About Isaiah T. Martin, III

Isaiah T. Martin, III is a proud son of Philadelphia — a community leader, entrepreneur, and visionary dedicated to restoring trust in government and delivering real results for everyday people. Born at Einstein Hospital to working-class parents, Isaiah entered the world fighting to survive after an emergency C-section caused by an umbilical cord complication. From that very first breath, his life has been defined by resilience, faith, and purpose.

Raised in public housing at 5th & Washington Ave., Isaiah split his childhood between South Philly, Nicetown, and Germantown before his family moved to Southwest Philadelphia. He attended Delaplaine McDaniel School, where he experienced bullying and adversity but discovered early that leadership and empathy could transform pain into purpose. Later, he graduated from Philadelphia E&T Charter High School, where he excelled as a student leader — serving in Student Government and the school’s student news program.

Isaiah’s early work ethic was shaped by long hours in community-based jobs, including Chick-fil-A, where he rose to become one of the youngest Restaurant Marketing Directors in the country. It was there he learned the value of consistency, service, and human connection — lessons that continue to guide his leadership today.

A Journey of Service, Family, and Advocacy

Beyond his titles and accomplishments, Isaiah’s most defining role has been as a primary caregiver and advocate for his grandmother, who lives with multiple sclerosis and quadriplegia. For years, Isaiah has navigated hospital systems, rehabilitation centers, and home-care agencies to ensure his grandmother received proper treatment, respect, and dignity.

Those experiences — sitting through long nights in hospital waiting rooms, challenging unjust care decisions, and negotiating with health professionals taught him the human side of policy. They showed him how deeply broken America’s healthcare and social service systems can be, and how often seniors, people with disabilities, and working families are left to fight for themselves.

That personal experience became the foundation of Isaiah’s belief that public service is about advocacy — not just legislation. It shaped his compassion for vulnerable populations and his unwavering commitment to building systems that work for everyone, not just those with power or privilege.

Education and Leadership Development

Isaiah attended Eastern University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with Minors in Biblical Studies & Social Welfare. He quickly distinguished himself as a servant-leader. At Eastern, he founded OneGen Ministries, a faith organization rooted in unity, purpose, and resilience.

His leadership extended beyond the pulpit and classroom — he was elected Student Government President, where he successfully created the university’s first student-run food pantry, ensuring that no student went hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, this pantry system would go on to receive government grants to ensure it's sustainability. His ability to organize, negotiate, and inspire others laid the foundation for his leadership style today: compassionate, strategic, and people-centered.

When Isaiah was unexpectedly laid off from his dream job at a FinTech company, during his final year, but he refused to let adversity define him. Instead, he did the real work and launched a Real Estate Team — a company grounded in the values of equity, empowerment, and community ownership. What began as a small start-up became a family of companies, including Consulting, Management, Hospitality and the Real Estate Division, all dedicated to creating pathways to building lasting generational wealth for Greater Philadelphia residents.

Community Impact

Today, Isaiah serves as the President & CEO of one of Philadelphia’s most dynamic and fastest-growing community development corporations. Under his leadership, the organization has doubled its operating budget, expanded across the 3rd Congressional District & Southwest, launched innovative programs that combine workforce development, environmental justice, and intergenerational engagement.

Among these are:

• The Park Ambassadors Program, where residents earn while they learn — gaining skills in carpentry, landscaping, and climate education while maintaining community green spaces.
• Bridging the Gap, an intergenerational skill exchange connecting seniors and youth to teach and learn from one another.
• The Senior Workforce Development Initiative, providing low-income seniors with training in administrative and leadership skills to remain active and economically independent.
• The Neighborhood Ambassador Program, a multi-phase initiative activating corridors like Woodland Avenue through street cleaning, safety patrols, and civic engagement.
• The Necessary Home Repair Program, leveraging private foundational funds to complete necessary home repairs to Philadelphians in need.

Isaiah has built partnerships with many Health, Enviormental Justice, and Public organizations leveraging federal and state resources to support local jobs, reduce blight, and combat environmental injustice. Under his direction, the organization has restored neglected lots into thriving spaces like the 56th Street Gateway, 60th & Greenway Garden, Cecil Street Garden, and the Glenda Anne Christopher Memorial Garden — physical symbols of hope and community renewal.

Faith, Public Service, and Forward Vision

Isaiah’s leadership is grounded in faith and service. Guided by the belief that faith without works is dead, he sees service as an active expression of compassion and justice.

His public work reflects those values — from organizing community engagement initiatives to collaborating with local leaders and advocates on efforts that expand opportunity and equity across Philadelphia. Isaiah’s approach to leadership is rooted in integrity, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to people over politics.

Through partnerships on environmental and community health initiatives, he has worked to ensure residents have a voice in decisions that affect their neighborhoods. His advocacy against illegal dumping and environmental neglect continues to strengthen his reputation as a dedicated voice for cleaner, safer communities.

In recognition of his community leadership and faith-driven service, Isaiah received numerous awards from LRTBC Ministries, The Philadelphia Police Department, State Representatives and so on.

Now, as a candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District, Isaiah is bringing that same conviction to public service — focused on economic revitalization, environmental resilience, affordable housing, youth & senior opportunity, education reform, gun safety, and healthcare access.

From the block to the boardroom to the ballot, Isaiah T. Martin represents a new generation of leadership grounded in progress, strengthened by real work, and committed to real results.