This Week on WURD: Passage of Pennsylvania’s state budget, NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom, visual artistry through self-regard

Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton and State Representative Jordan Harris, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, joined Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to discuss the passage of the delayed $50.1 billion state budget. McClinton and Harris said key successes include significantly increased education funding, the creation of a new Pennsylvania tax credit for working families, and renewed funding for organizations supporting victims of domestic violence and rape. The conversation also addressed the controversy surrounding the rollback of diversity targets in Philadelphia city contracts.

Former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a human rights activist and joined Evening WURDs with Dr. James Peterson to talk about his memoir, “In The Name Of Freedom: A Political Dissident’s Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and Around the World.” Freedom’s new book also focuses on his unexpected transition to activism, the political dismantling of Turkey’s democracy and the global imperative to stand up for human rights.

Kyra Hardwick is the founder and managing consultant of The Kyra Company, LLC, an operations and business development-focused consulting firm. Hardwick joined The Midday Break Room with Tiffany Bacon to talk about her journey from corporate layoff to successful entrepreneurship, the essential infrastructure required for small business growth and practical advice for navigating financial crises while building a business.

Tayyib Smith is the curator of the art exhibit, “The Source of Self-Regard,” and Al-baseer Holly is a featured artist. They both joined Amadee Braxton on Solutions to discuss the exhibit’s theme, which was inspired by Toni Morrison, the story behind Holly’s visual artistry and how a deep well of self-regard is necessary to keep people from becoming “ignorant cogs” in the machine.

Sanitation Commissioner Crystal Jacobs Shipman and Sanitation Operations Administrator Faruq Scott both work with the City of Philadelphia’s Sanitation Department. They joined ecoWURD Magazine with P.O.C. to talk about the new infrastructure of the Northwest Transfer Station, an expansion of the “Big Belly” trash containment system and a major policy initiative to combat illegal dumping in Philadelphia.