Our Delaware Valley Podcast

Katie Young Wildes, Senior Communications Specialist for Women Against Abuse, Inc.  WOMENAGAINSTABUSE.ORG   Katie Sanford,  Community Educator for Laurel House, LAUREL-HOUSE.ORG, and Toby Fraser, Manager of Community Education at Lutheran Settlement House,  lutheransettlement.org, return to discuss domestic violence and their October Awareness Month campaigns.  We spoke about the forms of abuse, including, but not limited to physical, emotional and financial, and the easy to find 'Wheel of Control' that helps a partner evaluate their relationship.  They discussed the help available, for victims and for concerned friends and family who want to help.

If you are experiencing DV, or are concerned about what to do for a friend or loved one, the 24 hour hotline is availbale to help put you intouch with the agency closest to you: 1-800-799-SAFE 

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Chief Executive Officer Wendy Lewis discussed the work of The Parkinson Council whose mission is to provide financial support to local nonprofits and institutions dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and care partners.  Founded by volunteers who turned to fundraising, The Parkingson Council provides research grants to major institutions including Penn and Jefferson, as well as funding for programs working to support with people with Parkinsons - movement or even singing groups.  #raiselocalstayslocal She discussed what they know about the disease, it's caused by a lack of information-transmitting dopamine, it does occur in families through a genetic mutation, but how and why it is triggered is still being studied.  Veterans exposed to Agent Orrange and rural communities near pesticides are especially vulnerable. While early-onset can occur in your 30s and 40s, it's mostly diagnosed later in life and mistaken for common aging.  She noted they are working to increase awareness within our different communities, where diagnosis is often delayed by poor access to medical care and lack of awareness. 

Ms Lewis described the symptoms that include arms that don't swing as you walk, constipation and tremors, and the research they fund for new treatments.

She asks us to support their mission, the easy way through their Walk to End Parkinsons October 16 at the Philadelphia Zoo.  With its theme, Empower Community the funds raised will continue to support the local research and patient programming.  You can participate on site or virtually, as an individual or as part of a team.  For more information visit THEPARKINSONCOUNCIL.ORG          

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Kristina Valdez, Executive Director of Along the Way, discussed the non-profit serving single mothers in Bucks and Montgomery counties with after-hours childcare and other services to allow them to work and pursue their education.  She described the child-care crisis in the US – child care costs can take up 21% of a two-parent monthly income, for single mothers it’s 63%.   41% of children born in PA are born to single mothers, 2 in 3 female headed households are what she described these parents as ALICE -  Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.  A single mother without child care cannot work, and if she can’t work, then she can’t get out of poverty.   
Lack of child care can keep a woman from job choices and education, preventing her from getting ahead, she described their programs – free reliable, trustworthy childcare– over 8,000 hours -  from vetted, paid care providers, and career/job counseling.   Along the Way is funded through grants and donations, as well as fund-raisers including a Golf Outing Sept 20 in Harleysville at Lederach-top 10 course to play in PA.  For information visit alongtheway.org

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This week Andie Summers Host of The Andie Summers Show on 92.5XTU along with Mary Ann Murtha, Greater Philadelphia Area Director for AFSP and Dr. Terri Erbacher were in the studio to discuss the very difficult topic of suicide. The Out of The Darkness walk is on Sunday, October 3rd. Sign up here. Please always have the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number with you. 1-800-273-8255. Or, Text #741741. 

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Cindy Messerle, CEO at Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter, discussed the latest news about the Foundation and the first new medications to treat the disease in fifty years.  We spoke about Lupus, its symptoms of fatigue, low grade fever, inflamation, rash and 'brain fog' that can come and go, making it difficult for many to get a diagnosis.  She notes that 90% of those diagnosed are women, and people of color are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop it, possibly due to environment, trauma or, for women, hormonal changes.  Ms Messerle spoke of the wok of the Foundation, funding research and awareness and supporting those living with the disease, and she discussed the October 16th Walk To End Lupus Now.  For information about the Foundation or to regoster visit LUPUSTRISTATE.ORG 

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Loree Jones, the CEO of Philabundance, discussed their mission, feeding up to 830,000 now, through over 350 food pantries and emergency centers across fiver PA counties and 4 in South Jersey.  

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Mary Ann Murtha, Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, discussed their programmig and the upcoming area Out of the Darkness Walks for suicide prevention and awareness, we discussed the latest numbers and the effect of COVID 19 isolation on the possible decrease in deaths by suicide.    

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Todd Leice, Traffic Incident Manager for the PA Turnpike and PennTime Manager, and Bob Pomykala, Statewide Coordinator for Training for NJTim, discussed the dangers of road accidents to first responders, as nationally we are tracking to a record number of fatalities and injuries in 2021.  They described the problem, the ‘D’ driver – drunk, distracted, dumb, whose minor accident can turn into tragedy as other vehicles become involved.  Describing the first 15 minutes after an acident are the most dangerous, they reminded us that drivers involved should get out of the way,  drivers passing should allow clear distance and slow down.  Noting that fines are not working, Bob, a former NJ State Trooper described their new campaigns trying to remind drivers that the police, EMT, tow crews and even construction workers, have families and friends.  First responders and road crews must also protect themselves, and most states offer a form of PennTime and NJTim, a free course on staying safe on the job.

For more information, visit PENNTime.com 

and NJTim.com.  In Delaware, contact the DE State Fire Academy.

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Corinne O'Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia discussed their vision, a city where everyone has a decent place to live, and how they set out to accomplish it.  We discussed the need for secure, safe and fair priced homes for working families, homes that cost 30% or less of their income.   She described how they work with neighborhoods to select homes and neighborhoods and then rehab – or build – homes for participants.  Homes ae not free, they are sold to the participant at a fair rate, after an intensive training in financial literacy class, home maintenance and a minimum of 350 hours of sweat equity.  Participants are also coached on community involvement, they and Habitat work to better the neighborhood as well, there are low and no-cost repairs available to them.  Habitat notes that the most affordable home is the one a family already lives in, and they offer repair work to keep the family in that home, another boost for the local community.  As part of their mission, Habitat seeks to acknowledge and alleviate the inequalities of home buying and selling based on race, the covenants and redlining of the past have created and perpetuated intergenerational poverty, and created gaps in income and educational opportunities.   To increase awareness for the problem they hosted a series available for download at habitatphiladelphia.org.   We ended with a discussion of the volunteers who teach, build or fundraise and their ReStore, a discount home improvement store that sells donated gently used or new building materials, furniture and appliances to help fund their programs.  

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Dr Michael Goldberg, Chair of the Division of Gastroenterology, part of the Department of Digestive Disease and Transplantation at Einstein Healthcare Network, discussed colo-rectal cncer, the signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer, how our genetics play a part in developing it, and the best weapon of all against it, early detection.  These cancers are being found in younger patients, and race and income also plays into detection and successful treatment.  Dr Goldberg discussed the steps we can take in prevention – a healthy high-fiber diet that avoids processed meats, watching our weight and not smoking, but he recommends screening, as early as possible based on your individual risk factors as your best bet to beating it.  While a stool test blood test is easy and readily available, the colonoscopy is the gold standard test and allows for the removal of the polyps that can become cancerous.  We spoke of the barriers many face to getting screened, including fear of the preparation and procedure, lack of insurance and a primary care physician to recommend it, and lack of awareness.   You can learn about Einstein programs at Einstein.edu/colonoscopy or 1-800-EINSTEIN    

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