Haile Johnston, CPL's new Pennsylvania State Director, is a Philadelphia native whose is passionate about grassroots strategies for building more progressive and sustainable communities.

Prior to joining CPL, he was the co-director of the East Park Revitalization Alliance, a community based nonprofit organization in North Philadelphia that he co-founded with his wife Tatiana.

The East Park Revilization Alliance focuses on educating children about the transformative qualities of nutrition, physical activity and environmental enhancement. During each summer, the organization employs nearly 20 adults and youth from the community and is responsible for planting over 600 trees and cleaning up countless vacant properies and neighborhood parks.

Prior to starting the East Park Revilization Alliance, Haile worked with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the University of Pennsylvania. In both positions, Haile focused on environmental and social justice issues directly affecting communities where he lived, including access to parks, nutrition education among youth, and leading the fight to ban trans fat in City Council.

Haile also co-founded the Common Market of Philadelphia, a nonprofit distribution program for locally grown food. The Common Market opened in May of 2008 and is currently negotiating supply contracts with Philadelphia area hospitals, universities, public and private schools and eldercare facilities.

He sits on numerous boards, including the Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Neighborhood Networks, and New Jersey Laura, a Philadelphia drug and alcohol recovery center. In 2007, he ran for Philadelphia City Council, running on a message of positivity and grassroots vision, finishing 2nd in a three-way race.

Haile is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business, where he studied entrepreneurial management.

He was also a 2007 Political Leaders Fellow with the Center for Progressive Leadership.