Bridging Philly

The Trump administration has been cutting back on the arts, closing federal organizations and cancelling grants that supported local cultural centers across the country. Host Racquel Williams speaks with three arts organizations that are feeling the impacts here in Philadelphia: Esperanza Arts Center , Philadelphia Young Playwrights , and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance . Then, on Shara...

May is Jewish American Heritage Month - or JAHM - and The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History here in Philadelphia has been at the center of the national efforts to celebrate and educate about Jewish American history and culture. Host Racquel Williams talks with Emily August, The Weitzman’s Director of JAHM, and Dan Tadmor, President and CEO, about how everyone can fight antisemiti...

Women and BIPOC entrepreneurs often struggle to find the capital to get their businesses off the ground and to stay in business, facing various systemic barriers. Finanta is a Philly-based non-profit that supports entrepreneurs with loans, advice, and local connections. Host Racquel Williams speaks with Finanta’s President & CEO, Daniel Betancourt, and a participant in their Affinity Group Len...

Pennsylvania’s funding for after-school care ends when children turn 13, and many parents are concerned about where their teens can go after school and in the summer. Caring People Alliance⁠ runs a teen program and opened a new center last year at their South Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club where teens can go to get a meal, play basketball, make music and art, and have a safe space to talk and...

One in six women worldwide experience infertility, but it’s a topic we still struggle to talk about. Diona Murray was given a less than a 1% chance of conceiving - but she beat the odds and had a daughter. During her journey, she launched Barren Fruit to help other women experiencing infertility know that they don’t have to go through this alone. Diona joins host Racquel Williams to talk about the...

Everyone makes mistakes, especially in their youth. If a mistake lands you in prison or convicted of a crime, it can haunt you for the rest of your life - but many people are fighting to turn their lives around after a conviction. As a returning citizen, Shuja Moore started a nonprofit called Do Moore Good to help others on the reentry path and to encourage youth to achieve their full potential. H...

President Trump has been using executive orders to roll back DEI efforts federally, but those three letters are easily misunderstood. Host Racquel Williams talks with two experts in the field: Stefanie Christmas, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Inizio , and Keva White, President/CEO of VIP Community Services and co-host of the Race to Social Justice podcast. They discuss what DE...

Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, but Pennsylvania legislators and advocates are fighting to improve maternal health outcomes. Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17, and host Racquel Williams speaks with three women who are helping to organize events, raise awareness, and bring change to our health care system: State Representa...

In an extremely divisive era of politics, is it possible to reconcile with family members whom you disagree with, and whose beliefs you might even feel are dangerous? Gabriel Jason Dean wrote a play, “RIFT, OR WHITE LIES” , based on his experience with his brother, who joined a white supremacist gang in prison. He joins us along with Philadelphia native Frank Meeink, author of "Autobiography of a...

When someone is a victim of a crime or loses a loved one to violence, they need support - and many organizations in Philadelphia are ready to help. Racquel Williams talks with Melany Nelson, Executive Director of Northwest Victim Services , and Rev. G. Lamar Stewart Sr., Senior Pastor at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church , about the services they offer - from therapy to food security - and how they a...

Each year, Philadelphia schools struggle to fill around 2,000 vacancies, and fewer people are pursuing teaching as a career. How do we incentivize more people to become teachers and solve this crisis? Elevate 215 and around 30 other organizations came together to form the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition to study that question. Executive Director Dr. Stacy Holland joins Racquel Williams to t...

When COVID-19 became a global pandemic five years ago, Dr. Ala Stanford stepped up to help Philadelphians get access to information, testing, care, and later, vaccines. She founded the Black Doctors Consortium , and after her work gained national media attention, then-President Biden appointed her Regional Director of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Last summer, Dr. Stanford publis...

When children are facing obstacles such as poverty and gun violence, they need consistent, ongoing support from a source they trust. Friends of the Children pairs kids starting at age 4 with paid, professional mentors - or Friends - who stay with them for 12+ years. The organization just opened a Philadelphia branch, partnering with two elementary schools and a community center. Racquel Williams t...

