Bridging Philly

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Flashpoint: Housing insecurity can be impacted by high crime rates Sep 13, 2021

Show notes

This week's Flashpoint explores how crime rates, including gun violence, can impact housing insecurity in Philadelphia. We'll be hearing from Rutgers University Professor Daniel Semenza, who researched and found higher eviction rates correspond to higher homicide, robbery, and burglary rates across communities. Community Legal Service Attorney Jenna Collins, an expert in eviction prevention, gives her perspective of someone who works with tenants to keep them in their homes.

This week's Newsmaker highlights immigration and refugees' impact on the local economy and culture. CEO of the World Affairs Council Laura Swartz joins KYW's Shara Dae Howard on America's promise to immigrants and making a home in Philadelphia and benefit the city.

The Patriot Homecare ChangeMaker is a group on a mission giving relief to Afghan evacuees at Philadelphia International Airport to make them feel more welcomed and at home.

Flashpoint: Adjusting back to school after COVID Sep 04, 2021

Show notes

This week's Flashpoint is focusing on heading back to school. We'll be hearing from a high school senior at Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, Kara Butler, Carrie Kries, the head of school at Gladwyne Montessori, and Temple professor Dr. Devon Powers about their concerns returning to school amid the pandemic and changing guidelines.

The Newsmaker of the week is Dr. Mora Sammon, head of the medical response of Afghan refugees coming into Philly International.

The Patriot Homecare Changemaker is a pair of Philadelphia police officers who spent the summer hosting basketball clinics for kids in West Philly.

Flashpoint: Haitian Americans in Philadelphia react and respond to Haiti tragedy Aug 30, 2021

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This week Flashpoint discusses the recent catastrophic earthquake that struck south Haiti at the beginning of August. KYW's Jay Scott Smith sits with Haitian American Chamber of Commerce President Evelt Vertil and Philadelphia For Haiti Founder Carline Dorlus on their relief efforts for Haiti.

The Flashpoint Newsmaker highlights Miquette McMahon, who was born and raised in Haiti. After the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January of 2010, she founded the school TeacHaiti grades. After the last quake, she has used her partnerships with organizations here in Philly, such as Philadelphia for Haiti, to continue her work to bring security, education, and strength back to her country.

The Patriot Homecare Changemaker is eight-year-old Lily Cuttichia and her efforts giving back to those struggling with addiction.

Flashpoint: Managing social anxiety after a year of social distancing Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

Many people are coming out of the pandemic experiencing feelings they didn't expect, such as anxiety about returning to social situations. This week Flashpoint discusses how to manage social anxiety post-pandemic. Licensed Therapist Shari Botwin discusses the increase in social anxiety as the world opens back up, joined by Carly Goldberg, a mother with an underlying health condition who can talk first hand about the social anxiety she faces, and Tyrell Brown, a teacher with a different perspective on how he is transforming his social anxiety into self-care.

This week's Newsmaker focuses on Children's Hospital of Philadelphia collaborating with Philadelphia's Uplift Center of Grieving Children in a new grieving and trauma program for the youth in Philadelphia. KYW's Shara Dae Howard speaks with Katherine Streit and Tiffany Chalmus of Uplift Center on just how needed their work is right now.

The Patriot Homecare Changemaker is Jiana Murdic of Get Fresh Daily, who started a summer camp with a mission of making healthy and holistic living more accessible and fun.

Flashpoint: Philadelphia's Gun Violence Emergency Aug 15, 2021

Show notes

What would a state of emergency mean for Philadelphia, and could it make a difference in the gun violence crisis? KYW's Antionette Lee speaks with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and CeaseFire Pennsylvania's Executive Director, Adam Garber, on what is being done since Mayor Kenney's decision not to declare a state of emergency over the city's gun violence crisis.

The Newsmaker of the week is the 11-year-old CEO of Micah's Mixx. Micah Harrigan started his lemonade business at the age of 7 and is now on his way to being a national success.

The Patriot Homecare Changemaker highlights Ron Curtis of Final Touch Academy. Curtis shares his story of once being incarcerated and opening his dream academy for those chasing their dreams.

