Episodios

  • Best of Bridging Philly: A space for teens in South Philly | Smith Memorial Playground
    May 10 2025
    Pennsylvania’s funding for after-school care ends when children turn 13, and many parents are concerned about where their teens can go after school and in the summer. Caring People Alliance⁠ runs a teen program and opened a new center last year at their South Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club where teens can go to get a meal, play basketball, make music and art, and have a safe space to talk and learn. We speak with Branon Gilmore, VP of CPA’s Boys & Girls Club Movement, Jewel Felder-James, Director of Teen Programming, and Alphonso Cobbs, a participant in the teen program. And on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard re-discovers the joy of play at the historic ⁠Smith Memorial Playground⁠. This episode was originally released on June 29, 2024. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • The silent struggle of infertility | Improving life with vision loss
    May 3 2025
    One in six women worldwide experience infertility, but it’s a topic we still struggle to talk about. Diona Murray was given a less than a 1% chance of conceiving - but she beat the odds and had a daughter. During her journey, she launched Barren Fruit to help other women experiencing infertility know that they don’t have to go through this alone. Diona joins host Racquel Williams to talk about the grief that comes with fertility challenges and how her faith helped her find hope. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard visits VisionLink - a local organization in Center City that is working to improve accessibility for those with vision loss in the Philadelphia region with new skills, technology, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Doing good after prison | Black + Asian food fusion
    Apr 26 2025
    Everyone makes mistakes, especially in their youth. If a mistake lands you in prison or convicted of a crime, it can haunt you for the rest of your life - but many people are fighting to turn their lives around after a conviction. As a returning citizen, Shuja Moore started a nonprofit called Do Moore Good to help others on the reentry path and to encourage youth to achieve their full potential. He recently made a documentary called “Pardon Me” about the process and significance of getting pardoned. Host Racquel Williams talks with Shuja and two women who have been through the pardon process to reclaim their names and build better lives. You can find help getting a pardon and other legal resources through Community Legal Services. Then, on Shara in the City, Black Dragon Takeout in West Philly has been getting a ton of buzz for its fusion of soul food with the aesthetics of Chinese takeout. Shara Dae Howard stops by to hear how this idea formed, and to decide if their wings live up to the hype. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    51 m
  • The dismantling of DEI | Kids in the Kitchen
    Apr 19 2025
    President Trump has been using executive orders to roll back DEI efforts federally, but those three letters are easily misunderstood. Host Racquel Williams talks with two experts in the field: Stefanie Christmas, Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Inizio, and Keva White, President/CEO of VIP Community Services and co-host of the Race to Social Justice podcast. They discuss what DEI programs actually do, why diversity in the workplace is important, how the term has gotten such negative connotations, and their advice for how businesses should think about these executive orders. And then on Shara in the City, let’s get cooking! The Junior League of Philadelphia has rolled out their annual cooking program that educates youth on food insecurity and has them whipping up some fancy recipes. Shara Dae Howard dons her chef hat for the day with Kids in the Kitchen. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Black Maternal Health Week | Philly Jazz Month
    Apr 12 2025
    Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, but Pennsylvania legislators and advocates are fighting to improve maternal health outcomes. Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17, and host Racquel Williams speaks with three women who are helping to organize events, raise awareness, and bring change to our health care system: State Representative Gina Curry, Co-Chair of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus; Jenné Johns, President of Once Upon A Preemie; and Saleemah McNeil, Founder of Oshun Family Center. Then, on Shara in the City, we’re highlighting Jazz Month in the Philadelphia region. Shara Dae Howard talks with a local jazz expert about some of the great musical history in our area and where the best performances will be this month. Original music by V. Shayne Frederick. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    54 m
  • When white supremacy divides a family | Philly’s dodgeball community
    Apr 5 2025
    In an extremely divisive era of politics, is it possible to reconcile with family members whom you disagree with, and whose beliefs you might even feel are dangerous? Gabriel Jason Dean wrote a play, “RIFT, OR WHITE LIES”, based on his experience with his brother, who joined a white supremacist gang in prison. He joins us along with Philadelphia native Frank Meeink, author of "Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead", who is giving a talkback at the show. They both speak with Racquel Williams about what draws people to white supremacist groups and what it takes to leave. See “RIFT, OR WHITE LIES” presented by InterAct Theatre Company now through April 27. Then, on Shara in the City, we get to know Philly’s thriving dodgeball community. Shara Dae Howard is rolling up her sleeves and getting on the court to see what all the hype is about. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • Advocating for crime victims and families | Women-owned businesses in the spotlight
    Mar 29 2025
    When someone is a victim of a crime or loses a loved one to violence, they need support - and many organizations in Philadelphia are ready to help. Racquel Williams talks with Melany Nelson, Executive Director of Northwest Victim Services, and Rev. G. Lamar Stewart Sr., Senior Pastor at Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, about the services they offer - from therapy to food security - and how they and other groups are coming together to honor National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 6-12. We also hear from two women who lost children to gun violence and found healing through these groups. Then, we close out Women’s History Month on Shara in the City with a spotlight on two local women-owned businesses that received a helping hand from their communities after their social media posts went viral. Shara Dae Howard visits Chubby Chicks Cafe and Pure Green Philly. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    55 m
  • Philadelphia’s teacher shortage | The mayor’s masked ball
    Mar 22 2025
    Each year, Philadelphia schools struggle to fill around 2,000 vacancies, and fewer people are pursuing teaching as a career. How do we incentivize more people to become teachers and solve this crisis? Elevate 215 and around 30 other organizations came together to form the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition to study that question. Executive Director Dr. Stacy Holland joins Racquel Williams to talk about what Philadelphia schools need to thrive, plus how federal cuts to the Department of Education could trickle down locally. If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, you can learn what opportunities are available at teachphl.org. Then, on Shara in the City, we’re walking the red carpet as Racquel joins Shara Dae Howard for the UNCF annual Philadelphia Mayor’s Masked Ball - the organization’s signature fundraiser to help support students through college, and one of the biggest, most glamorous parties in Philly. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Más Menos
    54 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup