Germantown Voices

Moments of growth spur from humility, vulnerability and accountability. And it’s true that the most uncomfortable conversations produce change. What’s more uncomfortable than sitting down with a therapist?

That’s what Christian Watts did. Christian is a woman who says a spiritual and emotional pandemic began for her in 2018. The past covid-19 pandemic was the gold at the end of her rainbow.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Alexia Doumbouya’s first pregnancy wasn’t great. She experienced anxiety, trauma and postpartum depression. 

So when the mother decided to try pregnancy again, she vowed to find support..unfortunately there was little.

Produced by Nichole Currie 

A good home is made, not bought.

Vashti DuBois made a great home on Newhall Street in Germantown. While today she is known for using her house as the curator for The Colored Girls Museum, her house encases so much more. Stories, revelations and healing.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Do you remember the first time you fell in love with your craft?

Maybe it was a sure fit or maybe it was something you had to eventually love? Karen Smith fell in love with an instrument that is the backbone of most bands.

The drums.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Our neighbor Supreme Dow grew up with activists, revolutionaries, and literature about fighting oppression and racism.

It’s no surprise he founded the Black Writers Museum in 2010. Before Supreme was known for the museum, he was known as Dody Dow’s son. 

In this Germantown Voices story, he shares how his mother made him who he is today.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Doriana Diaz was among thousands of college students who didn’t have a graduation last year. In addition to losing a traditional celebration, the job market wasn’t exactly open for new students. But one silver lining was Doriana’s first apartment.

Germantown poet Doriana shares what life was like as a new graduate and how an empty apartment forced a spiritual evolution within her.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Black pride, history and liberation.

These were the values of Harriette and the late Ed Robinson. A couple who had two loves; each other and the history of their people.

The Robinsons spent years fighting to mandate Black History in the Philadelphia School District and authored a Black History text named “The Journey of the Songhai People.”

Here is their story shared by Harriette Robinson.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Millions died from the Coronavirus, and the death count is still rising. But while the world centered their focus on a pandemic, gun-violence was also taking lives in cities like Philadelphia.

Shameka Sawyer lost her brother last year to gun violence—she shares how her film-making skills and brother’s rap career as TANCH led her to create a documentary.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Dance is storytelling, it’s communication, expression and referred to as a form of kinesics by Germantown resident Kristen Clark.

Clark has been dancing or moving her entire life, whether in a studio, at home, or in public. Dance is almost everything to her, but she was faced with a difficult question last year: What happens when the activity that is part of your soul is unexpectedly taken away.

Produced by Nichole Currie

Artist across all mediums felt the effects of the pandemic. On the surface, they had nowhere to perform or showcase their art. Below the surface, creating became challenging in unexpected times. Musician Miles Butler interviewed his dear friend and poet Ursula Rucker on this experience.

The two confided and shared how artists dealt with the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Produced and composed by Miles Butler