The board of HIV/AIDS service organization Philadelphia FIGHT last month welcomed its newest board member — one who has nearly two decades of experience working with the city’s HIV/AIDS communities.
FIGHT’s board elected John Cella, the retired director of the city’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office, to the panel at its Jan. 5 meeting. Also at the meeting, members approved Marné Castillo as the board secretary, who filled the vacancy left by Susan Daniluk, who had to resign due to a work conflict.
Cella, 60, left AACO in 2009, having served in various roles with the department since 1992. He took over as director in 2004.
While at AACO, Cella spearheaded the city’s prevention efforts, oversaw Ryan White CARE services and was influential in developing two HIV/AIDS housing programs, with his work garnering him a litany of awards from local HIV/AIDS agencies, a recognition from state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-7th Dist.) and the Philadelphia Bowl from Mayor Nutter.
Before he joined AACO, Cella worked for nine years at the Coordinating Office for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program.
He said he’s had a long relationship with FIGHT, and he and executive director Jane Shull first discussed his joining the board about a year ago.
“Jane mentioned it to me a little while ago and then we touched base about it again more recently, and I think there was a mutual interest,” he said. “I’m very excited about it because FIGHT does really great work. And I think of Jane as almost like the conscience for the field here in Philadelphia, keeping everyone on the straight and narrow, so I’m very excited and flattered to be working with this organization.”
Cella said FIGHT’s brand of work fits well with his own goals.
“I like the fact that FIGHT approaches the problems from a multidisciplinary, holistic perspective,” he said. “They don’t just look at this strictly from an AIDS perspective, but they look at the poor, the insured, those in prison.”
Cella said he is particularly passionate about looking at housing issues impacting the HIV/AIDS communities and would be interested in working with FIGHT to explore that field if the opportunity arises.
He said his background and experience will be key to what he brings to the board.
“I think I have a good knowledge of the field since I was at AACO for so many years and have an understanding of the overall environment we’re dealing with,” he said. “So I’m really excited to do what I can to help them steer in the right direction and continue the great work that they’ve done.”
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].