POPULARITY
Host Jeremy C. Park talks with George Abbott, Co-convener of Reimagining the Civic Commons, who highlights the collaboration of national foundations and civic leaders dedicated to revitalizing public spaces in ways that benefit communities and how the initiative has impacted Memphis locally. Reimagining the Civic Commons is an ambitious national initiative demonstrating that strategic investments in public spaces can connect people of all backgrounds. It is a collaboration of The JPB Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and local partners.During the interview, George shares how the initiative was launched in 2016 and how Memphis applied and was selected to participate, working with a network of leaders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to change how they design, manage, and program urban spaces. He shares some of the ways local projects and efforts have benefited from sharing ideas and best practices with other cities, and how data is being used to drive decision making and activations for the future. Local collaborators include Innovate Memphis, Memphis Parks, Public Libraries, and place-based organizations, including Bloom, The Heights CDC, Memphis River Parks Partnership, and Overton Park Conservancy. George wraps up talking about what makes him excited for 2025 and his encouragement for everyone to enjoy some of the many exciting things taking place this year in the public spaces across the Mid-South.Visit https://civiccommons.us/ to learn more about Reimagining the Civic Commons.
Brittany Holiday, Director of Community Engagement at The Village of Arts and Humanities discussed The Village of Arts and Humanities, a nearly 40-year-old arts and community revitalization organization rooted in Philadelphia's deeply disinvested Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood. Their mission is to support artists and Black community residents to imagine, design, and build a more just and equitable society. They engage community members annually through programs and projects that blend art with social justice, youth leadership, and equitable revitalization. In 2021, The Village started a multi-generational steering committee, which met to learn about and explore literacy while imagining what a literacy-rich Fairhill-Hartranft could look, sound, and feel like. In addition to The Village, project partners include Mastery Clymer, the Hartranft Playground Alliance, Read by 4th, Historic Fair Hill, Hope Partnership for Education, Urban Creators, Ones Up, Lillian Marrero Library, Joyful Readers, and John F. Hartranft School. One of the major community initiatives is the Fairhill-Hartranft ABCs, which was made possible with funding from the William Penn Foundation. This initiative is designed to get people across the Fairhill-Hartranft neighborhood to think about and interact with literacy in new and exciting ways, from street art to storytelling. Through this work, they hope to build community power, preserve their stories, and increase appreciation for language in all its forms. Current activations include two new community-informed murals, which features a neighborhood alphabet with art created by several local artists and letter installations throughout the neighborhood, to be shared through scavenger hunt booklets. The first public event is a Reading Captain Training on October 1, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Mastery Clymer Elementary School. They need your help to break the record of most Reading Captains trained by Read by 4th in a single session! Reading Captains must be over 18 years old. They're also working with our community partners to develop a robust schedule of literacy-rich events that will kick off this fall and run through March. To learn more about the Fairhill-Hartranft ABC literacy initiative and sign up for the Reading Captain training: https://fairhillhartranftabc.org/. To learn more about The Village: https://villagearts.org Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillagephilly/
One of the most important moments in the early history of the civil rights movement was the performance by opera star and Philadelphian Marian Anderson. Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939 and this concert became iconic because it was arranged after Anderson was denied permission to perform at Constitution Hall by the daughters of the American Revolution due to her race. Now history is being made again when the Kimmel Cultural Campus will rename Verizon Hall - Marian Anderson Hall. I speak to Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky. https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in collaboration with The Barra Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation announced today $1,010,000 in grants to support 39 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations and artists through the Philadelphia's Cultural Treasures (PCT) funding initiative. The grants are designed to resource projects that position Greater Philadelphia's BIPOC creative community for enduring success. I speak to Barbara Wong, Director of Creative Communities at William Penn Foundation and Daniel de Jesús, he/they, Director of Music Education & Community Relations at Artistas y Músicos Latinoamericanos (AMLA).https://www.pewcenterarts.org/pctprojectgrantswww.philadelphiasculturaltreasures.orghttps://www.amla.org/But first - some Philly streets are among the most dangerous in the state...but there's relief ahead. I'm joined by City Councilmember at Large and Whip Isaiah Thomas who shares information about new speed cameras which will be installed in along five high speed corridors in Philadelphia to promote safer streets. Citizens will have an opportunity to provide input on the location of these speed cameras by going to www.phlcouncil.com/safestreets.
