Flashpoint

Black-owned businesses often face additional barriers to getting off the ground - a historic wealth gap and lack of access to resources, to name a few. The African American Chamber of Commerce advocates for Black business owners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Host Racquel Williams talks with their President & CEO, Regina A. Hairston, and a member of the chamber, Jason Ray, President & Chief Investment Officer at Zenith Wealth Partners, about what Black-owned businesses need from the city of Philadelphia and from each other. Then, on Shara in the City, Black Dragon Takeout in West Philly has been getting a ton of buzz for its fusion of soul food with the aesthetics of Chinese takeout. Shara Dae Howard stops by to hear how this idea formed, and to decide if their wings live up to the hype. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to Black and Missing Foundation, 40% of missing persons cases are people of color. The Amber Alert system was created to help find missing children, but is it doing enough for Black and brown youth? Pennsylvania State Reps. Carol Kazeem and Gina H. Curry have proposed a bill to implement an Ebony Alert system, similar to ones in other states, that would send alerts about missing children of color. Our host Racquel Williams talks with them and hip-hop artist and activist Bigga Dre, who has started a movement to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. To report human trafficking or get help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard takes a walk down Afromation Avenue to hear about Mural Arts’ collection of positive affirmation street signs celebrating predominantly Black neighborhoods in Philadelphia. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more

Have you eaten catfish and waffles? Turtle soup? As we now enjoy an enormous variety of food, these dishes are part of Philly’s culinary history. Origins of the city’s food traditions are rooted in the cultural melting pot that includes the African diaspora and the Pennsylvania Dutch. Chef & Culinary Educator Joy Parham and Elwood Restaurant Chef & Owner Adam Diltz join host Racquel Williams to share some holiday traditions and explain why the cultural foods we eat connect us to the regions in which we live. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard takes a holiday shopping tour of some of West Philly and Germantown’s Black-and Brown-owned businesses. This episode originally aired on December 23, 2023. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the country has been divided, with many states banning or restricting abortion and many others passing measures to protect abortion access. Now that Donald Trump has been elected President again, and Republicans have control of both the Senate and the House, what changes could we see, and how could they affect reproductive health care beyond abortion? Rachel Rebouché, Kean Family Dean and Peter J. Liacouras Professor of Law at Temple University Beasley School of Law, joins our host, Racquel Williams, to discuss the current state of reproductive rights and what could come next. You can learn about the abortion laws in your state at reproductiverights.org. Then, on Shara in the City, we catch up with Jeannine A. Cook, owner of Harriett’s Bookshop, after her successful fundraising campaign to bring 15 Philadelphia youth to Paris. Shara Dae Howard talks with the kids as they prepare for their trip. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.a

New Jersey was the last northern state to abolish slavery, and you can see the impacts of that today in things like housing inequality and a massive wealth gap. Several Black advocacy groups banded together to form United Black Agenda and push for policies, education, and programs that will help close that gap. Executive Director Rev. Eric Dobson joins Racquel Williams to talk about UBA’s initiatives. Look for Rev. Eric Dobson’s podcast “Navigating Realities: Where dialogue meets understanding” coming soon! Then, on Shara in the City, we visit TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, where Shara Dae Howard meets the formerly incarcerated artists behind their new exhibit, “Wherever There Is Light.” To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While going through a divorce, Robin Shine Maddox realized we need more opportunities to celebrate women. So she started Celebrating Sisterhood, which grew from a gathering of friends into the annual She Shines conference, which is in Philadelphia on November 9. Robin and her She Shines sisters Tracey Calhoun and Lynn Michelle Austin join host Racquel Williams to talk about the conference and share their stories of how they found passion and purpose through their struggles. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard reconnects with drummer Russell Dabney at his old Philadelphia house to hear more about the history of the Village People, from the wild parties they threw in Mount Airy to their new single. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Quinta Brunson named her hit TV show, “Abbott Elementary,” after her own elementary school teacher in Philadelphia: Ms. Joyce Abbott. Ms. Abbott is speaking at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women on November 7, and Racquel Williams talks with her about the event, her teaching career, what Quinta Brunson was like as a student, and more. Her book, “Teaching the Ms. Abbott Way”, is available online and in bookstores now. Then, on Shara in the City, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jill Scott comes home to Philadelphia to see the new mural in her honor at her alma mater, the Philadelphia High School for Girls. Shara Dae Howard talks with her about her memories of Philly, what this mural means to her, and how she hopes to inspire current and future Girls High students. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To conclude our Breast Cancer Awareness Month series, KYW Newsradio and Bridging Philly hosted a live conversation about breast reconstruction with an audience of survivors, doctors, advocates, and supporters. Racquel Williams spoke with surgeons Dr. Alexander Au and Dr. Lori Timmerman with The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program and two reconstruction patients to hear all the options available, how procedures like implants and DIEP flap reconstruction work, what recovery looks like, and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A study published by JAMA Oncology shows that spouses of cancer patients are at a heightened risk of suicide attempts and death by suicide. A cancer diagnosis can reshape relationships for better or worse, whether they’re family, partners, or friends. How can breast cancer survivors make sure they’re getting the support they need and that their loved ones feel supported, as well? Racquel Williams talks with a panel of survivors and supporters, along with a social worker from The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program, about these crucial relationships through the breast cancer journey. Learn more about these survivors’ missions with The Chrysalis Initiative and Create Urgency. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard visits Unite for HER, a non-profit that provides free integrative care for breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients - from acupuncture to nutrition counseling and much more - and has built a community of support. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: http

