About Us

The Southeastern PA Group (SPG) of the Sierra Club is part of the Pennsylvania State Chapter. The SPG area is the 5 counties surrounding Philadelphia.

Sierra Club's governance structure is as follows (from top down): The National Organization; State Chapters; and Groups within those chapters, defined by geographic boundaries. SPG, like all Sierra Club Groups operates at the grassroots level and is run solely by volunteers.

Executive Committe

Elected by area Sierra Club members to 2 year terms, the Executive Committee of SPG meets once a month to discuss the developments of the various committees, finances and upcoming opportunities. The latest SPG ExCom bylaws are HERE.

Current chair assignments are:

Keith Parsons - ExCom Chair

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2024)

Keith has worked for recycling companies and an IT consultancy and volunteered with Sierra Club’s Inner-City Kids and RF100. He earned an MS in Global Affairs and an MPA in Environmental Science & Policy. 

He initiated two ventures: an environmental-performance index and a Brazilian Consortium. He edited Solar Electric Power Generation, and has published articles on climate change and other topics. He also organized an event to promote renewable energies and sustainable innovations. 

As a REALTOR, he has earned their Green Designation, and proposed/moderated a panel for Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium.  He serves on Upper Providence's Environmental Advisory Committee.

Email Keith at  EcoKeithParsons@gmail.com 

Lisa Anzalone - Vice Chair, Political co-Chair, Membership Chair

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2024)

Lisa Anzalone lives in West Goshen Township, PA. Currently, I serve as PA Sierra Club PAC Treasurer, Compliance Officer, and Chapter Secretary.
I am an IT Senior Project Manager and Systems Analyst at the University of Pennsylvania for the past 14 years. Prior to that, I was a consultant implementing SAP software. 

My goals and aspirations are to get the Sierra Club’s message to our youth, possibly providing workshops and presentations at local middle and high schools. I have several ideas on how to engage students and pique their interest in preservation and open spaces. I also would like to recruit volunteers so the PA Chapter has backup for many of our positions.

As an Eco-Rep at the University of Pennsylvania, the Franklin building where I work participated in a Power Down Challenge across the campus and won! I collect used toner cartridges across campus and recycle them. The proceeds go to the Fugett-Malawi Project, which has been able to use that money to provide clean drinking water in a village in Malawi. 

During COVID, I discovered just how many beautiful preserves and nature areas existed within a short distance from my home. I make it a point to visit each of them. Every hike or walk I take, I clean up trash I find. I am a trash picker-upper and proud of it.

Kelly Durham - Secretary, Political co-Chair

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2024)

Kelly Derham holds a BS in biology from the University of Washington and a MS in biology from Western Kentucky University. Her research focused on tree ecology, and she has worked in PA state forests and also South Africa. She now lives in Philadelphia with her husband, newborn, and dog. She works as an Assistant Professor in biology and is starting an environmental science program at her college. 
Kelly has written several articles for the Sierra Club Southeastern PA newsletter and for other publications. She is passionate about science communication and equal access to science. 

Jerene Good - Treasurer

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2023)

I've been a Sierra Club member for 40+ years. Retired. Living in West Philly. Born in San Diego, raised in suburban Los Angeles. Fast forward to grad school at Penn. Married a fellow backpacker and joined the Sierra Club. We led local Club trips in Eastern PA. My daughter and I did Sierra Club Family camps to Acadia and Cape Cod, with me as assistant cook. I've hiked in Switzerland, Peru to Machu Picchu, and the Camino Santiago de Compostela from Porto to Santiago with my daughter and son-in-law.

Professionally over 40 years, I crunched numbers and consulted in two non-profits and half a dozen area universities, ending back at Penn in Family Medicine and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

In retirement: Singing at church and The Philadelphia Chorus Gardening. Cooking. Tutoring reading at Lea School (47th and Locust) and adult basic at Kingsessing Library. Memberships in Bartram's Garden, The Woodlands, Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, Morris Arboretum.

Email Jerene at jerene49@gmail.com

Kevin Little - 

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2024)

Kevin Little was born, raised and educated in the Philadelphia area. He holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Environmental Issues from the University of Pittsburgh. A certified Chemistry teacher, he taught Science in Philadelphia Public Schools for over 9 years. He has been active with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal and Ready for 100 campaigns. He gave testimony at several EPA hearings and ran an Environmental Film series for two years at a local Veterans center. He currently resides in the University City section of West Philadelphia with his wife and two Children.

Email Kevin at kmlittle2@gmail.com

Helena Gallant - Treasurer (asst), Political (vc)

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2025)

Helena considers herself to be a “citizen of the world” but to be more specific, she resides in Torresdale in Northeast Philadelphia and is from New Britain in Bucks County Pennsylvania. She holds an associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work from Bucks County Community College and Temple University respectively. She has considered herself to be an advocate for many causes all her life, from environmental justice to affordable and accessible housing and is now a professional advocate for older adults with the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE), based in Center City, Philadelphia. Previously, Helena has volunteered with the Americorps in Eastern Kentucky
(which she considers to be a second home), A Woman’s Place in Doylestown that is a
domestic violence prevention organization, the Cherry Pantry at Temple University and is
excited to add the Sierra Club to the list!

In her spare time, you can find Helena taking relaxed hikes at the local park, caring for her
fur babies Pam and Jim, as well as her plant babies, reading the latest book pick from her
book club and going on train adventures with her fiancé, Ben. She is self-described as “highkey”
obsessed with sunflowers and can usually be found daydreaming about going back to
her favorite city, New Orleans, Louisiana..

Email Helena at helenagallant33@gmail.com

Kelsey Arrington-Podraza - Communications Chair, Fundraising Chair

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2025)

Kelsey is a passionate advocate for equitable, sustainable development focused on community health, climate resilience, and the welfare of vulnerable populations. Originally
from the NYC area, she has resided in Pennsylvania since 2017 and has been a West Chester Borough resident since 2018.

She holds a BS in Urban and Environmental Planning with a minor in Applied Community and Environmental Sustainability from West Chester University. During her academic tenure, she has performed Needs Assessments for Coatesville City and West Chester Borough, was published by West Chester University for her research on eco lawns and using clover as an alternative to turf grass, and received the prestigious Outstanding Student Award.

In her free time, Kelsey is a dedicated yoga practitioner, avid hiker, and novice lapidarist. She enjoys camping, tubing down the Brandywine, and exploring local trails with her Australian Shepherd mix rescue, Birdie. Their favorite is the Orange Trail in Ridley Creek Park!

Email Kelsey at  kmapod@outlook.com

Sidney Kahn - Conservation Co-Chair

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2025)

Sidney is a recently retired physician / scientist with professional credentials in clinical biochemistry / pathology and 3 decades of experience in the assessment of pharmaceutical product risks and benefits. He has a longstanding interest in the environment, honed by
several years of scuba diving. A decade ago he rebuilt a 1950s fossil fuel dependent house into a model of sustainability, achieving LEED Platinum status, which is featured on the
Sustainable Cheltenham solar energy web page. He is a member of several local, regional, and national environmental action groups, including the Cheltenham Township EAC, Physicians for Social Responsibility Board, and local RF100 working groups.

Email Sidney at  snksaukus@gmail.com

David Calloway - Outings Chair, Chapter Delegate

ExCom member (term ends Dec 2025)

David Calloway is a long-time Sierra Club member, mainly as an Outings Leader with
Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO, formerly Inner City Outings) on and off since 2013, and supporting the expansion of SC's Outdoors For All (OFA) and enironmental activism. He wants to bring his Sierra Club Outings work and his state-wide environmental vision into closer harmony.

David volunteers with Philly Food Rescue and the Citizens Corp of Delaware County, and actively supports Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL, pron. Circle). He is active as a player in the Yes AND... Playback Theatre troupe, and as a congregant of Mishkan Shalom Synagogue in Manayunk.

David's activism is centered on his character The SOB of the Society of Oligarch Billionaires, "Greed Speaking Power to Truth Since 2019." After the timely demise of Tuesdays With(out) Toomey rallies, The SOB is seeking new venues, rallies, and outlets for his satirically-veiled progressive rants. He is currently posting Tiktok videos, and learning songwriting as a Randy Rainbow wannabe.

A retired IT technical writer, David lives in Swarthmore, PA, near a tributary of Crum Creek, which has held him in its meandering grip since childhood. He is an engaged and playful grandfather, father, and husband, and has walked many miles with his wife Sandy since the pandemic began in 2019. He looks forward to resuming backpacking and more rugged hikes.

Email David at  davidrcalloway@gmail.com