This week Flashpoint meets up with the Ertz Family Foundation to hear their latest project initiative with the Grace and Peace Community Fellowship building. Executive Director Lisa Ertz and Program Director Manager Kiersten Ferguson tell us how the House of Hope Project plans to develop and implement critical resources and services to the North Philadelphia community. Our Newsmaker of the week is the founder of Urban Kings & Queens, Inc. Haneef Hill is bringing together communities from acr...
Dec 13, 2021•38 min
This week Flashpoint rides out with Erin Brown, also known as The Concrete Cowgirl, and the Executive Director of Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy, on the meaning of Horsemanship and how today's youth can benefit from equestrian programs. The newsmaker of the week is Danny Kilson, owner of 410 Specialties, deals in BMW automobiles and is one of few men of color in the industry to do so, but his work educating black youth to bridge that gap within the world of luxury automotive technicians is ho...
Dec 06, 2021•43 min
This week Flashpoint is recapping the best of our segments from earlier this year. The podcast dives into a deep discussion on the community relationship with and trust in media. Many news outlets' have been criticized for how reporters report on crime, and specifically on gun violence. With local news outlets reporting the 400th homicide this year, we wanted to discuss ways media can improve their reporting on crime while maintaining their mission to serve the public with facts. We hear from a ...
Nov 29, 2021•28 min
This week Flashpoint brings back Northwest Victim Services Executive Director Melany Nelson and court and community advocate Wendell Louissaint to update us on their victim services and resources since the uptick of gun violence in the city. The Newsmaker this week highlights a Delco native and Temple graduate, Lydia Peterson, who is set to debut her first film “Walking On.” Her film is already being compared to movies like Love and Basketball. She says she wants to “tell stories we want to see....
Nov 22, 2021•41 min
So far we've talked to mothers who lost their children to gun violence, community leaders working to prevent violence, and medical experts about the state of Philadelphia's gun violence crisis. This week's Flashpoint focuses on the solutions to gun violence and hearing from youth and their perspective on how youth can make an impact in finding solutions to prevent gun violence. This week's newsmaker highlights Swarthmore College's collaboration with local groups and activists in the launch of De...
Nov 16, 2021•34 min
This week Flashpoint discusses the domestic violence issue amid the pandemic and highlights the recent uptick in domestic homicide. Marcella Nyachogo, Assistant Director of the Bilingual Domestic Violence Program at Lutheran Settlement House shares the impact of safe housing, but there are many barriers that prevent survivors from obtaining, maintaining safe and affordable housing. Jess Ivey is a domestic violence survivor and consultant advocating awareness of domestic abuse that leads to domes...
Nov 07, 2021•43 min
This week's Flashpoint is focused on education and critical race theory. KYW's Jay Scott Smith sits with Kristin Leubbert, a local Philadelphia school teacher who has taught mostly Black and Brown students, explains why she is not afraid of critical race theory. The newsmaker of the week is Yolanda Wisher, the third Poet Laureate of Philadelphia as well as an educator who uses spoken word poetry focusing on her experiences as a Black woman as well as the collective Black experiences in Philadelp...
Nov 01, 2021•32 min
The recent tragedy of the rape of a woman on public transportation last week has sparked national outrage and resentment. Many reports claimed that witnesses watched the incident transpire and took videos of it for their own gratifications. NBC10 reported District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer "That is simply not true. It did not happen. We have security video from SEPTA that shows that is not the true narrative.” This week Flashpoint will focus on the importance of bystander intervention. KYW's An...
Oct 25, 2021•36 min
This week Flashpoint is highlighting National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, which occurs every October. Marisa Brahney, a TV host from New Jersey, shares her experience in losing her first daughter and her effort to continue to raise awareness and understanding for families in need. Dr. Rayna Markin is a local therapist who focuses on maternal mental health, pregnancy loss, and infertility with women and couples who have experienced pregnancy loss/infertility advises parents who nee...
Oct 17, 2021•35 min
This week Flashpoint highlights Hispanic Heritage Month and the growth and impact the Hispanic community had in Philadelphia. CEO of PHL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Rodriguez and Hispanic Community Counseling Services CEO Hector Ayala describe the meaning of Hispanic Heritage Month, the issues the Hispanic community face in Philadelphia that go unnoticed, and share their stories of being Puerto Rico natives moving to Philadelphia and creating change. Our Newsmaker of the week is Mr. Yo...
