With roughly 13,000 youth in foster care across Pennsylvania alone, the need for permanent, loving homes is critical. This week, Dominique McFadden, Executive Director of the Adoption Center, joins us to demystify the often confusing adoption process. She breaks down the three different "paths" families can take, from private adoption to foster-to-adopt, and explains what resources are available to parents. It's time to bust out the "creative couture" because November is Craft Month in Philly! This week on "Shara in the City," we're getting our hands dirty (and glittery) with Emily Edelstein, Executive Director of CraftNOW 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

The Highmark Mann Center is the iconic sound of summer in Philadelphia, but its legacy stretches back long before its 1976 opening. This week, we dive into the rich history of Philly's beloved amphitheater with Highmark Mann CEO Katherine Cahill and historian Jack McCarthy, author of the new book "A Century of Music Under the Stars." We'll explore the Mann's origins as the Robin Hood Dell, a venue rescued by the legendary Frederic "Freddie" Mann. Hear how the programming evolved from strictly classical to hosting icons like The Roots. This week on Shara in the City, we're in West Philly at Babashi, a food pantry that's tackling the food crisis with a revolutionary model. We get a tour of their "pantry of choice"—a market where clients grab a cart and shop with points for fresh meat, produce, and milk—a system designed to provide radical customer service and a dignified experience in a time of overwhelming need. 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

When Jenné Johns' son was born 14 weeks early, her 77-day NICU journey exposed more than just a medical crisis—it revealed a system rife with racial bias. Now, as the founder of "Once Upon a Preemie," she is turning that pain into purpose. Janae joins us for National Prematurity Awareness Month to share her powerful story, discuss the shocking disparities Black fathers face in the NICU (including being treated as threats), and explain how her organization is now training clinicians to dismantle the implicit biases that lead to life-threatening inequities in neonatal care. Following recent public conversations over its handling of human remains, the museum's new co-directors join Shara to discuss the "thorny questions" of ethical stewardship. Hear how they are beginning an evolving journey to move their collection "from data to human". 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

How do you help a community in the immediate aftermath of a crisis? This week, we're joined by Reverend Linda Ivey, founder of the nonprofit Your Destiny Is Here. She discusses her vital mission of providing both spiritual and practical support to families in their darkest moments, particularly those affected by gun violence. Reverend Ivey shares the importance of rapid, structured services, her work in trauma counseling and conflict resolution, and why she believes faith leaders have a crucial role to play in community service. This week on Shara in the City a discussion on Calder Gardens, a space dedicated to the work of artist Alexander Calder, which aims to inspire curiosity and contemplation through art and architecture. 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

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so we’re revisiting an episode from a special series we did last October, “Stories from the Journey”, which was honored with a Gracie Award this year. Doctors, survivors, and supporters shared their personal experiences with breast cancer, and in this final episode, we took a close look at breast reconstruction in a conversation in front of a live audience. 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. This episode was originally released on October 26, 2024. 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

Shayna Yvonne Rudd, founder of the Legend House, a therapeutic arts program in Philadelphia, shared her journey from battling depression to creating a supportive community for young girls. Initially called Lady Diva, the program evolved into Legends Camp in 2012, serving hundreds of girls. Shara Dae Howard joins an expert arborist on a hike through Wissahickon Valley Park to uncover the fascinating science behind why leaves change color and which local trees put on the most spectacular autumn show 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

What started with one Drexel student donating 50 unused meal swipes has blossomed into a national movement. Philly-based Sharing Excess now rescues over 2 million pounds of surplus food each week, fighting food waste and hunger simultaneously. Founder Evan Ellers believes we don't have a food shortage, but an access problem—and his team is fixing it. Learn more about their incredible work and how every $1 you donate provides 10 meals for those in need. The Prince Hall Masons are the oldest African American fraternity in the United States, with a history dating back to 1784. Today, they continue this legacy of strengthening the community through public events like food giveaways and festivals, preserving their rich history while welcoming a new generation. 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

