Philadelphia Community Podcast

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...

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...

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...

This morning we focus on young creatives. I speak with Madison Starinieri and Liana King from Moonstone Arts Center which is sponsoring New Voices which features poets under the age of 25, encouraging high school and college students alike to submit their poetry for anthological consideration and participation in the Spring 2021 reading. https://moonstoneartscenter.submittable.com/submit/177536/ne...

This morning we focus on young creatives. I speak with Madison Starinieri and Liana King from Moonstone Arts Center which is sponsoring New Voices which features poets under the age of 25, encouraging high school and college students alike to submit their poetry for anthological consideration and participation in the Spring 2021 reading. https://moonstoneartscenter.submittable.com/submit/177536/ne...

The Black Doctors COVID 19 Consortium held a 24-hour mass vaccination event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. Thousands showed up and 13 hours later– I received the first of two shots. I speak with Philadelphia Sunday Sun columnist and WURD host Andrea Lawful Trainer about the experience. https://blackdoctorsconsortium.com/

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s hoping you’re spending the day with your soul mate but this day can be like salt in a wound for those experiencing heartbreak. For the heartbroken we have an interview with singer songwriter Marziello who has just the song for you. https://marziello.hearnow.com/copyandpaste We begin with a spotlight on community sponsored by Barbera Cares. The Share Food Program – wor...

We begin with a spotlight on community sponsored by Barbera Cares. The Share Food Program – works to ease hunger in Philadelphia. I speak with Steve Preston, Program Manager for the area’s largest hunger relief organization about what they’re doing to ease food insecurity. https://www.sharefoodprogram.org/ Art and music education are often the first to go when it comes to budget cuts - which is wh...

In the second part of this show we’ll talk about hunger, music education for kids and grants for minority businesses…. but hey it’s Valentine’s and the perfect time to play back this Valentine’s day interview I did 9 years ago with the man who would later become come my husband.

Temple University student Madeline Neville was 20 when she got COVID 19. Madeline’s symptoms were mild and didn’t think much about them until weeks later she was medevacked to University of Penn Hospital with Heart Failure. As we mark Heart Month – Her story is a cautionary tale about knowing the signs of heart disease, listening to your body and appreciating that heart disease can happen even if...

We bringing your all kinds of resources this morning. If you are a nonprofit working to ease hunger – ACME Foundation has a grant for you. I speak with Dana Ward, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for ACME Markets about ACME’s 130 Days of Giving to mark the company’s 130th Anniversary. Local food organizations can apply for funding consideration now through February 12, 2021 by visiting ht...