When Harold Barrow’s daughter was born, he was addicted to heroin and living in an abandoned house. ACHIEVEability gave them both a place to live and helped Harold get his GED and bachelor’s degree. Now, Harold is working for ACHIEVEability, helping other families in similar circumstances. Harold and ACHIEVEability’s Executive Director Jamila Harris-Morrison join Racquel Williams to talk about the...

Britt James Carpenter is a five-time overdose survivor. After being incarcerated, he found his way to recovery and decided to turn his negative experiences into a source for good. He joins Racquel Williams to talk about his non-profit, Philly Unknown Project , which provides resources to the formerly incarcerated, people experiencing homelessness, and those with substance abuse disorder. Then, on...

We are still fighting racism in 2024, but many people find it hard to talk about or even acknowledge. EMBRACING RACE - The Conversation , based in Collingswood, NJ, is taking steps to dismantle racism by gathering people of different backgrounds to talk honestly about it, to better understand what’s really going on. Racquel Williams talks with several members of their core group. And on Shara in t...

Terrill Haigler, a former Philadelphia sanitation worker, rose to local fame through his Instagram @_yafavtrashman , where he’s been raising awareness about illegal dumping. Between hauling gigs, fundraising, and a grant, he was recently able to buy a truck of his own and hire returning citizens to help him clean up the city’s streets. He tells Racquel Williams about growing both his charitable wo...

Chinatown residents fought against a new 76ers arena in their neighborhood for two years. Just when they thought they had lost, the Sixers changed course and decided to rebuild where they are in South Philly. Racquel Williams talks with two Chinatown community leaders in the wake of this whiplash, to hear how they feel about the final decision, why this was such an important battle to them, and wh...

Technology is a growing field ripe with opportunities, if you know where to look. Hopeworks introduces young adults in Philadelphia and Camden, NJ to tech jobs they might not have known existed, providing training and job experience for people ages 17 to 27, and breaking down barriers to employment like housing insecurity and mental health challenges. Host Racquel Williams talks with Hopeworks CEO...

When Donald Trump was elected for a second presidential term, the reaction from many marginalized communities was fear - immigrants fearing they’ll be deported, trans and nonbinary people fearing they’ll lose the ability to live as themselves, women fearing they’ll lose access to reproductive health care. Philadelphia is a Democratic city that voted against Trump and has many protections in place,...

One of the first - and hardest - steps to getting your life back after incarceration is to find a job. There’s a lot to adjust to, and employers can be hesitant, but Baker Industries and their partners say there are actually benefits to hiring returning citizens. The nonprofit provides training and jobs for people facing barriers to employment due to previous incarceration, homelessness, or disabi...

Every January, we’re determined to improve our lives by making New Year’s resolutions. Then, for most of us, we fall off track as the year goes on. What does it take to make a positive change in your life that lasts? Paula Michele Boyle, founder of Life Coach Philly International School of Coaching and author of “Love Coach” , joins host Racquel Williams to talk about setting and sticking to your...

We’ve seen a surge of people facing food insecurity since pandemic relief ended, and the numbers have not gone back down. It’s a particular issue in Philadelphia, where about 22% of people live in poverty - twice the national average. Share Food Program is the city’s leading hunger relief organization. Their executive director, George Matysik, and deputy chief program officer, Cat Bartoli, join ho...

Glamorous mother-daughter duo Nazaret Teclesambet and Favian Sutton created The Wine Garden on Baltimore Ave in 2019 as a space where women can relax, feel comfortable, and treat themselves - though all are welcome in the family-friendly space. The Wine Garden is open in the summer, but this year, they’re doing their first winter experience - a Black Girl Magic Holiday Pop-Up at annex. at the Divi...

Black-owned businesses often face additional barriers to getting off the ground - a historic wealth gap and lack of access to resources, to name a few. The African American Chamber of Commerce advocates for Black business owners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Host Racquel Williams talks with their President & CEO, Regina A. Hairston, and a member of the chamber, Jason Ray, Presiden...