Koren Martin

Koren Martin is a photographer and arts administrator originally from Atlantic City, NJ.

Her work is a mixture of candid portraiture and immersive documentary photography. She has passion for highlighting the beauty and strength of the African Diaspora. Her current photo series “Birthing The Resistance” is a celebration of Black Mothers that are involved in activism.

Koren has received an honorable mention in MFON: Women Photographers of the AfricanDiaspora, an exclusive and commemorative biannual journal committed to establishing and representing a collective voice of women photographers of African descent. Her work has been featured in the anthology “How We Stay Free”, MFON exhibition “Altar:Prayer, Ritual, Offerings.”at Photoville, The Chrysler Museum Exhibition “Come Together, Right Now: The Art of Gathering”, Puffin Foundation Exhibition “Election, 2020” and the Harlem Arts Alliance/CUNY-Black Studies exhibition “Black (W)omen: Seen it Before.”
Posted inNews

Save the Academy coalition pushes back against closure of the nation’s oldest natural history museum

by Koren Martin and Campbell Simmons

The Academy of Natural Sciences museum is set to close its doors to the public in a week. But as soon as Drexel University announced plans earlier this month to close the museum and move its archives to the university, a coalition of scientists, museum professionals, and supporters formed the Save the Academy Coalition in an effort to push for more information, and find solutions to keep the museum open. Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia president Alex Palma joins us to discuss the situation.

Posted inPodcast Episodes, Radio, Around the Block

September 20, 2026 (Around the Block)

by Koren Martin and Campbell Simmons

This episode features stories from reporters Milan Parker and Alisha Miranda about how communities are stepping up to fill a gap left by the small number of Philadelphia schools staffed by professional librarians, and a look a the history of Philadelphia’s iconic Bellevue hotel. We also speak with Alexa Palma about the Save the Academy Movement that has arisen since Drexel University announced it would close the Academy of Natural Sciences, effective September 27th. Alex Palma is an archivist, lecturer and grants consultant in the Philadelphia area. He is president of the Museum Council of Greater Philadelphia and an ally of the Save The Academy coalition.