About our Work
At ECS we speak truth to power – advocating on behalf of those whom we serve. In partnership with our programs and our participants, we engage with legislators and other stakeholders on the state and local level to push for structural changes. The department is outward-facing, fostering partnerships with community organizations and the parishes of the Diocese of Pennsylvania to tackle the root causes of poverty and racism. Advocacy’s strength is in numbers, so join our movement today!
Meet the Team
Victoria R. Bennett, MHS
Chief Inclusion & Advocacy Officer
Overall Leadership of the Department
Victoria joined ECS in 1992 and has served in many capacities throughout the agency, most notably as the senior director of St. Barnabas Mission. At St. Barnabas, Victoria turned the emergency housing facility for female-headed families experiencing homelessness into one of the most respected service providers in the Philadelphia Homeless Services system. Victoria is a graduate of Lincoln University, where she earned her Masters in Human Services. Victoria was named ECS’ first ever Chief Inclusion and Advocacy Officer in 2016 and has since built the department from the ground up. Currently, Victoria oversees the overall leadership and vision of the department. Victoria is active in numerous civic and cultural organizations in the Philadelphia area and serves on the Board of the Black Writers’ Museum.
Caroline Dunleavy, MA, MAR
Director of Advocacy
Advocacy Strategy, Federal & Pennsylvania Policy Issues
Caroline has been with ECS for over fifteen years, serving in positions of increasingly greater responsibility. In her current role as Director of Advocacy, Caroline oversees ECS’ advocacy strategy and analyzes federal and Pennsylvania-specific policy issues. She is a graduate of Muhlenberg College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and German and Lehigh University where she earned a Master of Arts in Government. Caroline later earned a Master of Arts in Religion from United Lutheran Seminary (formerly The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia). An active member of the United Church of Christ, she is an accomplished pianist and organist who serves as a music minister for a local congregation. She has a passion for stained glass windows, conducting research throughout the region, and serves as a member of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Kenneth S. Anderson, Esq.
Assistant Director of Inclusion & Advocacy
Inclusion, Racial Equity Policy Issues, Judicial Activity, Parish Advocacy
Ken is a native of the Philadelphia area and attended the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and American Studies. He continued his studies and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Richmond School of Law. After passing the Virginia bar exam, Ken worked on the Voter Protection Team of the Democratic Party of Virginia. Ken returned to Philadelphia to join the IA Department as the Assistant Director of Inclusion and Advocacy. In his role, Ken monitors inclusion and racial equity policy issues, judicial activity, and co-leads ECS efforts for parish advocacy outreach. Ken loves playing squash, golf, and his bass guitar and is active in the community serving on the Germantown Academy Alumni Society Board, the University of Richmond Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the vestry of his parish.