Oct 10, 2021•36 min
This week Flashpoint dives into a deep discussion on the community relationship with and trust in media. Many news outlets' have been criticized for how reporters report on crime, and specifically on gun violence. With local news outlets reporting the 400th homicide this year, we wanted to discuss ways media can improve their reporting on crime while maintaining their mission to serve the public with facts. We hear from a community leader and founder of the Young Chances Foundation, KYW Newsradi...
Oct 04, 2021•43 min
I'm Listening is a Flashpoint special about suicide prevention and the importance of talking about mental health. In this special edition of the show, we explore the impact of mental health in Philadelphia youth amid COVID-19, the uptick of suicide rates in the LGBTQ community, and how communities of color break barriers within Black men seeking therapy. Mary Murtha Ann, Area Director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, speaks on how survivor stories can significantly affect helpi...
Sep 23, 2021•1 hr 4 min
This week Flashpoint is highlighting Black doctors and their efforts to continue to fight against COVID by spreading awareness of the vaccine. KYW’s Jay Scott Smith is rejoined by Dr. Jennifer Caudle on her efforts in dispelling false and misleading information through her web series based on COVID-19. The newsmaker of the week is Dr. Monique Gray is a cancer surgeon, who has been on the frontline of community outreach since the pandemic has progressed through communities of color. The Philly Ri...
Sep 19, 2021•26 min
This week's Flashpoint explores how crime rates, including gun violence, can impact housing insecurity in Philadelphia. We'll be hearing from Rutgers University Professor Daniel Semenza, who researched and found higher eviction rates correspond to higher homicide, robbery, and burglary rates across communities. Community Legal Service Attorney Jenna Collins, an expert in eviction prevention, gives her perspective of someone who works with tenants to keep them in their homes. This week's Newsmake...
Sep 13, 2021•32 min
This week's Flashpoint is focusing on heading back to school. We'll be hearing from a high school senior at Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, Kara Butler, Carrie Kries, the head of school at Gladwyne Montessori, and Temple professor Dr. Devon Powers about their concerns returning to school amid the pandemic and changing guidelines. The Newsmaker of the week is Dr. Mora Sammon, head of the medical response of Afghan refugees coming into Philly International. The Patriot Homecare ...
Sep 04, 2021•39 min
This week Flashpoint discusses the recent catastrophic earthquake that struck south Haiti at the beginning of August. KYW's Jay Scott Smith sits with Haitian American Chamber of Commerce President Evelt Vertil and Philadelphia For Haiti Founder Carline Dorlus on their relief efforts for Haiti. The Flashpoint Newsmaker highlights Miquette McMahon, who was born and raised in Haiti. After the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January of 2010, she founded the school TeacHaiti grades. After...
Aug 30, 2021•31 min
Many people are coming out of the pandemic experiencing feelings they didn't expect, such as anxiety about returning to social situations. This week Flashpoint discusses how to manage social anxiety post-pandemic. Licensed Therapist Shari Botwin discusses the increase in social anxiety as the world opens back up, joined by Carly Goldberg, a mother with an underlying health condition who can talk first hand about the social anxiety she faces, and Tyrell Brown, a teacher with a different perspecti...
Aug 23, 2021•36 min
What would a state of emergency mean for Philadelphia, and could it make a difference in the gun violence crisis? KYW's Antionette Lee speaks with Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and CeaseFire Pennsylvania's Executive Director, Adam Garber, on what is being done since Mayor Kenney's decision not to declare a state of emergency over the city's gun violence crisis. The Newsmaker of the week is the 11-year-old CEO of Micah's Mixx. Micah Harrigan started his lemonade business at the age of 7 and is now...
Aug 15, 2021•35 min
Thousands of Cubans walked the streets in widespread protests against Cuba's communist regime. This week Flashpoint breaks down the protests and what they mean for Cuba and the Cuban people. Morning news anchor for NBC10 Lucy Bustamante, Afro-Cuban American scholar Amalia Dache, and Cuban artist Denis Solis share their experiences growing up and living in Cuba. This week's Newsmaker is Telemundo 62 reporter Yaima Crespo who shares her story of being born in Cuba and the culture shock she experie...
Aug 08, 2021•21 min
This week Flashpoint discusses the issues and challenges our country is facing with systemic racism, racial injustice and race relations. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's Executive Director, Chad Dion Lassiter, gives his expertise on ways we can combat these issues, and we hear from Frank Meeink, a former neo-Nazi white supremacist turned anti-racist activist on the racial progress he sees today, a year later, after the death of George Floyd. Our Newsmaker of the week is executive direc...