One of the most important moments in the early history of the civil rights movement was the performance by opera star and Philadelphian Marian Anderson. Anderson performed at the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939 and this concert became iconic because it was arranged after Anderson was denied permission to perform at Constitution Hall by the daughters of the American Revolution due to her race. Now history is being made again when the Kimmel Cultural Campus will rename Verizon Hall - Marian Anderson Hall. I speak to Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky. https://www.ensembleartsphilly.org/The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in collaboration with The Barra Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation announced today $1,010,000 in grants to support 39 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led organizations and artists through the Philadelphia's Cultural Treasures (PCT) funding initiative. The grants are designed to resource projects that position Greater Philadelphia's BIPOC creative community for enduring success. I speak to Barbara Wong, Director of Creative Communities at William Penn Foundation and Daniel de Jesús, he/they, Director of Music Education & Community Relations at Artistas y Músicos Latinoamericanos (AMLA).https://www.pewcenterarts.org/pctprojectgrantswww.philadelphiasculturaltreasures.orghttps://www.amla.org/But first - some Philly streets are among the most dangerous in the state...but there's relief ahead. I'm joined by City Councilmember at Large and Whip Isaiah Thomas who shares information about new speed cameras which will be installed in along five high speed corridors in Philadelphia to promote safer streets. Citizens will have an opportunity to provide input on the location of these speed cameras by going to www.phlcouncil.com/safestreets.
Sounds of the Rail Park presents The Three Mile Vision, a special three-episode series highlighting the communities around the rail line. In this series, local journalist Nichole Currie joins us as she travels the rail line and immerses herself in ten neighborhoods. You'll hear what makes each community unique and how a three-mile park system fits into their environment. In this episode, Nichole explores The Tunnel. The Tunnel is a wide, architecturally stunning space extending across 3,000 feet underneath Pennsylvania Ave between 22nd and 27th Streets, which was once an active part of the Reading Railroad's City Branch. Open air shafts in the streetscape above illuminate the space with natural light, while the stone walls and vaulted brick ceilings reach 25 ft high. You'll hear from Board President of Fairmount Community Development Corporation Heidi Siegel, local photographer JJ Tiziou, and Saint Francis Xavier School Principal Dolores Butler. The Sounds of the Rail Park: Three Mile Vision series was developed as a part of the Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative. The Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative is an ongoing digital community archiving project, which aims to preserve and highlight the stories, objects, spaces and places that sustain culture and hold historic value for the people that live, work, and play in the 10+ neighborhoods that the Rail Park traverses through. Submit your story to the Time Capsule! Phase One of the Rail Park is free and open to the public every day from 7 AM to 10 PM. Plan your visit today. The work of Friends of the Rail Park is made possible with the support of our community. Don't wait, become a member today! Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park.
Sounds of the Rail Park presents The Three Mile Vision, a special three-episode series highlighting the communities around the rail line. In this series, local journalist Nichole Currie joins us as she travels the rail line and immerses herself in ten neighborhoods. You'll hear what makes each community unique and how a three-mile park system fits into their environment. In this episode, Nichole explores The Viaduct. The Viaduct is an elevated section of the former Reading Railroad's 9th Street Branch. The inactive rail line reaches from the site of Phase One down to Vine Street, then arcs back northward and east toward Fairmount Ave. When complete, this stunning section of the park will overlook city streets and offer incredible Philly skyline views. You'll hear from Yue Wu from the Chinatown CDC, Callowhill neighbors Robbie Long and Samyuktha Rajan, Craig Grossman from Crafts & Holdings, and Sol Garden Studio owners April Harley and Kwan Young. The Sounds of the Rail Park: Three Mile Vision series was developed as a part of the Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative. The Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative is an ongoing digital community archiving project, which aims to preserve and highlight the stories, objects, spaces and places that sustain culture and hold historic value for the people that live, work, and play in the 10+ neighborhoods that the Rail Park traverses through. Submit your story to the Time Capsule! Phase One of the Rail Park is free and open to the public every day from 7 AM to 10 PM. Plan your visit today. The work of Friends of the Rail Park is made possible with the support of our community. Don't wait, become a member today! Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park.
