Marketing Director & Activities Coordinator,

A Place Like Home II

Henok Mengistu is a reporter from Ethiopique, which is the only Amharic-language local news and community platform in the United States reaching more than 100,000 Ethiopian and Eritrean people in the District of Columbia region. He joined Dr. Peterson to discuss what the Department of Homeland Security is doing about Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia and what it means for Ethiopians in the U.S.

Ronnie Polaneczky is the writer of the recent Philadelphia Magazine article, “Why Philly Needs an Ona Judge Day”. The article honors Judge, who is a woman who escaped slavery under President George Washington. She is joined by Attorney Carl Singley, who co-founded the Ona Judge Coalition.

They joined Dr. Peterson for this week's Citizen WURD segment to discuss the article “Why Philly Needs an Ona Judge Day”.

Article Link: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2026/03/27/ona-judge-philadelphia-history/

Dr. Jeff Henderer is the Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Temple University, has worked for 25 years on various eye disease screening projects, and the President Elect of the PA Academy of Ophthalmology. He joined Dr. Peterson to discuss eye disease screenings and why they are important.

Councilwoman Kendra Brooks is the first Working Families Party member elected to Philadelphia City Council in history, an education activist, and someone who has been an outspoken voice for reproductive freedom. She joined Dr. Peterson to discuss her efforts to secure funding for local reproductive healthcare organizations, and City Council voting unanimously in support of the ICE Out legislation.

On this episode of Black Women's Leadership Council w/ Joann Bell, Joann features a 2nd panel with Angelique Hinton (PA Youth Votes), Ruth Marcus Sturgis (AKA Omega Omega Chapter), Dr. Tonya O'Neil (National PanHellenic Council), and Morgan Robinson (League of Women Voters). In this panel, all these guests talk about the initiatives of their respective organizations, and to to discuss any upcoming events they have.

On this segment of Black Women's Leadership Council, hosted by Joann Bell, Joann welcomes three panelists to the show: Keir Bradford Grey (The Links- Delaware Valley), Nyisha Chapman (Coalition of 100 Black Women), and Erica Woods (AKA Rho Omega Chapter). On this panel, these three ladies discuss the initiatives of their respective organizations and their overall impact on their communities.

Eve Gutman, Communications and Research Manager at Earth Quaker Action Team, and Dr. Nolan L. Fontaine, Youth Coordinator at Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living joined P.O.C. on ecoWURD Magazine. In this segment, they talk about a major action targeting Vanguard’s fossil fuel investments. Organizers delivered a letter signed by over 30,000 people urging Vanguard to stop financing polluting petrochemical projects that harm frontline communities and worsen climate impacts.

Philly Unwrapped guests Alisa Shargorodsky, Director of ECHO Systems, Erin Johnson, Program Coordinator for the Technology Assisted Children’s Home Program, B. Preston Lyles, and Ruth McDermott with Physicians for Social Responsibility joined P.O. C. on ecoWURD magazine. On the show, they talked about an upcoming event on April 14 focused on public health, environmental justice, and community safety. The conversation highlighted how local systems and advocacy can better support vulnerable families across Philadelphia.

Oliver Formato is the Chief Growth Officer of Archwell Health