Full Transcript for Insight Pt. 2: Celebrating Teachers, Preparing to Vote & Spotlighting Presh So Fresh

--> 00:03:40.250 on this world. 72 00:03:40.530 --> 00:03:44.379 Michael Winterbottom, you are an art teacher. And sometimes art 73 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:48.680 doesn't get the support that it really deserves. Why is 74 00:03:48.939 --> 00:03:50.759 art important in the schools? 75 00:03:51.830 --> 00:03:56.490 Art's important because it gives students another avenue to express themselves. 76 00:03:57.030 --> 00:03:59.310 Lots of times during the day, they have to go 77 00:03:59.469 --> 00:04:04.069 and they're lectured to get a chance to produce work 78 00:04:04.090 --> 00:04:06.349 that's hands-on and more creative. 79 00:04:06.870 --> 00:04:09.569 Chef, what is one moment with a student that reminds 80 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:10.740 you why this work matters? 81 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:15.620 Wow, just even this past summer when they graduated, this 82 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:18.600 past June, even when they just walked up to me 83 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.740 after they received a diploma and they just cried. And 84 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:23.980 he was just saying, what I'm going to do without you? 85 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:25.600 And I said, you're going to go out there and 86 00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:27.839 just live your life. And I mean, every day just 87 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:29.980 talking about it, just bring a tear to my eye 88 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.680 because you sometimes you may not know that you're leaving 89 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:36.120 a lasting impact on them. But I always tell myself, 90 00:04:36.189 --> 00:04:39.009 if you just touch one person, you know, I think 91 00:04:39.069 --> 00:04:40.589 I have done my job and I think I have 92 00:04:40.610 --> 00:04:43.029 been touching many lives since I've been teaching. 93 00:04:43.410 --> 00:04:46.209 Well, you know, a lot of teachers are unsung heroes. 94 00:04:46.230 --> 00:04:48.699 You're certainly all heroes to me. I was actually an 95 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:52.040 education major, and life just took me in a different direction. 96 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:55.459 But I still have a great, great love of teachers 97 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:59.339 and education. I wonder if you can just each react 98 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:01.980 to the fact that you were nominated and you are 99 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:07.389 receiving a $ 500 gift card from iHeartMedia and Boost Mobile. 100 00:05:07.750 --> 00:05:09.949 So tell us how you feel about the fact that 101 00:05:09.970 --> 00:05:11.709 you got acknowledged in this way. 102 00:05:11.730 --> 00:05:13.470 I was so excited. 103 00:05:13.529 --> 00:05:15.250 I couldn't even remember how this happened. 104 00:05:15.750 --> 00:05:15.949 So. 105 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:19.019 It was quite the surprise, and I'm very thankful. 106 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:21.240 Wonderful. What about you, Kashmir? 107 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:24.120 I'm thankful as well. It came as quite a surprise 108 00:05:24.180 --> 00:05:27.579 to me, especially because I've

only been teaching for five years. 109 00:05:28.019 --> 00:05:29.850 So it was really nice to know that I've made 110 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:33.410 an impact in some way, and I'm being recognized for that. 111 00:05:33.730 --> 00:05:34.069 Michael? 112 00:05:34.370 --> 00:05:35.730 Yeah, I was very surprised. 113 00:05:35.829 --> 00:05:37.430 It's very nice to be honored in this way. 114 00:05:37.769 --> 00:05:40.230 That is wonderful. Well, I'd like to thank all of you. 115 00:05:40.250 --> 00:05:43.709 I wonder if you could each Tell us what you 116 00:05:43.750 --> 00:05:47.410 would like families and communities to understand about what teachers 117 00:05:47.550 --> 00:05:49.509 need to help students succeed. 118 00:05:49.889 --> 00:05:53.410 Parents and teachers have to work together, and there has 119 00:05:53.449 --> 00:05:57.889 to be open communication. So getting involved in your child's 120 00:05:57.949 --> 00:05:59.949 school really does make a difference. 121 00:06:00.350 --> 00:06:01.730 Kashmir, what about you? 122 00:06:01.930 --> 00:06:04.310 It's really important for us to have the support of 123 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:07.879 parents by you backing us up and also being involved 124 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.339 in your child's academic journey. We ensure that students are 125 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.160 set up for success. 126 00:06:13.529 --> 00:06:17.509 Yes, I agree with both of these ladies that parents 127 00:06:17.550 --> 00:06:20.490 and teachers have to work together and parents definitely need 128 00:06:20.509 --> 00:06:22.889 to be involved and have an open line of communication 129 00:06:22.990 --> 00:06:24.230 with their children's teachers. 130 00:06:24.610 --> 00:06:24.970 Wow. 131 00:06:25.029 --> 00:06:27.250 We need the support of the community. We need the 132 00:06:27.310 --> 00:06:31.860 support of our parents. It takes a lot. We are 133 00:06:31.899 --> 00:06:35.519 with your children five days out a week, eight hours, 134 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.560 sometimes nine or ten if you're doing extracurricular activities. But 135 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:42.220 we have your kids more than they are at home. 136 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.250 So It takes a lot. It takes a special person 137 00:06:45.310 --> 00:06:47.689 to be a teacher. I mean, a lot of us, 138 00:06:47.910 --> 00:06:50.069 we are not in it for the pay. We're in 139 00:06:50.129 --> 00:06:52.709 it for the love of education, the love of our students, 140 00:06:52.769 --> 00:06:55.589 and the love of just leaving a lasting impact. So 141 00:06:55.850 --> 00:06:57.230 that is the reason why I'm here. 142 00:06:57.110 --> 00:06:57.750 Being a teacher. 