Hostler
Philadelphia Police Department Mounted Unit
Tammy McDonnell is an activist, advocate, and survivor leader based in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. McDonnell presently works as a Hostler for the Philadelphia Police Department Mounted Unit. She also works at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy, where she handles therapy horses and takes care of the facility’s other basic needs. This is where Ms. McDonnell finds her peace.
Ms. McDonnell previously worked as a Transitional Housing Specialist and Outreach Worker for Covenant House of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where she worked to prevent homelessness in the local youth population. In this role, Ms. McDonnell’s strived to ensure that all youth have their basic needs met. This included providing aftercare services to former Covenant House residents in addition to engaging in street-level outreach activities.
As a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation, Ms. McDonnell is committed to raising public awareness on human trafficking and serving as an image and example of hope for those still struggling in the life of prostitution. Her advocacy was critical in the passage of Act 130 of 2018, Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children.
Ms. McDonnell earned her certification as a Recovery Specialist from Villanova University. She also earned a degree as a Medical Assistant with a concentration in phlebotomy from the Anthem Institute. She is currently enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia, where she is pursuing a double major in Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies with a proficiency certificate in electronic discovery.