for public nominations, we subjected nominees to a rigorous, months-long vetting process; we then convened an impartial panel of judges — who have previously worked for the city themselves — to choose the winners.

This year’s judges included attorney Amy Kurland, who served as a federal prosecutor for 24 years before becoming Philadelphia’s first Inspector General and then a consultant for Bloomberg Associates, where she assisted cities worldwide in their efforts to prevent public corruption; Cynthia F. Figueroa, President and CEO of JEVS Human Services, who formerly served as Deputy Mayor for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Children and Families (OCF); and Raymond Smeriglio of Comcast’s LIFT Zones Team, who was previously First Deputy and Chief of Staff for the City’s Rebuild program (and penned this excellent call to civic action).

The winners they selected are an astounding bunch that is rising to meet this inflection point in our history.

Your 2025 Integrity Icons

• • Omar Crowder is principal of Northeast High School, the largest public high school in the city; he is described as “a pillar of strength for both his students and the entire school community” by 2020 Integrity Icon Richard Gordon, now an assistant superintendent for the School District.
  • Sarorng “Rorng” Sorn, Language Access Coordinator for the Department of Behavioral Health and disAbility Services, is a tireless advocate for immigrants and refugees. Her colleagues call her a “visionary” who “teaches people to know their rights and what the city is obligated to provide for them.”
  • Nathan Sallard is Client Services Manager for the Office of Safe Neighborhoods; his work has been described as nothing short of transformative. “When Nate was first hired, the retention rate for clients in this program was only 35 percent, meaning many participants didn’t remain employed after 90 days. Since Nathan’s arrival, he has dramatically improved this metric, boosting retention to 78 percent,” his colleagues explain. “His work with individuals associated with violent groups has had a direct impact on reducing gun violence and increasing employment stability, completely shifting the trajectory of the program.”
  • Yu-Shan Chou is Language Access and Engagement Specialist for the Office of the City Commissioners; her coworkers say her “dedication to the community she serves — including her volunteer efforts with the Welcoming Center — and the department for which she works is boundless. Her kindness and work ethic are unmatched.”
  • Charlene Samuels is a Constituent Services Representative in the Office of Minority Leader Kendra Brooks; Kathleen Melville, her colleague in Brooks’ office, insists that “Ms. Charlene does not tolerate mediocrity in any City department or non-profit organization — and she does not take no for an answer when it comes to advocating for constituents!”

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing profiles of each winner, so that you can learn more about them. Then, on May 22, we invite you to join us at a party at Fitler Club’s ballroom to celebrate the winners for their hard work and the example they set for all of us in Philadelphia — and beyond — at a time when we need it most.

MEET YOUR 2025 INTEGRITY ICONS