Tracie Johnson (she/her) is the Youth Ombudsperson for the City of Philadelphia.
Johnson has been the Youth Ombudsperson since 2023, previously serving as a Staff Attorney on the Youth Justice Project sponsored by the Hive at Community Legal Services. Johnson first worked with CLS as a certified legal intern on the Youth Justice Project and later as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, where she worked to create career pathways for women and girls of color who face barriers to employment and higher education because of their juvenile and adult criminal records.
Prior to law school, Johnson worked as a Communications Associate at Philadelphia VIP through the Philly Fellows Program. She then volunteered in the legal intake department of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. She also worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator at a communications and design firm, Social Impact Studios.
Johnson received the Philadelphia Bar Association Public Interest Section Law Student Award for her law school in 2017. Upon graduating, she received The Sarah J. Love Memorial Award, The Henry Kent Anderson Human Services Award, and the Integrated Trial Advocacy Program Award. Ms. Johnson earned her J.D. from Temple James E. Beasley School of Law in 2018. She received her B.A. from Ursinus College in 2013. Ms. Johnson is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.
Sheerin (she/her) has been in this role since 2023. Prior to joining the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson, she was the Youth Justice Policy Analyst at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she worked collaboratively to develop reform-oriented policy initiatives and public reports.
Prior to that position, Sheerin worked as a mental health social worker at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. While obtaining her MSW, she interned with the Goldring Reentry Initiative, where she worked with adults during their reentry transition from the Philadelphia jails back to their communities.
Sheerin received her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Temple University, and her Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Criminal Justice at Temple. She is a Licensed Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Haeuber (she/her) has been an Associate Youth Ombudsperson since 2023. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice with a Master of Social Work (MSW), specializing in social policy and child welfare. During her MSW program, Haeuber interned at a Community Umbrella Agency, the Youth Justice Project at Community Legal Services, and with the Systems Change team at the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Haeuber was also a fellow and co-development director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Youth Advocacy Project, an interdisciplinary fellowship providing mitigation and reentry supports for young people prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system in Philadelphia.
Prior to receiving her MSW, Haeuber worked as a legal assistant at Covington & Burling, LLP. She received her B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2018.
Byrd is a dedicated advocate for youth, committed to improving the safety and well-being of Philadelphia’s vulnerable communities. With over a decade of experience in trauma-informed care, he has made a significant impact as a Trauma Specialist at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine, where he developed vital programs for under-resourced schools.
His role as a Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club’s Outdoors For All Campaign involved increasing youth participation in outdoor activities and driving environmental advocacy. At PowerCorpsPHL, Byrd’s leadership as Founding Crew Supervisor helped mentor opportunity youth and returning citizens, fostering community growth through impactful projects.
Byrd’s involvement in initiatives like the Campaign for Black Male Achievement and his volunteer work as a youth coach and counselor highlight his commitment to service. His recognition as an Eastern Regional Fellow by the Environmental Leadership Program and participation in My Brother’s Keeper Initiative underscore his dedication to supporting youth.