Our Delaware Valley Podcast

Dennis Pullin, health-care executive and author of “Suited for Leadership: How to Show Up with Purpose and Have a Lasting Impact” discussed his new book on developing your leadership skills.

Using the metaphor of a well-fitted suit— fit, confidence, and attention to detail—he explains how true leadership requires emotional intelligence, integrity, vision, and purpose.

We discussed his Texas upbringing and how his mother instilled in him the mantra, ‘be better tomorrow,’ an axiom he applies today to lead and to do better for his company, his staff and the community at large.

He assures us that leadership skills can be developed anywhere and at any age, young or old. His book is divided into 24 bite‑sized chapters, each centering on a specific leadership principle such as
Be Better Than Today – Pursue continuous improvement;
Let Purpose Get You Out of Bed – Anchor your leadership in meaning;
Be Fearlessly Authentic – Embrace vulnerability and your true self;
Stand Out, Don’t Stick Out – Make intentional, confident contributions and
Surround Yourself with Impactful People – Build teams with diverse strengths.

‘Suited for Leadership: How to Show Up with Purpose and Have a Lasting Impact’ is available at www.dennispullin.com or through Amazon.

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We Can't To We Can founder and President Trinity Jagdeo, discusses the non-profit organization for families with disabilities that she founded at the age of 18. Trinity spoke of her friend, Alexus and how her battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, also known as SMA, revealed to her the lack of opportunities and role models her friend had. She began with a series of ‘superhero’ books based on kids with disabilities and developed it into a foundation that today promotes representation and inclusion through her books, presents local events and offers financial support to families. She talked about their signature programs, a swap service where families can exchange outgrown medical equipment and their bi-annual fundraiser, Including You! Runway at Pfleeger Hall at Rowan University. This year falling on July 26, the 35th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the event features stunning runway performances with both able and disabled models wearing national brands and adaptive clothing, a live DJ, a red-carpet experience, special guest appearances, exciting prizes, and the official launch of their groundbreaking superhero book series spotlighting real kids with disabilities.

Learn more at WeCant2WeCan.org. Runway tickets can be found here.

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Ann Deschamps, Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center returns to discuss their work in educating and training individuals, businesses and communities about the Americans with Disabilities Act as it celebrates its 35th anniversary.   We discussed who is covered by the ACT, a wide range that includes anyone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, and how the ADA Center can help with information and direction.  The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center is one of ten across the country offering these services.  

In addition to jobs, education and general awareness we talked about adaptive sports and the July Golf Open in Maryland; highlights and interviews from the tourney can be found on their website, adainfo.org.  For the job accommodation network go to askjan.org.

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Kim Hollenback, Managing Attorney of the Media Office of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and VOCA Supervising Attorney spoke about the Victim of Crimes Act and the civil legal services for victims of domestic violence and other crimes her program offers.

We discussed the different kinds of abuse, physical, mental and financial, and she reminds us that it is between partners, that it is not limited to married couples. Anyone in a relationship - dating, parental or other, can be the victim of abuse, regardless of age or gender. 

Describing domestic violence as a public health issues, she talked about the relief her office can offer, including Protection from Abuse orders (restraining orders), child custody, divorce, landlord-tenant issues and even expungements.  

We discussed the restrictions that the state of Pennsylvania places on victims, they narrowly define DV as actual physical abuse, and how they are able to get protections and recourse for their clients.   

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA provides free legal services to low-income individuals and seniors throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.  Because the program is funded through the Victim of Crimes Act  they do not have income requirements, and they are permitted to assist non-citizens as well. She notes, however, that in many cases legal help is either too costly for families above the cut off and many victims of abuse do not have access to their funds.   

We discussed other funding for LASP and its programming and Kim reminds us that Legal Aid delivers up to a $12 return on every dollar invested in it; she encourages direct donations to keep them secure. 

For more information visit lasp.org/domestic-violence

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Richard A.J. Prebil, Esq., Supervising Attorney of the Veterans Advocacy Project of
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA discussed his program which provides legal services to veterans who are unhoused, at-risk of homelessness, seniors, living with severe disabilities, low-income, and sometimes those who are incarcerated.

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA provides free legal services to low-income individuals, survivors of domestic violence, and seniors throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Legal Aid’s Veterans Unit in particular delivers immediate and measurable direct impacts on individuals and families, through the prevention of wrongful evictions and advocacy to stabilize income, which provides housing stability for veterans and their families in our community and 20 counties throughout Pennsylvania. 

LASP’s Veterans Unit works with organizations across our community, including Veterans Multi-Service Center, Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Coatesville VA Medical Center, and local county offices of veterans affairs.

He also discussed the impact of the program, since they started the unit in mid-2020, they have opened over 3,500 cases for veterans and obtained over $4.9 million in retroactive benefits for their clients from VA and SSA, money directly in their pockets to help provide for life’s necessities; their client’s incomes have increased by around $1,400 per month on average.  He described one case of a woman vet who raised six children on her social security while waiting six years for a decision on her military benefits, they were able to resolve her claim with retro benefits, allowing her to buy a home and enable her oldest to get benefits for college.    

For more information call the Veterans Advocacy Helpline 610-283-0884 or visit www.lasp.org/veterans

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Debby Derricks, Director of Development for the Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC), discussed the non-profit, founded in 1980 by local Vietnam Veterans, who built a memorial along the Philadelphia waterfront and created a community of vets helping vets.  Today the VMC serves over 6,500 Veterans and families annually with drop in facilities, shelters and centers throughout the tri-state area. The VMC connects Vets with the entitlements and benefits they have earned, cutting through red tape, helping with applications and advocating for them, securing housing, drug and alcohol interventions, employment, job training, healthcare, pensions, disability benefits, even emergency shelter and legal help. We discussed their women’s programming, offering support groups, therapy, housing, even clothing and toiletries for   women in a safe, secure environment that addresses their unique traumas.  The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox (SSG Fox) Suicide Prevention Program addresses mental health issues Vets and their families face.

