Bridging Philly

I'm Listening is a special KYW Newsradio makes every year focusing on mental health and wellness and suicide prevention. You'll hear conversations with experts in the field of mental health, and real things everyone can do to make a difference. Tips on how to manage parenting stresses, how to practice mindfulness, how to deal with grief in a positive and proactive way, and keeping your mental health the priority while experiencing anxiety related to the news cycle and world events.    

Philadelphia has a literacy crisis - only a third of third grade students are reading at grade level. But access to books and activities that create positive experiences with reading can help. Book Trust is a national nonprofit that helps students choose books to own and provides teachers with engaging materials. Racquel Williams talks with their staff and their teacher of the year, Cheryl Daniels, a first-grade teacher at Philadelphia’s James R. Ludlow Elementary School.

Then, on Shara in the City, Work to Ride teaches youth about emotional healing and violence prevention through horsemanship. Shara Dae Howard takes a trip to the stables and talks with the kids about what they’ve been learning from these horses.

The Arab community in Philadelphia is a mix of people from many countries, all with vibrant art, music, and culture to share. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture serves as a hub for anyone who wants to learn about Arabic language and creative expression. Racquel Williams talks with several members of the Al-Bustan team about their mission and experiences as Arab people in America today.

Then, on Shara in the City, The Water Shed is a new community space centered around art, education and the environment. Shara Dae Howard stops by their grand opening block party to see what it’s all about.

00:00 Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

28:10 Shara in the City at The Water Shed

What kinds of jobs were 19th century Black Philadelphians doing? What did they value? These kinds of questions are at the heart of a new collaboration between The Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College and 1838 Black Metropolis, studying census data from 1838 and 1847 to learn what life was like for the city’s Black residents and how it changed over that decade. Racquel Williams talks with several researchers behind the project.

Then, on Shara in the City, we visit Project HOME to learn about how they are fighting to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Shara Dae Howard meets the founder, Sister Mary Scullion, along with the current CEO, Donna Bullock, and takes a tour of one of their housing units in Fairmount.

Kelson Williams is a regular 12-year-old - he loves Marvel and playing outside with his friends - but he’s living with cerebral palsy. He has a medical support dog, Gus, but insurance wouldn’t cover the $15,000 for Gus’s training. So Kelson and his family turned to Help Hope Live, a nonprofit that helps fundraise for medical costs, and they raised so much that they are now working toward a stretch goal to get Kelson a new wheelchair. Racquel Williams talks with Kelson, his mother Stephanie, and Melanie Johnson, Client Services Coordinator at Help Hope Live.

Then, on Shara in the City, we talk with a music legend - Rev. Joe Williams, the last living member of the gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. Shara Dae Howard visits him in North Philly to hear about how he got to sing with the group that he admired for years.

South Philly’s 9th Street Market may be known as the Italian Market, but the vendors there aren’t just Italian. Immigrants have come from many countries for 100 years and found opportunity and community in the neighborhood. Racquel Williams visited the market and talked with Michelle Angela Ortiz, who created Our Market Project to share the stories of the people who make the market what it is through art and a walking tour.

Then on Shara in the City, Scribe Video Center put on the first North Philadelphia History Festival this July, showcasing films and multimedia exhibits that celebrate the neighborhood and the impacts of the African American and Puerto Rican communities. Shara Dae Howard went to the festival to see what it’s all about.

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia is taking on the teacher shortage and summer learning loss at the same time. Their summer and weekend programs give middle schoolers the opportunity to go beyond their classroom learning in a way that’s fun and engaging, led by college students training to become teachers. Racquel Williams talks with Michelle Palmer, the Executive Director of Breakthrough’s Philadelphia chapter; Najah Spruill, a former student who went on to train and then teach with Breakthrough; and Marissa Tice, a single mom of two children in the program.

Then, on Shara in the City, we’re treating ourselves to a little something sweet at Reading Terminal Market. Shara Dae Howard visits Sweet Nina’s to learn about the local business and taste their wide array of banana pudding flavors.

00:00 Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia

22:05 Shara in the City: Sweet Nina's

When you’re going through a difficult time, sometimes a simple act of kindness can mean everything. Lasagna Love is building a movement based on that kindness, where volunteers make and deliver lasagna for neighbors in need. Racquel Williams talks with their Executive Director, Andria Larson, and the Volunteer State Director for Pennsylvania, Jazmyne Walker.

Then, on Shara in the City, we’re learning all about the trees and plants around Philadelphia. Shara Dae Howard takes a walk with a local arborist to find out what’s in bloom.

The Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts, saying they want to stop criminals from coming into our country illegally, but many people who are trying to go through the legal process of immigration and have no criminal history have found themselves detained by ICE, even when they’re following every rule. To get a better understanding of the legal process, the barriers, and whether or not a legal status actually means protection, Racquel Williams talks with Blanca Pacheco and Peter Pedemonti, co-directors of New Sanctuary Movement, and Sarah Paoletti, Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Transnational Legal Clinic.

Then, on Shara in the City, it’s all about “The Blob”. Shara Dae Howard attends Blobfest, the annual celebration in Phoenixville that commemorates the 1958 sci-fi horror flick and the scene that was filmed at The Colonial Theatre.

Lewy body dementia affects over a million people in the United States, but many people don’t know much about it. It’s difficult to diagnose and often misdiagnosed. A new documentary called “Facing the Wind” shines a light on Lewy body dementia, both living with it and caring for someone who has the disease. Racquel Williams talks with Philadelphia filmmaker Tony Heriza and Linda Szypula, who lives in Plymouth Meeting and whose journey caring for her husband is featured in the film.

Scribe Video Center is hosting a screening of “Facing the Wind” on September 18.

Listen to Linda’s podcast, “Lewy Body Roller Coaster”, here.

Then, on Shara in the City, we visit one of Fairmount Park’s oldest buildings - the Ohio House, which dates back to the centennial World’s Fair in 1876. Shara Dae Howard takes a tour and learns about the building’s deep history.