Philadelphia Community Podcast

I talk to Jenne Johns who has created a nonprofit, Once Upon a Preemie to address the health disparities black families face when a child is born prematurely. www.onceuponapreemie.org @onceapreemie (IG) once-upon-a-preemie-academy (LI) @onceuponapreemie (FB)

Media portrayals of immigrants can perpetuate stereotypes and misinformation, influencing Americans' perceptions and attitudes toward immigrants. Negative stereotypes may contribute to fear, prejudice, and discrimination, making it difficult to foster empathy and understanding. That’s why bringing in a quarterly segment produced by the Welcoming Center and hosted by its CEO Anuj Gupta. The Center...

East Falls is a rapidly evolving neighborhood with vibrant new businesses, housing and recreational opportunities. To tell us more I speak to Michelle Feldman, Executive Director of East Falls Development Corporation. https://discovereastfalls.org/ If I asked you to guess the number one killer of children and teens – what would be your answer? Shocking but true - It’s gun violence. I speak to Scot...

Media portrayals of immigrants can perpetuate stereotypes and misinformation, influencing Americans' perceptions and attitudes toward immigrants. Negative stereotypes may contribute to fear, prejudice, and discrimination, making it difficult to foster empathy and understanding. That’s why bringing in a quarterly segment produced by the Welcoming Center and hosted by its CEO Anuj Gupta. The Center...

Every year, over 23,000 kids age out of foster care in the United States. Of that 23,000, 7 out of 10 of young women become pregnant before their 21st birthday (source: The National Foster Youth Institute) To combat that issue, in the State of Delaware, Duffy’s Hope Inc. announced the 2024 launch of Duffy’s H.O.P. E. Transitional Residence Program. Hope stands for Housing Opportunity for Personal...

Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to expressing love and affection between intimate companions. So what better time to have a conversation about Love? Conversation on Love: Messy love, self-love, crazy love, unconventional love -- the whole shebang features a panel of award-winning authors with books on love who will discuss what love is, where to find it, and what you need to do and have to make...

If I asked you to guess the number one killer of children and teens – what would be your answer? Shocking but true - It’s gun violence. I speak to Scott Charles Trauma Outreach Manager at Temple University about a collaboration between local hospitals to raise awareness about gun safety. www. HospitalsTogether.com https://www.templesafetynet.org/ I talk to Michele Carreras Morales from Xiente abou...

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati interviews Irv Randolph, Managing Editor of the Philadephia Tribune, the oldest continuously running Black newspaper in the country. For her monthly segment “What is Philadelphia Reading?” Vanesse speaks to author Omar Tyree. https://www.phillytrib.com/ https://omartyree.substack.com/subscribe

Diversity in children's literature allows young readers to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth. Additionally, exposure to diverse characters and cultures promotes empathy, understanding, and acceptance of others who may be different from them. By featuring a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, diverse children's lit...

In this segment of Insight, I speak with Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati, founder of the African American Children’s Book Fair which takes place Saturday, February 3rd, 1:00-4:00PM at The Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th Arch Streets. I also speak to some of the award-winning authors and illustrators featured at the Fair including writers Nikki Grimes, Renée Watson and illustrators Ekua Holmes and Fran...

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...