Public Meeting Notice
Thursday May 21st, at 6:00 pm - Delaware County Immigrant Affairs Commissioner has scheduled a virtual meeting. The public is invited to attend. Please email matthewss@co.delaware.pa.us for the meeting credentials.
In September 2022, Delaware County Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution to establish The Delaware County Commission for Immigrant Affairs.
County Council recognizes the critical need to proactively address the needs of immigrant communities in Delaware County, through the intentional engagement of County residents and community partners.
The Delaware County Commission for Immigrant Affairs will provide review and recommendations to Council and pertinent County Departments which address the needs of immigrant communities in Delaware County.
The Commission will:
- Strengthen the voices of local immigrant communities
- Advise County Council and pertinent County Departments on policies and programs to improve the lives of immigrants within Delaware County
- Share resources and raise awareness about the history, geography, and culture of the various immigrant communities represented within Delaware County
The members of the Commission are comprised of the County’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and ten residents of Delaware County appointed by County Council. The Commission members elect a Chair to set agendas, preside over meetings and perform other leadership functions, as well as a Vice-Chair and a secretary, and will hold public meetings at least quarterly at a publicly advertised time and place to be determined by the Commission.
Commission Members
Bonnee Breese Bentum, Ph.D
Bonnee Breese Bentum, Ph.D., is an award-winning educator, speaker, and advocate with over 24 years of service in the School District of Philadelphia. She currently serves as an Itinerant Gifted Support Teacher, leading efforts to advance equitable identification practices and expand access to high-quality gifted programming across 40 high schools. Her work challenges systems to recognize brilliance in historically underserved student populations and disrupt patterns of underrepresentation.
Bentum also serves as a National AI-Integrated ELA Program Developer with WritingPartners.net, designing innovative, justice-centered approaches that prepare students to engage artificial intelligence thoughtfully and ethically. She bridges literacy, technology, and culturally responsive pedagogy to support both students and educators in evolving learning environments.
Dr. Bentum earned her Ph.D. in Global Education: Training and Development in 2024. Her research explored how educators in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Ghana encourage and support Black girls in STEM, centering belonging and access. Bentum is the founder of A Matter of Xpression, through which she advances global STEM and literacy initiatives. She is a frequent national presenter and civic leader committed to educational and community equity.
Ann Kariuki, Esq. - Vice Chair
Ann Kariuki a native of Kenya and long-term resident of Delaware County is the Executive Director of International Center for Alleviation of Poverty Inc. A holder of MPA from Cheyney University, LLM degree from Temple University Law School and LLB (Hons) from the University of Nairobi. Ms. Kariuki has served as a Director of Human Resources, Women Against Abuse Inc., in Philadelphia, as Executive Director of the Center for Public Law and Policy in Nairobi and Deputy Director, Public Law Institute in Kenya specializing in public interest litigation and related issues. She is a founding member and past Vice President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya), which is a leading women’s rights organization and as Past Chair of Public Policy Committee of the American Association of University Women, Philadelphia to mention a few. She has also served as the chief Legal Officer and deputy to company secretary at Kenya Airways. Schooled as an attorney, her legal career started at the reputable law firm Hamilton Harrison and Mathews Co. Advocates. She left the corporate sector to pursue her passion in human rights, gender equality and women empowerment, democracy and social justice issues that include poverty and economic inequality. She undertook further studies in Strasbourg France, Germany and the Philippines. She has served in various boards and leadership positions and is a recipient of several awards and recognitions. She is also a founding member of Delaware County Immigration Coalition (DCIC) a success story that was formed during the covid period to tackle the challenges and needs of the DELCO immigrant community arising from the pandemic.
Gbolo Ashia Kowou-Howard - Treasurer
Originally from Liberia, West Africa Gbolo Ashia Kowou-Howard has lived in Delaware County, Upper Darby for more than 23 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in social work from Widener University. She is also a licensed social worker and a licensed Behavior Specialist Consultant. She is the founder of the All Liberian Diaspora Women Organization, member of the DCIC and current board member of the ULAA. She developed a summer adventure camp for adolescence and is the international coordinator of her church Victory Harvest Fellowship International in Philadelphia. She actively volunteers with international organizations and has built a school and health center in Liberia, West Africa. She is actively involved in multiple community activities and is a strong advocator for women and children. She is married with three biological and five adopted children and is very excited to serve on the Immigrant Affairs Commission.
