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Newseedev2024-09-06T11:55:28+00:00

इन्टेग्रिटी आइकनद्वारा पाँच जना कर्मचारी सम्मानित

न्युज अफ नेपाल कठमाडौं । इन्टेग्रिटी आइकन नेपाल २०२२ ले पाँच जना सरकारी कर्मचारीलाई सम्मान गरेको छ । इमान्दा र कर्तव्यनिष्ट पाँच जना कर्मचारीला [...]

Bay’s Warrant Officer Bongani Siyona named one of SA’s best public servants

By Simtembile Mgidi Recognised as one of SA’s best public servants, Nelson Mandela Bay Warrant Officer Bongani Siyona attributed his award to his fath [...]

A public service is only as strong as the people who work in it – recognise the Integrity Icons to squeeze out the bad

By Mark Heywood Maverick Citizen has been a firm promoter of the Integrity Icons campaign. We have done so because without a committed and effective p [...]

SA’s passionate and inspirational public servants honoured, with policeman taking top award

By Zukiswa Pikoli The Integrity Icons awards present an alternative to the perception that public servants are corrupt and lazy, and showcase that the [...]

Integrity Icon Mali 2022: Accountability lab launches the 7th edition of its campaign

Through a press conference organized at its headquarters on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, the management of Accountability lab Mali launched the 7th editi [...]

Accountability Lab Pakistan celebrates new Integrity Icons

The Integrity Icon Pakistan 2021 award ceremony for five winning icons was held here on Wednesday. Five officers were decorated with awards in recogni [...]

5 govt officials win Integrity Icon award

The Integrity Icon Pakistan 2021 award ceremony today celebrated the five winning Icons held at an event at the Serena Hotel. Zil E Huma, Deputy Direc [...]

Calling All Young Filmmakers!

Here’s an opportunity for young filmmakers in South Africa Are you an up-and-coming filmmaker looking for your next opportunity? Accountability Lab S [...]

Social work under the spotlight

On 26 May 2022, Accountability Lab South Africa (AL SA) will host the second installation of its annual Meet the Icon (MTI) dialogue series. Through t [...]

Hunt for 2022 Integrity Icon Liberia begins

Accountability Lab has launched its 2022 hunt for Liberia’s Integrity Icon with a much more focus on identifying women who are involved in selfless sa [...]

Accountability Lab Liberia Launches Integrity Icon 2022

MONROVIA – The Accountability Lab Liberia has launched Integrity Icons 2022 to award some of the most dedicated civil servants across the country. Thi [...]

Introducing our 2022 Integrity Icon Philadelphia winners!

Article originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy Are you, like me, looking for a reason to find hope amidst what c [...]

Accountability Lab, BPSR, Decry Vote Buying, Corruption

Accountability Lab Nigeria and the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) have decried the rise in vote buying, saying embezzlement, bribery, and ele [...]

Integrity Icon 2021: Famakan Cissé elected the most honest civil servant in Mali

It was Famakan Cissé, president of the Bla first instance court, who was elected AccountabilityLab's most honest and honest civil servant in Mali for [...]

Integrity Conference for public servants held in Abuja

On the 23rd and 24th of March 2022, Accountability Lab Nigeria, a CSO dedicated to making governance work for the people, in partnership with the Bure [...]

Integrity Icon campaign: The Icons of the 6th edition released to the public

The Hotel de l'Amitié in Bamako, hosted the night of Friday, March 25 to 26, 2022, the ceremony of revealing the most honest designated official of th [...]

Including the excluded in the bureaucracy

Let’s face it, Nepal’s civil service is not held in very high regard by Nepalis themselves. But in the past seven years after the affirmative action p [...]

Including the excluded in the bureaucracy

Let’s face it, Nepal’s civil service is not held in very high regard by Nepalis themselves. But in the past seven years after the affirmative action p [...]

Announcing The Winners of Integrity Icons 2021 – Six of South African Top Civil Servants Caught Doing the Right Thing

Following a year-long grassroots campaign to identify South Africa’s top civil servants, the Accountability Lab will, on Friday 03 December 2021, pres [...]

