About

Jamira Burley, 23, is the first of sixteen children to graduate high school and recently college.  Drive, perseverance, and passion, are just a few characteristics that this Philadelphia native is built with.  Recent graduate of Temple University, with dual degrees in International Business and Legal Studies. Currently,  Jamira is the Executive Director for the City of Philadelphia Youth Commission.

Previously, Jamira worked as the Student Leadership Coordinator for the School District of Philadelphia, where she was entrusted with the responsibility to implement student government councils in all 63 public high schools. There she empowered students to be at the forefront of issues that were impacting their lives. Jamira is dedicated to giving youth a platform to speak their mind on issues that affect their education, community and the political process.  As a result, she works assertively to create change in Philadelphia communities and its school system.

As a young woman growing up in a city where the death by violence rates grew with her, Jamira is best known for her work around violence prevention and intervention. After leaving the District in 2011, Jamira worked has the National Coordinator for the Peace Alliance; Student Peace Alliance.  As a result of the murder of Jamira’s brother in 2005, she founded the Overbrook High School Panther Peace Core.  The function of the Peace Core is to provide students with nonviolent alternatives to address conflict. Since the creation of the Peace Core, she has partnered with both local and national officials to develop evidence-based programming for youth violence.

As an active and notable member of her community, she has made it her mission to employ her personal experiences as a driving force to improve the lives of others. Jamira has held a number of leadership positions over the years. Positions within both city and state commissions, member of the Daily News People Editorial Board, Co-host of “MyVoice” on 900am WURD, founding member of the Campaign for Non-violence Schools and a dedicated a board member to numerous national and international non-profits.

 Jamira’s passion for improving education, addressing youth issues and creating preventive methods for violence have led her to this journey of fighting for something bigger than herself.  Which is why in 2011, the Philadelphia Daily News ranked Jamira as one of top-ten up and coming Philadelphians and most recently Flying Kite Media names Jamira as one of four Next Generation Leaders.