Loraine Ballard Morrill

Loraine Ballard Morrill

Listen to Loraine on Insight on Sundays 6-7am + keep up on her latest news updates here!Full Bio

What's Going On: Devereux Evening of Hope Gala, Children First Action Fund, Do It Like Dylan

Insight Pt. 2: Mazzoni Center Honors Melba Moore, Children First Action Fund, AIDS Walk Retrospective

🎙️ INSIGHT with Loraine Ballard Morrill In this episode of Insight, we celebrate the power of art, advocacy, and community. First, we’re joined by the legendary Melba Moore — Tony Award-winning singer, actress, and trailblazer — along with Dyana Williams, acclaimed radio personality and music activist, and David Weisberg, Chief Development Officer at the Mazzoni Center. Together, they’ll share details about Mazzoni Center Honors Melba Moore, happening Monday, November 3, 2025, at 7:30 PM at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This star-studded celebration will pay tribute to Melba Moore’s extraordinary career spanning Broadway, R&B, rock, and gospel, featuring an all-star lineup of performers across genres. The evening supports the Mazzoni Center’s mission to advance LGBTQ health equity and uplift Philadelphia’s creative community.
🎟️ Tickets & Info: mazzonicenter.org/honors
📍 Location: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia
🗓️ Date & Time: Monday, November 3, 2025 – 7:30 PM  

Then, as we approach the 2025 elections, we turn our focus to Pennsylvania’s children and families. Kevin Burgess from the Children First Action Fund joins us, along with parents Samia Evans-Bolling, Regina Brown, and Jazmin Banks, to discuss how judicial elections impact school funding, child welfare, and public safety — and why it’s essential for voters to make informed choices this November.
🌐 Learn more: childrenfirstactionfund.org/judicial-voter-guide 

Finally, we’ll share an excerpt from the AIDS Walk Philly Retrospective, honoring four decades of compassion, activism, and progress in the fight against HIV — a moving reminder of resilience, remembrance, and hope.

Insight Pt. 1: Devereux Evening of Hope

We’re  joined by Leah Yaw, Senior Vice President at Devereux, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations. For more than a century, Devereux has been supporting children, adolescents, and adults living with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive differences, helping them build fulfilling, independent lives. On Saturday, November 8, Devereux Pennsylvania will host its annual Evening of Hope gala at Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia. This year’s “Night in Venice”–themed celebration will feature masquerade masks, live entertainment, music by Philly’s Milan 77, and a special tribute to longtime board member Phil Glick. Proceeds will directly benefit more than 4,000 individuals across Pennsylvania served by Devereux programs. 🌐 Website: www.devereux.org
📸 Social Media: @DevereuxCare on Facebook, Instagram, and X

What's Going On: APM Job Fair, Breaking the Bully Cycle, SpeakOUT with Angela Giampolo

💼 APM Job Fair
Looking to make an impact and grow your career? Join Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) for their Job Fair on October 22nd from 10 AM to 3 PM at 730 W. Berks Street, Philadelphia. APM is hiring across multiple fields—child welfare, foster care, early childhood education, community, and economic development—and offers top-tier benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off.
🎙️ Guest: Valerie Betancourt, Talent Acquisition Partner at APM
🌐 Website: www.apmphila.org
📸 Social Media: Instagram @apmforeveryone

🚫 Breaking the Bully Cycle
Bullying continues to affect millions of children and teens—both in person and online. As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, Child Guidance Resource Centers (CGRC) will host Breaking the Bully Cycle on Wednesday, October 29, from 6:00–8:00 PM at The Kelly Center – Havertown Music, Arts & Community, 4 E. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA.
The event features Dr. Claudio Cerullo, educator, author of Inside the Mind of a Bully: From Victim to Advocate, and member of the President’s Council, along with Lawana Scales, Director of Advocacy at CGRC. Attendees will gain practical tools for prevention, hear from a panel of experts, and the first 25 guests will receive a free copy of Dr. Cerullo’s book.
🌐 Register: bit.ly/BreakingtheBullyCycle
🌐 Websites: www.drclaudiocerullo.com | www.cgrc.org
📸 Social Media: @childguidanceresourcecenters | @drclaudiocerullo

