Philadelphia Community Podcast

Many of us breathed a collective sigh of relief when the verdict came down in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officers charged with killing George Floyd in an incident that sparked an uprising for racial justice and police reform. Chauvin was found guilty on all counts. Sentencing will happen in the weeks ahead and there are three additional officers charged with complicity in Floyd’...

I speak with Movita Johnson Harrell, founder of the anti-violence Charles Foundation about a bi coastal increase the peace event that takes place on Friday. https://www.thecharlesfoundation.com/ First let’s talk about hunger in Philadelphia with Steve Preston –Chief Program Officer, Share Food Program, Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Share board member Gregory J. Allen, PhD – Founder...

I bet you know someone directly or indirectly who is waiting for a kidney transplant, has received one or died waiting. Organ Donation is personal. I’ve lost people who were on the waiting list but didn’t get a match in time. April is National Donate Life Month which helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift o...

I bet you know someone directly or indirectly who is waiting for a kidney transplant, has received one or died waiting. Organ Donation is personal. I’ve lost people who were on the waiting list but didn’t get a match in time. April is National Donate Life Month which helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift o...

I bet you know someone directly or indirectly who is waiting for a kidney transplant, has received one or died waiting. Organ Donation is personal. I’ve lost people who were on the waiting list but didn’t get a match in time. April is National Donate Life Month which helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift o...

I’ll be talking about National Donate Life Month and OIC’s programs preparing workers for the jobs opening up after the pandemic. In this first half we’ll talk with Dana Dornsife, CEO of Lazarex Cancer Foundation about their Community IMPACT program in West Philadelphia which is helping underserved patients get the help they need by breaking through historic trust, economic, and communication barr...

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence is on mission to end sexual violence in Philadelphia. I speak to Executive Director Dr. Monique Howard about the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the resources the organization offers to survivors. https://www.woar.org/ WOAR 24 HOUR HOTLINE: 215-985-3333 There’s a terrific discussion series on race sponsored by the Barnes Fou...

WOAR - Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence is on mission to end sexual violence in Philadelphia. I speak to Executive Director Dr. Monique Howard about the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the resources the organization offers to survivors. https://www.woar.org/ WOAR 24 HOUR HOTLINE: 215-985-3333 There’s a terrific discussion series on race sponsored by the Barnes Fou...

Over a hundred inmates in PA Prisons have died from COVID 19. I speak to Bobby Harris, of Unincarcerated Minds about the crisis in the prison system. bobby@dignityandpowernow.org https://www.instagram.com/unincarceratedminds/?hl=en For folks looking to Buy Black - there's a shopping bazaar sponsored by Sistahs in Transformation on Saturday April 17th from 11 am to 3 pm. I spoke to co-founder Terri...

When you think about heart attacks you probably picture a guy grabbing his arm and clutching his chest. Those are typical symptoms for men – but women experiencing heart attacks and heart disease very differently. I speak to a Marybeth Nayard who shares her personal experience and what women need to know about heart disease. https://www.goredforwomen.org/ . Also, the 2021 Philadelphia Go Red for W...

We live in a democracy but how many of us truly understand how our government works and how we can make government work for us? I speak to Jen Devor co-founder and President of Better Civics which creates free educational resources for community organizations including tool kits, creative campaigns, events and media to better explain how government works and encourage individuals to be more involv...

The show kicks off with our monthly segment with Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati’s VLS Journeys. Vanesse interviews the legendary poet Sonia Sanchez about her latest book of poetry SONIA SANCHEZ COLLECTED POEMS and her favorite authors.

Suave Gonzalez was a 17 year old juvenile tried as an adult for a robbery turned shooting that resulted in the 1986 death of 13 year old Danny Martinez in Philadelphia. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. But the course of a life can turn on a dime and that dime was Broadcaster Maria Hinojosa, who had been invited to speak at Graterford Prison. What started as a brief conve...

