Update
We are thrilled to welcome Raheem Manning and Matt Maron to the Prison Society’s Board of Directors. At the same time, we extend our gratitude to outgoing board members David Davis and David Thornburgh
"David Thornburgh and David Davis are amazing board members. They will be greatly missed as they term off the board this year.” said Claire Shubik-Richards, Executive Director of the Prison Society. “Thornburgh has been a constant guide to me and to the Society as we morph and grow. Davis helped redesign our prison monitoring program structure and drove our strategic planning process. The Davids have given generously of their time, tallent, and hearts. You couldn't ask for better board members. They even set us up beautifully to welcome their successors."
Raheem Manning
Raheem is the City’s Mayor of the Night Time Economy, overseeing businesses and activities in Philadelphia from 5:00 PM to 9:00 AM. This includes not only bars and nightlife but also hospital workers, sanitation workers, and SEPTA operations. Raheem is a "super connector" with an extensive network and ability to bring people together. Raheem served as emcee at the Prison Society's 2023 Love Above Bars event and will take the stage again this year. We are excited about the unique and dynamic perspective Raheem brings to our board.
Matt Maron
Matt joins us with an extensive finance background and experience as the treasurer for two large nonprofits. Previously, Matt served as the CFO of CubeSmart, a self-storage company based in Marion, where he played a key role in its growth. He has since started his own successful business investing in self-storage. Matt’s financial acumen and genuine enthusiasm for our mission make him a perfect fit for our board.
Meet Matt & Raheem
What inspired you to become involved with the Prison Society?
Raheem: “My involvement with the Prison Society began when I was invited to emcee Love Above Bars last year. As I prepared for the event, I took the time to learn more about the organization and was deeply impressed by its work. With a brother who is incarcerated, I was amazed to discover a resource like this existed.”
Matt: “Advocacy for people who are incarcerated is an extremely necessary and under-supported cause. I strongly believe in the Prison Society’s mission, and with a background in finance and experience as a treasurer for other nonprofits, I knew I could be of service.”
Why is our mission important to you personally?
Raheem: “As a black person from the inner city of Philadelphia, I know a lot of justice impacted individuals. I truly believe that just because someone made a mistake, they should never be locked out of society and lose their humanity. What resonates with me most about the Prison Society’s mission is the emphasis on treating incarcerated people as human beings, because they are.”
Matt: “People often don’t consider the rights and needs of incarcerated individuals as much as they should. The mission is important to me personally because I recognize how needed this work is, particularly in Pennsylvania, where unique state characteristics make this work even more vital.”
How do you hope to make a difference in your new role?
Raheem: “I would love to use my experience and background to bring more exposure to the vision of the Prison Society. Growing the supporter base and raising awareness for what the Prison Society does and what they have to offer is key. I look forward to using my network to spread the word, increase donations, and extend our reach across the state. I’m very excited to serve and help the organization continue to grow and thrive.”
Matt: “I hope to make a difference by doing everything I can to help advance the organization’s mission. The Society has accomplished so much despite limited resources. I look forward to using my financial expertise not only to optimize existing funding but also to harness data and analytics to enhance how we monitor prisons and make the work we do reach even further. I am excited to use my experience to help drive our mission and expand our impact.”
