ENGAGING SPEAKERS
September Pyramid Meeting
Thursday, September 17th
Michael Brix & Tangie Wilson; Co-Executive Directors - Tree House Books
Tree House Books exists to grow a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Philadelphia, and our program model starts from a simple diagnosis: this isn't a neighborhood problem; it's an equity problem. Tree House was created through the community, by the community, to address these issues. 70-80% of elementary-age kids in our neighborhood test below proficient in reading and writing, largely because families don't have easy access to books or a safe, free place to engage with them. We tackle that on two fronts: getting books directly into homes through our Words on Wheels bookmobile, Giving Library, and book swaps, and then building on that with real literacy enrichment, After School and Summer Literacy Studios, teen programs, employment, and more.
Last year alone, we distributed over 100,000 books and welcomed over 2,000 new Giving Library members, and we're about to open a fully renovated, three-floor home this November. I think this maps most directly onto Rotary's basic education and literacy pillar, which would likely be the heart of any partnership conversation, but there's also real secondary alignment with community economic development through our teen employment and staff training work, and a tertiary connection to peacebuilding and conflict prevention, since Tree House functions as one of the only free "third spaces" in the neighborhood where kids and families can simply belong.
Pyramid Club 1735 Market Street, 52nd Floor
6 - 8 P.M.
PAST SPEAKERS
2026
January 8, 2026, 6 PM Pyramid Club
Our January speaker was Dennis Mahoney, the founder and principal of AOI Solutions LLC, a consulting firm focused on impacting organizations through partnership cultivation, coalition building, strategic planning, and performance coaching. Additionally, Dennis serves as a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where he instructs graduate students on international development.
2025
December 4, 2025, 6 PM Pyramid Club
Our December speaker was Andrew Baird, who brought 35 years of experience in economic development to his presentation. He spoke about global youth unemployment, a topic that has shaped much of his career. He explained that 65 million youths between ages 16 and 24 are unemployed globally, and 262 million are considered NEETs: young people not in education, employment, or training. He works with Education for Employment (EFE), an organization whose mission is to create economic opportunities for young people in the region.
November 6, 2025, 6 PM Pyramid Club
Our November speaker was Dr. Hans Kersten, a pediatrician at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. During his talk, he discussed the hospital’s Reach Out and Read program, which has grown into one of the most successful in the nation, transforming every well-child visit into an opportunity to spark curiosity and confidence through books.
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