Philadelphia Community Podcast

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month – a good time to get a “Check Up from the Neck Up.”  I speak to Malik Gray, Program Analysis Supervisor at Department of Behavioral Health about a free online survey to check on your mental wellbeing and resources for those seeking help. https://healthymindsphilly.org/mental-health-awareness-month-988/   Melanoma , an aggressive form of skin cancer tha...

Philadephia has the highest poverty rate of the nation’s big cities. The Greenlight Fund Philadelphia  is addressing this issue by finding community-based organizations making a difference and supplying them support to tackle economic and racial inequities, remove barriers and life individuals and families out of poverty. I speak to The GreenLight Fund Philadelphia’s Executive Director Felicia Rin...

Hunger knows no boundaries and I speak to the head of an organization that provides hunger relief to the food insecure in Lower Merion. I talk with Ben Hearn, Board President of the Narberth Community Food Bank. https://narberthcommunityfoodbank.org/  Instagram handle: narberth_food_bank  Facebook: Narberth Community Food Bank  

I chat with Monica J. Washington, Esq. - Chapter President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Tau Delta Omega Chapter about an  elegant event that supports scholarships. It’s the Precious Pearls of Elegance Scholarship Ball  May 19th https://www.taudeltaomegaaka.com/events  

Host Anuj Gupta, President and CEO of the Welcoming Center interviews Zeke Hernandez, author of The Truth About Immigration - Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers This book is all about how newcomers benefit you, your community, and your country. Destined to become the go-to book on one of the most important issues of our time, this book turns fear into hope by proving a simple truth: immigr...

There’s an exciting partnership just announced between Community College and Google that will give students access to certificate programs that offering skills training that could lead to life sustaining careers in tech. I speak to Rob Magliaro who  is the Ecosystem Partnerships Lead at Grow with Google. More information, including how to register for courses, is available here . Google Career Cer...

There’s an exciting partnership just announced between Community College and Google that will give students access to certificate programs that offering skills training that could lead to life sustaining careers in tech.  I speak to Rob Magliaro who  is the Ecosystem Partnerships Lead at Grow with Google. More information, including how to register for courses, is available here . Google Career Ce...

Eluna Network – offers support for children, teens and families impacted by grief, addiction, and related mental health issues. I speak to Sarah Behm, Assistant Director, Resource Center, Eluna Network. Website: https://elunanetwork.org/ ·         Facebook: Eluna ·         Twitter: @ElunaNetwork ·         LinkedIn: Eluna Network ·          Instagram: @elunanetwork

I chat with a remarkable young woman who along with friends at her high school started a project to ship books and computers to an under resourced community in Zambia.  Fast forward to 2024 20 years later and Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza, Co-founder & Executive Director, African Education Program is now running a program that serves over 4000 children youth and women.  It’s an inspiring story ma...

I speak to talk to Suave Gonzalez, a former juvenile lifer who not only won a Pulitzer prize but is going on tour with Never Give Up Tour at the Perelman Theater on May 30, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Gonzalez will offer an empowering message of resilience, personal growth and culture-focused activism. I also speak to musician Joey DeVille and former corrections officer and returning citizen Rasheeda Highl...

I speak to talk to Suave Gonzalez, a former juvenile lifer who not only won a Pulitzer prize but is going on tour with Never Give Up Tour at the Perelman Theater on May 30, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Gonzalez will offer an empowering message of resilience, personal growth and culture-focused activism. I also speak to musician Joey DeVille and former corrections officer and returning citizen Rasheeda Highl...

I speak to talk to Suave Gonzalez, a former juvenile lifer who not only won a Pulitzer prize but is going on tour with Never Give Up Tour at the Perelman Theater on May 30, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. Gonzalez will offer an empowering message of resilience, personal growth and culture-focused activism. I also speak to musician Joey DeVille and former corrections officer and returning citizen Rasheeda Highl...

Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change.  I speak to Chad Eric Smith, Senior Director of Communications and Brand Management for Mural Arts about the organization celebrating 40 years of work empowering people, stimulating dialogue, and building bridges to mutual understanding through projects that attract artists from Phi...

I’m a strong believer in redemption because as I often say – every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.  That’s why I devote so much time to addressing criminal justice and reform. I’ve spent many years working with lifers first at Graterford and then at SCI Phoenix where I’ve met some extraordinary men. Some are out like former juvenile lifers Pulitzer Prize winner Suave Gonzalez or G...

I’m a strong believer in redemption because as I often say – every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.  That’s why I devote so much time to addressing criminal justice and reform. I’ve spent many years working with lifers first at Graterford and then at SCI Phoenix where I’ve met some extraordinary men. Some are out like former juvenile lifers Pulitzer Prize winner Suave Gonzalez or G...

Guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks to Vikki Tobak, Guest Curator of the exhibit ICE COLD: AN EXHIBITION OF HIP-HOP JEWELRY at The American Museum of Natural History VIKKI TOBAK is an author, journalist, and curator.  She is the author of critically acclaimed books CONTACT HIGH: A VISUAL HISTORY OF HIP-HOP (Clarkson Potter/Random House), 2018); ICE COLD: A HIP-HOP JEWELRY HISTORY (Taschen 202...

 The DELCO Foundation is hosting Delco Gives Day – a 24-hour day of giving which kicks off May 8th at 7:00 p.m. and wraps up at 7:00 p.m. on May 9th. I speak to Frances M. Sheehan, President, The Foundation for Delaware County about the event and the work of the Foundation to support local organizations providing critical services and resources for the community. https://delcofoundation.org/ https...

Sunday April 28th I’ll be joining thousands at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the 2024 Gift of Life Donor Dash to raise awareness about the critical importance of organ donation. I speak to Philadephia hit performing artist Freeway who will be there and who shares his experience as not only a kidney transplant recipient but also a donor parent whose late son provided four people with lifesaving or...

The DELCO Foundation is hosting Delco Gives Day – a 24-hour day of giving which kicks off May 8th at 7:00 p.m. and wraps up at 7:00 p.m. on May 9th. I speak to Frances M. Sheehan, President, The Foundation for Delaware County about the event and the work of the Foundation to support local organizations providing critical services and resources for the community.   https://delcofoundation.org/ http...

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...

I speak to Bakari Sellers the author of The Moment -Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn’t and How We Can All Move Forward Now.  The book examines the modern political landscape and explores the forces at work to undermine civil rights gains over the past fifty years and offers solutions for a better tomorrow. Sellers will be speaking at   Philadelphia Free Library on Thursday at 7:30PM April...

This week marks Black Maternal Health Week , a time to raise awareness about the alarming disparities in care experienced by Black mothers and babies. In this episode, we hear from Jenne Johns , founder of Once Upon a Preemie , a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Black families navigating the challenges of premature birth. Jenne recently testified before Philadelphia City Council to advocate for i...

One of my favorite youth development programs is the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. I speak to   Lisbeth Marziello, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and   Ariel Goldring - Executive Vice President Strategic support training and systematic Development about the organization’s programs and their upcoming Coaches Private Reserve Dinner April 25th.   https://bgcphil...

On May 4th, The Hey Girl! Conference creates space and opportunity for women to belong by providing a community of women who bare their most vulnerable thoughts and experiences.” In sharing ourselves, we cultivate healing from within and for others that provides the foundation for us to be our authentic selves.”  I speak to Cassandra Burnett, founder of the Hey Girl! Conference, Summer Willow-Fitc...

I talk to Carolyn Sims Nesmith, Founder/Director of CSN Productions which is hosting at. Meet and Greet for the Youth Performing Arts Program: Musical Theater Camp, on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 12 to 2 p.m. at CSN Productions, 3510 Scotts Lane, #3015A in the East Falls section of Philly. The program is six weeks and runs from   July 8 through August 16th. Registration deadline is June 10. www.csnp...