143 00:06:58.110 --> 00:07:01.860 Well, somebody nominated you or somebody nominated you to receive 144 00:07:01.889 --> 00:07:04.449 this award. First of all, what was your reaction when 145 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:06.980 you heard you were going to be honored by iHeart 146 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:09.199 and Boost Mobile? And what are you going to do 147 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:10.879 with the $ 500? 148 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:13.290 Well, I was just blown away. I was honored. 149 00:07:13.790 --> 00:07:16.529 I was just like, someone was thinking about little old me. 150 00:07:16.970 --> 00:07:20.329 So I'm actually honored. And the $ 500, honestly, I'm going 151 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:22.439 to take it and put it back into the classroom. 152 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:24.540 I have a little surprise that I want to do 153 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:27.379 for all three of my classes. So I teach 10th 154 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:31.639 through 12th grade, CTE Culinary Arts. So there's a surprise 155 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:35.100 coming for my little kitties this up and coming week. 156 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:36.290 Christine, what about you? 157 00:07:36.730 --> 00:07:39.610 Probably buy some things on Amazon for my classroom and 158 00:07:39.629 --> 00:07:40.110 for myself. 159 00:07:40.389 --> 00:07:40.629 Wonderful. 160 00:07:40.689 --> 00:07:42.500 Wonderful. And Kashmir? 161 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.879 I'm going to replenish our prize box, but also buy 162 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:47.769 a few things for my teacher wardrobe. 163 00:07:48.209 --> 00:07:49.569 Lovely, lovely, lovely. 164 00:07:49.829 --> 00:07:50.329 And Michael? 165 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.360 I may buy a few things for myself, but I'll 166 00:07:53.379 --> 00:07:56.579 probably wind up spending it on our Best Buddies chapter 167 00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:59.930 at Marble Newtown. Developmentally disabled students and regular ed students 168 00:07:59.949 --> 00:08:01.350 work together and they build friendship. 169 00:08:01.550 --> 00:08:04.149 Once again, we want to congratulate the winners of the 170 00:08:04.269 --> 00:08:08.870 iHeartMedia and Boost Mobile Thank a Teacher campaign. Christine Durante 171 00:08:09.110 --> 00:08:12.800 of Riverton Public Schools, Kashmir Flewellen of Camden Promise Charter, 172 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:16.519 Chef Kenneth McDuffie of Simon Gratz Mastery Charter, and Michael 173 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:21.089 Winterbottom from Marple Newtown High School. They each received a 174 00:08:21.089 --> 00:08:25.329 $ 500 gift card and the appreciation of all of us 175 00:08:25.370 --> 00:08:28.269 here at iHeartMedia and Boost Mobile. Thank you so much. 176 00:08:28.389 --> 00:08:28.949 Thank you. 177 00:08:29.149 --> 00:08:29.769 Thank you. 178 00:08:34.009 --> 00:08:36.529 Hey, sis. Missed you this morning. Kim told me you 179 00:08:36.570 --> 00:08:39.419 weren't feeling well, so I'm just doing a self-care check. Oh, 180 00:08:39.549 --> 00:08:42.659 thank you, friend. How you doing? Girl, listen, my energy 181 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:44.820 was so low because I didn't eat breakfast when I 182 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:47.639 got up, so I had to miss virtual yoga with y'all. 183 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.350 Trust me, I understand. But I'm doing much better now 184

00:08:51.389 --> 00:08:52.970 that I've eaten, so I'm back on track. 185 00:08:53.269 --> 00:08:53.750 Great. 186 00:08:53.950 --> 00:08:56.490 In that case, let's get some steps in tonight. I'll 187 00:08:56.529 --> 00:08:58.960 come over and we can walk around the lake. Sounds good. 188 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:02.039 Appreciate you being in my business, too. Now, let me 189 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:03.980 get in yours. Did you check your. 190 00:09:03.860 --> 00:09:04.519 Blood pressure today? 191 00:09:05.110 --> 00:09:09.240 I did that and my squats. Okay? Okay. High blood 192 00:09:09.269 --> 00:09:11.500 pressure is not going to be my friend if I 193 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:14.129 can help it. See you at six? Let's get it. 194 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:18.559 See you then. Now more than ever, it's important that 195 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:21.700 we protect our hearts and the hearts of those we love. 196 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.110 Check in on one another and be a part of 197 00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:27.490 a healthy blood pressure movement. Rally your squad to take 198 00:09:27.529 --> 00:09:31.110 the online pledge at releasethepressure.org. Brought to you by the 199 00:09:31.149 --> 00:09:33.529 Release the Pressure Coalition and the Ad Council. 200 00:09:36.169 --> 00:09:38.269 It will fly. I want you to vote. I don't 201 00:09:38.330 --> 00:09:42.029 want you to give up hope. Oh, no. Here comes 202 00:09:42.049 --> 00:09:45.480 a little apathy. You can't see me. I'm doing what 203 00:09:45.500 --> 00:09:48.580 I'm supposed to do. My community and from my crew. 204 00:09:48.980 --> 00:09:53.000 That's Omar Sabir, chair of the Philadelphia City Commissioners. Election 205 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.370 Day is approaching and making your voice heard starts with 206 00:09:55.409 --> 00:09:58.950 knowing when, where and how to vote. From mail ballots 207 00:09:58.970 --> 00:10:01.659 to finding your polling place. we're covering what Philadelphia voters 208 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:04.879 need to know. For November 3rd, Commissioner Sabir is helping 209 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.480 us prepare and make sure your vote counts. 