Erin Port
Development Manager
Erin Port is the Development Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Erin holds a certification in interior design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. Her professional journey began in the construction industry, where she honed her skills as a kitchen designer for two local construction companies. Additionally, Erin has more than a decade of experience in office administration.
For 25 years, Erin steadfastly supported her husband’s career in the U.S. Marine Corps. During this period, they relocated several times, moving every two to three years, both nationally and internationally.
Erin lives in Newport, Pennsylvania, with her now-retired husband and their daughter. They are also blessed with two grown sons—one currently serving in the U.S. Navy, while the other pursues his college degree in Austria.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending quality time with her family, baking, and seeking new opportunities to decorate her family’s newly acquired home.
Education
Future Ready Index: A Tool That Can’t Be Used
The Data Quality Campaign recently released “Show Me the Data,” a comparison of state report cards in which Pennsylvania’s new Future Ready PA Index fared well. Released…
Media
Read More: Future Ready Index: A Tool That Can’t Be UsedEducation
Florida Scholarship Program Boosts College Enrollment, Graduation
Getting into college isn’t easy. It takes grit, good grades, and for some? Bribes. Across the nation, celebrities are being indicted for participating in a bribery scheme to get their…
Media
Read More: Florida Scholarship Program Boosts College Enrollment, GraduationTaxes & Economy
Guest Post: How Philly’s Brutal Tax Policies Drive Away Jobs
Businesses and people vote with their feet. As a long-time Philadelphian, I have unfortunately witnessed my neighbors taking their livelihoods to the suburbs—or beyond. Politicians cast the blame here and…
Media
Read More: Guest Post: How Philly’s Brutal Tax Policies Drive Away JobsEducation
Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School Choice
Gov. Wolf’s 2019 budget promotes public and private options for pre-K and post-secondary education. He calls Pennsylvania’s post-secondary institutions “laboratories for innovation.” Most remarkably, the governor touts Pennsylvania Higher…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Blinded to Benefits of School ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government Unions
As a former public school teacher, I can tell you: plenty of false messages circulate about union membership. Is union membership required? Why do government employees belong to unions and…
Media
Read More: Guest Post: Shattering Myths About Government UnionsEducation
Fight for Education Equality Marches On
Education equality has been the civil rights issue during each unique chapter in America’s story—including today. Empowering parents with school choice options is a key step along our march for justice.
Commentary
Read More: Fight for Education Equality Marches OnCriminal Justice Reform
Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan Effort
Here's a letter I submitted to the Philadelphia Daily News on how Pennsylvanians of any ideology can share good intent, and work toward a common goal. I was disappointed…
Media
Read More: Fighting Poverty can be a Bipartisan Effort
Crucial Reform Needed from Harrisburg as Tax Day Approaches
April 11, 2019, Harrisburg, Pa.—Tax Day may be April 15th, but Americans will be working one more day before they’ve earned enough to pay their national, state, and local tax…
Press Release
Read More: Crucial Reform Needed from Harrisburg as Tax Day ApproachesPublic Union Democracy
The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification Act
The Employee Rights Notification Act (HB 785) is exactly what its name suggests: notifying employees of their existing rights. So what are these rights, and why must workers be…
Media
Read More: The Facts about Pa.’s Employee Rights Notification ActTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania, Let’s Make our Taxes an Investment
What do we get for our taxes in Pennsylvania? The question is rarely asked—because the answer is just too painful. But as Tax Day approaches, it's time for taxpayers to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania, Let’s Make our Taxes an InvestmentPublic Union Democracy
For Union Members, Knowledge is Power
Francisco Molina is standing up for himself and other public workers because he believes everyone deserves the opportunity to know and act on their rights. That’s the kind of bedrock…
Commentary
Read More: For Union Members, Knowledge is PowerEducation
Expand Educational Choice with Tax Credit Scholarships
In 2016-17, the most recent year with scholarship data available, 52,857 K-12 scholarship applications were denied—52 percent of all K-12 applications. Businesses have applied for $180 million in EITC and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Expand Educational Choice with Tax Credit ScholarshipsState Budget
It’s Time to Tackle Debt
An ostrich burying its head in the sand is a classic analogy for avoiding difficult decisions. Though this is a mischaracterization—their heads are buried to protect their eggs from predators—the metaphor…
Media
Read More: It’s Time to Tackle DebtPublic Union Democracy
PSEA Flouts SCOTUS Ruling, Bargains for Unconstitutional ‘Fair Share’ Fees in Teacher Contracts
In open disregard for the U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus v. AFSCME decision, the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) is bargaining to impose “fair share” fees on non-union member teachers in…
Press Release
Read More: PSEA Flouts SCOTUS Ruling, Bargains for Unconstitutional ‘Fair Share’ Fees in Teacher ContractsPublic Union Democracy
Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling Up
Curtis Thompson loves his school, his district, and helping students succeed. He considers his job as an education aide for at-risk students in the Cumberland Valley School District “an opportunity to…
Media
Read More: Lawsuits by Trapped Union Members Piling UpEducation
New Workforce Skills Won’t Come from an Outdated Education System
In his budget address earlier this year, Gov. Wolf cited “workforce concerns” as the reason Amazon rejected Philadelphia for its new headquarters—despite Pennsylvania offering a $4.6 billion dollar…
Media
Read More: New Workforce Skills Won’t Come from an Outdated Education SystemEducation
Time to Start Treating Philly Charter Families Like First Class Citizens
Our children deserve the best, most individually-tailored education available. Sadly, most students in urban districts cannot access educational opportunities. It's a paradox: Pennsylvania schools are receiving more funds than ever—ranking…
Media
Read More: Time to Start Treating Philly Charter Families Like First Class Citizens
Anti-Worker Legislation Introduced in Pa. House
Rep. Maureen Madden (D-Monroe) and Rep. Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) have proposed anti-worker legislation that would strip government workers of privacy rights in workplace elections and give union leaders workers’ personal…
Media
Read More: Anti-Worker Legislation Introduced in Pa. HouseTaxes & Economy
New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to Prosperity
Poverty and unemployment are vicious cycles. The longer you remain unemployed, the harder it is to find work—and poverty becomes more entrenched. As the Urban Institute puts it, “long-term…
Media
Read More: New Evidence Shows Work is the Path to ProsperityCriminal Justice Reform
An Overview of Justice Reinvestment Initiative II
JRI II seeks to address high corrections spending, insufficient support for county probation, and inadequate pretrial and sentencing guidance. The result: fair and effective punishments that equip people for life after…
Fact Sheet
Read More: An Overview of Justice Reinvestment Initiative IIEducation
Military ESAs an Important Part of any Education Plan for Servicemembers
Last month, Governor Wolf introduced a proposal to offer college benefits for families of Pa. National Guard members—like a GI Bill for Pennsylvania. He intends his plan to “show that we…
Media
Read More: Military ESAs an Important Part of any Education Plan for Servicemembers