WURD Radio

​Kendrah Butler-Waters is a Philadelphia-based pianist, violinist, vocalist, composer, and educator. She has showcased her talents at numerous venues, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Chris' Jazz Cafe. ​In 2015-2016, she was a Jazz Resident at the Kimmel Center, a role that highlights her prominence in the Philadelphia jazz community.

Kendrah joins the show to highlight an upcoming musical performance she will be apart of at the Mandell Theater at Drexel University: “Eight Eight Time". This production unites four fiercely talented composer-pianists— Kendrah Butler-Waters, Sumi Tonooka, Suzzette Ortiz, and Terry Klinefelter—to premiere a unique suite inspired by real-life stories shared by Philadelphians. Written for eight hands on four grand pianos, with poetry by Yolanda Wisher, Eight Eight Time is both intimate and epic, honoring the profound intricacy of life's pivotal moments.

Muhammad Abdul-Hadi is the Founder and Owner of Down North Pizza, a mission-driven restaurant that exclusively hires formerly incarcerated individuals and serves up pies with a purpose in Philadelphia.

Muhammad joins the show to will talk about how Down North Pizza Came to be, what makes their pizza shop different from others, what his cookbook: “We the Pizza: Slangin' Pies & Saving Lives” entails, and the main initiatives of Down North Pizza.

Isaac Avilucea is a reporter for Axios Philadelphia and a frequent contributor to the show, where he gives WURD listeners pertinent updates on trending news stories.

Isaac joins the show to talk about why Christa Barfield, the owner of "FarmerJawn": a non-profit whose mission is to cultivate farming into the lifestyles of urban people in the city of Philadelphia, has been recently hit with a cease and desist order. Isaac also touches on how President Trump’s Social Security check order will affect Pennsylvanians, and Philadelphia's gun permit declines.

Temple journalism professor Linn Washington breaks down the Wisconsin judicial race, and looks at what Cory Booker’s historic speech actually means.

9th District Councilman Anthony Phillips joins the show. He talks to us about a meeting held at Finley Recreation Center, to bring awareness to youth gun violence.

Eric Williams from P.E.E.A. and Jamiel Owens, Family Relations Coordinator for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, join the show. The talk to us about helping other parents to care for autistic children.

Dr. Christina Greer is the Associate Professor of Political Science from Fordham University and 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.” She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss the federal layoffs and black women being over indexed in these firings.

Cathleen Jenkins and Anita Wade join the show. They are board members from the Cherry Hill African American Civic Association (CHAACA). Since 1978, CHAACA has been a beacon of unity, service, and purpose, advocating for African American youth and families in Cherry Hill.

Dr. Michael K. Wilson is an artist, art historian, and curator. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Art History and Pan-African Studies at Lincoln University and the Assistant Curator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP).

Dr. Wilson joins the show to talk about some off the exhibits that are on display at AAMP: The Pearl Bailey Showcase, which features scrapbook collages that were hand-crafted by award-winning actress, singer, songwriter, and author, Pearl Bailey, presenting her life through photographs, postcards, and archival materials. As well as "The Big Chief Demond Melancon: As Any Means Are Necessary Event", which features the work of Desmond Melancon, who works solely with a needle and thread to sew glass beads onto canvas.

Stephen Caruso is a journalist/Capitol Reporter from Spotlight PA, who focuses on the Governor’s office and Pennsylvania legislation. He joins Dr. Peterson to give an inside perspective on recent news and decisions being made in Harrisburg.