210 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:11.620 We have at least 500,000 voters. That says something. That 211 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:13.850 says that you have people in that city that cares. 212 00:10:14.690 --> 00:10:16.049 So we're calling on you to do it. I mean, 213 00:10:16.070 --> 00:10:18.490 we're calling you to do it every six months and 214 00:10:18.509 --> 00:10:23.350 sort of change that behavior and from just not caring 215 00:10:23.370 --> 00:10:26.210 too much about our city no more. And we have 216 00:10:26.230 --> 00:10:27.590 to sort of look at it from that way that 217 00:10:27.669 --> 00:10:30.190 every time we take off, people are gonna look at 218 00:10:30.210 --> 00:10:31.889 you and say you're apathetic and you don't care about 219 00:10:31.929 --> 00:10:32.509 your community. 220 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.480 Yeah, that's very, very important. I think that sometimes people 221 00:10:35.649 --> 00:10:38.039 get the idea that their vote doesn't count, but we've 222 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:41.519 seen time and time again how very narrow margins can 223 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:44.879 make the difference between someone being elected and someone not. 224 00:10:45.460 --> 00:10:49.049 And as you say, it really matters sometimes To those 225 00:10:49.129 --> 00:10:52.049 elected officials, who comes out to vote? And when more 226 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:55.360 people vote, then they know they have to be accountable. 227 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:58.600 How can listeners check their registration or update it if 228 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.039 they've moved or changed their name? 229 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.600 They can just go right to our website at vote.phila.gov 230 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:05.519 and do it. Or they can visit one of our 231 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:08.990 satellite election offices. We have 11. All across the city 232 00:11:09.009 --> 00:11:09.629 of Philadelphia. 233 00:11:09.750 --> 00:11:12.429 Yeah, and that's an innovation that you're really responsible for, right? 234 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:14.419 You set up those satellite locations. 235 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:16.460 Yes, we did. Which is awesome. Yes, we did. We 236 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.720 all worked hard together to do it, but we wanted 237 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:23.000 to give access to everyone. And we're the only city 238 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:28.970 in the country that actually has full-time, all-year-long election offices 239 00:11:29.190 --> 00:11:30.269 open in the community. 240 00:11:30.429 --> 00:11:32.909 That is great. Thank you so much for that. Now, 241 00:11:33.009 --> 00:11:37.000 what should first-time voters, including young people turning 18... and 242 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:40.799 newly naturalized citizens know about getting ready to vote? 243 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:44.059 They should bring their ID. They should bring their ID 244 00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:46.659 when they first get there. And again, that's the first 245 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:49.899 time that you vote. Bring your ID with you. But 246 00:11:49.950 --> 00:11:52.009 if you're not a first-time voter, then you don't have 247 00:11:52.049 --> 00:11:54.970 to worry about bringing your ID. So please ignore all 248 00:11:55.049 --> 00:11:57.509 of the nonsense and all the lies. People telling you 249 00:11:57.529 --> 00:11:59.190 you got to bring a passport, you got to bring 250 00:11:59.230 --> 00:12:02.570 a birth certificate, all these different things, you know, for voting. 251 00:12:02.590 --> 00:12:05.559 So again, just bring your ID. And, you know, the 252 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.679 poll worker will definitely work with you to get you 253 00:12:07.710 --> 00:12:08.500 to vote. 254 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:10.710 That's very important to know. There is a lot of 255 00:12:10.769 --> 00:12:11.850

misinformation out. 256 00:12:11.769 --> 00:12:12.549 There, isn't there? 257 00:12:12.570 --> 00:12:16.389 Tons of misinformation, tons of disinformation. And it's all intentional 258 00:12:16.990 --> 00:12:19.509 to get people to stop voting. I mean, that's the idea, 259 00:12:19.549 --> 00:12:21.559 to get you to say, you know what? I don't know, 260 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:23.980 the confusion. Forget about it. I'm cool. 261 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:24.860 Okay. 262 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.759 For our listeners who want to vote by mail, walk 263 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:32.370 us through requesting a ballot before the October 22nd, or 264 00:12:32.409 --> 00:12:34.590 rather 27th deadline at 5 p.m. 265 00:12:35.029 --> 00:12:37.830 Sure. So you can go to our website. You can 266 00:12:37.850 --> 00:12:41.029 fill out the information. You can do it that way. 267 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:44.100 But again, you can walk into our satellite election offices. 