There’s a lot that people don’t talk about when it comes to the side effects of cancer treatment. Whether patients get chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or a combination of it all, the changes to their bodies have a heavy physical and emotional impact. Racquel Williams talks with a group of survivors and medical experts from The Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer Program about everything from hair loss to sexual wellness - including how breast cancer impacts men and why “going flat” should be presented as an alternative to reconstruction. Then, on Shara in the City, we look at what happens after a mastectomy. Reconstruction doesn’t always include nipples, so tattoos have become a popular option. Shara Dae Howard visits a tattoo artist who helps breast cancer survivors feel good about their new bodies. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Estimates say that over 300,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024. The good news is that mortality rates have dropped, and we’ve made tremendous progress on detection and treatment. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re featuring a special series of conversations about breast cancer - the journey through it and the fight to cure it. To kick it off, Racquel Williams speaks with Dr. Arnold Baskies, chair of the Greater Philadelphia Area Board of the American Cancer Society, about where we are today, what testing and treatments are available, and what’s on the horizon. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard visits Wigs 360 to talk about hair loss and how wigs can help people reclaim and redefine their identities. Support the fight against breast cancer at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on October 20 at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken, NJ. Step into the world of wigs at the Philadelphia Alternative Hair Pop-Up on October 19 in Manayunk. To learn more about

Committee of Seventy provides essential voter information, not just on how to vote, but on what happens to your ballot after it’s submitted. How can you be sure your ballot is counted? Who is at polling places assuring security and safety? Host Raquel Williams speaks with C70’s CEO, Lauren Cristella, about their work for a fair and transparent election, and what you should know when you head to the polls or vote by mail. Check out their interactive voter guide at ballot.seventy.org. Then, on Shara in the City, we pick up our tools and get to work with Habitat for Humanity. Shara Dae Howard joins their “building blitz” effort to build affordable housing, kicking off with an all-women build day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every year, KYW Newsradio and Bridging Philly present an hour-long special during Suicide Prevention Month to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the US, but there is help. Host Racquel Williams and our team of reporters and anchors talk with experts about some of the biggest mental health challenges in 2024. If you are in crisis, help is available - call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 00:00 Intro 01:30 Morning anchor Carol MacKenzie talks with Joanie Pagano about recovering from an eating disorder. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, you can find support at nationaleatingdisorders.org or ANAD.org. 11:48 Reporter Shara Dae Howard visits the Attic Youth Center to learn how they support LGBTQ+ youth. 21:55 Reporter Conner Barkon explores how social media impacts our mental health and the added pressure on student athletes with Sherri Hope Culver, Director of Temple University’s Center for Media and Information

