Layla A. Jones

Reporter

Layla A. Jones (she/her) was a general assignment reporter for Billy Penn from 2019 to 2021. Her work has helped underserved community organizations, earned free repairs for property owners who sustained damages in a police shootout, and brought increased attention to a particularly dangerous North Philadelphia corner. She focuses most on covering Black life, subculture, social politics, and workforce issues.

Previously, she worked as a communications director for Councilwoman Cindy Bass, as a political reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune, and as an arts and entertainment web producer at The Inquirer.
Layla has a journalism degree from Temple University, with a specialization in magazine writing and a minor in political science.

Azavea headquarters are at 990 Spring Garden St. in Philadelphia

George Floyd protests

Reckoning at Philly tech company Azavea, where VP faced few consequences after using N-word

Last year's Black Lives Matter statement resurfaced the 2016 incident.

Central High School at 1700 W. Olney Ave.

Indigenous skeleton discovered at Philly school, will be repatriated with help from Temple

The district says it’s conducting a search for any other potentially forgotten remains.

Charles Library on Temple University's main campus in North Philadelphia

Temple University student diversity is increasing, but the proportion of Black undergraduates is down 40% since 2002

Hispanic and AAPI enrollment is up.

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