Bridging Philly

This week Flashpoint highlights Hispanic Heritage Month and the growth and impact the Hispanic community had in Philadelphia. CEO of PHL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Rodriguez and Hispanic Community Counseling Services CEO Hector Ayala describe the meaning of Hispanic Heritage Month, the issues the Hispanic community face in Philadelphia that go unnoticed, and share their stories of being Puerto Rico natives moving to Philadelphia and creating change.

Our Newsmaker of the week is Mr. Yoshiaki Yamasaki, a licensed psychologist and Executive Director at The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium and World Healthcare Infrastructures, working to provide assistance to those among the Hispanic community.

Our Philly Rising Changemaker is a Philly native, Jahlik Mathis, who is now a detective for the Baltimore Police Department. Not only is he known as the 'giving back detective,' but is making a difference one sneaker at a time to his hometown of North Philadelphia.

This week Flashpoint dives into a deep discussion on the community relationship with and trust in media. Many news outlets' have been criticized for how reporters report on crime, and specifically on gun violence. With local news outlets reporting the 400th homicide this year, we wanted to discuss ways media can improve their reporting on crime while maintaining their mission to serve the public with facts. We hear from a community leader and founder of the Young Chances Foundation, KYW Newsradio's Brand Manager and Program Director, and lastly, Jessica Beard, a trauma surgeon at Temple University Hospital and Director of the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

Our Flashpoint Newsmaker of the week is Earnest Owens, an award-winning journalist. He was nationally recognized and known for his work in print news and his advocacy work in bringing change in his community and the news industry.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is Steven CW Taylor, the owner and curator of the recently opened Ubuntu Fine Art Gallery in Germantown.

I'm Listening is a Flashpoint special about suicide prevention and the importance of talking about mental health. In this special edition of the show, we explore the impact of mental health in Philadelphia youth amid COVID-19, the uptick of suicide rates in the LGBTQ community, and how communities of color break barriers within Black men seeking therapy.

Mary Murtha Ann, Area Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, speaks on how survivor stories can significantly affect helping others. David Huber, a survivor, and partner of the American Foundation for Suicide, shares his story and his efforts in helping others. Lastly, Mary May of Butterfly LLC is a therapist who talks about approaching a loved one struggling with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.

KYW’s Justin Udo speaks with Dr. Jayme Banks, Director of Trauma-Informed School Practices, on how The Philadelphia School District handles suicide prevention with their students amid the pandemic.

KYW’s Shara Dae Howard highlights the Attic Youth Center and its work being a haven for the LGBTQ community and fighting against the uptick of suicides in LGBTQ youth.

KYW’s Jay Scott Smith sits with Marvin Toliver, Therapist at Radical Therapy Center, to discuss the issue of toxic masculinity within the upbringing of Black men and the impact it has on the generations of Black men expressing their emotions and their wellness.

The Philly Rising Changemaker is Trapeta Mayson, Philadelphia’s Poet Laurette, who started the 1-855-PoemRx2 hope hotline for those in need of a positive affirmation and word.

This week Flashpoint is highlighting Black doctors and their efforts to continue to fight against COVID by spreading awareness of the vaccine.

KYW’s Jay Scott Smith is rejoined by Dr. Jennifer Caudle on her efforts in dispelling false and misleading information through her web series based on COVID-19. 

The newsmaker of the week is Dr. Monique Gray is a cancer surgeon, who has been on the frontline of community outreach since the pandemic has progressed through communities of color. 

The Philly Rising Changemaker highlights trailblazing Philadanco founder Joan Myers Brown as she is setting the stage for her retirement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.