The Spark

Between three and four percent of engineers in this country are Black. About 6,000 Blacks graduate with engineering degrees each year – far less than Whites. The great majority of engineers are White and men.

This Saturday, the Millersville University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers is holding its first ever Career Carnival to generate interest in the Science Technology Engineering and Math fields and showcase safety equipment to the community.

The Career Carnival was the brainchild of Jordan Branch, a senior manufacturing engineering technology major and president of the NSBE Millersville student chapter, who said on The Spark Monday that he got the idea for the carnival from a "Touch-Me-Truck" event geared toward children. Branch said he envisioned an event that where children, students and adults could see safety equipment up-close but also learn about the STEM field, with an emphasis on STEM opportunities for African-Americans, "What I want them to take away is there's a community that looks just like them. Because the whole point of this career carnival is I'm asking these employers, it's not a requirement to have somebody from underrepresented or minority community. My goal is for these kids to see not only themselves as professionals, but students in the same place."

When asked why there are so few Black engineers, Branch said he didn't think it was a lack of opportunities as much as not being exposed or aware of STEM, "When I talk to a lot of my friends that are in the same program, they kind of bumped into it is either one or two things. Either they have family that's already in this field or they were inspired because they took things apart."

But Jordan Branch is much more than a soon-to-be engineer – he also is active in the community in many ways, including food and coat drives. He was inspired by his mother who Jordan said started by encouraging him to help older ladies carry their groceries to their car or into their houses. Today, giving back to the community is on a larger scale,"With the help of the Lancaster Food Hub, Lancaster Habitat for Humanity, and The United Way of Lancaster County we were able to collect and distribute over 250 coats to those in need."

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These special gatherings combine the world-class music played by our guitar-playing friends and mentors inside the River Room of The Manor On Front. The Manor is a beautiful old home in Harrisburg, PA converted into a bed & breakfast.  

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In an exciting development for the local media landscape, WITF is thrilled to announce the launch of its groundbreaking new podcast, “The Melanin Report,” which premiered on September 4. This innovative podcast provides a platform for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to share their stories, perspectives, and experiences while celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make up Central Pa.

Diversity and Voices Amplified

Hosted by Marquis Lupton, “The Melanin Report” promises an engaging and thought-provoking listening experience. Each episode features interviews, discussions, and personal stories that highlight the unique contributions and challenges faced by BIPOC individuals in Central Pennsylvania. The podcast delves into a wide range of topics including culture, identity, social issues, history, and more.

Lupton is a native of Lancaster, Pa., and current On-Air Host and Producer for WITF. With a journalism career spanning over a decade, Lupton has had the opportunity to interview people like Sen. Corey Booker, former Gov. Chris Christie, Shaq, Oprah Winfrey, and a lengthy list of state and local politicians. Lupton previously ran a digital media company called TCP Media Group, which focused on giving marginalized groups in Pennsylvania a voice.

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WITF, in partnership with CAIU, recently entered into a partnership with PDE to coordinate and offer professional learning for educators across the Commonwealth. The work just began last week, but specifically, WITF will provide technical assistance and various workshops for any educator in PA who seeks support in thinking about program design, instructional design, curriculum and/or assessment for ELs. WITF will also support PDE staff in responding to questions where any of those topics intersect with civil rights compliance. 

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During the pandemic, gyms and fitness studios were among the hardest hit businesses as people were told to stay home. And even when things reopen, people were often hesitant to return to in-person workouts. The National Health and Fitness Alliance, an industry group, estimates that 25% of U.S. health clubs and studios have closed permanently since the pandemic began. Today on the Spark, we're talking to Marie Cleves RATHKE of Move Art Studio in Lancaster and Jenny Bones of Black Cat Yoga in Lititz about how they've navigated the pandemic and how the fitness industry in general is responding to the big changes of the past few years. 

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The city of Lancaster has been attracting more and more national attention for being a great place to live and also for being a welcoming place. In 2017, the BBC did a story about how the city is a haven for refugees and dubbed Lancaster America's refugee capital, citing the fact that the city resettles 20 times more refugees per capita than the rest of the U.S. And last year the city was designated as a certified welcoming city by an organization called Welcoming America. 

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A group of young people recently won a historic lawsuit about climate change in Montana. The court sided with the young plaintiffs and found that they have a constitutional right to a healthy environment and that the state must consider potential climate damage when approving projects. The case centered on language in Montana's state constitution, guaranteeing people the right to a healthy environment. Pennsylvania has similar language in its state constitution, and we're here today to talk about this case in Montana and its potential broader implications. With John Dern, he's emeritus professor of law and the former director of the Environmental Law and Sustainability Center at Weidner University.

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Reji Woods is a versatile performer with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Central Florida Conservatory Theatre. He has performed throughout the United States as well as in Paris, Amsterdam, and India! Reji is the co-founder/owner Bending Threads Cabaret Company based in New York, NY, and the founder of Reji Woods Productions based in Lancaster, PA.  Reji has also enjoyed an extensive New York/Broadway/Off-Broadway, national tour and regional theatre acting career. He was most recently featured on the small screen on the 2018 Grammy Awards, in a recurring role on the sixth season of Orange Is The New Black, and in a featured role in the third season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. This Saturday September 2nd, Reji and his production company will be taking the stage once again at the Mt. Gretna Tabernacle Summer Concert Series, for his Motown Review to close out the series.

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There are many places in Pennsylvania that don’t have access to high-speed, broadband internet service. It became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when most of the students in the state were learning from home.

The infrastructure package signed into law by President Joe Biden included billions of dollars for broadband expansion, including almost a billion dollars here in Pennsylvania. It was called one of the keys to the state’s economic and educational future.

There seemed to be a collective sense of excitement that finally broadband expansion would connect all of Pennsylvania and make it competitive. The funding was a huge first step but there are some hurdles to clear to expand broadband in Pennsylvania.

Spotlight PA Investigative Reporter Charlotte Keith recently reported on those obstacles and joined us on The Spark Friday.

Read Charlotte Keith's article on broadband expansion obstacles here.

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Eight-hundred-thousand U.S. veterans struggle with physical injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD and other emotional distress.

They are being treated for both their physical and mental conditions in the traditional way at hospitals with doctors, specialists and mental health professionals.

But there are other things that work to relieve their pain as well.

Guitars4Vets is one such program. It’s a national organization that uses music to heal. There’s a Guitars4Vets chapter in Lebanon and we were joined on The Spark Thursday by co-coordinators from that chapter – David Bowen and Linda Lehman.

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