Bridging Philly

This weekend we are celebrating Mother’s Day with KYW’s Racquel Williams, Michelle Durham, Carol Mackenzie, and Denise Nakano as they remember their mothers and discuss the ups and downs of motherhood. Family therapist Ann Rosen Spector LCW also joins the discussion in speaking on ways to overcome hardships in parenting and work-life balance.

Our newsmaker of the week pays tribute to a local Philly woman with 3 sons from the heart of North Philly. Yolanda Sydnor shares her efforts in keeping her sons out of trouble and keeping her family on track through the struggle.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and since the pandemic, many people have been keeping stock of what's important in their life. This week Bridging Philly sits with motivational speaker and life coach Joy Morgan of Joy Morgan Motivates as she gives advice and insight on moving past pandemic challenges.

Our Newsmaker of the week highlights Dr. Esther Castillo and her efforts in launching the Support the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative and the continuance of bridging the gap between marginalized communities through education.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is a West Philly native, writer, and activist Lorene Cary. Cary uses her craft to preserve stories, especially Black legacies for the next generations.

This week Bridging Philly highlights a non-profit working to provide resources and support necessary to enable residents to live healthy, prosperous lives in a self-sustaining community. Hearts of Camden was originally founded by 1984 by Monseigneur Michael J. Doyle, of the Sacred Heart Church, and located in the Waterfront South neighborhood of Camden City. The community based organization is putting their residents first in creating quality housing, safe spaces, arts and culture education. Heart of Camden's Board President, Ben Hill and Executive Director, Carlos Morales speak on the importance of the non profit mission, need of more volunteers and future upcoming events.

The Newsmaker of the Week has be growing her food pantry into a community center in Upper Darby feeding hundreds of families suffering with food insecurity since the pandemic started. Shara Dae Howard speaks with Desiree Lamar Murphy, founder of Murphy’s Giving Market on how she got started and how it's going post pandemic.

Our Philly Rising Changemaker is Delaware County Judge Keith Williams II. Judge Williams II is helping to inspire and mentor young boys in the area through an organization called Men on a Mission.

This week Bridging Philly highlights a local non-profit, Tri-State Canine Response Team, and their paws on the ground efforts for those in need. CEO and Founder, Janice Campbell joins KYW's Racquel Williams to speak on the benefits of the human and canine bond, the pieces of training the canines go through, and share some of the services requested from other states who faced crises such as the Boulder, Colorado mass shooting.

The Newsmaker of the week brings awareness for Autism Acceptance Month. KYW's Shara Dae Howard sits with KYW's Traffic Anchor Sue Schilling and her daughter Jessica, who is non-verbal, as they discuss misconceptions about autism and how the two are making history together later this month.

The Philly Rising Changemaker highlights Shane Darby of Delaware Co. and her non-profit, Black Mothers in Power, in training more women to be doulas in fighting to end health inequity for Black women's pregnancy. 

According to a 2020 report from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health's Maternal Mortality Review Committee, half of the city's 26 pregnancy-related deaths could have been prevented. Between 2013 and 2018, 73% of pregnancy-related deaths in Philadelphia were Black women. This week Bridging Philly held a group discussion Dr. Elana McDonald from Twin Sister Docs on Maternal Equity and the actions needed to prevent Black women and infants from dying during childbirth.

The Newsmaker of the week highlights therapist, doula, and CEO of Oshun Family Center, Saleemah McNeil, and her ongoing study with Temple University on how having support from Black doulas, mental health services, and lactation experts can improve heart health outcomes for pregnant Black women and raising awareness of birth trauma amongst Black women.

For the first since the Supreme Court’s founding in 1790, a Black woman could sit on the bench. This week on Bridging Philly we highlight Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and her process into the Supreme Court. Former judge Renee Cardwell Hughes joins in the discussion to give her reaction to judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and discuss the struggle of trying to break glass ceilings.

The Newsmaker of the week is Tracey L. Gordon. She’s the Register of Wills for the city but spent much of her career as a community advocate and decided to go this route to affect change within the communities for which she was previously advocating.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is a former Temple Graduate and now Crown Act Champion, Adjoa B. Asamoah.

As we end Women's History Month, this week's Bridging Philly episode focuses on women working in male dominated industries. We highlight Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and the work she has done in the city and the solutions the Philadelphia Police Department has for the uptick on gun violence and carjackings in the Philadelphia area.

Our Newsmaker of the week is Councilmember Cindy Bass of District 8 and her goal during her term as the Chair of City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreational, and Cultural Affairs of safer community spaces and neighborhoods.

The Philly Rising Changemaker introduces Nairobi Colon, a Camden teacher sharing her journey as a nonbinary trailblazer on social media platforms educating those on nonbinary pronouns and reminding students to be who they are.

This week Bridging Philly focuses on bridging the gap between the Asian and Black communities in Philadelphia. After a series of tragic incidents during the pandemic. Romana Lee-Akiyama, Director, Office of Public Engagement, Jeanette Bavwidinsi, Director, Office of Youth Engagement and Rob Buscher of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and Japanese American Citizens League, speak on their efforts in speaking to both communities through their Black and Gold series held by the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement.

Our Newsmaker of the week highlights Dr. Esther HioTong Castillo and her efforts in launching the Support the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative.

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

This week Bridging Philly invited Honorary Consul of Ukraine, Iryna Maur, and President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Philadelphia Branch, Eugene Luciw to give their perspective on the conflict in Ukraine. Hear how you can connect with the Philadelphia Ukrainian community and help in aiding families in Ukraine.

The Newsmaker of the week highlights two volunteers at the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown. Hear their efforts to collect aid and donations.

The Philly Rising Changemaker honors Linda Shockley for Women's Month, of the Lawnside Historical Society, and her dedication to preserving and maintaining Black History, such as the historical Peter Mott House in Lawnside.

Black History Month honors the history makers who made a difference in this country and in the community, but what happens when the month is over. This week Bridging Philly speaks with Executive Director of Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Chad Dion Lassiter, he shares his expertise with civil rights, diversity, and inclusion as well as how to keep the conversation on Black history going.

The Newsmaker of the week highlights the Claybourne-Napier family and their efforts to create a movie that depicts a Black fairy tale, 'The Rainbow Prince', inspired by their 10-year-old daughter, Marea. The Claybourne-Napier family did complete the film and showcased it at schools during Black History Month.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is honoring Women History Month, this week is a West Philly native, author, educator, and activist, Lorraine Carey. Carey uses her writing and storytelling to connect youth with history and legacies.