A message from ASAP’s Executive Director, Justin Ennis
“I’ve always loved a good fight. I’ve always rooted for the underdog. I’ve always cherished the difficult victories — and near-victories — the most.
Put another way, I’ve always been Team Philly.
Fresh out of college, the vague notion of “fighting” on behalf of Philly public schools and their students is what brought me to ASAP as an AmeriCorps VISTA 17 years ago to manage their nascent scholastic chess program. I was hardly a decent chess player, but I thought it would be a fun way to spend a year…
In retrospect, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Yet, as soon as I organized my first chess tournament, that all changed. Behind schedule, under-supplied, and under-staffed — the event was a disaster. But to see 200 kids queueing up outside the Community College of Philadelphia on a chilly Saturday morning, eager to spend their weekend putting their skills to the test, committed to learning from their mistakes, and hoping to make connections with like-minded peers – this chaotic spectacle of a poorly-run chess tournament made me realize what all my previous fights were missing: a sense of purpose.
From that moment on, every day spent working on behalf of these students — and on behalf of the dedicated educators, parents, and volunteers who ran ASAP’s chess clubs — was a gift. And thanks to the patient and generous wisdom of my two dearest mentors and friends – ASAP’s founder Marciene Mattleman and former executive director Maria Walker – the chess tournaments became better-run, trophy cases across the School District became packed with chess awards, and many more kids throughout Philly got the opportunity to showcase the amazing things they could do with just 32 pieces and 64 squares.
After 3 years running ASAP’s chess program, I left for a stint at the Arts & Business Council, a program of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. But my heart was still with ASAP’s students and club leaders, and in 2011 I was honored to return to ASAP as its new executive director. In retrospect, I had no idea what I was getting myself into…again. But this time around I knew “the why.” As ASAP’s ED for the last 12 years my fight has been to convince school, civic, and philanthropic leaders of the urgent need to close the after school and summer enrichment gap for youth in Philadelphia. My fight has been to help under-resourced schools in the city provide their students with opportunities to discover and explore interests outside of the classroom that can unlock their potential and inspire them to be their best. Then there’s my favorite fight of all — to empower children from historically marginalized communities with the confidence that they belong among the brilliant minds in the ultra-competitive arenas of chess and Scrabble, that their voices deserve to be heard in the elite world of scholastic debate, and that their ideas and their stories are worthy of the stage.
And each day has been a gift.
Now, after nearly two decades with ASAP, I am ready for a new fight.
I am humbled and excited to announce that on August 15, 2023 I will start my next chapter as the new executive director of the Philadelphia Outward Bound School (POBS). Much like ASAP, POBS has been an incredible champion for young people in Philadelphia for over 30 years. With the mission to change lives through challenge and discovery, POBS has impacted more than 75,000 students through activities and expeditions that nurture leadership, resilience, and compassion. While I have big shoes to fill taking over for Meg Wise as she pursues her next adventure, I have the privilege of working with an incredibly talented and devoted team who has made POBS a standard-bearer in the worlds of experiential learning and youth development. Together, we will endeavor to take POBS to new heights and forge new pathways for students and educators to discover just what they are capable of.
As I prepare to move on from ASAP, I offer my most sincere gratitude to all the individuals and partners who have supported, encouraged, and tolerated me and my various soapboxes over the last 12 years. Your impact on me and ASAP has been beyond measure.
To everyone on ASAP’s amazing staff and our incredibly devoted board members – past and present – thank you for inspiring me, challenging me, uplifting me, and entrusting me to lead such an exceptional, ambitious, and impactful organization. It has been the honor of my lifetime.
And while leaving ASAP is bittersweet, I am overjoyed that I will be leaving the organization in phenomenally good hands. Earlier this month, ASAP’s board unanimously voted to name Sara Morningstar as the organization’s Interim Executive Director. I’ve had the honor of working alongside Sara for nearly a decade, most recently in her roles as ASAP’s Director of Programs and Deputy Executive Director. During her tenure Sara has preserved our “whatever it takes” dedication to service while helping transform ASAP into an organization with a deep commitment to learning and continuous quality improvement.
As Interim ED, Sara will lead a team that I can easily say is the strongest group of leaders and after school champions that we have ever had. This is the group that led ASAP to its best year ever in 2023, surpassing our pre-pandemic figures for youth served and increasing our number of programs in neighborhood public schools and communities with the highest rates of gun violence by 50% — in just one year!!
To ensure ASAP can build on last year’s incredible campaign and deepen its impact in schools and communities that need us the most, the board also unanimously promoted Tori Bakey-Urban to the position of Director of Development & Communications. A department of one, Tori has been a driving force in ASAP’s growth over the last 7 years and is poised for great things with this new opportunity.
I hope you can join me in congratulating Sara and Tori on their well-deserved recognition!!
Without a doubt, ASAP is an organization on the rise. Bolstered by our amazing school and community partners, our incredible network of supporters, and our dedicated colleagues in the City and School District, I am certain that ASAP’s best days are yet to come. On behalf of Sara, Tori, and the rest of the team at ASAP — thank you for staying in the fight with us.”
For questions regarding ASAP’s Executive Director transition, please contact smorningstar@phillyasap.org or vbakey@phillyasap.org. And to stay up to date on organization updates, please subscribe to our newsletter.