Sounds of the Rail Park presents The Three Mile Vision, a special three-episode series highlighting the communities around the rail line. In this series, local journalist Nichole Currie joins us as she travels the rail line and immerses herself in ten neighborhoods. You'll hear what makes each community unique and how a three-mile park system fits into their environment. In this episode, Nichole explores The Cut. The Cut is an open air section of land that runs below street level for over half a mile, connecting the Viaduct to the Tunnel. It runs from North Broad Street near the old Inquirer Building to behind the Rodin Museum, where 22nd St meets Pennsylvania Ave. It's lined with 30-foot high stone walls and crossed by a series of bridges that support the city's north and south bound streets. You'll hear from James Fennel and Joe Walsh from Friends of Matthias Baldwin Park, local professor Jefferey Markovitz, and the 2019 Moon Festival creators Nadia Hironaka, Eugene Lew, and Matthew Suib. The Sounds of the Rail Park: Three Mile Vision series was developed as a part of the Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative. The Rail Park Time Capsule Initiative is an ongoing digital community archiving project, which aims to preserve and highlight the stories, objects, spaces and places that sustain culture and hold historic value for the people that live, work, and play in the 10+ neighborhoods that the Rail Park traverses through. Submit your story to the Time Capsule! Phase One of the Rail Park is free and open to the public every day from 7 AM to 10 PM. Plan your visit today. The work of Friends of the Rail Park is made possible with the support of our community. Don't wait, become a member today! Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park.
Legendary Attorney Mike Papantonio has worked on major cases targeting wrongdoing by Big Pharma, tobacco, weapon manufacturers, and the automobile industry. He's also written a series of legal thrillers informed by his work. Papantonio's latest novel Inhuman Trafficking is based on a current case which addresses the 150-billion-dollar human trafficking business. The novel co-authored with Alan Russell shines a light on the complicity of some major businesses and corporations. https://www.amazon.com/Inhuman-Trafficking-Thriller-Mike-Papantonio/dp/1510768874 It's never too early to start reading to our babies and toddlers. I'll build you a bookcase is a book designed to promote early learning The William Penn Foundation is making copies of this new book available at no charge in Philadelphia and is seeking organizations that have strategies to engage families with young children and wish to share this special book with families. From the William Penn Foundation, Jenn Stavrakis - Senior Program Officer and Elliot Weinbaum Program Director Great Learning Program tells us how organizations can sign up.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PLLS5FFHomeownership is a way to build generational wealth but for many the idea seems completely out of reach. That's where Wells Fargo's Neighborhood Lift come in providing money for a down payment and possibly even closing costs. City Councilmember Derek Green tells us who qualifies and how to apply. We also talk about why this November 2nd is an "on year" not an"off-year" election. First – Human tracking is a 150-billion-dollar business. An author shines a spotlight on this crisis and the complicity of some major businesses and corporations. Here's a link to the online application: https://yourmortgageapp.wf.com/signup?referrerId=harold.jasper%40wellsfargo.comWe wake up each morning to tough news – about violence, about poverty – so many ills of our society - that's why I'm so happy to share this uplifting interview with Jacquelyn Means otherwise known as STEM Queen. At 12 she noticed a lack of programs geared towards science, technology, engineering, and math, decided to do something about it by founding the Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative.https://www.stem-queen.com/
No one needs to be reminded of the fact we're likely to break a record for murders in Philadelphia. Members of 100 black men Philadelphia Chapter know this all too well after students were shot and killed at the school they've adopted. President Chair of the Executive Board, Joel Wilson shares how they're stepping up with mentoring and a program to create a path for students in the building trades.https://www.100blackmenphilly.org/It's never too early to start reading to our babies and toddlers. I'll build you a bookcase is a book designed to promote early learning The William Penn Foundation is making copies of this new book, Build Me a Bookcase available at no charge in Philadelphia and is seeking organizations that have strategies to engage families with young children and wish to share this special book with families. From the William Penn Foundation, Jenn Stavrakis - Senior Program Officer and Elliot Weinbaum Program Director Great Learning Program tells us how organizations can sign up.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PLLS5FFHomeownership is a way to build generational wealth but for many the idea seems completely out of reach. That's where Wells Fargo's Neighborhood Lift program come in by providing a down payment for a house and possibly even closing costs. City Councilmember Derek Green tells us who qualifies and how to apply. We also talk about why this November 2nd is an "on year not an" off-year" election. First – Human tracking is a 150-billion-dollar business. An author shines a spotlight on this crisis and the complicity of some major businesses and corporations.We wake up each morning to tough news – about violence, about poverty – so many ills of our society - that's why I'm so happy to share this uplifting interview with Jacquelyn Means otherwise known as STEM Queen. At 12 she noticed a lack of programs geared towards science, technology, engineering, and math, decided to do something about it by founding the Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative.https://www.stem-queen.com/
On today's episode, we look at how PA's public schools have come to the impasse they're in now, at the hand of shifting political priorities over the past handful of governors and presidents. Underfunded is a project of the Publc Interest Law Center, with a grant from the William Penn Foundation. For more information on the fight to fairly fund public schools in PA, and ways to get involved, visit: fundourschoolspa.org.
Directed by Brett Ashley RobinsonFeaturing Kimie Muroya, Nathan Alford-Tate, Pax Ressler, Eleni Delopoulos, and Cathy SimpsonThe Ever Present, a fantastical, family-friendly new play written by award-winning playwright and author R. Eric Thomas, centers on a South Philly vacant lot that turns out to be more than meets the eye. Enter Pashmina Paredes (Kimie Muroya), a neighborhood resident collecting signatures for a petition to prevent the city from selling the lot to a devious developer, Vernal Belch (Pax Ressler). She quickly learns her neighbors all have a special connection to the house that once stood there. Follow a cast of hilarious, Philadelphia-inspired characters for a mystery adventure that spans decades and spins a constellation of awe-inspiring stories. The Ever Present asks the question: “How can we share and preserve our collective history as the world continues to change?”For each show, guests are invited to bring blankets and lawn seating. The Ever Present was made possible thanks to funding from The William Penn Foundation's New Audiences New Places Grant, and National New Play Network's Bridge Program Grant.Show Dates, Times, & Locations*: September 11-19, 2021Saturday, September 11, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Columbus Square (1200 Wharton St)Sunday, September 12, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Dickinson Square (1600 E. Moyamensing Ave)Wednesday, September 15, 5:30 p.m. at Wharton Square (2300 Wharton St)Friday, September 17, 5:30 p.m. at Stephen Girard Park (2101 Shunk St)Saturday, September 18, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Columbus Square (1200 Wharton St)Sunday, September 19, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. – Hawthorne Park (750 S 12th St)FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://theatreexile.org
In this episode of Sounds of the Rail Park, elevate your senses on a walk through Phase One with Suzanne Erb. Listen to Suzanne and Friends of the Rail Park Executive Director, Rebecca Cordes Chan, as they chat about the sounds, scents, and textures of the Rail Park as they travel through the space together. Suzanne Erb is a Center City, Philadelphia resident with a career dedicated to diversity inclusion. From the time she left the Overbrook School for the Blind at the end of her freshman year in 1971, and entered her local high school as the first totally blind student, she has demonstrated her belief that inclusion not only brings diversity of values and ideas to organizations, but it can also be easily accomplished with some forethought and planning. In her role as an Accessibility Advisor, she shows, by example and knowledge sharing, how you can design your meetings and conferences to be universally inclusive. As an advocate, she sits on boards and commissions including the Tenants Union Representative Network, where she holds the office of Secretary, Disability Rights Pennsylvania, where she also serves as Secretary, and the City of Philadelphia's Mayor's Commission on People with disabilities. She also serves as a member of various advisory boards, including the Business Advisory Council for the Philadelphia Job Corps, and chairs the Philadelphia Citizens Advisory Council of the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. She is also knowledgeable about assistive technology for people who are blind, which she uses both personally and professionally, and has helped people to make informed decisions regarding the purchase of assistive technology for their personal use. In her spare time, Ms. Erb is a professional musician, as an organist and choir director for 25 years. She enjoys visiting Philadelphia's parks and green spaces. Phase One is open. Plan your next visit. Don't wait. Become a member today. Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park. This podcast is produced by Studio D Podcast Production for the Friends of the Rail Park.
