Resolve Philly’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Sara Shahriari will be the organization’s next Executive Director. Sara currently serves as Resolve’s Chief Programs Officer. She will step into the executive role when co-founder and current Executive Director Jean Friedman-Rudovsky ends her tenure on April 11th. 

Sara joined Resolve in June 2024, following several years as Director of Leadership and Talent Development at the Institute for Nonprofit News. She quickly became an invaluable asset to Resolve, forming strong relationships with staff, effectively guiding the organization’s editorial and programmatic work, and adeptly leading alongside Jean during Resolve’s challenging moment this past fall. It was Sara’s integrity, vision, and exceptional leadership capabilities that propelled the board to vet her as Resolve’s next Executive Director. 

“We could not be more excited that Sara will soon step into the Executive Director role,” says Liza Gross, Co-Chair of Resolve’s Board of Directors. “She has the exemplary leadership qualities and strong vision that the organization needs as it moves into the next stage of evolution.”

“It’s truly an honor to have the opportunity to lead this team of exceptional and committed people,” says Shahriari. 

Jean Friedman-Rudovsky and Cassie Haynes co-founded Resolve Philly in 2018 to shift the way journalism organizations operate, collaborate, and carry out their reporting. Together with the Resolve Philly team, they built the Philadelphia Journalism Collaborative and developed new community engagement and reporting approaches that have made Philly news and information more accessible, participatory, and community-responsive. Elements of Resolve’s pioneering journalism models have been replicated throughout the nation and world. 

Resolve Philly’s focus going forward is on advancing local news by filling information needs at a neighborhood level.

Sara will steward this next chapter, noting, “Resolve’s journalism is actionable, useful information that supports people’s desire to participate more fully in their communities. It’s about resources and solutions, joy and community connection. That’s journalism I care about and want to grow.”