In every community, there are leaders — and then there are changemakers like Dr. Felecia Coffee. A powerhouse of compassion, advocacy, and perseverance, Dr. Coffee transformed her early life challenges into fuel for a lifelong mission: to empower the underserved and amplify voices that often go unheard.
Raised in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood and shaped by her time in foster care, Dr. Coffee understands firsthand the impact of community support. “My experiences taught me that survival isn’t enough — we must create spaces where people can thrive,” she reflects. This belief led her to establish the 23rd Street Community Association in 1998, which evolved into The Empowerment Zone in Delaware County, offering everything from 24-hour food cupboards to youth enrichment programs.
When asked about the challenges she’s faced in leadership, Dr. Coffee points to her historic election as the first African-American female mayor of Collingdale — and the borough’s first Democrat in office. “Breaking barriers is never easy,” she says. “But I knew my community deserved leadership that reflects and serves everyone.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement, held vaccine clinics, job fairs, and created safe family programming that kept hope alive.
Dr. Coffee credits her foster parents and faith as core influences. “They poured love into me,” she shares. “Now I pour it back into others — through service, programs, and policies that uplift.” Her message to future leaders is clear: “Your story, no matter how painful, can be someone else’s roadmap to healing.”
About Dr. Felecia Coffee
Dr. Felecia Coffee is a trailblazing civic leader, community advocate, and founder of The Empowerment Zone. With over two decades of service in nonprofit leadership and public office, she made history as the first African-American and first Democratic mayor of Collingdale, PA. Her initiatives span youth development, senior and veteran services, emergency aid, and public health advocacy. A foster care survivor turned changemaker, Dr. Coffee also serves in leadership roles with the NAACP, Collingdale Democratic Committee, and Youth Services, Inc. She remains a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, building inclusive communities across generations.