Flashpoint: Cubans protest against communist regime Aug 08, 2021

Show notes

Thousands of Cubans walked the streets in widespread protests against Cuba's communist regime. This week Flashpoint breaks down the protests and what they mean for Cuba and the Cuban people. Morning news anchor for NBC10 Lucy Bustamante, Afro-Cuban American scholar Amalia Dache, and Cuban artist Denis Solis share their experiences growing up and living in Cuba.

This week's Newsmaker is Telemundo 62 reporter Yaima Crespo who shares her story of being born in Cuba and the culture shock she experienced moving to the U.S.

Our Patriot Home Care Changemaker is a pillar of Philadelphia art history. Cornell Wood is the first black head usher at the Academy of Music, welcoming generations of Philadelphia for decades, and now he's folding his gloves and retiring at the age of 66.

Flashpoint: Racial Progress: How far we've come and how far we have to go. Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint discusses the issues and challenges our country is facing with systemic racism, racial injustice and race relations. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's Executive Director, Chad Dion Lassiter, gives his expertise on ways we can combat these issues, and we hear from Frank Meeink, a former neo-Nazi white supremacist turned anti-racist activist on the racial progress he sees today, a year later, after the death of George Floyd.

Our Newsmaker of the week is executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Reggie Shuford, who hits on the racial progression in Philadelphia and what his organization is doing to keep up the fight for civil rights.

Lastly, the Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Home Care highlights Cherise McGill, an African American woman blazing a trail of firsts in the food and beverage industry.

Flashpoint: "It feels paralyzing." Mothers share their experiences losing sons to gun violence Jul 25, 2021

Show notes

This week's episode of Flashpoint is dedicated to families who lost loved ones to gun violence. We're joined by two mothers who both experienced the loss of their sons. Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, mother of Khalif Jabaar Johnson and co-founder of Mother’s In Charge, and Nydisha Williams, mother of Antonio Walker Jr. share their stories and how they’re recovering and creating change in their community.

Nydisha Williams is also highlighted as our Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare, sharing her new nonprofit in honor of her son, The Antonio Walker Jr Foundation.

This week's newsmaker has lost many loved ones to gun violence, however, continues to set his eyes on a bright future. Isaiah Harris is a 17 year old student. His mother says he narrowly escaped the pervasive street violence of North Philly, but found his way out on his own terms.

Flashpoint: The hidden faces of teen homelessness in Philadelphia Jul 18, 2021

Show notes

This week, Flashpoint tackles a topic that is sadly and often overlooked: teenage homelessness. We break down the number of homeless students in this city who are often undercounted both locally and nationally and what needs to be done to accurately count these teens. Porsha Burton, the community navigator of Youth Service Inc, shares her experience being a homeless teen while keeping her education a priority to working with youth today who are going through the same struggle. Anna Shaw-Amoah, Policy Associate of Research for Action gives us the statistics and solutions to help our youth experiencing homelessness.

This week's newsmaker is Shawnese Givens, Interim Executive Director of Attic Youth, serving homeless youth from the LGBTQ community giving them a safe space promoting youth development, acceptance, and support.

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare is Patrice Rogers, a Philly local taking vacant spots in Kensington, cleaning up needles, and turning these lots into clean green spaces.

Flashpoint: "We have a problem" Climate Change and its local impact on Philadelphia Jul 11, 2021

Show notes

This week Flashpoint tackles the impact of our changing climate. With hotter summers, rising sea levels, and poor air quality, climate change is affecting our day to day lives, public health and economy. NBC10 Meteorologist Steve Sosna and PennEnvrionment Field Director Flora Cardoni share their expertise on combating the threat of climate change.

The Flashpoint Newsmaker segment features U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and local renewable energy advocate Phyllis Blumberg, who speak on the infrastructure bill and the investment in renewable energy and jobs and how Philadelphians can benefit from this industry.

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by Patriot Homecare honors Sankofa Community Farm in Bartram’s Garden, a local community garden cultivating African farming traditions and passing them on to Black generations of the future.

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