This week on Bridging Philly, we threw a surprise on-air baby shower for our amazing producer, Sabrina Boyd-Surka, who is expecting any day now! Join us for a warm, honest, and heartfelt conversation about the real journey into motherhood. We're joined by an incredible panel of Philly experts to share their wisdom and support. Bo Zhao, founder of the brilliant Baby Gear Group, reveals how to save money and stress by renting baby gear instead of buying. Dr. Sarah McMahon, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Phun Phit Pham, provides essential advice on postpartum recovery, pelvic floor health, and bonding with your baby. And on Shara in the City, we head to Inner Circle Midwifery in Wynnewood, where we meet one of the only Black certified professional midwives in the area to discuss the benefits of expectant mothers having midwives and doulas by their sides. Whether you're expecting, a new parent, or just love a heartwarming surprise, this episode is for you. Tune in for a dose of community, real talk, and celebration! 🍼🎉 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

As Sickle Cell Awareness Month comes to a close, we revisit our conversation with Tahirah Austin-Muhammad, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease when she was six years old. Throughout her life, she has dealt with pain and organ failures. In 2024, she was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, living on 7% kidney function. Despite that, she has raised a daughter and helped found ⁠Crescent Foundation⁠ to provide education and resources to others living with sickle cell disease. Racquel Williams talks with Tahirah along with her physician, Dr. Safiyya Shabazz.  Learn more about how to find and support Black physicians in the Philadelphia area from ⁠The Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania⁠. Then, on Shara in the City, we’re treating ourselves to a little something sweet at Reading Terminal Market. Shara Dae Howard visits ⁠Sweet Nina’s⁠ to learn about the local business and taste their wide array of banana pudding flavors. The sickle cell interview was originally released on May 18, 2024. Shara in the City at Sweet Nina’s was originally released on August 2, 2025. 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

Racquel Williams talks with nationally recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategist Celeste Warren about the passion behind her work and her book, The Truth About Equity. Warren challenges the idea that DEI and merit-based hiring are at odds, arguing that success isn't just about hard work when people start from different places. She emphasizes that a diverse workforce is not about lowering standards but about recognizing and addressing systemic barriers to ensure the most qualified candidates can succeed. Then, on Shara in the City, get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience at the gorgeous Fairmount Water Works! The Philly-based dance group Naked Stark is putting on an immersive performance inside a historic, empty swimming pool that has been closed to the public for decades. Shara Dae Howard joins dancer Chloe Marie for a journey into this "secret clubhouse,". The group will transform the pool into a stage, combining movement, history, and the unique, echoing acoustics of the incredible location. 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

Lewy body dementia affects over a million people in the United States, but many people don’t know much about it. It’s difficult to diagnose and often misdiagnosed. A new documentary called ⁠“Facing the Wind”⁠ shines a light on Lewy body dementia, both living with it and caring for someone who has the disease. Racquel Williams talks with Philadelphia filmmaker Tony Heriza and Linda Szypula, who lives in Plymouth Meeting and whose journey caring for her husband is featured in the film. Scribe Video Center is hosting a ⁠screening of “Facing the Wind” on September 18⁠. Listen to Linda’s podcast, ⁠“Lewy Body Roller Coaster”, here⁠. Then, on Shara in the City, Marsha’s - Philly’s first queer women’s sports bar - is set to open on South Street on September 19. Shara Dae Howard visits with the owner to hear about her inspiration for the bar and what’s to come. The Lewy body dementia interview was originally released on July 12, 2025. 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

I'm Listening is a special KYW Newsradio makes every year focusing on mental health and wellness and suicide prevention. You'll hear conversations with experts in the field of mental health, and real things everyone can do to make a difference. Tips on how to manage parenting stresses, how to practice mindfulness, how to deal with grief in a positive and proactive way, and keeping your mental health the priority while experiencing anxiety related to the news cycle and world events.     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

Philadelphia has a literacy crisis - only a third of third grade students are reading at grade level. But access to books and activities that create positive experiences with reading can help. Book Trust is a national nonprofit that helps students choose books to own and provides teachers with engaging materials. Racquel Williams talks with their staff and their teacher of the year, Cheryl Daniels, a first-grade teacher at Philadelphia’s James R. Ludlow Elementary School. Then, on Shara in the City, Work to Ride teaches youth about emotional healing and violence prevention through horsemanship. Shara Dae Howard takes a trip to the stables and talks with the kids about what they’ve been learning from these horses. 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

