WHEREAS, Marni Gangel has dedicated more than 37 years of exemplary public service to the Defender Association of Philadelphia, her clients, and the City of Philadelphia, providing fierce, compassionate, and unwavering advocacy for vulnerable populations across the city; and
WHEREAS, Marni Gangel began her distinguished legal career with the Defender Association on September 11, 1989, initially serving as a line-level criminal defense attorney before transitioning to the Child Advocacy Unit, where she represented children navigating the dependency system; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure in the Child Advocacy Unit, Marni Gangel rose to leadership, serving as Assistant Chief of the Child Advocacy Unit, supervising and mentoring countless attorneys
and social workers
while maintaining a specialized caseload focused on older youth transitioning out of care, children with complex medical needs, and pregnant and parenting teens; and
WHEREAS, Marni Gangel has been a steadfast champion for reproductive justice and self-determination, serving as the designated attorney representing young women and girls seeking judicial authorization to make critical reproductive health choices for themselves; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing her systemic vision and deep policy expertise, the Defender Association appointed Marni Gangel as its first Director of
Policy in
Child Advocacy specializing in the needs of dependent youth, where she established policy committees dedicated to addressing LGBTQ+ needs, kinship care, reproductive health, and educational stability; and
served as a dedicated supporter and facilitator of the Defender Youth Action Board, an initiative for older youth to create youth leaders and amplify the voices of youth who have been impacted by the system; and
WHEREAS, Marni Gangel’s visionary legislative and policy efforts include tireless advocacy for a Guaranteed Basic Income program for youth aging out of foster care, and efforts to protect Social Security survivor benefits for youth in care, proposed in House Bill 151- which passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on September 28, 2026, by a near-unanimous vote of 202 to 1; and
WHEREAS, Marni contributed her deep interdisciplinary expertise to the City’s Reproductive Freedom Task Force, helping members strengthen cross-agency coordination. Marni’s steady leadership and insight supported the Task Force’s collaborative work to develop clear, actionable recommendations to improve access to comprehensive care in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, On Friday, October 2, 2026, Marni Gangel will officially retire from the Defender Association of Philadelphia, leaving behind an indelible legacy of mentorship, systemic reform, and tireless dedication to reproductive freedom and the youth of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor, commend, and congratulate Marni Gangel on the occasion of her retirement from the Defender Association of Philadelphia, celebrating her extraordinary career and enduring commitment to justice, reproductive rights, and the children and families of our City.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Marni Gangel as a symbol of the sincere respect, gratitude, and admiration of the members of City Council and the citizens of Philadelphia.
End