In this episode of Sounds of the Rail Park, Scott Quitel, Founder and CEO of Land Health Institute in Philadelphia, explores the unique urban ecology of Philadelphia and the Rail Park, and the surprising natural occurrences you might find around town. Phase One is open. Plan your next visit. Don't wait. Become a member today. Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park. This podcast is produced by Studio D Podcast Production for the Friends of the Rail Park.
In this episode of Sounds of the Rail Park we're joined by Nalaverse, a Black centered, women led, virtual mental wellness platform, to discuss mindfulness and the value of access to nature and outdoor space for health and wellbeing. It's no secret that in a big city like Philadelphia, it can be difficult to find a place for exercise or mindfulness away from the busy streets. Phase One of the Rail Park sits between Chinatown North and Callowhill, offering a green space for everyone in an area with very limited access to parks, providing a place for us to move around, connect with nature and breathe in the open air. Phase One is open. Plan your next visit. Don't wait. Become a member today. Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park. This podcast is produced by Studio D Podcast Production for the Friends of the Rail Park.
Hello, my name is A'Tiya Sinae and I'm a meditation and sound healing instructor for the Nalaverse, and I'll be guiding you through a 10 minute meditation. This meditation is intended to be done at the Rail Park, but you can always come back to this meditation anytime, anywhere. Phase One is open. Plan your next visit. Don't wait. Become a member today. Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park. This podcast is produced by Studio D Podcast Production for the Friends of the Rail Park.
Public schools in PA aren't fairly funded, and this has been the case for decades. In episode one of Underfunded, hosted by education journalists Melanie Bavaria and Meg St-Esprit, we take a look at what it's really like on the ground right now, for teachers, kids and communities. Along the way, we'll talk with educators, community organizers, and legal experts who confront daily the struggle of educating in a massively underfunded environment. Underfunded is a project of the Publc Interest Law Center, with a grant from the William Penn Foundation. For more information on the fight to fairly fund public schools in PA, and ways to get involved, visit: fundourschoolspa.org.
Wilks Family Director, Ian L. McHarg Center Billy Fleming is the Wilks Family Director of the Ian L. McHarg Center in the Weitzman School of Design, a senior fellow with Data for Progress, and co-director of the "climate + community project." His fellowship with Data for Progress has focused on the built environment impacts of climate change, and resulted most prominently in the publication of low-carbon public housing policy briefs tied to the “Green New Deal for Public Housing Act” introduced in 2019. In his role at the McHarg Center, Billy is co-editor of the forthcoming book An Adaptation Blueprint (Island Press, 2020), co-editor and co-curator of the book and now internationally-traveling exhibit Design With Nature Now (Lincoln, 2019), and author of the forthcoming Drowning America: The Nature and Politics of Adaptation (Penn Press, expected 2021). Billy is also the lead author of the recently published and widely acclaimed “The 2100 Project: An Atlas for the Green New Deal.” He is also a co-author of the Indivisible Guide (2016). Along with Daniel Aldana Cohen, Billy co-directs the climate + community project (ccp), which works to connect the demands of the climate justice movement to the policy development process. ccp aim to do this by developing new, investment-forward public policy proposals under the framework of the Decade of the Green New Deal that target the intersection of climate justice and the built environment. Its focus has been on foregrounding the role of public housing, public schools, public transportation, public power, public land, and public works in local, state, national, and international climate policy discourse. This work has already resulted in applied policy research and model legislation in the housing, schools, transportation, and electricity sectors, filling a critical gap between the demands of the climate justice movement, the appetite for substantial new policy content from sitting legislators, and the desire of a rising generation of scholars to contribute to their work (including Olufemi Taiwo, Akira Drake Rodridguez, Yonah Freemark, Thea Riofrancos, and Shalanda Baker). His writing on climate, disaster, and design has also been published in The Guardian, The Atlantic, CityLab, Dissent Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Jacobin, Places Journal, and Science for the People Magazine, and he’s frequently asked to weigh in on the infrastructure and built environment implications of climate change, as well as candidate and congressional climate plans, by major climate reporters and congressional staff. His research has been supported by grants from the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, William Penn Foundation,Summit Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Hewlett Foundation, and by a variety of sponsors in the design and building industry. Prior to joining Penn, he worked as a landscape architect, city planner, organizer, and, later, in the Obama Administration’s White House Domestic Policy Council. He holds a bachelor of landscape architecture (University of Arkansas), master of community and regional planning (University of Texas), and a doctorate of city and regional planning (University of Pennsylvania).
Public school funding in Pennsylvania has been on the skids for decades now, but today, it's doing real harm all over the state. And this isn't by accident. PA's legislature has created a system where the kids who need the most, get the least, usually because of where they live. So much so that across the Keystone State, 86% of public school students are attending schools that are underfunded. And lots of Pennsylvanians are saying enough is enough. Some of them have gone so far as to take the state to court for failure to properly fund our schools — a constitutional right — with a landmark trial slated to begin in Harrisburg this fall. We've spent the last few months interviewing people all over the state to find out the history of underfunding in PA, what it's doing to students, teachers and families all over the state, and where it all could go from here And we're ready to show you what we've found. This is Underfunded, and it's coming soon wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe now, and visit FundOurSchoolsPA.org to find out more. With your hosts: Meg St-Esprit, a mom and a journalist who writes about parenting and education for Pittsburgh's PublicSource, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. And Melanie Bavaria, education journalist who has been covering Philadelphia's schools for the past several years for outlets like The Notebook, Chalkbeat, Next City, and others. Underfunded is a project of the Public Interest Law Center, with grant support from the William Penn Foundation. For more information on the fight to fund public schools in PA, visit FundOurSchoolsPA.org (FundOurSchoolsPA.org).
Host and KYW Community Affairs Reporter Cherri Gregg asks the burning questions about the new COVID-19 vaccine. Recent surveys show that half of Americans are reluctant to get the shot. Why? Dr. Allison Buttenheim and Dr. Ala Stanford are guests. The Patriot Homeware Changemaker of the week is the William Penn Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ten years ago, a small group of community members looked at the rusty rails that run through their neighborhoods and saw potential. Potential for a usable, beautiful public space. When completed, the Rail Park will connect more than ten neighborhoods with three miles of continuous green space. A space for everyone: young and old, athlete and artist, neighbors and visitors alike. Friends of the Rail Park presents ‘Sounds of the Park’, an audio guide to the sights, sounds, and spaces of the Rail Park. Phase 1 is open. Plan your next visit. Don’t wait. Become a member today. Special thanks to our partners: Center City District Foundation, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, William Penn Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The 1830 Family Foundation, Wells Fargo Community Giving, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the Board of Directors and many members of the Friends of the Rail Park. This podcast is produced by Studio D Podcast Production for the Friends of the Rail Park.
