WHYY Community

WHYY produces Denyce Graves concert for national broadcast
Edited by Mary Eileen O'Connor

WHYY is inviting members, their family and friends to be a part of the TV12 audience on Thursday, June 19 at 8:30 p.m. for a spectacular concert featuring critically-acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.

Graves, who is widely recognized as one of today's most elegant, exciting and expressive vocalists, will be joined by Philadelphia's-own soul diva Patti LaBelle, Grammy Award-winning R&B vocal group Take 6 and other special guests for a diverse evening of some of the world's best-known jazz, gospel and classical music.

Thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor PNC Bank and through additional support provided by Peter Buttenwieser and Terry Ann Marek, The ARAMARK Charitable Fund and The Connelly Foundation, WHYY is taping this one-night-only event for national broadcast on public television in March 2004. Special thanks also go to The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, a sponsor of this exciting concert event.

For more information and to order tickets, call The Mann Center box office at (215) 893-1999 or visit www.manncenter.org.

Terry Gross talks about her experiences "off the air" this month
Terry Gross will share her behind-the-scenes experiences as host and co-executive producer of WHYY's Fresh Air, which airs weekdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 91FM, at a special off-air event on Wednesday, May 21 at 8 p.m. at Princeton University.

The award-winning Fresh Air is one of public radio's most popular programs. More than four million people across the country tune in each week to hear Gross' in-depth interviews with prominent cultural and entertainment figures and distinguished experts on current affairs and news.

The presentation takes place at Princeton's Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. Ticket prices are $25 for WHYY members, $40 for non-members and $10 for students. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Call Suzanne Nance at (215) 351-2077 for more information and to make a reservation.

Second annual WHYY President's Dinner
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell will receive WHYY's Lifelong Learning Award for his outstanding community leadership and devotion to education at the second annual WHYY President's Dinner on Wednesday, June 4 at the Technology Center, 150 N. 6th Street in Philadelphia.

The evening includes an elegant cocktail reception, dinner and the award presentation, and each guest will take home a piece of presidential china, specially commissioned for WHYY. WHYY is inviting the community to join event co-chairs David L. Cohen and Charles P. Pizzi (recipient of the 2002 Lifelong Learning Award) and the many regional corporate and community leaders who have already offered their generous support for the second annual WHYY President's Dinner. Net proceeds from this special event benefit WHYY's lifelong learning initiatives.

Tables, sponsorship opportunities and program book advertising may still be available. For more information, contact Georgette Macbeth at (215) 928-2428 or via e-mail at gmacbeth@whyy.org.

Delaware Valley residents speak out on WHYY TV12
During a special hour-long edition of WHYY Delaware Tonight's Friday Forum on Friday, May 23 at 5 p.m., residents from diverse communities across the Delaware Valley, including immigrants, academics and government and community leaders, will discuss how the world views the United States and how we as Americans must now be more aware of the impact of U.S. foreign policy.

WHYY, in partnership with Philadelphia Cares, is producing this program as part of the local outreach around the national By the People project, a 16-month initiative created by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions that is designed to help Americans focus on their connection to the rest of the world and foster discussion on the country's role in world events. Other participating organizations include The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies; Delawarehispanic.com; Chinese-American Community Center (Delaware); Latin American Community Center (Wilmington); and the Delaware Economic Development Office.

The Delaware Valley Voices program will be comprised of discussions taped during town meetings held at the WHYY Technology Center in Philadelphia and the Delaware Operations Center in Wilmington.

At 10 p.m. on May 23, WHYY will air By the People: America in the World on TV12. Hosted by The NewsHour's Jim Lehrer, the program will feature a roundtable discussion between citizens from around the country and a key foreign policy shaper about the different perspectives citizens bring to the international issues currently on the nation's agenda.

Member Notes

Hannah and Joshua Perloff proudly display the American flags they created at a special Liberty's Kids event for young members and their families at the Technology Center. Kids watched an episode of this animated series, made patriotic crafts and even signed a "copy" of the United States Constitution.

(Left to right) Members David and Linda Glickstein join Andrew Carroll, author of the book War Letters, and Ken Finkel, executive director of WHYY's Arts & Culture Service, to present war letters, donated by nearly150 people as part of The WHYY War Letters Project, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for inclusion in the Society's archives