Before Desiree Peterkin Bell accepted her dual administration roles for the City of Philadelphia, she served as Senior Advisor of Communications at Obama for America – Pennsylvania, leading the development and execution of a statewide communications strategy in all seven media markets.
After several positions in government, Desiree launched DPBell & Associates in 2016, harnessing her talent and abilities to work with individuals, brands, and initiatives in positions that can affect change. She is committed to creating spaces and developing new paradigms that empower people of color to make a difference in media, politics, movements, and entertainment. One of her projects is her signature Chat & Chew events, in which she co-facilitates honest talks about various topics affecting women, such as race, culture, and politics, to foster constructive dialogue and healing. These vibrant conversations hosted worldwide are poised to continue and have a far-reaching influence on the lives of women and girls.
Desiree, a strategist, brand builder, and problem solver has been recognized for her work and achievements. DPBell received the 2023 Innovation Award from the Women’s Business Awards. She was a 2023 Honoree at the Top Women Awards by PR News, received the Trailblazer Award Honoree at the 2022 PABJ Media Professional Awards from the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, was honored as one of the industry’s best and brightest by PR Week’s “40 under 40,″ and was a ‘Shorty Award’ winner. She was also recognized by the Philadelphia Tribune as “One of Philadelphia’s Most Influential African-American Women,” by Black Enterprise as a “triple threat,” and by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a “40 under 40” recipient.
