This Week on WURD: August in Black, real impacts of DEI attacks, tech in classrooms

Luke Bilger, executive director of educational technology for the School District of Philadelphia, joined Life and Tech with TechLifeSteph to discuss the district’s back-to-school technology policies. Bilger said every K-12 student receives a Chromebook, while generative AI chatbots are limited to high school students using district-approved Google Gemini accounts to protect student data.

Ryan Mulholland, senior fellow for international economic policy at the Center for American Progress, joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to discuss escalating U.S.-Canada trade tensions. Mulholland said Trump’s 50% tariffs on some Canadian imports are already in effect, warning that the dispute is raising costs while driving Canadian consumers away from American products and travel.

Tanya T. Morris, CEO of Mom Your Business, a Philadelphia organization supporting entrepreneurs as they launch, grow and scale their businesses, joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to discuss Black August, Black Business Month and Black Philanthropy Month. Morris highlighted the new Black August Report documenting Black giving and entrepreneurship and previewed the inaugural Black August Summit, featuring business resources and a $5,000 nonprofit pitch competition.

Christel Best, attorney and workplace trainer, joined Wake Up With WURD with guest host Keir Bradford-Grey to discuss federal efforts to roll back workplace discrimination protections amid attacks on DEI. Best said the efforts reflect the Project 2025 blueprint and warned that weakening “disparate impact” enforcement could make it harder for workers to challenge policies that disproportionately harm Black people without proving discriminatory intent.

Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO and co-founder of Fair Fight, joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to discuss voter suppression, Southern politics and Atlanta being overlooked for the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Groh-Wargo called attacks on Black voting power a new Southern strategy and highlighted Georgia organizing that helped derail an effort to redraw Black congressional districts.

Dr. Darrin Anderson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Philadelphia, joined Tiffany Bacon on The Midday Break Room to discuss back-to-school programs, scholarships and Black Philanthropy Month. Anderson highlighted the Urban League’s distribution of hundreds of backpacks and its 29 $5,000 scholarships, while urging Philadelphians to support nonprofits and remain engaged in voting and civic life.