Bridging Philly

Some Black men stand out for their sense of style - Sammy Davis Jr., Prince, Colman Domingo. They’re all part of a deep historical culture of Black dandyism, where fashion is rooted in resistance and used to counter stereotypes. This year’s Met Gala theme and an ongoing exhibition titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” [https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/superfine-tailoring-black-style] highlight Black dandyism. Host Racquel Williams talks with two Philly fashion experts about the dandy movement, the runway looks, and some tips for men who want to elevate their own style - Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste [https://www.prajjeoscar.com/], a designer and professor at Philly area colleges including Thomas Jefferson University, and Jamel Workman, founder of Dandy Headdress [https://www.instagram.com/dandyheaddress/]. Then, on Shara in the City, we hop on board a very special trolley to inspire and empower women. The Deeply Rooted Trolley Tour, organized by Harriett’s Bookshop [https://www.oursisterbookshops.com/] and hosted by Starfire [https://www.instagram.com/starfire_369/?hl=en], visits women-owned businesses across the city. Shara Dae Howard takes a ride and hears about their next event, a Juneteenth “family reunion” trip [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-a-june-jordan-inspired-literary-family-reunion-tickets-1306956013619?aff=erelexpmlt]. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

The Trump administration has been cutting back on the arts, closing federal organizations and cancelling grants that supported local cultural centers across the country. Host Racquel Williams speaks with three arts organizations that are feeling the impacts here in Philadelphia: Esperanza Arts Center [https://www.esperanzaartscenter.us/], Philadelphia Young Playwrights [https://www.phillyyoungplaywrights.org/], and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance [https://www.philaculture.org/]. Then, on Shara in the City, we put on our dancing shoes at Second Chance Dance Studio [https://scdancephilly.com/], where adults are re-discovering their love of dance. Shara Dae Howard sits in on a rehearsal and learns a few moves herself. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

May is Jewish American Heritage Month [https://jewishamericanheritage.org/] - or JAHM - and The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History [https://theweitzman.org/] here in Philadelphia has been at the center of the national efforts to celebrate and educate about Jewish American history and culture. Host Racquel Williams talks with Emily August, The Weitzman’s Director of JAHM, and Dan Tadmor, President and CEO, about how everyone can fight antisemitism and honor Jewish American heritage all year long. Then, on Shara in the City, warm up those vocal chords - we’re visiting Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ all-voices choir, Philadelphia Voices of Pride [https://www.pvop.org/]. Shara Dae Howard stops by a rehearsal as the choir prepares for their upcoming performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard [https://www.pvop.org/event/2024/11/7/considering-mather-shepherd-wnejj]”.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Women and BIPOC entrepreneurs often struggle to find the capital to get their businesses off the ground and to stay in business, facing various systemic barriers. Finanta [https://finanta.org/] is a Philly-based non-profit that supports entrepreneurs with loans, advice, and local connections. Host Racquel Williams speaks with Finanta’s President & CEO, Daniel Betancourt, and a participant in their Affinity Group Lending [https://finanta.org/financing/agl/] program, Saundra Gilliard, Founder and CEO of Femininely Free [https://femininelyfree.com/]. Then, on Shara in the City, we catch up with Mike Africa, Jr. after the 40th anniversary of the MOVE bombing [https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/west-philadelphia-move-bombing-40-years-later]. Shara Dae Howard visits Mike in his garden to talk about his family’s history with MOVE and how he’s trying to memorialize those lost in the bombing. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Pennsylvania’s funding for after-school care ends when children turn 13, and many parents are concerned about where their teens can go after school and in the summer. Caring People Alliance⁠ [https://www.caringpeoplealliance.org/home] runs a teen program and opened a new center last year at their South Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club where teens can go to get a meal, play basketball, make music and art, and have a safe space to talk and learn. We speak with Branon Gilmore, VP of CPA’s Boys & Girls Club Movement, Jewel Felder-James, Director of Teen Programming, and Alphonso Cobbs, a participant in the teen program. And on Shara in the City, Shara Dae Howard re-discovers the joy of play at the historic ⁠Smith Memorial Playground⁠ [https://www.smithplayground.org/]. This episode was originally released on June 29, 2024. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]