Blog masonry

Philadelphia tax break program fails to deliver hoped-for benefits to students

By Emily Rizzo | ChalkbeatSign up for Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s free newsletter to keep up with the city’s public school system.Every so often, Philadelphia’s school board members have to decide whether to grant huge tax breaks to property developers through a program that, on the whole, siphons money away from the city and the district they govern.These tax breaks are a lynchpin of Keystone Opportunity Zones, a 25-year-old state program that officials say spurs development on abandoned or underutilized land by […]

February 7, 2024

ICYMI

This week on WURD: Prominent discussions on race, education and law with Ava DuVernay, Tony Watlington and Pedro Rosario

Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay joined Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to discuss her new highly acclaimed film, “Origin.” Jones and DuVernay’s conversation detailed the behind-the-scenes process of putting the film together and her experience of getting the project green-lit in Hollywood.Keith Boykin, author and political commentator, and The Brothers’ Network founder Gregory Walker joined Dr. James Peterson on Evening WURDs to discuss Boykin’s newest book, “Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race?” and the drift of Black […]

February 1, 2024

Uncategorized

Black History Month 2024: Special Events and Programs from WURD Radio

WURD Radio has a robust lineup of events and programs planned for February, starting Feb. 1 with a special conversation about the history of the Seventh Ward and cultural preservation featuring WURD President and CEO Sara Lomax and Tayyib Smith, the force behind the Legacy Reclaimed project. You can watch a sneak peek of this conversation on YouTube; it will air on Evening WURDs at 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1. WURD is proud to present a special audio vignette […]

February 1, 2024

Lively-HOOD

A new mayor and new hope for innovation and equity in Philadelphia

By Kiara SantosChange and innovation are prominent themes for newly-elected 100th mayor Cherelle Parker. In January, a civic-focused panel convened on Reality Check with Tonya Pendleton to discuss the implications and potential of this new era, shedding light on the city's trajectory regarding the role of technology, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.Julie Zegler, managing editor at Technically, kicked off the conversation by introducing key members of Mayor Parker's transition team including Jeff Hornstein, Executive Director of the Economy League of Greater […]

January 30, 2024

News

This week on WURD: The anniversary of Roe V. Wade, negligence at Philly’s Citizen’s Police Oversight Commission, remembering a medical pioneer and more

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, made an appearance on Evening WURDs with Dr. James Peterson on the 51st anniversary of the historic Roe V. Wade case to discuss how the overturning of the ruling has influenced the lives of Americans and the political climate today.Dr. Walter Kimbrough also joined Evening WURDs with Dr. James Peterson to speak on the White House initiative on propelling educational equity and leveling economic opportunity throughout historically Black colleges and universities.Isaac Avilucea, an Axios […]

January 25, 2024

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Posts

Remembering Paula Peebles, Sister Warrior

There’s no mistaking the power she exudes when she walks into a room; it's not her beauty — although she is beautiful. It’s not just her grace — because she is gracious. It’s not her many admirers. It’s the power of her convictions. Paula Peebles is our Sister Warrior whose activism spans 50 years: from a teenage Black Panther fighting injustices in our criminal justice system to a housing activist who boldly led a sit-in in the mayor’s conference room […]

January 24, 2024 3 70 12

ICYMI

This week on WURD: The death of an HBCU leader, building an empire while Black, Biden gets no love from younger voters and more

John Graham, author of "Plantation Theory: The Black Professional's Struggle Between Freedom and Security," joined Roxi Fab on Love & Life to discuss the loss of Antoinette Candia-Bailey, a VP at Lincoln University in Missouri who took her own life after reporting workplace bullying to friends and family. Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson joined Tonya Pendleton to discuss the third season of their HGTV hit series "Married to Real Estate." They discussed their efforts and hurdles in building a positive […]

January 19, 2024

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Posts

Philadelphia mourns the unexpected loss of food entrepreneur and industry leader Charisse McGill

Charisse McGill, founder of Lokal Artisan Foods and creator of French Toast Bites, died this week at age 42, shocking the city's food scene and all who were inspired by her success. Solomon Jones interviewed McGill last year about her journey from working at a farmers market to becoming a leading industry entrepreneur. THE WURD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Black Talk Media sent straight to your inbox. BECOME A MEMBER The forWURD Movement is your way to protect and preserve Independent Black Media. […]

January 19, 2024 1

News

MLK AND THE LIMITLESS LEGACY OF HOPE

By Dr. James Peterson | The Philadelphia Citizen Hope is infinite. In one of his writings from shortly before his death, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. advised us that “we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” This is King-as-Preacher, ministering to the congregation of humanity, delivering a salve for what ailed us then and, of course, what ails us now. These days, the disappointments feel infinite — terrorism in Israel and unspeakable death in Gaza, a […]

January 15, 2024

The Source with Andrea Lawful-Sanders