A self-diagnosed recovering academic, Jeff Hornstein strives to afford every child the type of education that he received and has already made progress on his objective. Born in Brooklyn, he has resided in South Philadelphia since 2001. Despite being an outsider, Hornstein has acclimated himself to the community without a hitch.
The Queen Village resident saw an opportunity to help his new neighbors and snapped at the chance.
“I bought a house in Queens Village in 2005, and I joined the (Queens Village Neighbors Association) board in 2006 or 2007, As my wife would say, I am a ‘joiner.’ I like to be a part of organizations. I especially like joining organizations and helping with ways to make them better,” the Maryland alumnus said.
His ambition was recognized as Jeff quickly took part in leadership roles at Queens Village Neighbors Association like he has in his own ventures.
“I first got involved with QVNA by joining the Zoning Committee, and with an opportunity to really help shape development,” Hornstein said.
In 2011, the Brooklynite ran for president of QVNA and won on a platform of bridging the race and class divide in his community by focusing on schools in the area. “Christian Street represents an incredible class and race divide…it’s clear when you look at the public schools how big the divide is…on the Northside, kids go to (William M.) Meredith and come from middle class households, and on the other side of Christian Street you have kids that grew up in publicly supported housing and go to a different school that is overwhelming poor kids.”
Since 2013, Hornstein has worked at the Officer of the Controller as the Director of Financial and Policy Analysis for the City of Philadelphia, dealing with inequities similar to what he explored in his QVNA presidency platform. While his term as president is over, the recovering academic has found in the Crosstown Coalition and Friends of Neighborhood Education those with a likewise fervent interest in strengthening Philadelphia schools.
With his burning desire to change things for the better, it is no surprise that Hornstein is a Difference Maker for 2016 whether his mindset is a mutation or not.
“I guess it’s kind of a genetic defect that you’re born with, born wanting to join an organization and figure out how to make it better” the lauded local said regarding his passion. -J.F.