268 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:48.029 You have the application. You'll fill out the application. And 269 00:12:48.070 --> 00:12:50.610 then again, you could just submit the application at that time. 270 00:12:50.830 --> 00:12:52.610 They're going to ask you, you know, we can give 271 00:12:52.629 --> 00:12:54.610 you the ballot right now or you can go home 272 00:12:54.629 --> 00:12:56.149 and you can wait for it to come to the 273 00:12:56.169 --> 00:12:58.169 mail and all that. So again, we highly recommend what? 274 00:12:58.610 --> 00:12:59.820 Just let them go ahead and print it out for 275 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.919 you right on the spot. But if not, if you didn't, 276 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:03.899 we will mail it to you and you will receive 277 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:06.740 it inside the mail. And if you don't feel confident 278 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:09.419 with putting your ballot back into mail to return it 279 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:11.460 to us, you could drop it off at one of 280 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:14.720 our Eagles Green Dropbox locations. We have them located all 281 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:17.919 across the Philadelphia area. You go to vote.phil.gov to find 282 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:20.259 the location near you. Or you can call one of 283 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:23.559 the commissioner's offices, one commissioner's office, because there's three of us, 284 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.799 and we'll come and pick the ballot up for you. 285 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:28.299 And I know some people, you know, they can't make 286 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:30.440 it to a satellite election office. They can't make it 287 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.360 to a Dropbox, and they're afraid to put it in 288 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:35.539 the mail. So what we're doing, this election cycle, which 289 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.440 we've always been doing pretty much, is we'll just come 290 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:39.360 and pick up your ballot. Just say, hey, commissioner, we 291 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.039 need you to come pick up the ballot. We'll come 292 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:43.019 pick it up for you. If you need any applications, 293 00:13:43.070 --> 00:13:45.460 we'll come bring the applications for you. We'll wait for 294 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.950 you to fill out the applications, and we'll submit it in, 295 00:13:47.970 --> 00:13:51.330 and we'll get you back your ballot. So we definitely 296 00:13:51.350 --> 00:13:53.409 want to make it easier for everybody. And everybody that 297 00:13:53.429 --> 00:13:55.509 wants to vote, we want to take away all the fear, 298 00:13:55.529 --> 00:13:59.169 the anxiety, or any barrier that you perceive that's going 299 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:01.440 to stop you from voting. We want to eliminate them all. 300 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:04.899 Omar, you are doing everything possible to make sure that 301 00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:08.299 people who want to vote can vote. Now, back to 302 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:12.120 the mail-in ballot. Once you have that ballot, for instance, 303 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:14.490 you get it in the mail, what steps should voters follow? 304 00:14:14.909 --> 00:14:17.450 to complete and return it correctly, and what mistakes should 305 00:14:17.470 --> 00:14:20.970 they avoid? Because that's always been a bit of the issue, right? 306 00:14:21.370 --> 00:14:24.960 Yeah, I mean, it's an issue, right? So the thing 307 00:14:25.009 --> 00:14:26.379 is you want to make sure that you sign it 308 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.669 and you want to make sure that you date it. 309 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.659 So we already put the year in there because people 310 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.779 was putting their birth dates in there. And I understand. 311 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:36.919 So what we did now is you basically have the dates. 312 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:39.149 It's already filled out 2026. So I said, dude, just 313 00:14:39.190 --> 00:14:41.909 put the date that you filled out the Bible with that. 314 00:14:42.509 --> 00:14:44.350 And then also you want to be able to pitch 315 00:14:44.370 --> 00:14:47.509 your bottle into the yellow secrecy envelope. Make sure you 316 00:14:47.529 --> 00:14:50.009 put it in the yellow secrecy envelope. And then you 317 00:14:50.049 --> 00:14:51.769 want to make sure that you sign and you want 318 00:14:51.789 --> 00:14:54.639 to date it. And so those are the fatal flaws. 319 00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:57.700 And then after you submit it and God forbid, you 320 00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.809 forgot to put the date on it. 321 00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.360 Right. 322 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.080 Or you forgot to pitch a bottle in a yellow 323 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:05.100 secrecy envelope. We'll contact you and let you know that, 324 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.679 you know, that's not that there was an issue with 325 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:09.120 your bottle. And then you have to come back into 326 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.769 one of our satellites. We'll print

out a replacement, and 327 00:15:11.789 --> 00:15:13.049 you'll be able to do it again. 328 00:15:13.409 --> 00:15:17.750 Okay. If someone's mail ballot hasn't arrived, has a mistake, 329 00:15:17.820 --> 00:15:20.940 or they decide to vote in person instead, what should 330 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:21.240 they do? 331 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.039 Sure. So everything that we mail you, just bring it 332 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:27.059 to election day, and then you want to surrender your ballot, 333 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:29.460 and then you're going to want to ask to vote 334 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:31.360 on the machines, and election board workers are going to 335 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:34.730 lie to do it. Same exact way. You make a mistake, 336 00:15:34.750 --> 00:15:37.870 or let's just say you don't have a yellow secrecy envelope, 337 00:15:38.090 --> 00:15:40.600 or you was filling out your ballot, you got hyped 338 