I’m a strong believer in redemption because as I often say – every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.  That’s why I devote so much time to addressing criminal justice and reform. I’ve spent many years working with lifers first at Graterford and then at SCI Phoenix where I’ve met some extraordinary men. Some are out like former juvenile lifers Pulitzer Prize winner Suave Gonzalez or Gani who has devoted his life to working on criminal justice reform. Or Dawan Packy Williams and Rickey Duncan who I met shortly after their release are leaders at NOMO a celebrated program that works with youth and returning citizens.  So today I speak to two folks from the external team for the FACT Program – Father’s and Children Together – designed and started by men behind the walls to strengthen the bond between fathers and father figures and their kids. I speak to Darlene Brown Freeman, VP of the FACT Experience Keturah Moore President of the external board of FACT.   https://www.factexperience.org/ 

First, on Mother’s Day the Susan G. Komen Foundation is hosting the Greater Philadelphia More Than Pink Walk - an opportunity for everyone to get involved and support Komen’s mission to save more lives from breast cancer. I speak to Brandie Engelberger, Executive Director in Pennsylvania at Susan G. Komen   www. komen.org/PhiladelphiaWalk

Guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati speaks to Vikki Tobak, Guest Curator of the exhibit ICE COLD: AN EXHIBITION OF HIP-HOP JEWELRY at The American Museum of Natural History VIKKI TOBAK is an author, journalist, and curator.  She is the author of critically acclaimed books CONTACT HIGH: A VISUAL HISTORY OF HIP-HOP (Clarkson Potter/Random House), 2018); ICE COLD: A HIP-HOP JEWELRY HISTORY (Taschen 2022) and The Streets Win (Rizzoli 2023). https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/ice-cold-hip-hop-jewelry  

For her feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” Vanesse talks with Liz Montague, cartoonist, author and illustrators.  She is the first Black Woman to have a cartoon in the New Yorker Magazine. Liz will be at the Free Library of Philadelphia on May 7th at 10:30AM. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/calendar/event/136021

 The DELCO Foundation is hosting Delco Gives Day – a 24-hour day of giving which kicks off May 8th at 7:00 p.m. and wraps up at 7:00 p.m. on May 9th. I speak to Frances M. Sheehan, President, The Foundation for Delaware County about the event and the work of the Foundation to support local organizations providing critical services and resources for the community.
https://delcofoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/DelcoFdn/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-delaware-county/ https://www.instagram.com/delcofdn/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFPbAUfhB8djfYt4ZgvFY1w https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FDelcoFdn%2F

Since 1989, Project HOME has empowered thousands of adults, children and families in Philadelphia to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing a continuum of care that addresses and alleviates the underlying causes of homelessness, including mental illness and substance use disorder. I speak to Sister Mary Scullion, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Project HOME who will be honored along with co-founder Joan McConnon at Project Home’s 35th Anniversary Gala May 1st as the two step down from their leadership roles.
 Project HOME's 35th Anniversary Gala
Project HOME

Sunday April 28th I’ll be joining thousands at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for the 2024 Gift of Life Donor Dash to raise awareness about the critical importance of organ donation. I speak to Philadephia hit performing artist Freeway who will be there and who shares his experience as not only a kidney transplant recipient but also a donor parent whose late son provided four people with lifesaving organs. Gift of Life Donor Dash takes place Sunday April 28th at the Navy Yard. Online registration is closed but you can register on site starting at 8:00 a.m
 Gift of Life    

Since 1989, Project HOME has empowered thousands of adults, children and families in Philadelphia to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing a continuum of care that addresses and alleviates the underlying causes of homelessness, including mental illness and substance use disorder. I speak to Sister Mary Scullion, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Project HOME who will be honored along with co-founder Joan McConnon at Project Home’s 35th Anniversary Gala May 1st as the two step down from their leadership roles.
Project HOME's 35th Anniversary Gala
Project HOME

The DELCO Foundation is hosting Delco Gives Day – a 24-hour day of giving which kicks off May 8th at 7:00 p.m. and wraps up at 7:00 p.m. on May 9th. I speak to Frances M. Sheehan, President, The Foundation for Delaware County about the event and the work of the Foundation to support local organizations providing critical services and resources for the community.

 https://delcofoundation.org/ https://www.facebook.com/DelcoFdn/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-foundation-for-delaware-county/ https://www.instagram.com/delcofdn/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFPbAUfhB8djfYt4ZgvFY1w https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FDelcoFdn%2F  

When it comes to HIV and AIDS, we can get to zero infections, zero deaths and zero stigma. at the beginning of this pandemic - that hope seemed impossible but with the advent of new drugs that greatly reduce the chance of HIV infection among the sexually active - maybe this dream is possible through the use of PrEP – a regular treatment that reduces the risk of HIV up to 99 percent. I speak to local musician Sug Daniels who is supporting the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s efforts to offer free and confidential HIV testing, free PrEP, and other resources— to help combat AIDS and Javontae Lee Williams, Prevention Program manager for the division of HIV Health for the Department of Public Health. Find out more at Philly Keep on Loving campaign and to hear music by Sug Daniels go to https://www.sugdaniels.com/


I speak to Cheryl Brubaker, Executive Director, Women’s Resource Center about Girls Lead, is a leadership and life skills program that WRC started in 1999 to help middle and high school girls with untapped leadership potential find their footing and thrive. 
www.WomensResourceCenter.net   
Women's Resource Center | Wayne PA | Facebook            
https://twitter.com/womensrc            
Women's Resource Center (Greater Philadelphia Area) | 
LinkedIn            

I talk to Jenne Johns who has created a nonprofit, Once Upon a Preemie to address the health disparities black families face when a child is born prematurely. www.onceuponapreemie.org @onceapreemie (IG) once-upon-a-preemie-academy (LI) @onceuponapreemie (FB)

One of my favorite youth development programs is the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. I speak to   Lisbeth Marziello, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and   Ariel Goldring - Executive Vice President Strategic support training and systematic Development about the organization’s programs and their upcoming Coaches Private Reserve Dinner April 25th.  
https://bgcphila.org/

Intimate partners violence can happen to anyone but there is help. I speak to Christina Vega, Founder/President of: Love Shouldn’t Hurt, Philly which was founded in 2018 after the murder/suicide of City Hall head of HR, Linda Rios.) They are hosting a Women’s Empowerment Conference: HERstory: A walk in HER Shoes w/ April Hernandez-Castillo April 27, 2024 9:00am - 3:00pm 6301 N. 2nd street Philadelphia, pa 19120                 
 Website: www.loveshouldnthurtphilly.org                
Instagram: @loveshouldnthurt_philly                
Facebook: Love Shouldn’t Hurt                
YouTube: Love Shouldn’t Hurt, Philly      

Autism Awareness Month, observed every April, serves as a crucial opportunity to foster understanding, acceptance, and support for individuals on the autism spectrum. It's a time to amplify voices, share stories, and dispel myths surrounding autism, promoting inclusivity and appreciation of neurodiversity. I spoke to the Hartranft family, Ben, who is autistic, his Mom Sandy and brother Dan. Ben has become a powerful public speaker about Autism with the love and support of his family.   Website and social media handles and tags www.Benergy1.com @benergylive YouTube @gobetheone TikTok benrct1 Instagram @benergyEAC Twitter X