Chestnut Hill's Jimenez Appointed to Commission for Women

Farah Jimenez, the President and CEO of the People’s Emergency Center (PEC), was recently appointed by Governor Tom Corbett to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women, a group of community leaders chosen to serve and represent the diverse interests of girls and women.

The Commission's purpose, according to a press release, is to support economic and civic opportunities for women of all ages, from mentorship programs for young girls and job training for young adults to the development of women-owned businesses.

"At the People’s Emergency Center, we serve a vulnerable population of women and girls experiencing homelessness, and aim to restore their belief in their own potential to create a brighter and more stable future for themselves," said Jimenez in a press release. "It’s an honor to be among those appointed by Governor Corbett to promote the education and empowerment of women and girls."

Jimenez, a resident of Chestnut Hill, joined the People’s Emergency Center (PEC) in 2010 after 13 years at the helm of Mt. Airy USA, a nonprofit community development corporation in Northwest Philadelphia.

In her 18 months at PEC, Jimenez has led the organization through several transformational changes, including the implementation of a federal stimulus grant to establish 20 public computer centers throughout Philadelphia providing free Internet access and computer training to residents; and the addition of 16 beds to PEC’s emergency shelter and 26 affordable housing units in the community for mothers and their children.