Survivor Advocate & Street Outreach Coordinator
Covenant House Pennsylvania
Tammy McDonnell is an activist, advocate, and survivor leader based in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. McDonnell presently serves as an Outreach Worker for Covenant House of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where she works to prevent homelessness in the local youth population. In this role, Ms. McDonnell’s efforts strive to ensure that all youth have their basic needs met. This includes 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 plans to further her education as either a registered nurse or veterinarian technician. In her free time, Ms. McDonnell enjoys staying active by doing CrossFit and running marathons, as well as reading, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, and watching the 52nd Super Bowl Champions.