Christopher I. Lara MBA, MS, MLS (ASCP)CM
Christopher Lara is a first-generation Mexican American who has lived in Delaware County for over 20 years. A strong advocate for education, he has pursued multiple degrees as a way to honor the opportunities afforded to him through his parents’ sacrifice and hard work. he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry-Biology from West Chester University, a Master’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science from Thomas Jefferson University, and a Master of Business Administration from Fitchburg State University. He is also credentialed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology as a Medical Laboratory Scientist.
Working as a Clinical Systems Analyst at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, he supports healthcare technology systems that ensure accurate and efficient communication of laboratory data across clinical environments. In addition to his work in healthcare technology, he is the Managing Director of a small business he founded that provides local cleaning services. Through his professional and entrepreneurial work, he has developed strong experience in systems management, operations, and delivering reliable, community-focused service.
Christopher is passionate about education, opportunity, and helping immigrant families navigate professional and civic systems in the United States. His experience growing up in an immigrant household has shaped his commitment to supporting pathways that allow immigrants and their children to access education, build careers, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
He also has a long history of volunteer work, including community service through Circle K during college, supporting healthcare access through Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM), and contributing his IT and audiovisual skills to MAGFast fundraising efforts benefiting the charity Child’s Play.
Christopher is honored to serve on the Delaware County Immigrant Affairs Commission and looks forward to supporting initiatives that strengthen immigrant communities, promote access to opportunity, and enhance engagement across Delaware County.
Lane L. Vines, Esq.
Lane Vines has lived in in Delaware County for more than 22 years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin and a law degree from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where he was a member of Law Review. He is a litigator with the law firm Berger Montague, where he focuses on plaintiff-side class action litigation on behalf of workers, consumers, investors, and whistleblowers. Previously, Lane worked in public and private accounting, clerked for a federal judge, and served as the Legislative Assistant to the Minority Leader of Philadelphia City Council. He is actively involved in civic affairs in Radnor Township, where he serves as the Chair of the Township’s Planning Commission and previously served as the Vice Chair of the Ethics Board. He is also professionally affiliated with the American Inns of Court, where he is a Master Member of the local Inn and one of three team leaders for the Awards Committee of the national organization. In his volunteer efforts, he works to assist immigrant communities in Pennsylvania through pro bono naturalization clinics and facilitating consular services and outreach. He is married with three adult children, all of whom were educated in the Radnor public schools. In serving on the Immigrant Affairs Commission, Lane’s focus is to support and empower the many diverse immigrant communities of Delaware County.
Siddiq Kamara
Siddiq Kamara is a dedicated community organizer with a passion for providing opportunities to protect residents, children, and families. Kamara is a first-generation immigrant whose parents fled from war-torn Liberia and brought him to the United States as a young child in search of better opportunities.
Kamara was raised in Delaware County. After graduating from Upper Darby High School, he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he served for six years. During that time, he earned the Army Achievement Medal for outstanding leadership while also completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Planning & Management at Immaculata University. His military and leadership experience has equipped him with the ability to connect positively and bridge the gap between the immigrant community, youth, and local police in Lansdowne and Delaware County.
As a Veteran, service is a personal value that Kamara strives to uphold daily. He served as a Yeadon Borough Police Officer, where he first joined the union and has been a card-carrying member ever since. As a police officer, he established a community policing unit within the Yeadon department, in addition to his primary role of protecting and serving the community. In 2017, Kamara was handpicked to join the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General as a Special Agent, given his service history and ability to speak three languages. Kamara served in the narcotics unit, which operated under the mission of removing illegal drugs and guns from the streets to make our commonwealth safer. Additionally, he assisted law enforcement agencies across multiple counties in executing search warrants and providing those agencies with additional resources when needed. Most recently, Kamara was assigned to the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), where he served on a specialized team focused on war crimes investigations.
