Bridging Philly

Terrill Haigler might be better known in Philadelphia as Ya Fav Trashman. The former sanitation worker has built a reputation and an online as an advocate for sanitation workers and cleaner streets. He's written a children’s book that teaches kids about clean communities. And now he's running for Philadelphia City Council. Racquel Williams sits down with Haigler to talk about why he's running and his big ideas for Philadelphia.

Our Philly Rising Changemaker is Crystal Jackson, the founder of the Perfectly Flawless Foundation, a Philadelphia nonprofit that gives clothes to people in transition. Shara Dae Howard sits down with Jackson to talk about her story, what the Perfectly Flawless Foundation does, and the message she wants to get out. 

The City of Philadelphia is working with the American Cancer Society to remind everyone to get screened for cancer. Today on Bridging Philly, we talk with some doctors from ACS about the importance of early detection. 

Dr. Carmen Guerra is a professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine. Dr. Guerra talks with Racquel Williams about cancer screenings, the disparities in cancer screenings, and the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on cancer screenings and cancer outcomes. We also talk with Dr. Arnold M. Baskies, a surgeon, past chairman of the National Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, and chair of the Philadelphia Region for the American Cancer Society, to ask some questions about what happens when surgery is needed after a breast cancer diagnosis. 

Shara Dae Howard talks with Casandra Gunkel and Gloria Davis from the Sankofa Artisans Guild about a traveling exhibit honoring Harriet Tubman's legacy, currently in Bucks County.

The Philly Rising Changemaker of the week is Abdellah Abdul-Qawi, who is working to tackle food insecurity in Philadelphia and Camden as director of Muslims Serve, an organization that prepares and serves free meals to those in need. 

I'm Listening is a Bridging Philly special presentation about suicide prevention and the importance of talking about mental health. 

In this special edition of the show, we talk about the importance of checking in on your mental health and how to get support when you need it, how kids are doing in these times of change and uncertainty, the unique struggles faced by people in marginalized communities, and the devastating impact of gun violence.

KYW's Racquel Williams speaks with Dr. Ann Rosen Spector, a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia, about the state of our mental health, why there's stigma around talking about it, when to know you need help, and how to find it.

KYW's Mike DeNardo speaks with Samantha Anthony, a clinician at the Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia, about how grief and trauma affect children.

KYW's Shara Dae howard speaks with Rashida Henry, the founder of mental health and counseling company Knows No Face, about mental health in marginalized communities.

KYW's Kristen Johanson speaks with Melany Nelson, director of the Philadelphia DAO's CARES Unit, about the impact of gun violence, traumatic stress and unresolved trauma, PTSD, and the very long road to healing for families impacted by gun violence.

This week on Bridging Philly, Sistahs in Transformation speak on their upcoming Women's Empowerment Conference happening at the end of September. Sistahs in Transformation is a non-profit that was founded amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We hear how three local women came together to make a safe space for Black and Brown women to be empowered by taking control of their mental, physical, and financial health, while supporting others along the journey.

Our Newsmaker of the Week highlights Raheem Bell. Bell was a victim of a carjacking attempt when he got shot at close range earlier this year. Now, the public school teacher is inspired to share his experience while healing through community give-back events.

This week’s Philly Rising Changemaker started out by spending a day feeding the homeless in Kensington. That grew into serving the community every day by helping those recovering from addiction. As National Recovery Month begins, we talk with Darnell Hinton , President and CEO of Teach One Feed One, which helps individuals get through every stage of recovery.

This week on Bridging Philly, we highlight Healthy Aging Month, which was designed to focus on the positive aspects of aging. We sit down with the President and CEO of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Najja Orr. He shares the efforts the organization is doing to help the local elder community, such as health and nutrition job training and advocating for elders when it comes to financial abuse and legal services.

We then hear from former Marketing Director of KYW, Kyle Ruffin on her journey of leaving her career and becoming her mother’s sole caregiver. Kyle’s mother suffered from 3 strokes, and now Kyle has a book sharing her experience as a caregiver.

Our Philly Rising Changemaker is working his way into markets and grocery stores after teaming up with Drexel’s Good Food Accelerator Program. Arthur Browne, Chef and Owner of Authentic Cuisine, shares his desire to bring authentic West African food products into homes.

Summer is officially over for many students and the Philadelphia School District is still trying to fill teacher vacancies. This episode, we sit down with the president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Jerry T. Jordan, to speak on the national teacher shortage and efforts in retaining school teachers in classrooms. 

A shortage of teachers is not the only issue Pennsylvania is facing. According to the State Department of Education, there's a plan to increase the number of teachers by 2025 with teacher apprenticeships, easing teacher certification guidelines, and more recruiting. But one Camden, NJ teacher is urging school districts to focus on hiring Black educators. Rann Miller of Camden Academy Charter High School speaks on the importance of having more teachers of color in front of the classroom.

This week Bridging Philly highlights a motivational speaker and transformational life coach and his efforts in helping youth become empowered, boost their confidence, and value their lives. South Philly native Maxwell Brown shares his story of years in incarceration and his teenage decisions to demonstrate how thinking controls actions, behaviors, and outcomes through his workshop and programs.

The Bridging Philly Newsmaker highlights Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia researchers and their efforts in developing an algorithm to help define differences between ADHD symptoms from other conditions. We speak with Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, the director of the Center for Applied Genomics at CHOP. Dr. Hakonarson believes this new tool will lead to more precise clinical trials and better treatments.

August is Black Business Month. Black business owners make up 10% of the businesses in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. KYW’s Racquel Williams sits with the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce, Regina Hairston, to talk about the importance of supporting Black Businesses and giving tips on starting a business here in Philadelphia. In honor of this month, we check in with a local business, Dillonades LLC. Dillonades is a mom-and-son duo business started by Tiffany Greene with her 14-year-old son Dillon. Tiffany talks about her challenges when turning a side hustle into a business.

This week Bridging Philly invited the Philadelphia Parking Authority to get a better understanding of the authority and their mission. KYW’s Racquel Williams sits down with Beth Grossman, Board Chairman, Dennis Weldon, PPA General Counsel and Acting Executive Director, and two Deputy Executive Directors, Clarena Tolson and Corrine O’Connor, to speak on the misconceptions surrounding the authority, some programs PPA has and are starting, and the rise of threats and assaults PPA employers have been going through.

The Bridging Philly Newsmaker celebrates two local men working in the Philadelphia community to give young black men a way off the streets and on to a sustainable career path. Lonnie Clover Umar and David Baker are Philly tradesmen with a passion for teaching and mentoring. Both are licensed contractors, electricians, roofers, and plumbers. Through their training programs, they teach life and trade skills that can pave the way for what they hope can be a bright future off the streets.

Animal Shelters across Philadelphia are filling up with pets. Many pet owners are forced to give up their pets, and many can no longer afford vet bills, food, and other pet necessities.

This week Bridging Philly invites Philly Paws Executive Director Melissa Levy to discuss the importance of adoption and fostering pets and the things people should consider before adoption.

The newsmaker of the week highlights Senator Shariff Street sharing his ongoing efforts in embracing the Philadelphia community through programs focused on food insecurity and gun violence.

Our Philly Rising Changemaker honors Philly local Carol Wong and her work in educating and empowering immigrant and Asian-American communities.