‘We are committed to inspiring new generations of public servants of integrity’

Country Director, Accountability Lab, Odeh Friday, has said they are committed to inspire a new generation of public servants who embody the virtues o [...]

NSCDC Officer Emerges Integrity Icon Awards Overall Winner

NSCDC Officer Emerges Integrity Icon Awards Over-All Winner An officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Kogi State, Mr. Mus [...]

Artists call for government participation in creative industry

PLAYERS in the creative industry have called on the Nigerian government to get more involved in developing the arts sub-sector in Nigeria. The call wa [...]

Nelson Mandela Bay principal and social worker on shortlist for integrity awards

A principal and social worker from Nelson Mandela Bay have been nominated in the 2021 Integrity Awards. Unathi Filita, from Kariega, is the previous w [...]

Unearthing honest role models in public service – INTEGRITY ICON 2021 WINNERS

Accountability Lab Nepal revealed the 5 Integrity Icons for 2021 via a live-streamed event on Facebook on 20 October 2021. The IIN core team, Suresh C [...]

More than corruption and poor governance – Integrity Icon in SA on municipal distress

By Dr Sarah Dlamini As a paediatric doctor in the public health system, I see the fault lines of segregation in our communities daily, and how the fai [...]

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Meet The 2022 Icons

Meet The 2022 Icons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7JxImmHssU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkrvHW_-lSA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nObjm5DKaWQ

Meet The 2024 Icons

Meet The 2024 Icons

Meet The 2023 Icons

Meet The 2023 Icons

Shaquita Smith

2020 INTEGRITY ICON

Social Studies Curriculum Specialist for the School District of Philadelphia

She started out as an academic coach in 2014 before segueing into her role as one of two District Social Studies Curriculum Specialists, overseeing K-12 social studies curriculum for the more than 200,000 students in our public schools. She helps organize Future Ready, a program with Wells Fargo and the Chamber of Commerce, that pairs 6th graders with local businesses to provide career exploration, resume writing skills, and interview practice.

Read her profile here.

Thomas Quinn

2020 INTEGRITY ICON

Social Studies Teacher at Central High School

Since 2015 Quinn has been organizing Philly Youth Vote, through the Caucus of Working Educators — an activist coalition within the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers—to lead a non-partisan effort to register every eligible high school senior in the city. So far, the group has recruited teachers in 45 district schools who have volunteered to get registration information and forms into the hands of any of the 8,000 seniors who turn 18 each year.

Read his profile here.

Richard M. Gordon IV

2020 INTEGRITY ICON

Principal at Paul Robeson High School for Human Services

Among other accomplishments, Gordon turned Paul Robeson High School, a school with a 90-percent poverty rate and 100-percent minority population and one that the District had been planning to close in 2013, into one with a 95-percent graduation rate. His success can be attributed to the formal programming he’s put in place—from mental health counseling to career mentorship to partnerships with Philly’s institutions of higher ed. But his progress all comes back to his unique gift of empathy.

Read his profile here.

Carlos Aponte

2020 INTEGRITY ICON

History Teacher at One Bright Ray Community High School

On top of teaching duties, Aponte spearheads We Love Philly, the after school program-turned-accredited-class and nonprofit. He believes changing students’ environment — getting them out of the four-walled classroom — allows them to let their guard down, build relationships. Thrive.

Read his profile here.

Dr. Ruth Abaya

2020 INTEGRITY ICON

Program Manager for the Injury Prevention Program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Through her research, publications, and testimonies in front of various state committees, Abaya’s position opened the door for her to become a Stoneleigh Fellow where she created a registry of people who are injured by gun violence. This system allows the City to understand how it does in getting victims the resources they need.

Read her profile here.

Kea R. Greene

2023 INTEGRITY ICON

Member Services Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Services

In her role, Greene focused on supporting and training the city’s AmeriCorps volunteers. She provided them with tools that would enable them to go out and support Philly residents they were assigned to serve. Her proudest achievement: arranging for Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity to train the AmeriCorps volunteers in record expungement — that is, legally helping folks remove criminal charges that may be on their public records and could be holding them back from opportunities like employment, housing, funding, and more.

Read her profile here.

Yessenia Gutierrez

2023 INTEGRITY ICON

Senior Labor Compliance Investigator for the Department of Labor, Office of Worker Protection

Gutierrez has worked on wage theft, worker retaliation and Covid protections cases. She specializes in investigating claims where a worker alleges their employer has violated the City’s Fair Workweek law and complex cases in which employees may not have proper documentation, or cases with a lot of data to sift through. A native Spanish speaker, she also translates for the office, as Philadelphia’s Latino population grows.

Read her profile here.

Lauren Young

2023 INTEGRITY ICON

Community Relations Officer for the Philadelphia Police Department’s 25th District

Officer Ryan Barksdale, a Community Relations Officer in the 25th District — encompassing Hunting Park, Franklin, Feltonville, Juniata Park, and parts of Fairhill and Upper Kensington — is a celebrated member of the community. He is the kind of man who devotes his personal time to serving others and who commits his own resources when he knows it will fulfill the community’s needs. Barksdale joined the PPD in 2006 and had served as a patrol officer for 11 years when he was recommended for the position.

Read his profile here.

Maria Andrea Giraldo Gallo

2022 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of Language Access Programs in the Office of Immigrant Affairs

Maria is a multilingual immigrant from Colombia who found a job in the City’s accounts payable department, before moving over to the Office of Immigrant Affairs, where she quickly rose to Director of Language Access Programs. In her role, she committed to recognizing the humanity of all Philadelphians and her focus on instilling a sense of pride and dignity among oft-overlooked communities made her stand out. “Language access is a civil right,” she says. It doesn’t matter how many resources are available in Philadelphia if people are unable to take advantage of them because of language barriers.

Read her profile here.

Tu Huynh

2023 INTEGRITY ICON

Program Manager for the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy.

Tu has spent his lifetime supporting artists and art that reflects who we are as a city, our darkest times and our hopes for the future. His approach: “Invite artists in. Give them a seat at the table. Let’s explore how we can present issues.”

Read his profile here.

Lauren Young

2022 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of K-12 Mathematics for the School District of Philadelphia

Young was the lead content developer for math during the pandemic, putting the neediest children at the forefront of this work. She supported the Office of Family and Community Engagement FACT program by providing training for parents, caregivers, and community members to learn the skills and tools needed to support their children’s academic endeavors — including dealing with stress.

Read her profile here.

Leah Wood

2022 INTEGRITY ICON

Feltonville Arts & Sciences Paraprofessional

Wood is described as an innovative educator in a North Philly middle school, who demonstrates integrity by, among other things, being willing to admit mistakes and urging her students to do the same through a method she learned in a previous job at Burger King: L.A.S.T. (listen, apologize, satisfy, and thank). She has elevated the role of paraprofessional beyond the classroom as one of the founding members of “Para Power,” which organizes around salary issues and working conditions.

Read her profile here.

Stephanie Ridgeway

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Biking Ambassador for the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Ridgeway can be found riding from one end of the city to another on an Indego bicycle, educating residents, coordinating with community groups and working to increase access to the bike-share program for all Philadelphians. Under her watch, Indego has grown the number of bikes in underserved neighborhoods, by listening and working with community members to ensure the program is serving their needs.

Read her profile here.

Lori Maple Hayes

2022 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of Urban Forestry at Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department

Hayes is the person in charge of planting the trees that make our city more beautiful and livable. She won, in part, for her efforts to make Tree Philly’s programs accessible to everyone—the elderly, the blind, women who want to climb trees and be arborists, low-income communities and returning citizens.

Read her profile here.

Rebecca Lopez Kriss

2022 INTEGRITY ICON

Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Outreach and Taxpayer Assistance in the Department of Revenue

As a steward of our city’s tax dollars, Lopez Kriss is in the center of some of the most important—and opaque—work in Philadelphia government. She pushes for integrity by making the Revenue Department more transparent, navigable and easy to understand for citizens so they know their rights—and know what help is available.

