Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown, KLN ‘13, has Philly Power.
Philadelphia Magazine created a list of 38 Philadelphians who represent the “New Philly Power.” These individuals are, according to the magazine, “changing the city by proving that power is about creating urgency and getting people to believe in something.”
Sharpe-Brown embodies this power and is listed with the motto “PR to the people” because of her impact on people of color, small business owners, and efforts for equal pay since being involved with public relations offices in Philadelphia for over a decade. She has recently helped create media plans for the Urban Affairs Coalition and the National Youth Foundation through her business.
Sharpe-Brown is the founder and principal consultant for On Point Communications, a brand management and communications consulting firm, as well as the director of advocacy and external engagement for The School District of Philadelphia.
On this list, she sits alongside Philadelphians such as Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak, GoPuff founders Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola, and Temple University’s first-ever Rhodes-Scholar Hazim Hardeman.
Sharpe-Brown said she attributes some of her success to the journalism program at Klein College of Media and Communication.
While at Temple, she interned for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leaders Intern-Office of the Honorable Chaka Fattah and Mayor Michael Nutter’s Office, which led to her love of policy, not just politics.
“I was familiar with communications, public relations and journalism, but really understanding policy was important to me,” Sharpe-Brown said. “That’s what changes things.”
On top of all this, she became pregnant with her son, but that didn’t stop her from getting the work done. This work ethic was noticed by her professors, especially Maida Odom, an assistant professor of journalism at Klein.
“Haniyyah was so hard-working, hard-driving and positive,” Odom said. “I was energized every time I was in her presence. I am so proud of her.”
In 2012, Sharpe-Brown created the Temple Association of Black Journalists which was awarded the National Association of Black Journalists Student Chapter of the Year.
After graduating Temple in 2013, she continued to be involved in politics as the Chair of Communications for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Alumni Association for two years before spending almost another two years as the communications manager for the Office of Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown in the City of Philadelphia.
However, it is a love for positive change that drove her to create On Point Communications.
“Cameras can show up all day long, but what happens after that?” Sharpe-Brown said. “What are you doing before the cameras show up? On Point Communications is an extension of my passion to tell the stories of the community, with a special focus on the African-American community, and the positive work that we do.”
That thought process as well as her kindness and well-meaning acts of service in a position of power are exactly why she received the honor from Philadelphia Magazine.
Sharpe-Brown is appreciative for her husband, Charles Brown, being with her throughout her entire journey. At the end of the day, she truly cares about leaving a legacy for her kids to follow.
“While I’m here, if there’s a way to make a positive impact for my family and children first, why wouldn’t I do that?
Originally published at Klein.Temple.edu