The Arab community in Philadelphia is a mix of people from many countries, all with vibrant art, music, and culture to share. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture serves as a hub for anyone who wants to learn about Arabic language and creative expression. Racquel Williams talks with several members of the Al-Bustan team about their mission and experiences as Arab people in America today. Then, on Shara in the City, The Water Shed is a new community space centered around art, education and the environment. Shara Dae Howard stops by their grand opening block party to see what it’s all about. 00:00 Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 28:10 Shara in the City at The Water Shed 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

What kinds of jobs were 19th century Black Philadelphians doing? What did they value? These kinds of questions are at the heart of a new collaboration between The Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College and 1838 Black Metropolis, studying census data from 1838 and 1847 to learn what life was like for the city’s Black residents and how it changed over that decade. Racquel Williams talks with several researchers behind the project. Then, on Shara in the City, we visit Project HOME to learn about how they are fighting to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Shara Dae Howard meets the founder, Sister Mary Scullion, along with the current CEO, Donna Bullock, and takes a tour of one of their housing units in Fairmount. 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

Kelson Williams is a regular 12-year-old - he loves Marvel and playing outside with his friends - but he’s living with cerebral palsy. He has a medical support dog, Gus, but insurance wouldn’t cover the $15,000 for Gus’s training. So Kelson and his family turned to Help Hope Live, a nonprofit that helps fundraise for medical costs, and they raised so much that they are now working toward a stretch goal to get Kelson a new wheelchair. Racquel Williams talks with Kelson, his mother Stephanie, and Melanie Johnson, Client Services Coordinator at Help Hope Live. Then, on Shara in the City, we talk with a music legend - Rev. Joe Williams, the last living member of the gospel group The Dixie Hummingbirds. Shara Dae Howard visits him in North Philly to hear about how he got to sing with the group that he admired for years. 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

South Philly’s 9th Street Market may be known as the Italian Market, but the vendors there aren’t just Italian. Immigrants have come from many countries for 100 years and found opportunity and community in the neighborhood. Racquel Williams visited the market and talked with Michelle Angela Ortiz, who created Our Market Project to share the stories of the people who make the market what it is through art and a walking tour. Then on Shara in the City, Scribe Video Center put on the first North Philadelphia History Festival this July, showcasing films and multimedia exhibits that celebrate the neighborhood and the impacts of the African American and Puerto Rican communities. Shara Dae Howard went to the festival to see what it’s all about. 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

Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia is taking on the teacher shortage and summer learning loss at the same time. Their summer and weekend programs give middle schoolers the opportunity to go beyond their classroom learning in a way that’s fun and engaging, led by college students training to become teachers. Racquel Williams talks with Michelle Palmer, the Executive Director of Breakthrough’s Philadelphia chapter; Najah Spruill, a former student who went on to train and then teach with Breakthrough; and Marissa Tice, a single mom of two children in the program. Then, on Shara in the City, we’re treating ourselves to a little something sweet at Reading Terminal Market. Shara Dae Howard visits Sweet Nina’s to learn about the local business and taste their wide array of banana pudding flavors. 00:00 Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia 22:05 Shara in the City: Sweet Nina's 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

When you’re going through a difficult time, sometimes a simple act of kindness can mean everything. Lasagna Love is building a movement based on that kindness, where volunteers make and deliver lasagna for neighbors in need. Racquel Williams talks with their Executive Director, Andria Larson, and the Volunteer State Director for Pennsylvania, Jazmyne Walker. Then, on Shara in the City, we’re learning all about the trees and plants around Philadelphia. Shara Dae Howard takes a walk with a local arborist to find out what’s in bloom. 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

The Trump administration has ramped up deportation efforts, saying they want to stop criminals from coming into our country illegally, but many people who are trying to go through the legal process of immigration and have no criminal history have found themselves detained by ICE, even when they’re following every rule. To get a better understanding of the legal process, the barriers, and whether or not a legal status actually means protection, Racquel Williams talks with Blanca Pacheco and Peter Pedemonti, co-directors of New Sanctuary Movement, and Sarah Paoletti, Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Transnational Legal Clinic. Then, on Shara in the City, it’s all about “The Blob”. Shara Dae Howard attends Blobfest, the annual celebration in Phoenixville that commemorates the 1958 sci-fi horror flick and the scene that was filmed at The Colonial Theatre. 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