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:42.919 that the Eagles scored a touchdown, and you spilled spaghetti 339 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:45.149 on your ballot, and you messed it up. 340 00:15:45.269 --> 00:15:45.710 That's real. 341 00:15:46.470 --> 00:15:48.610 Take it to one of our satellite election offices, and 342 00:15:48.629 --> 00:15:51.649 we'll print out a replacement ballot. And if you haven't 343 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:54.009 received your ballot, and let's just say your spouse received it, 344 00:15:54.009 --> 00:15:55.990 and you're one of the voters of the family, that 345 00:15:56.029 --> 00:15:58.110 person can, you know, complete their ballot, and then when 346 00:15:58.129 --> 00:16:00.110 they go to the satellite office to drop it off, 347 00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:02.769 we'll print them out a replacement ballot. They'll have it 348 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:04.190 right on the spot, and they'll be able to do it. 349 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.080 Okay. 350 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:10.269 For Election Day, voters... How can they confirm their polling place, 351 00:16:10.409 --> 00:16:13.830 preview their ballot, and find out whether they need identification? 352 00:16:14.370 --> 00:16:15.860 They can just go to our website. I mean, I 353 00:16:15.860 --> 00:16:22.500 really highly recommend our website is vote.phila.gov, vote, V-O-T-E,. phila. gov. 354 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.899 We have a cool feature now where you can type 355 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.720 your name, your address in, and then it'll give you, like, information. 356 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.960 You can request an Uber. It gives you walking directions, 357 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:33.169 driving directions. So to tell you where your polling locations are, 358 00:16:33.230 --> 00:16:36.559 because that's the number one reason why someone will— I 359 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:38.539 get turned around. And if you just have any questions, 360 00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:41.700 feel free to call myself, a chairman commissioner, but we 361 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.480 also have three

commissioners. I know you may see my 362 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:46.070 face and hear my voice, but there are two other commissioners, 363 00:16:46.129 --> 00:16:49.970 Vice Chair Lisa Dilley and Commissioner Seth Blustein. Call either 364 00:16:50.029 --> 00:16:51.830 one of us up and we'll just walk you through 365 00:16:51.870 --> 00:16:54.590 the process. We'll take your hand and we'll hold your 366 00:16:54.610 --> 00:16:57.360 hand and we'll make sure everything is squared away. And 367 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:59.799 then if you have any issues when you're going to 368 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:01.960 vote and you think like, oh my gosh, I don't 369 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:04.460 know what's going on. I want to vote and somebody's 370 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.619 here telling me I can't vote, just call one of 371 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:10.299 our offices up or call us at 215-666-VOTE. That's the 372 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:13.099 general number, but we'll be there to make sure that 373 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.640 we'll take care of you and make sure everything is 374 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.970 running appropriately. 375 00:17:18.130 --> 00:17:21.069 You mentioned that you're doing everything possible to make sure 376 00:17:21.109 --> 00:17:24.470 that people have access. What if we're talking about people 377 00:17:24.509 --> 00:17:28.779 with disabilities, older adults, or people who need language support? 378 00:17:29.339 --> 00:17:32.640 Where should someone turn to if they encounter those kinds 379 00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.099 of issues? 380 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.529 Again, just call us at 215-686-VOTE. I mean, we have 381 00:17:36.569 --> 00:17:40.049 interpreters lined up and we look at the data before 382 00:17:40.089 --> 00:17:42.329 election day. So we try to have a number, a number, 383 00:17:43.329 --> 00:17:46.910 you know, bilingual interpreters on the election board. So as 384 00:17:46.950 --> 00:17:48.650 we're sort of deciding, we kind of got some of 385 00:17:48.670 --> 00:17:51.460 the data where we know what languages that people speak. 386 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.640 So we sort of had it lined up, but we're 387 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:56.759 also want as many people to be recruited as possible. 388 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.559 So if you want to become a poll worker, we 389 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.539 need as many interpreters as possible. So give us a call. 390 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.960 Say you want to work on the polls. You know, 391 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:05.440 whatever language that you speak, we'll pitch you inside of 392 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:07.720 a nice place. So we're always looking for poll workers 393 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:10.740 and making sure that that is a top priority. 394 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:15.289 Finally, what's your final checklist for making sure that our 395 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:16.950 voters' votes do count? 396 00:18:17.569 --> 00:18:23.269 So we have unprecedented safety measures. We provide two audits. 