Jamira Burley

Jamira Burley, 22, is the first of sixteen children to graduate high school and attend college. Drive, perseverance, and passion, are just a few characteristics that the Philadelphia native is built with. Currently, in her senior year at Temple University, Jamira major’s in International Business, Legal Studies with a minor in Chinese. In addition to her academic studies, Jamira works as the Fellow for the National Peace Alliance. 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 young woman growing up in a city where the death by violence rates grew with her, Jamira founded the Overbrook High Panther Peace Core, after the murder of her brother in 2005 and stepfather in 2007. The function of the Peace Core is to provide students with nonviolent alternatives to address conflict.

Additionally, Jamira remains involved with other initiatives by serving as the Mayor’s Appointee of the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, founding member of the Campaign for Non-violence Schools, 2010 Chairperson for the Philadelphia Youth Commission, 2010 Governor’s Appointee to the Committee on Children and Families, the Director of Community Affairs for Temple Student Government, the VP of the Septa Youth Advisory Council.

As an active and notable member of her community and college, she has made it her mission to employ her personal experiences as a driving force to improve the lives of others. 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.

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