Our Delaware Valley Podcast

Russ DeFuria, Lisa Leonard and Matt Breidenstein discussed Rotary, an international fraternal organization.  They covered its 1905 founding by a Chicago businessman looking to find friends, to a service-based international organization with members in over 200 countries and regions, from a men-only in business-attire to a group that welcomes women and dresses casually.  Russ, a former President and a member for over 30 years, described them as ‘People of Action’ and explained Rotary’s ‘Six Areas of Focus’ which addresses clean water supplies around the world, hunger relief, maternal health, education, and, what he’s most proud of, the eradication of polio.  Working with other international organizations, Rotary also trains conflict mediators, in the US they to work toward community-based solutions to poverty, crime or violence.

They spoke about their individual chapters, the service projects they choose, and what they each take from membership.  Russ, a HVAC retailer and installer, also enjoys the business networking; Lisa, a voice-over artist, likes the social activities and chances to meet others, while Matt, a disaster responder with the American Red Cross, likes the community projects.  They all spoke about the recent campaign to plant a tree for every member – a 1.2 million tree project.

Rotary welcomes membership to all, with college campus chapters, a high school program and groups throughout the region that meet at various times, from breakfast to happy-hour clubs.  They also have online membership opportunities for those who cannot attend regular meetings.  All encouraged listeners to attend meetings to find the chapter that meets their interests and schedule.

www.Rotary.org

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Sean Kelley, Senior Vice President and Director of Interpretation at Eastern State Penitentiary, discussed the historic site in Center City Philadelphia.   He described its building in 1829 as part of our founding fathers' ideas on prison reform, substituting reflection and contemplation in solitude for the then standard of whipping or stocks and placing men, women and children together in a common cell.   He spoke on how its wheel-spoke structure kept prisoner in total solitude, with no contact from even the guards.   It drew visitors and observers from all over the world as a model prison, even the Marquis de Lafayette and Charles Dickens decried the horror of its solitary confinement.   He discussed how it became a traditional prison in the 1920s and described some of the inmates and some of the features of the building, including a hospital and workshops, as well as its over-crowding and escapes and riots.   The prison was abandoned in 1971, and Kelley spoke about its rescue by preservationists and historians, and the decision to open it before renovating it.  Today many cells, including Al Capone's, the chapel, the synagogue  and parts of the hospital are restored.  Kelley described an important part of it new mission, interpreting incarceration and instigating conversation about prisons, punishment, race and criminal justice.  To start that dialogue ESP now presents installations and exhibits,  including its award-winning exhibit, Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration, and rotating art installations on the prison experience by over 100 artists from across the country.

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Dr. Yolanda Graham, SVP at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health discussed the non-profit, founded and based in Philadelphia, today a national organization with schools, inpatient and outpatient treatment services and residential facilities in 13 states.  She described Devereux’s programs for adults and children with emotional, behavioral and cognitive differences, individuals with autism, developmental or intellectual disabilities.  We discussed the effects of trauma on children, describing the forms it can take and how it effects brain development, leading to a lifetime of difficulties, including dropping out, behavioral issues, physical illness, addiction and suicide and its cost to society in care and lost productivity.  Dr. Graham spoke of the Devereux Center for Resiliency and its work to counter trauma with counseling and developed emotional skills to help cope.  Finally, we discussed her work with the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children program, describing how vulnerable children, often sexually abused by their families, runaways, are recruited into sex trafficking, many time by other youth, and explaining Derveux’s approach to teaching body ownership and self-healing.

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Edward Lafferty, Public Affairs Specialist for the US Social Security Administration, discussed the agency, its funding and its future.  We discussed the rising age for retirement and what future retirees can expect.  Ed reminds us to create a ‘My Social Security’ account to track our earnings, discover any inaccuracies or fraudulent use of our social security numbers, and to help plan for a retirement.  He described the calculations that go into determining benefits – based on your three top earning years – and reminded us of benefits we may be missing, including benefits from former spouses, disabled dependent children and student benefits.  Finally, a look at the fun figures turned up each year by the agency regarding employment and naming trends.

