Philadelphia Community Podcast

Kimmel Cultural Campus partnering with The Philadelphia Orchestra just celebrated the return of in person arts with Arts Launch 2021 offering free performances by more than 50 diverse arts organizations from across the region. I speak with Matías Tarnopolsky, President and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and soon-to-be President and CEO of new parent company, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimme...

I’m excited to share my interview with Sabrina Brooks Workforce Development, Sr. Manager at PECO. I believe job opportunities are a critical factor in building healthy, vibrant and safe communities. PECO is offering training programs that don’t require a college education but could be a path to life sustaining careers. Questions can be directed to pecowfdinquiries@exeloncorp.com . Additional resou...

Drug overdose deaths are at a record high nationwide and a true crisis here in Philadelphia. One problem is that so many don’t know where they can go for help. We talk with Hector Melendez who is in recovery and with Steve Wick, CEO of the Recovery Centers of America at Devon, the organization that helped Hector in his recovery journey. https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/locations/devon/ You won...

The Philadelphia Children’s alliance reported nearly 2400 reports of children sexual abuse in 2020. As horrific as the numbers are we know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I speak with Benita Williams, the new Executive Director of Philadelphia Children’s Alliance who tells us how PCA works to advocate for these kids. https://www.philachildrensalliance.org/ You won’t want to miss B.PHL Innovati...

I’m re-airing an interview from last year with Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, authors of GLORY: Magical Visions of Black Beauty, a spectacular book with stunning images children with natural hair and gorgeous, inventive visual storytelling, GLORY has more than 100 breathtaking photographs and a collection of powerful essays about the children. http://creativesoulphoto.com/glory/

We’re coming up on the 20th anniversary of 9-11. Renowned author James Reston Jr. has written a remarkable essay covering content about September 11th that’s never been seen before. Reston talks about Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, PA and Reston’s new book, The 19th Hijacker: A Novel of 9/11, which “exposes the horribly misguided motivations behind the terror attack—and helps answer the q...

The City of Philadelphia and PHDC have announced a new pilot program to help address the lack of diversity in the Philadelphia real estate development and construction industry. I speak with David Thomas, CEO, PHDC about PHDC’s Minority Developer Program (MDP). Here’s the link for more information and to apply: https://tinyurl.com/PHDC-MDP We are marking the 20th university of 9-11. Rev. Rasool Be...

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati speaks with Jean Ciborowski Fahey, Champion of Early Childhood Literacy. Fahey is also the award winning author of I'll Build You A Book Case which is designed to help infants start their love of reading. Simone Partridge Director of Communications for READby4th is her guest for the monthly feature “What Is Philadelphia Reading?” She also shares information about...

Are you in danger of eviction or foreclosure? We’ll speak to State Senator Sharif Street about outreach on eviction and foreclosure prevention. https://www.senatorsharifstreet.com/events Ever want to change someone’s mind but just can’t figure out how? We’ll talk to an expert on persuasion. First, the news about COVID 19 and Vaccines is evolving and to update us on the latest news I interview Came...

Eric Riddick was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent over 29 years in prison, Thanks to mentors inside the walls, grassroots support, the backing of Meek Mill and his own tenacity, Riddick was released. We’ll hear his story. First, I speak to State Senator Sharif Street about outreach on eviction and foreclosure prevention. https://www.senatorsharifstreet.com/events

The news about COVID 19 and Vaccines is evolving and to update us on the latest news I interview Cameron Webb, White House COVID-19 Response Team. Angel Aviles is a former actress who shares with us her journey to wellness.

The City has millions of dollars to spend on anti-violence programs. CeaseFirePA wants to make sure the community has input on how the money is spent with a special emphasis on promoting employment as an anti-violence strategy. They’re hosting a community forum in partnership with Billy Penn about how jobs prevent violence on Tuesday August 24th starting at 5:00 p.m. at Siddiq's Real Fruit Water I...

The City has millions of dollars to spend on anti-violence programs. CeaseFirePA wants to make sure the community has input on how the money is spent with a special emphasis on promoting employment as an anti-violence strategy. They’re hosting a community forum in partnership with Billy Penn about how jobs prevent violence on Tuesday August 24th starting at 5:00 p.m. at Siddiq's Real Fruit Water I...