Aug 01, 2021•29 min
This week's episode of Flashpoint is dedicated to families who lost loved ones to gun violence. We're joined by two mothers who both experienced the loss of their sons. Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, mother of Khalif Jabaar Johnson and co-founder of Mother’s In Charge, and Nydisha Williams, mother of Antonio Walker Jr. share their stories and how they’re recovering and creating change in their community. Nydisha Williams is also highlighted as our Philly Rising Changemaker of the week presented by...
Jul 25, 2021•29 min
This week, Flashpoint tackles a topic that is sadly and often overlooked: teenage homelessness. We break down the number of homeless students in this city who are often undercounted both locally and nationally and what needs to be done to accurately count these teens. Porsha Burton, the community navigator of Youth Service Inc, shares her experience being a homeless teen while keeping her education a priority to working with youth today who are going through the same struggle. Anna Shaw-Amoah, P...
Jul 18, 2021•32 min
This week Flashpoint tackles the impact of our changing climate. With hotter summers, rising sea levels, and poor air quality, climate change is affecting our day to day lives, public health and economy. NBC10 Meteorologist Steve Sosna and PennEnvrionment Field Director Flora Cardoni share their expertise on combating the threat of climate change. The Flashpoint Newsmaker segment features U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and local renewable energy advocate Phyllis Blumberg, who speak on the infr...
Jul 11, 2021•34 min
This week Flashpoint discusses the Generational wealth gap and what it means for the Black community. Black Business Leadership Coalition President John Childress and CEO and Founder of Beech Companies, Ken Scott, share their perspectives and what stakeholders are doing to bridge this gap. This week's newsmaker is Register of Wills, Tracey Gordon, is using pop culture to inform locals on estate planning while promoting positive conversations involving wills through her office's new online video ...
Jul 04, 2021•33 min
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported that 2020 saw the highest deaths by opioid overdose that Philadelphia has experienced since 2017. PDHP noted that in 2020, overdoes death rates among white people dropped by 10%, but increased by 29% among those in communities of color. This week on Flashpoint, we discuss how the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on people of color, and why the surge of deaths were likely made worse by the effects of the pandemic. Clayton Ruley, Preventi...
Jun 28, 2021•30 min
This week, Flashpoint discusses Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday. What does this mean for African Americans, and how did 2020’s racial reckoning play a role in Juneteenth's emergence in American society? KYW’s Shara Dae Howard speaks with Vashti Dubois, founder of The Colored Girls Museum in Germantown. It’s also Father’s Day weekend, and our panel talks about effective tools and strategies to champion Black fatherhood and promote the importance of men and dads taking care of their mental h...
Jun 20, 2021•41 min
Is there a worker shortage? Or do folks just not want to work? This week's Flashpoint host and KYW Newsradio reporter Antionette Lee dives into the speculation as the jobs are coming back, but the workers are hard to find. Andrea Custis, President and CEO of the Urban League of Philadelphia and Michael Smi Robinson, Director of Community Outreach and Hiring for Temple University's Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative discuss the challenges keeping people out of the workforce and what ...
Jun 13, 2021•31 min
Violence against the trans community is being called a national crisis. In Pennsylvania, the Human Rights Commission says lawmakers are ignoring bills that would help protect the LGBTQ community. This week, LGBTQ advocate Kendall Stephens describes the reality of the violence and hate facing transgender people of color, and Pennsylvania Director of the Human Rights Campaign Ryan Matthews explains why lawmakers in Harrisburg haven't made progress passing laws to fight violence against trans peopl...
Jun 07, 2021•38 min
With violent crime surging, an election some thought might be a reckoning turned out as a resounding win for Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner over his primary challenger, former homicide prosecutor Carlos Vega. So what comes next? How does the city balance safety and fairness? And what does DA Krasner make of opponent in the general election? And with the city on pace for a record number of murders, advocates are asking what the next step is for public safety. Reuben Jones, Executive Direc...
May 29, 2021•33 min
Host and KYW Newsradio Community Affairs Reporter Cherri Gregg asks the burning questions about the recent disclosure that Penn Museum held onto bones of child victims of the 1985 MOVE Bombing. Abdul-Aliy Muhammad, who broke the story, and Michael Africa, Jr., of the MOVE organization are guests. The newsmaker of the week is Penn Museum. Dr. Christopher Woods, the new Director of Penn Museum is guest. The Patriot Homecare Changemaker of the week is YoungLives West Oak Lane. Club Coordinator Pam ...
May 09, 2021•51 min