397 00:18:23.970 --> 00:18:26.930 You know, there's a live stream actually watching the whole 398 00:18:27.069 --> 00:18:30.519 entire process. So you can actually tune right in. And 399 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:33.380 you can actually see exactly what we're doing. You can 400 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:35.940 apply for credentials. You actually can come up and observe 401 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.480 the process. So we want to keep this open as 402 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:41.079 possible so that people can see everything that we're doing. 403 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.079 And our public meetings, we change polling locations. Again, all 404 00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:47.680 those are online, even if you miss the meetings, which 405 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.990 are normally every Wednesday at 11 o'clock. But nobody likes 406 00:18:50.009 --> 00:18:51.230 to show up, but it's all right. You can watch 407 00:18:51.269 --> 00:18:54.609 it online or, you know, you can actually come and 408 00:18:54.650 --> 00:18:56.670 see the actual process. And that's what we kind of like. 409 00:18:56.789 --> 00:18:58.509 You know, we like for people to actually see the 410 00:18:58.529 --> 00:19:00.980 process online. We're partnering with Committee of 70. We actually 411 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:04.079 have an election academy where we take community members and 412 00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:05.980 they actually come and see. And we want people to 413 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.460 sign up to become poll watchers and being poll workers, right? 414 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:13.619 That's the best way because you're actually in person, there yourself, 415 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:17.319 seeing the whole entire process. If there's any questions, we 416 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:19.049 have all the access that you need. 417 00:19:19.849 --> 00:19:22.460 Again, if people want more information about all the things 418 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:24.609 that we talked about, tell us what the website is 419 00:19:24.670 --> 00:19:25.509 and the number to call. 420 00:19:25.809 --> 00:19:26.089 Sure. 421 00:19:26.750 --> 00:19:30.920 Vote, V-O-T-E dot phila dot gov. At Philly Votes is 422 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:33.480 on our social media handles. And you can give us 423 00:19:33.529 --> 00:19:37.130 a call at 215-686-VOTE. That's the general number. But again, 424 00:19:37.150 --> 00:19:40.289 you always can call myself, Chairman Omar Sabir, or you 425 00:19:40.329 --> 00:19:43.329 can call Vice Chair Lisa Dilley or Commissioner Seth Bluestine. 426 00:19:43.650 --> 00:19:47.349 Well, Chairman Omar Sabir, I can't even begin to say 427 00:19:47.470 --> 00:19:50.859 how appreciative that I am personally. for all the things 428 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:53.980 that you've done to reform the commissioner's office, to make 429 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:57.049 it more accessible to all of our voters. Those satellite 430 00:19:57.150 --> 00:20:01.869 offices are awesome. The

informational events that you've been doing 431 00:20:02.089 --> 00:20:04.789 all year round to raise our awareness about the importance 432 00:20:04.849 --> 00:20:07.769 of voting. People out there, you know, you got to 433 00:20:07.789 --> 00:20:09.470 do it. You got to vote. Final word? 434 00:20:09.930 --> 00:20:12.170 Final word is very simple, y'all. I mean, the more 435 00:20:12.210 --> 00:20:14.500 we vote, the more we get, man. I want more. 436 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.279 You want more. You sit at home and you be quiet? 437 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:20.400 That means that you agree with everything that's going on. 438 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:23.539 And I know you don't agree with gas being $ 8 439 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:26.210 a gallon. I know you don't agree with having to 440 00:20:26.250 --> 00:20:30.809 pay $ 3, 000 for a two-bedroom apartment. I know that you 441 00:20:30.849 --> 00:20:35.539 do not agree with... going to a supermarket and actually 442 00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:37.859 paying a mortgage payment to buy your groceries. I know 443 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:40.049 you don't agree with that. So let's step up and 444 00:20:40.069 --> 00:20:42.269 let's do something about it. You're not powerless. You can 445 00:20:42.309 --> 00:20:45.049 do something about it. Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote. Let 446 00:20:45.069 --> 00:20:46.289 the policymakers know how you feel. 447 00:20:46.509 --> 00:20:50.569 Beautiful. Omar Sabir, chair of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, thank 448 00:20:50.589 --> 00:20:52.549 you for everything that you and your office are doing 449 00:20:52.569 --> 00:20:52.869 right now. 450 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:03.329 I'm probably okay to have one more drink before I 451 00:21:03.369 --> 00:21:03.910 drive home. 452 00:21:06.430 --> 00:21:07.650 I'm probably okay. 453 00:21:07.970 --> 00:21:09.690 I open the window to stay alert. 454 00:21:10.670 --> 00:21:12.970 Probably okay. I just brought some gum in my mouth. 455 00:21:13.750 --> 00:21:17.450 Step out of the car, please. I probably made a mistake. 456 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:21.359 Probably okay isn't okay when it comes to drinking and driving. 457 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.240 If you see a warning sign, stop and call a cab, 458 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:27.460 a car, or a friend. Buzzed driving is drunk driving. 459 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:29.680 A message brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council. 460 00:21:30.789 --> 00:21:34.170 A medical crisis can quickly become a financial crisis. Help 461 00:21:34.210 --> 00:21:37.329 Hope Live is working to change that. Since 1983, the 462 00:21:37.549 --> 00:21:40.609 nonprofit has helped thousands of families raise millions of dollars 463 00:21:40.710 --> 00:21:44.230 for medical and related expenses that insurance simply doesn't cover. 