Councilmember Isaiah Thomas | At Large | Majority Whip

Born and raised in Northwest Philadelphia, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas is the third youngest of nine children of a Philadelphia school teacher and a child care provider. Through Sankofa Freedom Academy, Lincoln University and the Thomas and Woods Foundation - Thomas has put the success of young people at the forefront of his work. Whether in the classroom, on the basketball court, or in City Hall - he believes that education, opportunity and coalition building is the way to make a Philadelphia that works for all of us. Beginning in his second term, Councilmember Thomas was chosen by his colleagues to serve as City Council’s Majority Whip.   

Councilmember Thomas has non-profit, government and private sector experience which allows him to hear multiple sides of an issue and receive input from a variety of stakeholders. He has helped young people get the best possible education, provided out-of-school time (OST) programming, strengthened communities of color and worked to improve civic education across the city.  

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, serving his second term on City Council, was voted Whip by his colleagues and proudly serves in Council leadership. He is the Chair of the Education Comittee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. He is the Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Committee and a member of the Appropriations, Finance, Rules, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Public Health, Technology, Disabilities, and Creative and Innovative Economy Committees. These committee roles and the legislation he has passed highlight Councilmember Thomas’ vision to make Philadelphia work better for every family. Whether addressing public safety, providing pandemic relief or making the city government more transparent - Thomas believes in a government that works for the people and improves the basic quality of life for all.  

A proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools, Councilmember Thomas has a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State and a Masters of Education from Lincoln University, the oldest degree-granting historically Black college in the nation. He still actively coaches basketball at Sankofa Freedom Academy, serves on the PIAA District XII Board, and is President of the Coaches Association. Thomas lives in Oak Lane with his wife Klissa and their sons, Isaiah Jr. and Isaac, and their daughter Alorianna.