PECO does more than just keep your lights on - they’re marking 20 years of their Green Region Open Space Program, which has provided over $2.5 million in grants to preserve, protect, and expand green spaces throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. Spaces like gardens and parks are vital for our physical and mental health, but they can be hard to find in the city, especially in disinvested neighborhoods. We hear how PECO has partnered with Natural Lands and Neighborhood Gardens Trust to make nature more accessible to everyone. Then, on Shara in the City, we visit Fireman’s Hall Museum in Old City. The renovated 1898 firehouse is a treasure trove of Philadelphia fire history and home to the first exhibit commemorating the firefighters who died on 9/11. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Only 1 in 3 fourth graders in Pennsylvania is reading proficiently - a statistic that Teach Plus hopes to change. The organization works to improve student outcomes by empowering teachers to advocate for policy change, as well as helping to recruit a diverse teacher workforce. Laura Boyce, Teach Plus Pennsylvania’s Executive Director, joins host Racquel Williams to talk about the teacher shortage, teacher retention, the latest school budget, and more. Teachers interested in joining a Teach Plus BIPOC affinity group can sign up here or attend their mixer on September 27. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard visits The Formerly Incarcerated Renaissance Museum, or The F.I.R.M., to find out how this new museum is illuminating the stories of formerly incarcerated people in Philadelphia. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Domestic abusers want to have control over their victims, and often, that involves knowing where they are at all times. Tracking devices have made that easier, and devices that look like a phone charger or a child’s toy are readily available. Amanda L. Murray, Center for Hope & Safety's Domestic Violence Liaison to New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency, joins host Racquel Williams to discuss what to do if you think you or someone you love is being tracked. If you need help with a domestic violence situation that involves technology, you can find resources at techsafety.org, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233), or text “START” to 88788. Then, on Shara in the City, we visit Still Rise Farms, a retreat center started by a breast cancer surgeon to encourage healing and holistic well-being. Shara Dae Howard spends the day there fishing and learning with Camp Jill Scott. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/p

The transition to college can be tough for both students and parents. Whether it’s your first time moving a kid into a dorm or you find yourself with an empty nest after all your kids are out of the house, life is suddenly different. Racquel Williams hosts a panel of moms and advisors to learn how to parent differently at this stage of life, avoid being a helicopter parent, and embrace your “second act”. She's joined by Jodi Silverman, founder of Moms Who Dare, Beth Allen, a participant in Moms Who Dare and founder of DIY HIP Chicks, and Dr. Deanne DeCrescenzo, Associate Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs at Temple University. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard meets a disco legend: Russell Dabney, the drummer for the Village People. Sitting on a Philly stoop, they talk about his career, life on tour, and the unbeatable feeling of watching a crowd do the “YMCA” as he plays. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Youth and young adults in Philadelphia can learn about career options and job skills while getting paid through C2L-PHL’s youth work programs, run by JEVS Human Services. Summer and school year job opportunities range from the medical field to government, even working with horses and people with disabilities at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Academy. Racquel Williams talks with representatives from JEVS, Pegasus, and LNESC - a nonprofit that works with JEVS to place students in meaningful work experiences - as well as a student who worked at Pegasus this summer. Then, on Shara in the City, break dancing made its first appearance in the Olympics this year - and with questions over how the culture was represented on an international stage, it might not be back. Shara Dae Howard talks with some Philly OG breakers to get their takes and learn a few moves. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://po

At 55-years-old, Marie-Monique Marthol made a life-changing decision to change careers. She learned carpentry through Rebuild’s Workforce Development Program, where participants learn trade skills while revitalizing Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. Marie-Monique joins host Racquel Williams to talk about her experience. We also hear from Rebuild’s Director of Workforce Development, Tiffany Smith, about how Rebuild is bringing more women and people of color into the trades. Then, on Shara in the City, we visit Broad Street Love, where they provide stabilizing services to those experiencing deep poverty. Shara steps into the shoes of a volunteer, serving restaurant-style meals to folks who have found an affirming and supportive community in this space. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve seen a surge of people facing food insecurity since pandemic relief ended, and the numbers have not gone back down. It’s a particular issue in Philadelphia, where about 22% of people live in poverty - twice the national average. Share Food Program is the city’s leading hunger relief organization. Their executive director, George Matysik, and deputy chief program officer, Cat Bartoli, join host Racquel Williams to discuss the programs they offer - from pantries to delivery, school lunches to senior programs - and how widespread the issue of food insecurity is. Then, on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard visits Down North Pizza, where they hire formerly incarcerated people as employees. She joins the staff for a day to make a pizza and learn why their mission is so important. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices