A. Salewa Ogunmefun (Sha-leh-wah)

Executive Director, Pennsylvania Voice

LocationPhiladelphia, PA

Preferred pronounshe/her

Email address

Telephone number2028342704

Websitewww.pennsylvaniavoice.org

Headshot of A. Salewa Ogunmefun

Biographical information

A. Salewa Ogunmefun (she/her/hers) is a Nigerian-American social justice strategist with a passion for building political power grounded in collective liberation. With over a decade of experience designing, developing, and leading electoral integrated voter engagement in over fifteen states and the District of Columbia, Salewa drives Pennsylvania Voice’s vision and strategy as Executive Director. Pennsylvania Voice is a partnership of over 44 state and local based organizations that has been creating a more accessible, inclusive, and representative democracy by amplifying the voices, leadership, and expertise of communities that have historically experienced deliberate barriers to civic participation for over 10 years. Successes include an effort that made Pennsylvania’s online voter registration system the best in the country, a robust census engagement program reaching over 400,000 BIPOC households, and the registration and mobilization of over 100,000 BlPOC voters.

Prior to joining Pennsylvania Voice, Salewa spent time as the Civic Engagement and Political Manager at Center for Popular Democracy where she worked closely with affiliates in AZ, FL, GA, MI, MN, PA, and WI on the implementation of a 7 Touch Strategy which culminated membership building, issue advocacy, political education, and electoral engagement. As Political Director with One Pennsylvania, Salewa lead successful electoral and policy campaigns registering over 10,000 new voters, knocking on over 500,000 doors, and executing a value based political endorsement process. She’s most proud of the time she spent with workers and advocates to win Fair Workweek legislation in Philadelphia, the most significant labor policy passed in the city in recent history guaranteeing over 130,000 retail, food service, and hospitality workers stability in their schedules.

Salewa began her political experience with DC-based consulting firm Field Strategies, where she implemented integrated field, mail, phone, and digital programs in historically neglected communities throughout the country. She is deeply invested in public policy that prioritizes people over profits and strengthens community relationships with the understanding that “without community, there is no liberation.”