Today, we have a discussion of environmental justice as part of the ongoing COVIDCalls-Academy partnership.Mariangeles H. Arce (Ar-say) is the ichthyology collection manager in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and an adjunct professor in the Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES) Department where she teaches Global Warming, Biodiversity, and your Future. Dr. Arce obtained her PhD in Zoology from the Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil in 2012. Her current research involves several neotropical catfish families and she is starting to work with environmental DNA as a tool to understand biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems.Alexis Schulman is the Dolan Fellow for innovation in water science at the Academy and assistant research professor in Drexel’s Department of Biodiversity Earth and Environmental Sciences. I am an environmental planner and social scientist interested in understanding what drives "green," resilient innovation in urban infrastructure, policy, and planning.Roland Wall has worked in a variety of positions for the Academy of Natural Sciences. He holds a B.A. in political science and an M.S. in entomology and applied ecology, both from the University of Delaware.He started as a science writer working for Ruth Patrick, then developed and managed the Academy’s Town Square program and led the Academy’s involvement in the Urban Sustainability Forum. In 2007 he initiated the Center for Environmental Policy, spearheading the Academy’s involvement in policy and sustainability issues. In 2012 he launched the Academy’s involvement in the William Penn Foundation’s watershed protection planning, resulting in the launch of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative.He became Director of the Patrick Center in 2016, where he manages the Academy’s environmental research projects, leading the interdisciplinary science team that works on a variety of basic and applied research projects.
Work. Shouldn't. Suck. LIVE: The Morning(ish) Show with special guests Diane Ragsdale & Andrew Taylor. [Live show recorded: May 1, 2020.] E. ANDREW TAYLOR, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Performing Arts Department at American University thinks (a bit too much) about organizational structure, strategy, and management practice in the nonprofit arts. An Associate Professor of Arts Management at American University, he also consults for cultural, educational, and support organizations throughout North America. He recently completed a five-year sponsored research project for the William Penn Foundation on “Capitalizing Change in the Performing Arts.” Andrew is past president of the Association of Arts Administration Educators, board member for Fractured Atlas, and consulting editor for The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, and for Artivate, a journal on arts entrepreneurship. Since July 2003, he has written a popular weblog on the business of arts and culture, "The Artful Manager," hosted by ArtsJournal.com (www.artfulmanager.com ). DIANE RAGSDALE is faculty co-lead of the Cultural Leadership Program at Banff Center for Arts & Creativity; and an assistant professor and program director for the Masters in Arts Management & Entrepreneurship MA at the New School in NYC, where she also designed and launched a graduate minor in Creative Community Development. She additionally teaches a workshop on aesthetic values in a changed cultural context for Yale University's Theater Management MA. Ragsdale is a frequent speaker, blogger, writer, and advisor on a range of arts and culture topics. She previously worked as a program officer for theater and dance at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, ran a contemporary performing arts center and a music festival, held a variety of administrative posts, and began her arts career as a theater practitioner (she has an MFA in acting & directing). She is presently a doctoral candidate at Erasmus University in the Netherlands, where she lectured in the cultural economics program from 2011-2015. Her dissertation examines the evolving relationship between the nonprofit and commercial theater in the US over an 80-year period. She is on the board of Anne Bogart's SITI Company; on the editorial board for Artivate: A Journal of Entrepreneurship in the Arts; and on the Advisory Council for the online theater platform and journal, HowlRound. Among others, she wrote an essay ("To What End Permanence?") for the 2019 book, A Moment on the Clock of the World, published by Haymarket Press. She has dual-citizenship and divides her time between the US and the Netherlands.