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Joe Brooks, president of Liberty USO, The USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, discussed the programming and services they offer for military and their families, support and comfort for our active duty from induction through discharge or retirement.  He discussed the family emergency and respite services, camps for kids and backpack collections, the 24/7 Welcome Center at the Philadelphia International Airport for traveling military and its support services for families of the Fallen. We also discussed Liberty USO's innovative partnerships with companies such as Comcast, to work with military as they leave the service to find 'transformational' employment, through interview coaching, resume guidance and even scholarships for IT training, as well as programs for Human Resource Managers to learn how to hire from the military population. Finally, a reminder that Liberty USO receives no government or military support for their services and that donations to Liberty USO stay in the area to support our local military.

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A look at Youth Courts and the effects of the criminal justice system on youth was the topic with PAB Pro-Bono Coordinator David Trevaskis, and Harcum College Program Director for Law and Justice, Kathy Smith.  We discussed the long-term effects that even a brush with the criminal justice system can have on a youth, the loss of the school support system, and a 400% increased chance of dropping out.  Keeping high-risk kids in the school environment is key to breaking the 'school to prison pipeline' They defined high-risk, kids who are poor, kids of color, kids in districts practicing zero-tolerance on infractions, kids who are more likely to end up in the court system, another trauma that will prevent them from succeeding.   Trauma was also discussed, homelessness and poverty, family issues, violence in the neighborhood or the fear of violence add up, in many cases school is the only safety net or constant in their lives, they discussed the effects of removing a youth from this safe environment.  They discussed the various forms of youth courts, including truant courts in the Pittsburgh area, and the Chester county model, with a judge and bailiff and peer jury who works with the 'respondent' and his or her advocate.  Guilt is accepted, the court and jury are there to ask who you harmed and how you can fix it.   Once the case is settled, the respondent is then expected to participate on the jury.   Dave and Kathy explained the benefits of the program, not only do the charged students avoid the court system, participants learn citizenship and all become invested in their school, many realizing for the first time that they are a part of the education system and the school belongs to them, too.

Pennsylvania Bar Association pabar.org      PAB Youth Courts

Kathy Smilth, Harcum College Director for Law & Justice EMAIL

Rutgers Law Camden Pro Bono 

Widener University Delaware School of Law Youth Court

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Terry Williamson and Mike Daily discussed the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, one of the nation’s first to honor an individual city’s fallen, they discussed its founding following the creation of the Washington, D.C. memorial, with a ceremonial ‘Last Patrol’ of veterans walking to D.C. to collect rubbings of the Philadelphians included there, the building of the Memorial and the later addition of a monument to Philadelphia’s only Medal of Honor winner from Vietnam, Cpl. Michael Crescenz, and a monument recognizing the South Vietnamese forces.   They also discussed the plans for a new POW/MIA monument to honor all lost, including 10 from Philadelphia, and their fundraising efforts leading to a September 21st ceremonial ground breaking.

For more information, PVVM.org

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Shelly Power, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet discussed the company and her first 6 months as its director. We discussed Artistic Director Angel Corella, former star of the American Ballet Theater, and renowned choreographer and teacher, and his vision for the company, 43 dancers strong in the professional corps, an additional 12 with Ballet ll and the numerous students in the PA ballet’s school.  She addressed the cultural and economic impact of the company and its footprint on the city; the current location of its schools and offices and plans to create a new space for the staff and artists that would allow more community impact.  Shelly spoke about the new season, beginning October 11 with 13 ballets, including several world premieres, company premieres and Ballanchine and Robbins works.

The Pennsylvania Ballet online

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Dave Dorschu, CEO of the Recovery Centers of America Mays Landing Lighthouse facility along with Bill Caranci, Director of Communications for the RCA's were in the studio to discuss the opioid epidemic and how to get help. #OurDelawareValley 

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Ethan Kauffman, The Director of Stoneleigh, A natural garden in Villanova, PA, Montgomery County, was in to talk about Stoneleigh and why you should visit. #OurDelawareValley

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