About Congressional Candidate Isaiah T. Martin, III
A Life Rooted in Philadelphia
Isaiah T. Martin III, widely known as Xeyah (pronounced Zay-ah), was born at Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia under emergency circumstances, surviving a life-threatening umbilical cord complication at birth. His life began with a fight—and that resilience has shaped every chapter since.
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Raised by working-class parents: his mother, then, an administrative assistant, and his father, the, a ramp service worker who refueled aircraft at Philadelphia International Airport. Isaiah grew up understanding firsthand the realities faced by everyday families. From living in Philadelphia Housing Authority housing on South 5th Street, to spending time with his grandparents in Point Breeze, Germantown, and Nicetown, and ultimately settling in Southwest Philadelphia, Isaiah’s personal story is inseparable from the communities that raised him.
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Grounded in lived experience and deep neighborhood ties, Isaiah Martin’s commitment to public service is not theoretical—it’s personal, local, and driven by a lifetime of being part of the very communities he now works to uplift.
Education That Built a Leader
Isaiah’s educational journey began in South Philadelphia at Delaplaine McDaniel Elementary School, where he faced bullying from other underserved youth—but also found stability and encouragement from teachers who recognized his potential. Early on, he learned what too many Philadelphia students experience: ambition without access is not opportunity.
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After being denied admission to selective high schools and confronting the limits of under-resourced neighborhood schools, Isaiah’s parents refused to accept a system that told their son to settle. They fought for his future—securing him access to better educational opportunities and planting the belief that circumstance would never define destiny.
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At Philadelphia E&T Charter High School, Isaiah thrived. He served in student government, led the student news program, and began discovering the power of advocacy, storytelling, and leadership.
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That passion carried him to Eastern University, where Isaiah earned a degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Social Welfare and a concentration in Political Science. There, he combined practical business training with a deep understanding of policy, justice, and community systems—preparing him not just for a career, but for a life of service.
Leadership, Crisis Response & Entrepreneurship
Isaiah began his professional career at Chick-fil-A, advancing from team member to Restaurant Marketing Director. In that role, he gained early experience in leadership, customer engagement, and community-centered marketing—skills that would later fuel his work in nonprofit leadership, public service, and economic development.
His commitment to youth empowerment also led him to serve as the first Youth Director at Little Rock Tabernacle, where he launched mentorship initiatives, organized youth programs, and built bridges between generations through faith-based service and community organizing.
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While attending college, Isaiah emerged as a campus leader and community builder. During his time at Eastern University, he was elected Student Government Association President, founded a ministry called One Gen, and played a leading role in student advocacy efforts.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Isaiah established a government-funded student pantry to support classmates facing food insecurity and financial instability—ensuring students could continue their education during one of the most turbulent periods in modern history. Alongside his studies in business and social policy, he also pursued theological training, recognizing how faith, justice, and reason must work together to drive meaningful change.
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In his final year, Isaiah was unexpectedly laid off from what he believed was his dream job. Instead of backing down, he built forward—founding XMREC Group, a values-driven real estate enterprise centered on community development, homeownership, and equitable neighborhood revitalization.
Community &
Transformational Change
Isaiah was appointed the youngest Executive Director of a Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia’s history. He lead the Community Corporation, which serves neighborhoods across Southwest Philadelphia, Point Breeze, and communities throughout Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.
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Under Isaiah’s leadership, the organization has expanded green spaces and community gardens, launched workforce development programs for youth and seniors, created a community grant program for small businesses and nonprofits, developed a home repair initiative for low-income homeowners, coordinated free hot water heater installations for families in need, fed hundreds of families during the government shutdown and led ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal dumping across multiple Philadelphia neighborhoods.
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Isaiah is now recognized as a trusted partner by environmental, labor, public health, and municipal leaders who regularly seek his guidance on community-centered solutions. He has been at the forefront of efforts to confront environmental injustice by advocating for stronger protections against pollution, illegal dumping, and industrial neglect in low-income communities.
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His work emphasizes the urgent connection between public health and environmental policy, and he continues to push for resident-led planning, climate resilience, and equitable access to safe, healthy neighborhoods. For Isaiah, environmental justice is not an abstract concept—it is a lived reality that demands immediate action and accountability.
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Isaiah has spent his life preparing for leadership rooted in integrity, credibility, and results. His approach is grounded not in politics as usual, but in service that produces real outcomes for real people.