DBT40 Honoree: AJè English

Title: Best Practices and Innovation Specialist

AJè English

Workplace: City of Wilmington, Office of the Mayor

Age: 35

Wilmington native AJè English takes pride in what she is able to contribute to her hometown from helping alleviate parking congestion within business corridors to data-backed grant proposals. As a best practices and innovation specialist in the mayor’s office, English is tasked with collecting and analyzing data and research in order to monitor trends and changes in revenue, populations, socioeconomic and demographic factors, technology and operating activities that impact the quality and delivery of services to the community. That includes designing studies and policy amendments that can directly affect urban policies. She also serves as project manager for the Resilient Wilmington initiative, a collaboration that aims to help Wilmington prepare for and reduce the impacts of climate change.

English strives to set a positive example for her son and neighbors in the Wilmington community. She has used her professional expertise to benefit numerous charitable causes, including SpeakEnglish5, SCG, Inc., a nonprofit she co-founded with her mother to benefit underserved young athletes and their families. Over the last 12 years, they have reached over 4,000 students, partnered with over 50 organizations and worked with over seven professional sports organizations to mentor youth. She also is a board member for the Red Clay Consolidated School District and the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.

In 2016, English was inducted into Morgan Stanley’s Next Generation of Leaders Hall of Fame for her work with young professionals in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York City. She received her undergraduate degree in business management from Wilmington University and later earned a James H. Gilliam Senior Fellowship of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and a master’s degree in public administration from Delaware State University.