Philadelphia Community Podcast

Songs for Nobodies is a one-woman powerhouse performance that weaves the music of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Maria Callas throughout a mosaic of stories told by the everyday women who encountered these musical icons. Featuring the “flat-out spectacular" (Wall Street Journal) Bethany Thomas performing favorites like "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Crazy," and "Ain't Nobo...

We hosted the Children First Mayoral Forum with high school students from their Kids Campaign asking top Mayoral Candidates questions on what matters most to young people in the City. The event was streamed live from the Dunkin Music Lounge at iHeartMedia Philly. Three of the top candidates who were invited - took part - Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker and Rebecca Rhynhart. This is the broadcast versio...

We hosted the Children First Mayoral Forum with high school students from their Kids Campaign asking top Mayoral Candidates questions on what matters most to young people in the City. The event was streamed live from the Dunkin Music Lounge at iHeartMedia Philly. Three of the top candidates who were invited - took part - Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker and Rebecca Rhynhart. This is the broadcast versio...

Songs for Nobodies is a one-woman powerhouse performance that weaves the music of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Maria Callas throughout a mosaic of stories told by the everyday women who encountered these musical icons. Featuring the “flat-out spectacular" (Wall Street Journal) Bethany Thomas performing favorites like "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Crazy," and "Ain't Nobo...

Philadelphia is the poorest big city in the nation , according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. AmeriHealth Caritas , a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for those most in need, is hosting a special community action poverty simulation to help its associates and invited guests to better understand the impact of poverty on daily living. I speak to Joanne McFall, M...

We continue our interviews with candidates running for Mayor with State Representative Amen Brown. https://amenforphilly.com/ First, we speak to Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, founder and National Executive Director of Mother’s in Charge, celebrating twenty years of working to address violence in our city and supporting those who’ve lost loved one’s to violence. The organization is holding their 20t...

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks with Oliver St. Clair Franklin CBE, Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland about the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. Franklin is also the subject of this month’s feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” https://www.consularcorpsofphiladelphia.org/united-kingdom/

Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir fills us in on important voter information leading up to the May 16th Primary. www. Vote.phila.gov Omar.sabir@phila.gov We chat about a fabulous event coming up to support the Boys and girls Clubs of Philadelphia – The Coach’s Private Reserve Dinner on May 17th. I speak to Co-President and CEO of BGCPhila Lisabeth Marziello and Sophia Marziello, Manager of...

The Black Male Community Council of Philadelphia ROC Collaborative is hosting the Real Resources for the People Street Festival on May 6, 2023, at the 4300 block of America St. starting at noon. I speak to Stanley Crawford Founder President and CEO of Black Male Community Council of Philadelphia and Kofi Asante Coordinator for Real Resources for the People event which will feature music, free give...

The Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia presented the third David McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History at the Museum of the American Revolution. In its first award year since the passing of its namesake, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough, the prestigious honor celebrates individuals and organizations whose work engages the public and significantly impacts thei...

City Year is a non-profit organization that aims to address educational inequality by providing targeted interventions and support to students in under-resourced schools across the United States. Their primary focus is on improving high school graduation rates and helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. I speak to Darryl Bundrige Senior Vice President &...

City Year is a non-profit organization that aims to address educational inequality by providing targeted interventions and support to students in under-resourced schools across the United States. Their primary focus is on improving high school graduation rates and helping students develop the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. I speak to Darryl Bundrige Senior Vice President &...

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations committed to enriching, sustaining, and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. A thousand members from around the world will be coming to Philly for a conference “Phenomenal Women Who Empower &...

The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a non profit whose mission is to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. I speak to PYN President and CEO Wendy-Anne Roberts-Johnson about their summer jobs program for youth aged 12-24 designed to provide youth with summer employment opportunities for career exposure and earning income. www.pyninc....

We continue our series of interviews with Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates. Today I speak to former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart. https://www.rebeccaforphiladelphia.com/ The Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a non profit whose mission is to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. I speak to PYN President and CEO Wendy-Anne Roberts-Jo...

Paul Leroy Robeson was a Renaissance man who spent most of his life fighting injustice, for which he was roundly persecuted. He was an actor, orator, athlete, lawyer, singer, author, scholar, activist and linguist. Robeson’s career spanned nearly 50 years. There was a weeklong celebration of the American Icon what just concluded. I speak to Janice Sykes-Ross, Executive Director of the Paul Robeson...

March of Dimes believes in a world where every mom and baby is healthy regardless of wealth, race, gender or geography. I speak with Megan Crocetto, March of Dimes 2023 March for Babies Ambassador, who shares how research funded by March of Dimes insured her premature twin girls would survive and thrive. Megan also talks about how the organization provides a network of support for families and why...

Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and sadly, the pandemic only made a tough situation worse when it comes to mental health and wellness in America. First, there's an important new resource for suicide prevention - it's the 988 hotline which offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people ex...

Rising Sun: Artists in An Uncertain America is a new collaborative exhibition hosted at both the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibition is a collection of artists responses to the question: “is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy?” which is inspired on the one hand by Benjamin Franklin during the creation of t...

When it comes to advice whether we like it or not - Mom's usually know best and when it comes to saving the environment, we can count on Science Moms to tell us how. I speak to Dr. Joellen Russell, Co-Founder of Science Moms and Professor at the University of Arizona who tells us about great incentives that help us save a buck and save the planet. https://sciencemoms.com/ A Clean City is a safer c...

Low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia qualify for thousands of dollars through Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and more and many don't know it. The Campaign for Working Families, Inc. (CWF) is a volunteer-focused non-profit, based in Philadelphia, helping working, low-income and underserved families and individuals to achieve economic empowerment by providing free tax pr...

Guest Host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks to Lynne Farrington, Director of Programs/Senior Curator, Special Collections Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania about the upcoming exhibit Beautiful Blackbird: The Creative Spirit of Ashley Bryan exploring the life and art of the celebrated author and illustrator, painter and printmaker, poet...

Low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia qualify for thousands of dollars through Earned Income Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits and more and many don't know it. The Campaign for Working Families, Inc. (CWF) is a volunteer-focused non-profit, based in Philadelphia, helping working low-income and underserved families and individuals to achieve economic empowerment by providing free tax pre...

As a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy I was excited to interview author Nisi Shawl who not only writes award winning novels, but they are also co-founder of Carl Brandon Society to help give people of color greater visibility in the science fiction and fantasy world. Nisi Shawl also has a blog post A Crash Course in the History of Black Science Fiction - and you'll be surprised at some of t...

If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together. I learned that great saying from a wonderful organization called Pamoza which is working to provide educational opportunities for girls and young women in Malawi. I speak to Temwa Wright, Executive Director of Pamoza International and volunteer Mackenzie Duffy, sophomore at Villa Maria Academy High School who is helping to organiz...