464 00:21:44.410 --> 00:21:48.450 Help Hope Live is the nation's only nonprofit medical fundraising platform, 465 00:21:48.549 --> 00:21:52.099 providing trusted tools and personal support to help communities rally 466 00:21:52.130 --> 00:21:55.799 around patients in need. Before starting a GoFundMe, learn about 467 00:21:55.839 --> 00:22:08.089 a safer way to fundraise. Visit HelpHopeLive.org. Precious Eschep, known 468 00:22:08.130 --> 00:22:11.150 as Presh So Fresh, is using her voice to inspire 469 00:22:11.230 --> 00:22:15.950 and challenge expectations. The Germantown Friends high school senior is 470 00:22:15.990 --> 00:22:20.380 the winner of Chalkbeat Philadelphia's first ever back-to-school rap. She 471 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:23.259 joins us to talk about her music, her message, and 472 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:26.519 her hopes for the future. So congratulations, Precious. 473 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.519 This is awesome. 474 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:29.900 How did you find out that you won, and what 475 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.319 does this recognition mean to you? 476 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.220 I found out that I won, I think, a week 477 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:38.839 after my submission. And I got the call from Sammy, 478 00:22:38.940 --> 00:22:44.119 who emailed me the morning of, essentially telling me that 479 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:48.539 I won and what it entailed and what winning comes with. 480 00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.380 And what does winning come with? 481 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:53.910 Well, for the concert itself, it came with an interview 482 00:22:54.150 --> 00:22:56.890 with iHeartRadio, as well as three hours of studio time 483 00:22:56.930 --> 00:23:00.049 with Martin House, a cypher, and a live performance. 484 00:23:00.230 --> 00:23:02.089 Oh, that's fantastic. When's the live performance? 485 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:05.809 That is to be determined. I have not decided yet. 486 00:23:05.829 --> 00:23:09.549 Okay, to be continued. You began writing poetry after moving 487 00:23:09.589 --> 00:23:13.329 from Nigeria to Philadelphia at age 11. How did that 488 00:23:13.410 --> 00:23:16.589 lead to rapping and the name Presh So Fresh? 489 00:23:17.390 --> 00:23:22.410 Well, I always liked words particularly. And this was something 490 00:23:22.430 --> 00:23:25.089 my English teacher told me that essentially poetry is just 491 00:23:25.589 --> 00:23:30.549 music with words and a beat. So I already liked singing. 492 00:23:30.589 --> 00:23:33.630 I was into singing. So she introduced me to rap 493 00:23:33.670 --> 00:23:35.730 because her favorite artist at the time was Cardi B. 494 00:23:35.829 --> 00:23:38.250 And so I was listening to a lot of rap 495 00:23:38.430 --> 00:23:42.359 and hence my inspiration for rap itself. The name Press 496 00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:47.420 Show Fresh was inspired by my freshman year homeroom where 497 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:51.579 we had to enter into a talent show. Each homeroom 498 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:54.319 entered into a talent show and my homeroom created a 499 00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:57.440 name for me. Because technically... To them, they thought I 500

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.980 was the only one who had a talent, so they 501 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.299 made the name Pressure Fresh, and I just stuck with it. 502 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.079 I love that. 503 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.640 I love that. 504 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:06.200 Your winning rap challenge is what you call The Matrix. 505 00:24:06.670 --> 00:24:08.650 What does that mean, and what do you want people 506 00:24:08.690 --> 00:24:11.490 to understand about the boxes that young people are put in? 507 00:24:12.289 --> 00:24:16.029 My interpretation of The Matrix was essentially, like, in school, 508 00:24:16.150 --> 00:24:18.990 everyone is set into a box. You get one bad grade, 509 00:24:19.089 --> 00:24:21.839 and you're essentially labeled as a bad student, or you 510 00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:24.369 just don't get it. And it's just, like, one. 511 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.220 Moment in life should not be able to dictate what 512 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.029 the rest of your future is going to look like. 513 00:24:31.589 --> 00:24:33.750 And there should be no reason why students are checked 514 00:24:33.789 --> 00:24:37.500 into boxes already. Just by the letter grade, you have 515 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:40.960 people already essentially planning your life. Like, oh, you get 516 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.900 straight A's. You should be a lawyer or a doctor. 517 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:45.190 Or you're like a B, C student. Maybe you should 518 00:24:45.210 --> 00:24:48.450 think about something less harder that doesn't require a lot 519 00:24:48.490 --> 00:24:51.390 more brain work or a lot more struggle, but already 520 00:24:51.829 --> 00:24:54.829 forcing us into a certain mindset or a certain field 521 00:24:54.869 --> 00:24:57.599 that doesn't require too much of our intelligence. 522 00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:02.180 You want your music to encourage younger students. What message 523 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.220 do you hope they take away? 524 00:25:03.849 --> 00:25:06.269 Honestly, one of the messages I hope younger students take 525 00:25:06.309 --> 00:25:10.170 away is to just honestly just enjoy the moment. I 526 00:25:10.210 --> 00:25:12.430 feel like right now, more days, everyone is trying to 527 00:25:12.509 --> 00:25:15.990 speed things up to grow up faster. But as we 528 00:25:16.029 --> 00:25:18.769 get older, you realize you don't need to grow up faster. 