Philadelphia Community Podcast

The 32nd annual African American Children's Book Fair on Saturday, February 3rd, 1:00-4:00PM at The Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th Arch Streets. The free event will feature best-selling award-winning authors and illustrators who will make presentations and autograph their books. A wide selection of Black children's books for children pre-school to young adult will be available for purchase....

It’s one of my favorite times of the year – not the Christmas holidays or Halloween but Girl Scout Cookie season. It’s under way and I’ll be speaking with Girl Scouts of Eastern PA CEO Kim Fraites Dow about how to get your hands on these delicious treats and why Girl Scouts is one of the very best girl empowerment programs. https://www.gsep.org/ We are a nation of immigrants and unless you are ind...

It’s one of my favorite times of the year – not the Christmas holidays or Halloween but Girl Scout Cookie season. It’s under way and I’ll be speaking with Girl Scouts of Eastern PA CEO Kim Fraites Dow about how to get your hands on these delicious treats and why Girl Scouts is one of the very best girl empowerment programs. https://www.gsep.org/ We are a nation of immigrants and unless you are ind...

The need for organ donors is a serious public health issue. More than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ in the U.S., and seventeen people die waiting every day. About 5,000 men, women and children are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in this region. I speak to Naja Killebrew from Gift of Life Donor Program, Gift of Life Ambassador Brian Bailey and his daughter Brianna Bai...

Recovering from substance use disorder is tough and that first year sober can be the hardest – I along with recovery activist, actor, singer and Philadelphia Icon Tony Luke Jr speak with Tim Ryan – cohost of the Dope to Hope podcast and interventionist and a man in long time recovery. I was joined by my friend, recovery activist, actor singer and Philly icon Tony Luke Jr. https://dopetohope.com/ “...

1philadelphia is working towards a more equitable tech and innovation ecosystem in Philadelphia would not only drive economic growth but also promote social inclusion, community engagement, and improved quality of life for all residents. I speak to Danae) Mobley, Executive Director, 1Philadelphia. Website: https://www.1phl.org/ Social media: Instagram: 1phltech LinkedIn: 1philadelphia I speak with...

We bring you Part 2 of an interview about Black Haddonfield NJ with C. Adrienne Rhodes—Co-Founder, Program Administrator, The Preserving Black Haddonfield Project and Douglas Rauschenberger—Former Historical Society of Haddonfield President/Current Trustee and Borough Historian, who wrote the foreword for PRESERVE: Narratives from Historic Haddonfield’s African American Community. https://www.hadd...

The author Joel Brown has written “the only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.” Kenny Holdsman and his team have plenty of will and belief – which started with the seed of an idea – creating an effective youth empowerment program that uses basketball to nurture young people with mentoring, academic support, leadership traini...

Philadelphia Youth Basketball is about to open a state-of-the-art world class facility and a second home for thousands of young people and a resource for the community. Joining me is President and CEO of Philadelphia Youth Basketball – Kenny Holdsman. PYB is hosting an Opening Night Gala from its Alan Horwitz Sixth Man Center on Thursday January 18th. http://phillyyouthbasketball.org/openingnightg...

For her once-a-month feature “VLS Journeys” Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati speaks with Lisa D. Brathwaite, author of the book Miles of Style: Eunice W. Johnson and the EBONY Fashion Fair. Brathwaite will be one of the featured authors at the 2023 African American Children’s Book Fair which takes place Saturday February 3, 2024from 1-4 pm at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. MILES OF STYLE https://theafr...

Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge shares her powerful and honest journey of losing her son to the battle of addiction and the challenges families face with this disease. Through her heart-wrenching testimonial, we look into the emotional trauma that families experience when dealing with a loved one's addiction with insight from industry-leading experts from Recovery Centers of America. 844-25-RE...

The F.A.C.T Program (Father’s and Children Together) is a highly effective training that brings together men behind the walls of SCI Phoenix and their children for a six-week course that strengthens their bond and is designed to mitigate the issues of intergenerational imprisonment and to dismantle the cradle-to-prison pipeline. Created by activists inside SCI Phoenix, I spoke to youth who complet...

