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- Why (some) Philadelphians don’t vote
There’s less than two weeks until the November 3rd election, but it’s not clear how many people in our region. While 65 percent of elible voters in Philadelphia cast ballots in the last presidential election, only 47 percent voted the last time there was a gubernatorial election, like this year. Block by Block reporter Lawanda Horton spoke to several Philadelphians to find out why they don’t vote. - Cleaning and greening Kensington, one lot at a timeKensington is a Philadelphia neighborhood at the center of the city’s opioid epidemic. It’s known for its high poverty rate. Kensington is also gentrifying. Property values are climbing as developers purchase low-cost homes and lots. And target them for redevelopment. One thing Kensington isn’t as well known for are its green spaces. But Black by…
- South Square Market’s closure leaves an impact on the Graduate Hospital neighborhood
A grocery store at 23rd and South Street closed this summer after serving the Graduate Hospital neighborhood for almost two decades. These days, Graduate Hospital is the opposite of a food desert. There are nine other grocery stores within one mile. But some neighbors are still mourning the loss. Block by block reporter Gigi Guida… - East Parkside community members resist unchecked developmentPhiladelphia’s East Parkside neighborhood in West Philly is located right Behind attractions like the Please Touch Museum and Philadelphia Zoo. It’s a historic neighborhood with homes along Parkside Avenue that date back to the late 1800s when wealthy German businessmen built many mansions across from Fairmount Park. Today, it’s a predominantly black neighborhood with a…
- Creating inclusive education environments for neurodivegent studentsWhen you think about education, you may think about what children are learning and how they are being taught. But what about the spaces where the education is taking place? For many children, The sights, sounds, and physical environment of the typical classroom can make learning next to impossible.
- Fahmee Shabazz on the fight to save Overbrook Elementary
This spring, Philly’s Board of Education voted to close 17 schools as part of a plan to invest $3 billion into the 169 of the school’s remaining campuses. Many community members and Philadelphia City Council members pushed back to keep neighborhood schools from closing. Fahmess Shabazz has been part of the effort to save Overbrook Elementary in West Philly from closure.
Full Episodes
Block by Block Episodes
- October 21, 2026 (Block by Block)With the November 3 election less than two weeks away, this episode features a story about Philadelphians who choose not to to vote… and why. We also hear about what it takes to create classrooms that are conducive to learning for neurodivergent students, and how community members in three Philly neighborhoods are dealing with the impact of gentrification in three different ways.
- October 18, 2026 (Around the Block)On this episode, we hear about a new book shop in South Philly, and we have a conversation about the impact of school closures with Fahmee Shabazz, a parent organizing against the closure of Overbrook Elementary School in West Philadelphia. Around the Block is a community news program from the Block by Block team at WPPM-LP 106.5 FM. On this program we explore issues in the Philadelphia region with voices from the community – with reports from our team of community journalists and live in-studio interviews. Winter Schneider and Anaiah Davis hosted this episode, and Dounya Ramadan was our board operator. Brad Linder is Radio News Managing Editor for WPPM. Peta Liu is Radio Operations Manager. And Allison Durham is WPPM’s Radio Program Director.
- October 7, 2026 (Block by Block)This episode features stories on city of Philadelphia lawsuit against gun maker Glock over deceptive marketing, the challenges facing mental health professionals, how some community members are helping fill the gaps left by a shortage of school librarians in the city, and how a local burlesque show provides a safe space for members of Philly’s queer community to express themselves.