We discussed their programming, offered free to all Vets, and how the annual Vets radiothon helps support their mission. 

The WMGK Vets Radiothon is Friday, June 20 from 6A to 6P.  Call in or make a secure donation by text or online at wmgk.com

For more information about the VMC go to VMCenter.org.

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Amy Needle, CEO and President of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. discussed the summer activities planned for Franklin Square, the Betsy Ross House and throughout the Olde City historic district.  The brainchild of former Mayor Ed Rendell, Historic Philadelphia was founded to package and promote the tourism impact of the many historic sites and the pivotal events that happened here.  Today it oversees the Betsy Ross House, the home of Betsy, her three husbands and many children and her upholstery business, and the redeveloped and revitalized Franklin Square, one of William Penn’s original green spaces.  It also offers ‘Once Upon a Nation,’ live interactive presentations by costumed reenactors throughout the historic district.  We touched on the plans for this year, and ongoing partnerships with other district museums and sites in anticipation of 2026 celebrations.

Once Upon A Nation will again offer its famous Storytelling Benches in Old City with new free programs for kids.  For adults, they are introducing ‘Cocktails with Congress,’ a Thursday Happy Hour at Carpenters’ Hall. 

At Franklin Square the Chinese Lantern Festival, their major fundraiser, returns June 20 through August 31 with cultural offerings and vendors.  The event is open to the public during the day and ticketed at night when the lanterns glow.  The daily fountain shows in the Rendell Family Fountain, the carousel and Mini Golf and Square Burger restaurant are all open throughout the day and evening. During the day there will be exercise classes, yoga and other offerings at the park which serves as a green anchor for the residents and schools nearby.   

Amy discussed their annual July 2nd celebration, a parade winding from the National Constitution Center to the Museum of the American Revolution, followed by activities and entertainment at eight neighboring historic sites. Amy revealed that an expanded version of this will be the centerpiece for their 2026 plans as well as ‘52 Weeks of Firsts’ – markers celebrating famous firsts of Philadelphia, with one spotlighted every week.

For more information about tours, Once Upon a Nation sites, tickets to the Chinese Lantern Festival and other historic events check the Historic Philadelphia Gazette at historicphiladelpia.org.

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Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director the American Psychiatric Association Foundation discussed workplace mental health. 

In a recent study they found 80% say they feel stress at work. .One-third of Americans say work has an adverse effect on their mental health.  They estimate that depression alone costs employers in the U.S. $43B annually.   

He notes that work is one of the most reported causes of stress among Americans and he hopes they can build on the workplace mental health considerations many companies began during COVID. 

He discussed the APA’s Center for Workplace Mental Health that has created a initiative called Notice. Talk. Act.® At Work to encourage management to open the discussion of mental health and stress with their employees, to give mental health care the same priority as our physical well-being, and to learn how to recognize the signs of stress and burn-out. 

Learn more at apaf.org

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David Thomas, President and CEO of PHDC, Philadelphia’s full-service community development organization dedicated to its neighborhoods and the people in them.  We support them with Working with our public, private and nonprofit partners and the boards of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and Philadelphia Land Bank – they offer housing options, repurposed vacant land, and community assets.          

Mr. Thomas discussed the many programs offered by PHDC including FreshStartPHL, which bridges the gap for those that may be able to afford their monthly rental costs but need extra financial support to move.  The program provides qualified residents the equivalent of three months of rent for eligible households and up to a $1,000 stipend for relocation-related costs, such as movers, furniture, power and water hooks ups, and more.

This pilot program joins other initiatives offered by the city including Turn the Key, which builds energy efficient homes on publicly owned land across Philadelphia allowing  first-time home owners to buy new affordable homes and build equity for their futures,  and Philly First Home that offers a homebuyer assistance grant of up to $10,000 (or 6% of the home’s purchase price, whichever is lower) to assist first-time homebuyers reduce their principal, cover down payment and loan closing costs.  

We discussed the city’s aging housing stock and programs aimed at repair such as  Restore, Repair, Renew that helps homeowners access low-interest loans to fund a range of home repairs that focus on health, safety, weatherization, accessibility, and quality of life. The goal of the program is to help Philadelphians improve their homes and strengthen their communities.

Because title is required for funds and Philadelphia is suffering from a large number of ‘tangled titles,’ they also offer programming to help residents clear their property’s title issues. Visit phila.gov/programs/ tangled-title-program for more details.

You can see all the eligibility requirements, and apply at phdcphila.org/FreshStartPHL

Mr Thomas recommends that anyone looking to buy or rent in Philadelphia start with their new online service, One Philly Front Door that allows you to discover programs and resource available to them in one stop.  

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Alexandra Deutsch, the John L. and Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections, at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library

and Dr. Jonathan Michael Square, Assistant Professor of Black Visual Culture at Parsons School of Design, and Guest curator of Almost Unknown, The Afric-American Picture Gallery, discussed the exhibit now on view through January 4, 2026 at Winterthur.

Prompted by an 1859 essay by writer, social commentator and abolitionist William J. Wilson, “Afric-American Picture Gallery,” the exhibit uses text, lighting, sound and about 32 objects culled from the Winterthur collection to create the fictional galley’s experience. 

‘Almost Unknown,’ five years in the making, captures the Winterthur Museum, Library and Gardens mission, presenting American material culture and design with context and history. 

For more information, hours and programming offered in conjunction with Almost Unknown: The Afric-American Picture Gallery and its other collections go to WINTERTHUR.ORG

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