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s IF I CAN QUIT, SO CAN YOU campaign is designed to stop tobacco-use among all smokers, but particularly those in high-risk groups including: ● Those in recovery from substance use, including opioid use ● Pregnant or new moms ● Identify as LGBTQIA+ ● Individuals who work at places where tobacco use and exposure are high (e.g., food service, hospitality...

When it comes to HIV and AIDS, we can get to zero infections, zero deaths and zero stigma. at the beginning of this pandemic - that hope seemed impossible but with the advent of new drugs that greatly reduce the chance of HIV infection among the sexually active - maybe this dream is possible through the use of PrEP – a regular treatment that reduces the risk of HIV up to 99 percent. I speak to loc...

Did you know that 9 in 10 people who enroll in coverage through Get Covered New Jersey quality for financial help and many can find a plan with a premium of $10 dollar a month or less. I speak to New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman who tells us about Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Consumers must enroll by D...

Everyone wants to find a place in the world but for the deaf and hard of hearing - accessibility can be a challenge. Now Comcast is the first telecommunications retailer in the country to offer live, on-demand, remote ASL interpreting services in stores to better serve customers. I speak to Comcast VP of Accessibility Tom Wlodkowski who explains the service and also his personal connection to the...

Did you know that 9 in 10 people who enroll in coverage through Get Covered New Jersey quality for financial help and many can find a plan with a premium of $10 dollar a month or less. I speak to New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman who tells us about Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Consumers must enroll by D...

Did you know that 9 in 10 people who enroll in coverage through Get Covered New Jersey quality for financial help and many can find a plan with a premium of $10 dollar a month or less. I speak to New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman who tells us about Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Consumers must enroll by D...

Did you know that 9 in 10 people who enroll in coverage through Get Covered New Jersey quality for financial help and many can find a plan with a premium of $10 dollar a month or less. I speak to New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Acting Commissioner Justin Zimmerman who tells us about Get Covered New Jersey, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Consumers must enroll by D...

We start off the show with an interview about a campaign that's working to make a difference in violence reduction and prevention by addressing the root causes of violence. I speak to Reverend Gregory Holston, Senior Advisor on Policy and Advocacy for the Philadephia District Attorney’s Office and Co-Facilitator of the 57+ Blocks Coalition. https://www.57blocksphilly.org/

Growing up there weren't many diverse children's books but now there are so many wonderful selections including the beautifully illustrated Once Upon the Sun & Sea: Indigenous Stories and Folk Tales from the Philippines. I speak with the authors Denise Orosa, writer and award-winning educator and Jo Tiongson-Perez writer, education advocate, and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at th...

I’m joined by Sheila Alexander Reid, Executive Director of PHL about an expansive definition of diversity and the work of her organization to bring multicultural groups to Philadephia for meetings and conventions. https://www.discoverphl.com/meet/phldiversity/ PHL Diversity Guide We air an interview conducted by Philadelphia Work Ready student Lucas Gonzalez with film maker (and Dad) Gilberto Gonz...

I speak to Jillian Patricia Pirtle, CEO of the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society about her efforts to bring awareness about the legacy of the great opera singer and civil rights icon Marian Anderson. We also talk about the upcoming Christmas in Philadelphia - a Holiday Concert Presented by the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society December 16th Chapel of Four Chaplains 1201 Con...

The deadline is fast approaching to sign up for Medicare. Whether you qualify as a person 65 or older or you want to support a senior in signing up - I have an interview that will tell you what you need to know plus information about Medicare Advantage. I speak to Theresa Lauer, Vice President of Medicare Marketing & Sales for Independence Blue Cross. https://www.ibx.com/medicare Desperate for...

The deadline is fast approaching to sign up for Medicare. Whether you qualify as a person 65 or older or you want to support a senior in signing up - I have an interview that will tell you what you need to know plus information about Medicare Advantage. I speak to Theresa Lauer, Vice President of Medicare Marketing & Sales for Independence Blue Cross. https://www.ibx.com/medicare Desperate for...