Streets Dept Podcast

Welcome to the first Streets Dept Podcast "Sidebar" series, where we'll explore different topics and issues with multiple people over several episodes. For this first Sidebar series, we'll be talking with artists Don Kennell and Lisa Adler, along with the Vice President of Cooper's Ferry Partnership Meishka Mitchell, to begin a conversation about public art, public space,...

Anna Shipp is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia ! In today's episode, we chat about building a just, green, and thriving economy centered by local, independent businesses. We also discuss the challenges that systemic racism and COVID-19 present in creating that  economy.

Kris Henderson (pronouns: they/them) is a movement lawyer and organizer. They are the executive director of the Amistad Law Project , a West Philadelphia-based organization that provides direct representation to people in prison, advocates for just criminal legal policies, and organizes against mass incarceration and for alternatives to imprisonment. Today we talk about ending mass incarceration i...

Fabiola Cineas is a race reporter at Vox where she covers politics, policy, and culture. Today we dive into some of her recent reporting, including how popular opinion is shifting with the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement, finding justice for Breonna Taylor, and the coming Presidential Election. As well, we talk about her viral tweet thread that became a resulting factor in the resignat...

Michael O'Bryan is an expert practitioner and budding researcher in the fields of community development, organizational culture, and human wellbeing. He's currently an Innovation Fellow at Drexel University's Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation and serves as Director of Learning at The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. Today we talk about defunding the police, g...

Today, we'll be chatting with Tayyib Smith ! Tayyib is Principle of Meta Global, parent company to Little Giant Creative. Dedicated to cultural competency and the ability to engage multicultural audiences, Tayyib has long been a successful conduit of professional and cultural ecosystems.

Robert Perry runs one of Philadelphia's most beloved bar/restaurants, South Street's Tattooed Mom (aka Tmoms). And in this unprecedented moment, I talk with Robert not only about challenges of fears of being a small business owner in the age of COVID-19, but about his story, about how Tmoms has become the culture center and community space it has over the last 23 years, and about the eve...

Ginger Rudolph is a journalist, editor, curator, and founder of HAHA MAG, an arts magazine that brings the world's most inspiring contemporary art to a global audience. Over the last several years, Ginger's worked on a series of projects bringing art to Philly's public space, including those created by the HAHAxParadigm public arts project, of which she is the co-founder. 

Eriko Tsogo is a contemporary Mongolian American artist, project developer, civic leader, and activist for women's rights and immigrant's rights. She is also a first generation immigrant herself and DACA recipient. Eriko works in many mediums, and as a cross disciplinary artist, has created works on paper, has released several books, created an animated film, and has designed elaborate m...

Sabrina Allie and David Sabados first met in the spring of 2019 as opponents on the campaign trail for Denver City Council's District 1. They both ran as Democrats in the primary, and they ultimately both lost that race. But in campaigning they realized just how many people complained about not having the resources to learn about local neighborhood and district issues. Ultimately leading them...

Today we'll be talking with artist, DINKC ! Born in Kansas City, Missouri and having recently lived in New York City, DINKC currently calls Denver, Colorado home. His artwork ranges from gallery work to public murals, creating merchandise, custom toys, and even apparel. DINKC's work is heavily rooted in Mexican-American cultures, graffiti/ street art influence, and "Día de los Muert...

Today we talk with Daphne Rice-Allen , the Chair on the Board of Directors for the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center , a museum billed as "the only Western-black-history museum in the world". The center highlights the history of African Americans' movement west and includes artifacts and pictorial histories of Black cowboys, farmers, ranchers, miners, Buffalo Soldiers...

How is Phoenix, Arizona using public art and urban design to draw people to their city? Today we talk with Erika Rubio, the Stakeholder Engagement Manager for Downtown Phoenix about the goals and challenges of growing a downtown district.  

Named one of 48 most influential people in the state of Arizona  in 2019 by Phoenix Magazine, Antoinette Cauley is a Phoenix native artist on the rise whose work is reflective of her city–the gritty and the beautiful.

In our very first road trip episode we land in Phoenix, Arizona to talk with the host and founder of the Finding Arizona Podcast Jose Acevedo , who has interviewed over 200 local business owners in the state since 2015! In this episode we also hear from Brittany Johnson , the podcast's photographer and producer who's typically more behind the scenes, but who we invited in halfway through...

The founder of many things including Kismet Cowork , Radio Kismet , and the groundbreaking 24-hour ideas fest GreatPHL , Christopher Plant is equal parts business, art, commerce, fun and always connecting people in his wake! 

Over her 30+ year career thus far, Jane Golden has worked to promote the power of art as the head of Mural Arts Philadelphia overseeing the organization's growth from a small city agency into the nation's largest public art program. 

For our Season 3 kick-off, we're talking with award-winning journalist and Writer at Large for Philadelphia Magazine, Ernest Owens ! Ernest covers a variety of social issues regarding race, LGBTQ, and pop culture.

Recently elected in a historic win against an establishment backed 27-year incumbent for the City Council seat of Philadelphia's quickly gentrifying 3rd District, Councilmember-elect Jamie Gauthier has spent much of her life and career working for a more equitable, greener world. Today we talk with Jamie about her life, her careers, and how she plans to address many of Philadelphia's mos...

An Andy Warhol Curatorial Fellow who worked for many years as a curator in the UK,  Robert Blackson moved back the U.S. in 2011 to spearhead the Tyler School of Art' s Department of Exhibitions and Public Programs. Now an undeniable force in Philly's art world, today we talk with Robert about how his curatorial instincts have led to a series of bold, thought-provoking exhibitions around...

Maori Karmael Holmes is the founder of BlackStar Film Festival , an annual celebration of the visual and storytelling traditions of the African diaspora and of global communities. She's also a world-renowned curator, organizer, and director. Today, we talk with Maori about film, representation vs. authorship, and so much more! 

On November 6th, 2018, Malcolm Kenyatta became the first openly gay person of color elected to statewide office in Pennsylvania. In today's episode, we talk with Rep. Kenyatta about the challenges of the PA State House and about this work to help eliminate poverty in the state. And as an elected Democrat, we end by exploring some of the current 2020 presidential candidates and how he thinks t...

William Tyrone Toms is on a mission to build a network of creatives across the globe. He's building, in a term, an artists' union of musicians, photographers, visual artists, writers, and more with the goal of lifting and supporting all creatives for the greater good. In today's episode, we chat with Will about starting REC Philly with his partner Dave Silver and how he sees their c...

A Philly-based illustrator whose artwork depicts people of color of varying skin tones and shapes with nuance and individuality, Loveis Wise has had enormous success since graduating college in 2018. Among those achievements: having her artwork on the cover of The New Yorker last summer (becoming only the second black woman artist to ever do so) and just last month being the featured Google Doodle...

Jon Geeting  is the Director of Engagement for Philadelphia 3.0 , a political action committee focused on City Council elections and governance reforms in the city of Philadelphia. For the last several years, Jon has played a big role in influencing Philly politics. And in today's episode, we talk about it all!