529 00:25:18.809 --> 00:25:21.769 You just need to enjoy being a child because you're 530 00:25:21.849 --> 00:25:26.700 only young for so much. And adulthood would come. So 531 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:29.279 why rush it? Why can't you just enjoy being a kid? 532 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:31.420 Because once you're an adult, you have bills and other 533 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:34.039 things to pay and other things to do. And Trust me, 534 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:36.940 you might not want that. True that, true that. 535 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:40.380 As a student and Black Student Union co-leader, what do 536 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:43.539 you wish adults understood about the challenges young people face 537 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.720 in getting an education? 538 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:50.460 I hope they understand that it's a lot harder in 539 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:53.940 our time now. There are a lot more expectations, at 540 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:57.200 least for where I go to school. Everyone is expected 541 00:25:57.240 --> 00:26:00.640 to go to Ivy Leagues. That's just the expectation. And 542 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:04.690 it's become a toxic mentality that everyone is forced into like, oh, 543 00:26:04.730 --> 00:26:06.230 if you don't get into an Ivy League, you're not 544 00:26:06.369 --> 00:26:10.329 good enough. But it's more so understanding that going to 545 00:26:10.390 --> 00:26:14.390 college is just for us to explore. That, yes, adults 546 00:26:14.410 --> 00:26:17.900 wants us to have the best education. life, the best everything, 547 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:20.849 but you can't put us in certain boxes. You can't say, oh, 548 00:26:20.910 --> 00:26:22.450 this is the right college for you because in the 549 00:26:22.470 --> 00:26:24.650 end of the day, we're the ones going there for 550 00:26:24.690 --> 00:26:27.250 four years. We're the ones exploring. We're the ones learning. 551 00:26:27.289 --> 00:26:29.950 You're not going to be there with us. So let 552 00:26:30.009 --> 00:26:32.069 us make that choice because in the end, it's impacting 553 00:26:32.150 --> 00:26:33.210 our life and not yours. 554 00:26:33.730 --> 00:26:36.599 Oh, you're so wise. As you look beyond senior year, 555 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.180 what are your dreams for your education and your music? 556 00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:42.839 Well, I hope to go to college and continue pursuing 557 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:46.569 music in college. As of now, I haven't taught That 558 00:26:46.650 --> 00:26:48.089 far ahead versus that. 559 00:26:48.230 --> 00:26:49.049 That's ahead for you. 560 00:26:49.529 --> 00:26:51.740 Yeah, that is as far ahead as I can think 561 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:53.759 right now. All right. 562 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:55.720 Well, let's get down to it. Why don't you share 563 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.980 with us your winning rap? 564 00:26:57.690 --> 00:27:01.259 Okay, this is my reigning rep. Corruption is society, but 565 00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:03.059 check it like a list. When they give it like 566 00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:05.319 a matrix, I ain't really gotta miss. I've been blessed 567 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:08.539 with the mission. I'm getting to the hit. Talk about intelligence. 568 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:11.299 I'ma let it hit. Bar for bar, I got a fantasy. 569 00:27:11.339 --> 00:27:13.480 Like one, two, three, we keep it going. Like a melody, 570 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:15.559 like what you mean? Like dopamine, I'm walking through like 571 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.789 it's a therapy. Like it's no fantasy. When I set 572 00:27:17.829 --> 00:27:20.009 the part, I just do it for my family. Wake 573 00:27:20.069 --> 00:27:22.250 up for new silly dreams. I got heads out in 574 00:27:22.269 --> 00:27:24.390 the back. I'm trying to do it for a head start. 575 00:27:24.710 --> 00:27:26.990 I'm replaying kids. I got a couple of things that 576 00:27:27.029 --> 00:27:32.390 I want to say. I'm waiting. That is my winning rap. 577 00:27:32.869 --> 00:27:36.210 OK, very nice. Well, I want to thank you so 578 00:27:36.230 --> 00:27:40.630 much for joining us and also congratulations for receiving Chalkbeat, 579 00:27:41.410 --> 00:27:45.309 Philadelphia's first ever back to school rap contest, the winner 580 00:27:45.470 --> 00:27:49.410 of Chalkbeat. And I'm so excited for you. You're smart, 581 00:27:49.569 --> 00:27:52.769 you're thoughtful, and you give. 582 00:27:52.650 --> 00:27:55.089 Me hope for the future. Thank you so much. 583 00:27:56.069 --> 00:27:59.680 That was Precious Echette, known as Presh, so fresh. Again, 584 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:04.119 using her voice to inspire and challenge expectations. Germantown Friends 585 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:07.079 High School Senior, the winner of Chalkbeat Philadelphia's first ever 586 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:09.000 back-to-school rap contest. 587 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.380 Thank you. 588 00:28:11.650 --> 00:28:13.990 You can listen to all of today's interviews by going 589 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:17.420 to our station website and typing in Keyword Community. You 590 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:22.039 can also listen on the iHeartRadio app, Keywords Philadelphia Community Podcast. 591 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:25.140 Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard. I'm 592 00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:28.309 Lorraine Ballard-Morrell, and I stand for service to our community 593 00:28:28.470 --> 00:28:32.509 and media that empowers. What will you stand for? You've 594 00:28:32.529 --> 00:28:34.509 been listening to Insight, and thank you.