Due to Kamara’s unique skill set and professional background, he was chosen to be part of the security detail for former Attorney General and now-elected Governor Josh Shapiro.
In his spare time, Kamara volunteers with multiple non-profits, including Men of Action Brothers in Faith and his personal non-profit, the Fanta Bility Foundation, where he serves as Founder and President.
Alascal Y. Wisner, BA, MSW, CADC
Mr. Alascal Y. Wisner Sr. is a resident of Lansdowne Pennsylvania, originally from the Republic of Liberia, West Africa. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Liberia, a master’s degree in social work from Temple University in Pennsylvania, and a Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certification (CADC) from Villanova University. He is a father, and a husband. Mr. Wisner is well seasoned community activist and Social Worker with more than 30 years of experience working with disadvantaged people and communities in Africa and the United States. He currently serves as a member of the Delaware County Black Caucus, a former member of the Board of the Directors of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, and the founder and Executive Director of the Minority Center for Participation and Empowerment, a non-profit organization working with minority folk and government to help reduce crime in America and improve the living conditions of disadvantaged minorities.
Lili Daliessio - Social Entrepreneur
Lili Daliessio is a Colombian American whose life purpose is to educate, empower, and inspire her community to manifest their dreams beyond the current circumstances they are experiencing. Her focus is on women and their families because she believes that by guiding Latina immigrants, women of color, and women in general, to heal themselves, know themselves, manifest their potential, and remember their gifts, talents, and abilities to put them at the service of humanity, they will be living her life purpose. By leading from their hearts, all women will be able to create fortune, wealth, and prosperity in abundance across all areas of their lives. This way, they can invest not only in themselves and their families but also in their community, creating a legacy of generational wealth, rewriting the history of their communities, and impacting future generations in a loving and transformative way.
Lili is a professional with over 30 years of experience. She has spent 21 years as a social entrepreneur, nine years as a business coach, and fourteen years as a bilingual storyteller. Her professional journey has also included supporting nonprofit, corporate, and educational institutions. Lili's expertise lies in serving multicultural communities, particularly Hispanics and people of color in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Colombia. Her diverse skill set includes being a teacher, podcaster, influencer, conscious marketing specialist, fashion designer, cultural producer, master coach, bilingual interpreter, and translator. With 17 years of experience in various fields such as health, wellness, holistic services, community services, immigration, marketing, business, community journalism, art, fashion, and education, Lili remains true to her values and her vision of creating a better environment for women and their families. She is also a Black Equity Community Ambassador, underscoring her commitment to social change.
She has partnered with the American Heart Association, designed a women's clothing collection, and produced a fashion show to raise awareness about brain and heart disease, the #1 killer of Latinas and women of color. She is one of the founders of Colombianos en Philadelphia, which supports Colombians in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South Jersey. Additionally, she is one of the founders of Coalición Colombia Cívica, which celebrates Colombian Independence Day at Philadelphia City Hall and brings the Colombian mobile consulate from Newark, NJ, to Philadelphia for Colombians to complete their paperwork. Over the years, she has worked with many organizations to support immigrants and has also founded Lili Daliessio Designs, Manifestando Tus Sueños (Manifesting Your Dreams), Latina Wellness Circle, and Kids & Youth Wellness Circle to continue serving the community.
She has worked at Catholic Social Services in Delaware County, Westside Healthcare in Delaware, Mendoza Group, Cristian Hernandez State Farm, Right At School at Ridley School District, Esperanza, and more. Currently, she works at The Foundation for Delaware County/The Hispanic Resource Center (El Centro), supporting pregnant and postpartum mothers and their families and helping the Hispanic community in Delco.
Lili holds a bachelor’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Social Sciences from Universidad de Pamplona in Colombia. She also studied psychology for two years at Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar in Colombia. Additionally, she has earned a certificate in Bridge the Gap Medical Interpretation and several other certifications that have helped her grow and better support the community she serves.
Lili loves living in Delco with her husband, Brian, and her youngest son, Dominic. She is also the proud mother of Alanna and Susy and the grandmother of Vienna, Stella, and Charlie, with another grandchild on the way. She enjoys walking the various trails and parks and always shares how beautiful Delaware County is.