Candidate for
State Representative; Pennsylvania State House of Representatives; District 201; Democratic Party

Michael Ellis, husband and father of three, was born and raised in the Mount Airy and Germantown section of Northwest Philadelphia. Michael is on a mission to restore our community back to the safe, flourishing and historically important community he once knew as a child.

To prepare to be part of this change, Michael has graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University in 2004 and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Eastern University in 2009, which led him to take a position as a security manager. As a security manager, Michael has directed fifty union employees, manages the day-to-day operations and has negotiated contractual services between SEIU Local 32BJ, which secured more than 100 blue-collar jobs.

In addition, Michael continues to be actively involved in his community with organizations such as the Philadelphia Young Democrats where Michael served as President. Michael is also a state and local Democratic Committeeperson. He is also an active member at his church, New Bethel AME, and at his lodge, Light of Elmwood #45. Michael actively commits himself to block clean-ups, blood drives, back-to-school drives and programs like the Foundations Inc, Northwest University Scholars mentoring program for "at-risk" youths which has been implemented in four area schools: Martin Luther King High School, Pastorious Middle School, West Oaklane Charter School, and McKinsey Elementary.

Michael is a life coach for a Prisoner Re-Entry Program where he has helped ex-offenders and those in recovery with their transition back into the community through mentoring and job placement. To date he has helped ex-offenders re-connect with their families and secure jobs with companies like Lincoln Financial Field, Save-A-Lot, Thriftway Grocery, North East Building Products, McDonalds, and Sonic.

Michael is also a mentor for the Connection Training Services YouthBuild Program serving North Philadelphia. This program provides vocational, leadership and life skills education and training along with GED preparation and college enrollment assistance for at-risk youth, ages 17 to 24 years.

As both a resident and active member of his community, Michael knows that the quality of life needs to be drastically improved not only for our current residents and business owners, but for our future leaders, our youth. Michael believes that our children deserve to be provided with the tools and resources at the beginning of their education and throughout their formative years so that they can learn and build upon the skills necessary for success later in life.

Michael also believes that our community deserves to have safe neighborhoods, quality housing, and access to sustainable jobs. Michael is committed to leading the charge for more funding for public education in Philadelphia and a transformative educational program that demands more of teachers and students alike to meet the demands of the employers of the 21st century for thinking, problem-solving employees.