Cheryl Thompson is an award-winning investigative correspondent for National Public Radio, an associate professor of journalism at George Washington University, and a recipient of more than 40 journalism awards.

She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss her upcoming book, “Forgotten Soules: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen”. The book examines the lives of the 27 pilots who went missing while battling abroad.

Keldamuzik is a recording artist, actress, TV host, and entrepreneur known for blending entertainment, fashion, and empowerment. Based in the Bay Area and known as *The Diva of San Jose*, she’s performed worldwide and hosts the talk show *Diva Talk Tonite* on Tubi.

As the founder of **Tamz**, her fashion line of bold statement berets, Keldamuzik champions women’s confidence, creativity, and individuality. Beyond music and fashion, she’s a dedicated philanthropist and advocate for self-expression, using her platform to inspire others to live with purpose and authenticity.

Keldamuzik joins the show to further talk about her work as an artist, and to also give her take on what goes into making a hit record in today's music landscape.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is a minister, social justice activist, and author, known for his leadership in the Forward Together Moral Movement, Moral Mondays protests, and co-chairing the Poor People's Campaign.

Bishop Barber joins the show to talk about why Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mission is still relevant in today's society.

Dyana Williams is a producer, artist development coach, journalist, founder of the International Association of African American Music, and co-founder of Black Music Month.

From Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Temple will be presenting a new art exhibit, “Reflections in Black: A Reframing”. Presented by the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Reflections in Black: A Reframing is a group photography exhibition curated by Dr. Deborah Willis. The exhibition accompanies the release of the 25th-anniversary edition of Dr. Willis’ internationally acclaimed publication Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present—the first comprehensive history of Black photographers.

Dyana joins the show to talk about the context behind this exhibit.

Dr. Peterson is joined by Mariam Rashid, Associate Director of Racial Equity and Justice at the Center for American Progress, where she specializes in racial equity and community-informed politics, income inequality and racial wealth gap. Mariam Rashid joins Evening WURDs to discuss policy developments connected to King’s legacy, racial language that the federal government is outlawing and if there is any good news to report at the policy level about "racial justice".

Dr. Christina Greer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University and the author of various political and race books, including her latest release “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacy Abrams”. Dr. Greer joins Evening WURDs to talk about today’s policies in relation to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy.

Molly Parzen is the Executive Director of Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania. Molly joins the show to talk about the recent Pennsylvania state budget agreement that ended the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). They discussed what this budget decision means for environmental protections, climate action, and communities across the state as policymakers weigh the future of clean energy policy.

Matthew George is the Business Development & Cleaning Corridors Program Manager at Germantown United CDC. P.O.C. & Matthew had a conversation centered around the MLK Day cleanup, what’s ahead for Germantown during the city’s 250th, and how community engagement and green spaces are helping transform the neighborhood from the ground up.

Maria Horowitz has been an Environmental Engineer for PWD for over 16 years. She has a B.S & M.S. from Drexel University. As the Watershed Field Services manager for over 10 years, she advocates for holistic approaches to supporting waste (pollution) reduction goals and other watershed protection programs and initiatives for a better Philadelphia.

A discussion on recent breaking news stories around Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr Day.