Tonnetta C. Graham Selected as the 2023 Paul Philippe Cret Award Recipient

The Paul Philippe Cret Award recognizes individuals or organizations who are not architects but who have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the design of buildings, structures, landscapes, and the public realm of Greater Philadelphia.

Congratulations to Tonnetta C. Graham for being selected as the 2023 Paul Philippe Cret Award Recipient.

Tonnetta C. Graham is a Philadelphia native who is a Founder and current President of the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to neighborhood preservation, commercial, residential and economic development and planning. She has successfully lead community engagement efforts and negotiations on a wide variety of development projects and initiatives that have helped stabilize the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood and empowered its longtime residents. These efforts include: Over 300 units of affordable rental and homeownership units, Septa 33rd Street Bus Barn and the Strawberry Manion Neighborhood Conservation Overlay. Tonnetta’s work as a partner in Reimagining the Civic Commons has taken her beyond Strawberry Mansion into neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia and urban hubs around the world; where her insightful ideas are infused into urban plans, neighborhood designs and public space planning. Her extended endeavors include service as a Community Engagement Consultant for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and as an Instructor for the Philadelphia Citizen’s Planning Institute. Additionally, she is a contributing author to publications that include the Citizen’s Tool Kit and Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Preservation Tool Kit and co-author of several bills, legislation, articles and reports. Her supplemental service includes board affiliations with the Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center, East Fairmount Park Coalition, Community Partnership School Trustee Board, The Discovery Center and the Philadelphia Assembly, a new arts and culture based philanthropic collaborative. Tonnetta has a BS in Human Resource Management from Indiana University of PA and her MS in Higher Education and Organizational Leadership from Drexel University with additional certifications in Volunteer Management and Citizen Planning. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family, especially her son Luke.

Check out the award winners video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG1BetopiBs