Alumna Karla Cruel is running for Philadelphia City Council in the Fourth District, which represents Allegheny West, Belmont Village, East Falls, Manayunk, Overbrook, Overbrook Park, Roxborough, Wynnefield and sections of West Philadelphia.

The owner of the Legal Empowerment Group and a former staff attorney of the Tenant Union Representative Network, Cruel focuses her practice on educating and empowering underrepresented and indigent communities to engage in the political process. She has worked as a teacher and serves on the board of Imhotep Charter School.

In February, she was a presenter and workshop leader at Liberty and Justice: Moving from Some to All, a conference that explored the impact of policies that promote or permit inequality in the criminal courts and government agencies.

As a candidate, Cruel has laid out a platform focusing on crime and public safety, education, environment, housing, and jobs/economic development.

Cruel received Pro Bono Service Honors and the National Association of Women Lawyers’ Outstanding Law Student Award when she graduated in 2013.