Suave Gonzalez was a 17 year old juvenile tried as an adult for a robbery turned shooting that resulted in the 1986 death of 13 year old Danny Martinez in Philadelphia. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. But the course of a life can turn on a dime and that dime was Broadcaster Maria Hinojosa, who had been invited to speak at Graterford Prison. What started as a brief conve...

Sometimes you meet someone that just by their presence - lifts you up , makes the room feel a little brighter and your spirits a little lighter. That was true for me during this interview with author and motivational speaker Chris Gardner. His book . PERMISSION TO DREAM is an insightful guide for how to actualize your dreams, from first discovering what it might be to how to become world-class at...

No question the pandemic has been tough on everyone – but for many it’s also been an opportunity to self-reflect and make changes in our lives. That was the case for Kelsey Buckholtz who has written a book called Strong, Calm, Confident You which offers detailed exercises and journal prompts to help women learn to love themselves and start living a more authentic, happy life. https://www.amazon.co...

I interviewed three men who are members of the Black Brotherly Love Leadership Council which has come together to reach our endangered black male youth. I’m excited to share this interview because I think you’ll be as inspired by them as I was. I speak with Taj Murdock, Chief Executive Officer/Director at The Empowerment Achievement Movement Inc. (T.E.A.M. Inc.), founder of Men of Courage young Me...

The pandemic has done a number on the City’s budget, but money will be coming in from the federal government. What should be our priorities? I’ll speak with Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek Green. First let me tell you about an event sponsored by AL DÍA that honors and multicultural women. I speak with Adriana Rubio, VP Strategic Partnerships, Blue Acorn iCi, an Infosys Company who is on the...

This morning we talk about one of my favorite subjects and that’s education. We’ll speak with Trude Haecker, MD, Medical Director and Danielle Erkoboni, MD, Associate Medical Director for Reach Out and Read Greater Philadelphia about Read Across America Month. We talk about ways the organization is leveraging the relationship between Pediatricians and Nurse Practitioners to nurture children’s love...

This morning we talk about one of my favorite subjects and that’s education. We’ll speak with Trude Haecker, MD, Medical Director and Danielle Erkoboni, MD, Associate Medical Director for Reach Out and Read Greater Philadelphia about Read Across America Month. We talk about ways the organization is leveraging the relationship between Pediatricians and Nurse Practitioners to nurture children’s love...

A celebrated ballplayer before African Americans were permitted to join Major League Baseball, Biz Mackey ranks as one of the top catchers ever to play the game. With Biz Mackey, he finally gets the biography he deserves. I interview Rich Wescott, author of Biz Mackey, a Giant behind the Plate.

Artists Felix St. Fort and Gabe Tiberino have joined forces on a new mural honoring the Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia Freedom Fighters, highlighting the unseen women and young people behind this iconic 1960’s Philadelphia civil rights group. Under the leadership of the indomitable Cecil B. Moore, teenagers and young adults successfully desegregated Girard College in 1965. I speak to Gabe Tiberino, L...

According to the Trevor Project nearly 40 percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months, with more than half of transgender and non-binary youth having seriously considered it. And over 70 percent of LGBTQ youth reported discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity. From the School District of Philadelphia, I speak to Rachel Holzman, Esq. D...

Vanesse Lloyd Sgambati hosts her once a month segment – VLS Journeys with an interview with Danielle Apugo, Assistant Professor of Education Department of Teaching and learning at the Virginia commonwealth University and one of the editors of a book entitled Strong Black Girls: Reclaiming Schools in Their Own Image. Vanesse also talks with Mable Ellis Welborn, Chair of Board at Leon H. Sullivan Ch...

Are you like me and turn on closed captions on your tv? All those years of loud concerts have taken their toll on my hearing. Not just a problem for baby boomers but people of all ages who have been turning up the volume on their earbuds and headphones. We speak with Hearing Industries Association (HIA) President, Kate Carr about ways to protect your hearing and what to do if you’re losing it. htt...