Dr. Stacy Holland is the Executive Director of Elevate 215, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing educational outcomes for Philadelphia students. A new charter school application program, Apply Philly Charter, is helping Philly students connect to the schools they want most while improving efficiency for schools across the city. The new system allowed 26,696 students to rank up to fifteen charter schools in order of preference and receive an offer matched to their ranked choices.

Dr. Holland joined the show to talk about the Apply Philly Charter enrollment program. This new program is helping Philly students connect to the schools they want most while improving efficiency for schools across the city.

Felicity A. Williams, Esq., Executive Director and Laura Beltrán Figueroa, Policy Research and Legislative Strategy Director at the Pennsylvania Policy Center, discuss where PA ranks in state school funding, highlights from Gov. Shapiro's proposed budget, and money in politics.

Kam Middlebrooks, Deputy Executive Director of Onyx Impact, discusses the comprehensive Blackout Report documenting how the Trump administration has negatively targeted Black communities.

Senator Nikil Saval represents Pennsylvania’s First Senatorial District, which runs through the heart of Philadelphia. Senator Saval serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Urban Affairs & Housing Committee, and leads the Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation.

He joined Dr. Peterson to discuss upcoming HOMECOMING 2026: A Day for Justice-Impacted Philadelphians event in conjunction with Councilman Nicholas O’Rourke’s office, this upcoming Saturday, June 20th at 11:00 AM, and the importance of second chances.

Carmina Taylor is a fierce advocate for public education and civil rights leader. She leads the Pennsylvania Black Mayors Caucus, which is partnering on a series of events with the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition regarding literacy and civic engagement.

She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss the final version of the PA Black Mayors Civic Engagement Initiative, and the launch of the Public Education Testimony Hearings.

Weadé James is the Senior Director of K-12 Education Policy at the Center for American Progress, whose research and expertise advances equity for historically marginalized groups, particular students with disabilities, low-income students, and students and educators of color.

She joined Dr. Peterson for this week's Center for American Progress segment to discuss policies addressing cellphone use in schools after the Pennsylvania House recently passed a cellphone ban in schools.

Helen Salahuddin is an entertainment attorney, cultural activist and community leader whose work spans law, education and cultural preservation. She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss this year’s PAJI Juneteenth Parade that WURD Radio will be broadcasting from at Malcolm X Park at 52nd and Pine Streets on Sunday, June 21st at 12:00 PM.

Tiffany Bacon is WURD Radio’s Creative and Production Director, who led last Thursday’s WURD Radio’s Black Music Month event — “Beats, Flows and Neo Soul”. She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss WURD’s Black Music Month and the importance of acknowledging OUR Philadelphia-based music, and co-hosting WURD’s Odunde broadcast with TechLifeSteph.

Aaron Moselle of WHYY joins the show. He drills down on the city’s housing plan in the newly approved $7.1 billion dollar budget.

Adam Garber joins the show. He is Ceo of CeaseFire, and talks to us about the push for more state funding for gun violence prevention