Read her profile here.

Lesha Sanders

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of Problem Solving Courts at Municipal Court, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania

Lesha Sanders does everything possible to empower clients through their struggles toward treatment, employment, reconnection with loved ones and a better quality of life. Her office serves as a resource hub and drop-in center, equipped with a “closet” that offers clothes to clients in need. Lesha promotes educational opportunities to colleagues through routine email lists.

Read her profile here.

Adara Combs

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Philadelphia Victim Advocate at the Office of the Victim Advocate

Adara Combs wraps her arms around the victims and co-victims of trauma to connect them with the resources they need to heal. She is the first person to hold the position of Philadelphia Victim Advocate. Under her leadership, the Office will launch the Crime Scene Cleanup pilot, a unit that will handle the needs of families and communities after a crime has occurred and police have moved on from the scene.

Read her profile here.

Tracey Williams

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Records

Tracey Williams listens to deed fraud victims with patience, warmth, and understanding. She is committed to educating people in and out of the office on how to spot scams and access resources to prevent fraud. Tracey is a role model and mentor for other City employees, especially women of color.

Read her profile here.

Deion Sumpter

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of Group Violence Intervention at Group Violence Intervention

Deion Sumpter leverages his experience with incarceration to build strong, lasting relationships in communities through weekly, on-the-ground outreach. He identifies members of the community who are at high risk for gang activity and provides them with services including employment, relocation, and therapy. Over 1,000 group members have been identified so far.

Read his profile here.

Eric Kapenstein

2024 INTEGRITY ICON

Deputy Commissioner at the Office of City Commissioner Seth Bluestein

Eric Kapenstein worked around the clock to ensure all Philadelphians’ voices were heard in the 2020 presidential election. He was responsible for creating new processes, including the counting process for an unprecedented amount of mail-in ballots, He is also behind the expansion of language access for non-English proficient voters.

Read his profile here.

Yu-Shan Chou

2025 INTEGRITY ICON

Language Access and Engagement Specialist

Yu-Shan Chou is Language Access and Engagement Specialist for the Office of the City Commissioners; her coworkers say her “dedication to the community she serves — including her volunteer efforts with the Welcoming Center – and the department for which she works is boundless. Her kindness and work ethic are unmatched.”

Omar Crowder

2025 INTEGRITY ICON

Northeast High School Principal

Omar Crowder is principal of Northeast High School, the largest public high school in the city; he is described as “a pillar of strength for both his students and the entire school community” by 2020 Integrity Icon Richard Gordon, now an assistant superintendent for the School District.

Charlene Samuels

2025 INTEGRITY ICON

Constituent Services Representative

Charlene Samuels is a Constituent Services Representative in the Office of Minority Leader Kendra Brooks; her coworkers insist that “Ms. Charlene does not tolerate mediocrity in any City department or non-profit organization – and she does not take no for an answer when it comes to advocating for constituents!”

Nathan Sallard

2025 INTEGRITY ICON

Client Services Manager for the Office of Safe Neighborhoods

Nathan Sallard’s work has been described as nothing short of transformative. “When Nate was first hired, the retention rate for clients in this program was only 35 percent, meaning many participants didn’t remain employed after 90 days. Since Nathan’s arrival, he has dramatically improved this metric, boosting retention to 78 percent,” his colleagues explain. “His work with individuals associated with violent groups has had a direct impact on reducing gun violence and increasing employment stability, completely shifting the trajectory of the program.”

Sarorng Sorn

2025 INTEGRITY ICON

Director of Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services

Sarorng Sorn, Director of Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, is a tireless advocate for immigrants and refugees. Her colleagues call her a “visionary” who “teaches people to know their rights and what the city is obligated to provide for them.”

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Sarorng Sorn

2025 Integrity Icon

Director of Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services

Sarorng Sorn, Director of Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services for the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, is a tireless advocate for immigrants and refugees. Her colleagues call her a “visionary” who “teaches people to know their rights and what the city is obligated to provide for them.”