Our Delaware Valley Podcast

Catherine Charlton, Excutive Director of Musicopia and Dancing Classrooms Philly, Taia Harlos, Artistic Director and Conductor, Musicopia, Marcus Myers, Artistic Director, Musicopia Drumlines, and Swati Chaturvedi, Program Director Dancing Classrooms and Teaching Artist for Musicopia, discussed the cultural programming they offer to middle school students throughout the Philadelphia region. Sponsored by local benefactors and grants, the free programs teach mostly fifth-graders about and how to perform ballroom dancing, ‘Bollywood’ and other multi-cultural dance styles, as well as music appreciation and performance for classical music and instruments and percussion. Designed to promote social graces and inter-personal relationships, physical and emotional growth, self-reliance and self-discipline and cultural awareness, they have continued their work through virtual and Zoom classes. Students receive classes as part of their regular coursework, with the opportunity to advance into dance competitions and formal music lessons, or, with Marcus, join a drumline. With many students underserved in cultural experiences the programs offer a chance to experience and participate in world music forms.

musicopia.net   dancingclassroomsphilly.org

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Michaelina Bendig, Adoption Counselor for Adoptions From the Heart work with caring adults, babies and children to create loving families through adoption.  Working with prospective families and individuals and with mothers and fathers near or at birth, they look to create the best outcome for the child and parents.  She described their process, C.H.O.I.C.E.S, which starts with communication about the choices in pregnancy, listening to and supporting the mother in coming to the decision best for her, helping her, and the father, discover possible resources to allow them to parent their child or to find a family wanting to adopt.  She notes that they treat all clients with respect regardless of race, religion, marital status or sexual orientation or gender identity in creating families.  They work with hospitals and child services in placing children and adoptions are open, with birth parents allowed the freedom to interact – or not, with their child.  She explained that the agency stays with all of the parties throughout the process and after, with families using them as the conduit for communication.     AFTH.org

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Maryanne McGerty Sieber, Product Investigator for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission made her annual visit to discuss safety during the extended holiday.  We began with a recap of the agency’s latest news, including a recall of department store candles and a quick lesson on candle safety, then a discussion on kitchen safety, including grilling and turkey deep-fat frying, Christmas tree upkeep, how to use outdoor lights and proper extension cord uses.  She discussed buying, re-gifting or thrift shopping for toys and sporting goods, buy age appropriate and never use a product you cannot identify for recalls.  She reminded us to check their website for past recalls and to always notify them when there’s an issue with the performance of a household appliance or item.  Finally a conversation about an annual battery check for smoke detectors and radon detectors.        

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JoAnne Schultze, Executive Director, and Cheryl Bare, Volunteer Manager, discussed Liberty USO, one of the country's largest chapters, and their work with our active duty military and their families.   JoAnne, a Reservist herself, described the function of the organization, to bring comfort and a feeling of home to the military, on deployment, or here in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, at the military bases and centers in Pittsburgh, Willow Grove, the Philadelphia Airport, Indian Gap Town and McGuire/Ft Dix.  Programming can include send-offs and welcome homes to military; the 24/7 USO Center at the Philadelphia International Airport which offers food, gun storage, secure internet, sleeping and entertainment facilties, even children's activities for families traveling on orders; gift boxes at the holidays,and grief counseling to families traveling through on their way to Dover to receive a military dying on deployment.  Cheryl, a military spouse discussed the programs offered to children, from backpacks of school supplies, to outings, and story books and recordings of the parent's reading them aloud.  She also talked about the financial services offered, including career counseling and job training programs for spouses whose frequent moves have disrupted thier employment history.  Both spoke of the volunteers who offer thousands of hours to keep the centers open and the events manned.  Finally, an invitation to participate in this year's fundraising virtual Gala and auction, December 7th.

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Major Tawny Cowan-Zanders discussed how COVID has affected the Salvation Army’s services to families and the community.  This year, with so many out of work then need is greater, yet because of COVID 19 restrictions, many fundraising opportunities were lost.  She noted that the Salvation Army programming continues throughout the lockdown, pivoting to virtual or one-on-one services.  She described the food deliveries and wellness checks for seniors, educational programs for children and their counseling services. The Major asked listeners to donate to their Save Christmas fund through online and text giving, and through electronic pay plans at Red Kettle sites.

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XTU's Program Director/Mid Day Personality Razz joined Caitlin Walker, Senior Development Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospitals, and Scott Hinshelwood, Country Cares St. Jude Hospitals to talk about the upcoming 92.5XTU RadioThon December 10th & 11th as well as the Country Christmas Concert, Wednesday, December 16th 8pm EST, with details available here. You can also get more information about the great St. Jude Research Hospital does, right here. Thank you for listening. 

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Todd Leiss, Traffic Management Coordinator for the State of Pennsylvania, and John Dewese, a tow truck operator injured by a speeding motorist, discussed the dangers emergency crews and responders face while on the job, and their new campaign, MOVE OVER.  On average two workers are struck each day, 44 dies in 2019, a number that will probably be surpassed in 2020.  After an intense study on accidents involving emergency responders, the state created PENN TIME, the PA Traffic Incident Management effort, to educate the public on what to do when entering a work zone or approaching flashing lights.  The campaign reminds all drivers that you must slow down when entering a work or accident scene and always move over for flashing lights of all colors, under penalty of law.  They also established a free training course for responders - ambulance and firefighters, tow truck drivers, road crews, and all emergency responders on safety measures they can implement for better safety.  

Each state offers tips and educational programming for divers and operators.  In PA visit PENNTIME.org, in New Jersey it's NJTim.org     

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Dr. Marcela Micucci, Curatorial Fellow in Women’s History at the Museum of the American Revolution, discussed their new exhibit, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story 1776-1807, a look at women’s rights at the founding of our nation and how enfranchised women in New Jersey, and to a lesser extent in five other states, lost their standing with the revolution. She discussed the intrigue, the partnerships and the cultural and racial issues that led to women loses their votes, cautionary tale on the fragility of our rights even today.  

Visit the Museum of the American Revolution online at AmRevMuseum.org 

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Deborah Brown, Chief Mission Officer for the American Lung Association, and Anastasia Grodden, TRU representative, discussed their work towards stopping youth tobacco use.  Following successful campaigns to halt smoking by young people, they now have to counter the makers of e-cigarettes and vape products.  Ms Brown discussed the dangers of these products to the user and to second-hand exposure.  Ms Grodden, a local high school student, discussed the TRU program, Tobacco Resistance Unit and their work supporting clean air and preventing under age tobacco use.

For more information go to Lung.org or TRUinPA.org

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Robb Reichard, Executive Director of AIDS Fund Philly, discussed this year’s AIDSWalk Philly, the non-profit’s major fundraising event each year.  Robb described the work of AIDS Fund Philly,  providing emergency financial assistance to people living with HIV disease and organizations providing HIV services in the Greater Philadelphia region, while providing education and increasing public awareness of HIV/AIDS issues.  AIDS FUND  awards micro-grants through partner agencies, emergency funds for medical equipment, rent, food or transportation to help patients stay in treatment.  He discussed the importance of staying in treatment, patients with zero detectible disease cannot transmit it to another.  We discussed barriers to receiving treatment or PREP, the prevention medication, from lack of insurance and primary care, to fear of revealing private information to parents or partners, and often through the failure of medical caregivers to ask if it is needed.  Robb notes that Philadelphia’s transmission rate, while declining, is still above other cities, possibly because it draws young people from the suburbs and due to  communities who are not getting the information through cultural or language barriers.  AIDSFUNDPHILLY.org     

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