Philadelphia Community Podcast

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...

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...

We continue our interviews with Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates. This week I speak to Democratic candidate Jeff Brown. https://www.jeffbrownformayor.com/ First, I speak with Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever Senior Policy Advisor for the Black Women’s Roundtable and co-editor of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) 10th Annual “Black Women in the U.S. and Key States, 2023 Report.” Released by the National Coa...

The African American Museum of Bucks County honors the rich legacy of the African American experience, inspiring pride in our heritage, and sharing information and stories about the diverse journey of our people and our shared ancestry. The programs and exhibits explore the history and heritage of the diverse cultures of Bucks County and beyond. I speak to Linda Salley President and Executive Dire...

The Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, which manages projects ranging from bike share to immigration relief to the Philadelphia Unity Cup, is re-inventing itself as the Philadelphia City Fund. Jody Greenblatt, Executive Director, The Philadelphia City Fund explains how the organization is both a fiscal sponsor for the City and a grant maker. I also speak to Amy Eusebio, Director, Office of Immigrant A...

The Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, which manages projects ranging from bike share to immigration relief to the Philadelphia Unity Cup, is re-inventing itself as the Philadelphia City Fund. Jody Greenblatt, Executive Director, The Philadelphia City Fund explains how the organization is both a fiscal sponsor for the City and a grant maker. I also speak to Amy Eusebio, Director, Office of Immigrant A...

Prominent LGBTQ+ activist and Action Wellness Executive Director Kevin Burns will be retiring later this year, and on March 25, he will receive the Fierce and Fabulous Award at AIDS Fund’s Black-Tie GayBINGO. I speak to Kevin and Robb Reichard, Executive Director of AIDS Fund Philly about the event. www.aidsfundphilly.org/gaybingo https://www.actionwellness.org/ First I talk with Dr. Jim Smith, Pr...

The 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show, now through the 12th returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. I speak to Rebecca Schuchart, Director of Experiences and Engagement for The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society about the iconic event and also the year-round community greening and work force development programs sponsored by PHS. Tickets are on sale currently at tickets.phsonline.org. The death...

The two Black Panther movies were more than Marvel superhero movies. - they were iconic celebrations of Black Pride and Black Excellence. In addition to everything that made the movie special from the extraordinary actors, the moving plot and the cool special effects - was the music. and coming up is a very special opportunity to hear the music of Black Panther at the Kimmel Center while also supp...

This week guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks to two florists featured in this year's Philadelphia Flower Show. Valerie Crisostomo is a founder of the Black Girl Florist Network and Rashawn Scarbo, owner and lead designer at Bloom Bold Co. WDAS FM's Patty Jackson is this month's "What is Philadelphia Reading?" https://www.blackgirlflorists.com/ https://www.bloomboldco.com/

Ever wonder about the alphabet soup that is LGTBQ+? and why advocated believe it's important to acknowledge All the letters in the acronym. To help us sort this out I speak to Angele Giampolo, of Giampolo Law and Philly Gay Lawyer for a monthly segment we call Speak Out. https://www.phillygaylawyer.com/ https://giampololaw.com/ First, many rare diseases go undiagnosed for years but there's a growi...