Bridging Philly

Latest Episodes:

Bridging communities through art while surviving COVID-19 Jan 29, 2022

Show notes

This week Bridging Philly focuses on Philly's small art organizations relying on relief funds to survive while catering to their communities.

The senior vice president at the Esperanza Arts Center, Bill Rhoads, shares how the local North Philly organization is surviving on relief funds while catering to the Hispanic community in the area and his concerns on ongoing funding for other BIPOC- serving organizations like his own.

The NewsMaker honors Ann Ishi of the Asian Arts Alliance and her efforts to bridge the black, brown, and Asian communities since taking the position of Executive Director. Ishi also shares the organization's new events for this year's Black History Month.

The Philly Rising Changemaker highlights the Testimony Project and their effort to encourage individuals to open up and share their life testaments from mental health to drug addictions to help others learn and grow on their paths.

Local organizations continue the fight for human trafficking awareness Jan 23, 2022

Show notes

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month this week. Bridging Philly highlights two local organizations working to combat sex trafficking in Philadelphia and supporting women and children who experienced and overcame sexual exploitation.

Alea Cummings, a trauma-focused therapist with the Philadelphia Children's Alliance, shares the warning signs of child victims of trafficking and the services involving trauma control her organizations offer for families in need.

You will also hear from Carla Clanagan, the program director of The Well, a community for women recovering from sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and sex trafficking. Clanagan shares the mission of The Well Program and the steps Philadelphia needs to take to prevent human trafficking.

Our Newsmaker of the week is Heather LaRocca, head of the New Day's Anti-trafficking Taskforce for the Salvation Army. She works closely with the Philadelphia Police Department & DA's office, offering intensive, comprehensive mobile case management to survivors engaging with them and supporting them through their healing journey.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is 21-year-old Tyler Riddick, a local entrepreneur who opened her creative studio in Fishtown to give Philly youth a safe place to create.

Bridging Philly Highlights Philadelphia's Helping Heroes in time for MLK Day of Service Jan 15, 2022

Show notes

This week Bridging Philly highlights some helping heroes just in time for Martin Luther King Day.

After the devastating fire killing 12 people including 8 children in the Fairmount community, one organization sprang into action to help support the families involved in the Fairmount fire. Children First Pa's Executive Director joins Bridging Philly to share both how they raised money and provided services to the families, and their inspiration to carry on the bigger fight for health, equity, and opportunity for every child.

Our News Maker highlights Todd Bernstein, founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service which will be held virtually at Girard College January 17th. KYW’s Shara Dae Howard spoke with Bernstein about the significance of the event and the impact it is meant to have on the Philadelphia community.

Our Philly Rising Change Maker is Dr. Tawanna Jones-Morrison who is an educator and school psychologist by trade. Her passion for girls' wellness and empowerment led her to start We REIGN, Inc (Rooting, Empowering, Inspiring a Girl's Nation).

Managing Student Loan Debt in Temporary Repayment Pause Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

This week Bridging Philly launched its first episode focusing on managing debt, specifically Student Loans.

Last year, U.S. Student Loan Debt totaled 1.6 trillion. The Biden Administration temporarily paused federal student loan payments for another until May 1, 2022. Bridging Philly invites Student Loan Doctor LLC's founder Sonia Lewis, to discuss tips on monthly budgeting and services her company offers to prevent student loan debt, such as affordable repayment plan selections, consolidation, and money management.

Our Bridging Philly Newsmaker, Representative Darisha Parker of the 198th Legislative District, shares her efforts encouraging President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to eliminate student loan debt affecting HBCU graduates.

The Philly Rising Changemaker highlights Ant Brown, an anti-violence activist and local rap artist spreading a positive message to Philly Youth through his program, The ABRO Experience.

End of the Year Flashpoint Special: Goal setting and self-awareness Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

Out with the old and in with the new! This week Flashpoint ends the year discussing goal setting and the importance of self-awareness. Local clinician and author Deana Davis joins KYW's Racquel Williams, Antionette Lee, and Shara Dae Howard, giving tips on making realistic, attainable goals and healthily coping with failure. Reiki Master, Tarot Mystic, and founder of Rooted Alchemy Co., Eboni La'Che, join the ladies to discuss healing and give a little insight on what to expect in 2022 through intuitive readings.