"What’s in a Workplace?" dives into the physical and virtual components and connections that form the structures around how we work. And increasingly, these components are changing what work looks and feels like. We discuss Convention versus Invention, Creating workplaces with commitments to anti-racism and anti-oppression, and why do many creative sector organizations often seem to park their creative instincts when it comes to designing their organizations. Our guests on this episode: Rachel Casanova, Andrew Taylor, and Ramphis Castro discuss tools to help us in our daily work and then explore the philosophical when we think about what does it mean for social creatures like humans to work entirely distributed from each other. As always, we're joined by podcasting's favorite co-host at the close of the episode to get her thoughts on the topic (spoiler alert: hammock desks). 01:20 Rachel Casanova 35:20 Andrew Taylor 58:20 Ramphis Castro 1:37:00 Lauren Ruffin Rachel Casanova is currently the Senior Managing Director of Workplace Innovation at Cushman & Wakefield. She has more than 25 years of diverse industry experience advising companies on how to transform their real estate assets to reinforce long-term business strategies, corporate culture, as well as integrated space, technology and performance goals. Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Rachel founded Balansett, a workplace consulting practice, with clients spanning legal firms, professional services, technology, non-profits and architectural firms. During the course of her career, Rachel has addressed workplace-related advances from multiple vantage points—working within an end-user environment at Nortel Networks, serving as a design consultant at Herman Miller, and leading Workplace Strategy at Mancini Duffy, Perkins + Will and most recently, R/GA. As the Global Co-Leader of Planning + Strategy at Perkins + Will, Rachel supported clients with various workplace initiatives including activity based working, change management, occupancy strategy, and workplace/business alignment. As the Managing Director of the Connected Spaces practice at R/GA, she spearheaded the digital marketing and communications company’s efforts to use digital design to drive the physical experiences in workplaces. Rachel’s other major achievements include developing the Workplace of the Future initiative for KPMG in the US from 2004-2015. This effort included the development of the overarching strategy as well as the transition management approach and implementation for over 20 KPMG offices. Forward-thinking and creative, Rachel is passionate about the convergence of organizational behavior, the human experience, and real estate. She is frequently called upon as a subject matter expert and has contributed regularly to audiences in conferences and education seminars. Rachel has recently spoken at Worktech. RealComm, CoreNet, CRE Tech, Cornell University, NYU, IIDA, and Neocon. E. Andrew Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Arts Management Program, and Chair of the Department of Performing Arts at American University, exploring the intersection of arts, culture, and business. An author, lecturer, and researcher on a broad range of arts management issues, Andrew has also served as a consultant to arts organizations and cultural initiatives throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the William Penn Foundation, Overture Center for the Arts, American Ballet Theatre, Create Austin, and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, among others. Prior to joining the AU faculty, Andrew served as Director of the Bolz Center for Arts Administration in the Wisconsin School of Business for over a decade. Andrew is past president of the Association of Arts Administration Educators, current board member of the innovative arts support organization Fractured Atlas, and consulting editor both for The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society and for Artivate, a journal for...
Each of the nearly 100 essays in Insight Philadelphia tells a succinct, compelling, and little-known tale of the city’s past. Some stories are quirky, like how early gas stations were designed to resemble classical temples, or the saga of how a museum acquired a 2000-year-old Greek statue, then had it demolished with a sledgehammer. Other stories turn serious, exploring the tragic deaths of child laborers in the city’s textile mills and a century-old case of racial profiling that led to a stationhouse murder. Historian Kenneth Finkel introduces readers to the many brave souls and colorful characters who left their mark on the city, from the Irish immigrant “coal heavers”—who initiated the nation’s first general strike—to the teenage Josephine Baker making a flashy debut on the Philadelphia stage. Kenneth Finkel is a professor of history at Temple University in Philadelphia, and the author of nine books on Philadelphia. He was a former curator of prints and photographs at the Library Company of Philadelphia, program officer at the William Penn Foundation, and executive director of arts and culture service at WHYY. Description courtesy of Rutgers University Press.
Listen in on this conversation between artist Andrea Hornick and Martha Lucy, Barnes deputy director for educations & pubic programs and curator, about the inspiration, process, and meaning behind “Unbounded Histories,” the first “sound intervention” in the Barnes Collection. Unbounded Histories is made possible with support from the William Penn Foundation and can be streamed on any web-enabled phone as you explore the collection through February 19, 2017. Free with collection admission. Stay tuned for more of Verso: a behind the scenes podcast series exploring the creative minds of artists, thinkers, and performers who bring the Barnes to life!
Shawn McCaney, program director of creative communities at the William Penn Foundation, has been a leader in reimagining Philadelphia’s civic commons, those places that together encourage us to cross paths with our neighbors, encounter new ideas and make broader connections.