Around the Block

On this episode, we hear about a new book shop in South Philly, and we have a conversation about the impact of school closures with Fahmee Shabazz, a parent organizing against the closure of Overbrook Elementary School in West Philadelphia.

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.

Winter Schneider and Anaiah Davis hosted this episode, and Dounya Ramadan was our board operator.

Brad Linder is Radio News Managing Editor for WPPM. Peta Liu is Radio Operations Manager. And Allison Durham is WPPM’s Radio Program Director.

This episode features stories from reporters Milan Parker and Alisha Miranda about how communities are stepping up to fill a gap left by the small number of Philadelphia schools staffed by professional librarians, and a look a the history of Philadelphia's iconic Bellevue hotel. We also speak with Alexa Palma about the Save the Academy Movement that has arisen since Drexel University announced it would close the Academy of Natural Sciences, effective September 27th. Alex Palma is an archivist, lecturer and grants consultant in the Philadelphia area. He is president of the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia and an ally of the Save The Academy coalition.

This episode features a story about efforts preserve the character of Philadelphia's historic buildings and neighborhoods from unchecked development, and an interview with Philadelphia City Council Education Chair Isaiah Thomas and Children First Policy Director Symbol Lai about pre-school pushout and the impact of only some Philadelphia schools offering Algebra I classes to eight grade students.

This episode features a story about events that took place around the July 4th holiday to call attention to the ugly truths behind the some of the nation's foundational stories, and a live in-studio interview with Chloe Harris, director of Starr Garden Playground and Rec Center, which is known for its LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC inclusive programming.

This episode features reports from our community journalists about a program bringing soccer to kids in Southwest Philly, an effort to keep AI data centers out of the region, and an interview with Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation Executive Vice President Kate McNamara about development at the Navy Yard in South Philly.

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.  This episode features reports from our community journalists about […]

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.  This episode features a report on Philadelphia City Council’s […]

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.  This episode features an interview with Kabila Events founder […]

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.  This episode features a story from reporter Nikki Schaffer […]

Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews.  This episode features stories about grad student workers who […]