A Flashpoint Flashback Special Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint brings back Northwest Victim Services Executive Director Melany Nelson and court and community advocate Wendell Louissaint to update us on their victim services and resources since the uptick of gun violence in the city.

The Newsmaker this week highlights a Delco native and Temple graduate, Lydia Peterson, who is set to debut her first film “Walking On.” Her film is already being compared to movies like Love and Basketball. She says her mission is to “tell stories we want to see.”

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare is the Chocolate Ballerina Company. Their mission is to illustrate the experiences and successes of African American culture through dance that will inspire change. This month, the community-based dance company took the stage performing Philly's first all-black cast performance of ' The Nutcracker....dipped in Chocolate.'

Flashpoint: Philly Nonprofit hits the streets with pop-up events providing direct services to fight Gun Violence Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint invited the Philadelphia Citywide Coalition Project's Co-Founder Charlotte Brown and Dr. Deshawnda Williams to discuss their ongoing prevention and intervention strategies against gun violence through their pop-up event. The Pop-Up Community Resource Center is held weekly from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and plans to provide job application services, Tech and Business opportunities, and community resources. For more information, please email info_pccp@aol.com.

The Flashpoint Newsmaker highlights Lynette Medley and her daughter Nya's efforts in delivering period supply care packages to women and girls across the Delaware Valley. Medley also runs sexuality empowerment nonprofit, No More Secrets, Mind Body Spirit Inc. and this past year opened The Spot, a 2,500 square-feet "menstrual hub" in Germantown, the first of its kind in the nation.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is Ryan Harris, founder of "As I Plant This Seeds," created a haven for at-risk youth in Hunting Park, where they could get an education, family values, and mentorship they might otherwise miss out on.

Flashpoint: Ertz Family Foundation efforts to deliver social change to North Philadelphia Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint meets up with the Ertz Family Foundation to hear their latest project initiative with the Grace and Peace Community Fellowship building. Executive Director Lisa Ertz and Program Director Manager Kiersten Ferguson tell us how the House of Hope Project plans to develop and implement critical resources and services to the North Philadelphia community.

Our Newsmaker of the week is the founder of Urban Kings & Queens, Inc. Haneef Hill is bringing together communities from across Philadelphia and surrounding areas, and he’s using sports and education to do it.

The Philly Rising Changemaker highlights Shameka Sawyer, an award-winning local filmmaker and founder of 5 Shorts Project whose goal is to create spaces to teach Philly youth who faced hurt by gun violence to own their stories through her organization 5 Shorts Project.

Flashpoint: The Concrete Cowgirl rounds up new changes for Philly's Urban Riding Academy Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint rides out with Erin Brown, also known as The Concrete Cowgirl, and the Executive Director of Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy, on the meaning of Horsemanship and how today's youth can benefit from equestrian programs.

The newsmaker of the week is Danny Kilson, owner of 410 Specialties, deals in BMW automobiles and is one of few men of color in the industry to do so, but his work educating black youth to bridge that gap within the world of luxury automotive technicians is how he's making a name for himself in the Philadelphia area.

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare is the Chocolate Ballerina Company. Their mission is to illustrate the experiences and successes of African American culture through dance that will inspire change. This month, the community-based dance company plans to take the stage performing Philly's first all-black cast performance of ' The Nutcracker....dipped in Chocolate.'

Flashpoint looks back: The best segments of 2021 Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint is recapping the best of our segments from earlier this year.

The podcast dives into a deep discussion on the community relationship with and trust in media. Many news outlets' have been criticized for how reporters report on crime, and specifically on gun violence. With local news outlets reporting the 400th homicide this year, we wanted to discuss ways media can improve their reporting on crime while maintaining their mission to serve the public with facts. We hear from a community leader and founder of the Young Chances Foundation, KYW Newsradio's Brand Manager and Program Director, and lastly, Jessica Beard, a trauma surgeon at Temple University Hospital and Director of the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

The newsmaker of the week is Angela Anderson, a Master’s level Therapist with a background in Child psychology who now works in Philadelphia public schools helping students cope with the pressures of school, home, and peers.

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare is Crystal Evans, founder of Money Talks, a local non-profit dedicated to promoting urban issues, hosting financial discussions, provide resources and personal finance tips to Philadelphia youth.

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