Uplift Center for Grieving Children
Executive Director
Keri Salerno
Keri Salerno brings over 20 years of experience working in the non-profit, public, and political sectors. Prior to joining Uplift in March of 2023, Keri spent almost seven years at Public Health Management Corporation in two different senior director roles where she oversaw the departments focusing on nutrition, traffic safety, sexual health, workforce development, and built environment as well raised an estimated $30M, created three new business lines, and generated several opportunities for organizational exposure. Before PHMC, Ms. Salerno spent almost eight years in the public sector serving under New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. Much of this time was spent creating programs and policies to aid vulnerable populations specifically those who have been justice involved and/or affected by gun violence. In the early part of her career, she spent over six years as a fundraiser and grassroots organizer for local, state, federal, and issue-based and electoral campaigns.
In addition to her professional experience, Ms. Salerno has been civically engaged in Philadelphia by being a Committeeperson in Philadelphia’s 2nd Ward 9th Division; serving on the board of directors of Philadelphia250 (currently) and Philadelphia Young Non-profit Leaders (formerly); being a publisher, editor, manager of volunteer writers and writer for the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal; and as a former member of Young Involved Philadelphia and Young America PAC. Lastly, she is an award-winning gardener having placed in Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Gardening and Greening Contest in 2013.
Ms. Salerno holds a Masters in Government Administration and Certificate in Non-profit Management from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Tulane University. While at Tulane, Ms. Salerno spent her junior year abroad studying modern Greek history and international relations at College Year in Athens.