Hailing from the fringes of Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love”, Thomas (T.J.) Burghart moved to the city to attend Philadelphia University where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture and gained an interest in buildings as community catalysts. While attending, he had the opportunity to connect colleagues and community service through Freedom by Design, where he led teams of students in designing and building home accessibility modifications. His passion for intersecting design led him to Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, where he served as a construction crew leader building and renovating affordable homes in partnership with deserving homeowners.