Three bestselling expert psychologists, are talking about gun violence, how parents can speak to their children about shootings ,stereotypes about "black-on-black" violence, and more, in a graphic novel called SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR PARK. I speak to two of its authors Dr. Marietta Collins Dr. Marianne Chelano.

When you hear the name Kensington – you probably have an opinion about this neighborhood that is known as a center of the opioid crisis. I invite you to look a little deeper as I speak with Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director of Kensington Corridor Trust, an organization with a unique strategy for creating affordable commercial and residential spaces on Kensington Avenue through neighborhood gove...

August is Minority Organ Donor Awareness Month, and we devote this show to a recording of a Facebook Town Hall sponsored by Gift of Life focusing on the critical need for donors of color. We speak to Rick Hasz , Vice President, Clinical Services at Gift of Life Donor Program, Dawn Ortiz, donor mother, whose son, Rickey Colomy Jr. passed away and was a tissue donor and Joe Mansaray, heart transplan...

I speak with Brenda Mosley, Executive Director of My Faith Health and Healing. Mosley is an extraordinary woman who survived sexual abuse as a young child, spent 30 years using drugs to numb the trauma and experienced the grief of losing a daughter to cerebral palsy. We’ll let her tell her story of faith healing and resilience. You can see Brenda Mosley at My Faith Health and Healing at 2771 Ruth...

iHeartMedia Philadelphia hosted a Back-to-School Town Hall featuring some of the School District of Philadelphia’s top leaders. We share an excerpt from the town hall featuring Superintendent Dr. William Hite who talks about the critical nature of in person learning and the lessons gathered during the pandemic and Dr. Evelyn Nunez Chief of Schools who tells us what the District is doing to keep ki...

iHeartMedia Philadelphia hosted a Back-to-School Town Hall featuring some of the School District of Philadelphia’s top leaders. We share an excerpt from the town hall featuring Superintendent Dr. William Hite who talks about the critical nature of in person learning and the lessons gathered during the pandemic. Find out more about The School District of Philadelphia’s Back to School plans: https:/...

The first big major gathering to take place in Philadelphia at the PA Convention Center since the pandemic will be The Prince Hall Shriner’s International Convention. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest recognized and continuously active organization founded by Americans of African descent. I speak to John T. Chapman, the 44th Imperial Potentate of the benevolent, charitable, and fraternal organ...

Are you at risk of losing your home or car because you’re behind in your payments? There’s help and its free. I talk with Joan Reading, President of the Credit Counseling Center, which offers a HUD certified Foreclosure Prevention Program and a host of other supports to help deal with credit and debt issues. Call 215-348-8003 or go to www.creditcounselingcenter.org . The Philadelphia Union is doin...

Are you at risk of losing your home or car because you’re behind in your payments? There’s help and its free. I talk with Joan Reading, President of the Credit Counseling Center, which offers a HUD certified Foreclosure Prevention Program and a host of other supports to help deal with credit and debt issues. Call 215-348-8003 or go to www.creditcounselingcenter.org . The Philadelphia Union is doin...

Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati hosts a once-a-month segment, VLS Journeys. She speaks to Justina Barrett, Interim head of Public Programming at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Raheem Manning Founder and CEO of The Weekender Experiences, who share info on the Museum’s upcoming House and Block Party August 14th. The Block Party takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the House Party form 6-10 p.m. For mor...

Most of my life – I hated running. Really hated it. I would do any kind of exercise except jogging. Hearing about the great work of the American Association for Cancer Research inspired me to sign up for my first race which benefited the AACR. Training for that 5k got me started and now I run two or three miles up to five times a week. AACR is a sponsor of this year’s Philadelphia Marathon which t...

Today we devote Insight to a special show I cohosted with iHeartMedia air personality Cosmic Kev on addressing mental health in the black community. We speak with therapists Tasnim Sulaiman and Wesley Harris of Black Men Heal as they address how they are getting men into therapy and how the women in their lives can help. With special guest Pamela D. McClenton, a licensed clinical social worker and...