🏳️‍🌈 SpeakOUT: Conversion Therapy and the Courts
On this edition of SpeakOUT—our monthly segment spotlighting voices shaping the LGBTQ+ experience locally and nationally—we’re joined by Angela Giampolo, founder of Giampolo Law Group and widely known as the Philly Gay Lawyer. A leading LGBTQ+ legal expert and advocate, Angela is also the creator of the Caravan of Hope, a national initiative providing free legal services to underserved LGBTQ+ communities.
Angela brings powerful insight into the intersection of law, policy, and lived experience as we discuss an upcoming Supreme Court decision that could significantly impact the future of conversion therapy.
📌 Connect with Angela Giampolo
🌐 Websites: giampololaw.com | caravanofhope.lgbt
📸 Instagram: @yourgaylawyer
🐦 Twitter/X: @phillygaylawyer

Insight Pt. 2: Salvador Jiménez-Flores, APM Job Fair, Breaking the Bully Cycle

🎨 Salvador Jiménez-Flores: Raíces & Resistencias (Roots & Resistances)
Now on view at Grounds For Sculpture from September 28, 2025, to August 1, 2027, this powerful exhibition brings together sculpture, installation, mural, and ceramic work exploring migration, cultural hybridity, memory, and resilience. Through layered visual storytelling, Jiménez-Flores traces his own multi-generational migration story while engaging broader narratives of colonization, labor, and borderlands. Works like Memoria, Tierra, Trabajo: A Glimpse of the Semiquincentennial stretch across an 80-foot wall, while outdoor sculptures such as La resistencia de los nopales híbridos: El Susurro del Desierto and Caminantes animate the landscape with hybrid forms that speak to adaptation, survival, and hope. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the interwoven histories of place, identity, and movement—and to imagine new ways of belonging.
🌐 Learn more: www.groundsforsculpture.org
Salvador Jiménez-Flores: Raíces & Resistencias
www.SalvadorJimenezFlores.com 

  💼 APM Job Fair
Looking to make an impact and grow your career? Join Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) for their Job Fair on October 22nd from 10 AM to 3 PM at 730 W. Berks Street, Philadelphia. APM is hiring across multiple fields—child welfare, foster care, early childhood education, community, and economic development—and offers top-tier benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off.
🎙️ Guest: Valerie Betancourt, Talent Acquisition Partner at APM
🌐 Website: www.apmphila.org
📸 Social Media: @APMPhila (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)  

🚫 Breaking the Bully Cycle
Bullying continues to affect millions of children and teens—both in person and online. As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, Child Guidance Resource Centers (CGRC) is hosting Breaking the Bully Cycle on Wednesday, October 29, from 6:00–8:00 PM at The Kelly Center – Havertown Music, Arts & Community, 4 E. Eagle Road, Havertown, PA.
I speak to keynote speaker Dr. Claudio Cerullo, educator, author of Inside the Mind of a Bully: From Victim to Advocate, and member of the President’s Council, along with Lawana Scales, Director of Advocacy at CGRC. Attendees will gain practical tools for prevention, hear from a panel of experts, and the first 25 guests will receive a free copy of Dr. Cerullo’s book.
🌐 Register: bit.ly/BreakingtheBullyCycle
🌐 Websites: www.drclaudiocerullo.com | www.cgrc.org

Insight Pt. 1: Girl Scouts of Eastern PA - Calling All Girl Bosses

Girl Scouts of Eastern PA - Calling All Girl Bosses 
I welcomed four inspiring guests from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Calling All Girl Bosses initiative—a free, yearlong leadership program helping girls in grades 6–12 become confident changemakers in their communities. Joining us are two remarkable Girl Scouts: Jasmine Wielgoszinski from Northeast Philly and Kinsley Jackson from West Philadelphia. They’ll share how their Gold Award projects are making an impact—from advocating for farm animal therapy to leading mural tours rooted in Black history. With them are their biggest supporters—moms and volunteers Adrienne Wielgoszinski and Lillian Jackson.
📍 Learn more or register: gsep.org/girlbosses
📲 Follow on Instagram: @girlbossesphl   

What's Going On: 2025 East Falls Fest, Honoring the Legacy of AIDS Walk Philly, Philadelphia Lupus Loop & Walk to End Lupus

Segment 1: East Falls Development Corporation — Building Community and Connection Today we’re spotlighting one of Philadelphia’s most vibrant and scenic neighborhoods — East Falls. Joining us is Michelle Feldman, Executive Director of the East Falls Development Corporation (EFDC). Since 2021, Michelle has led initiatives that support small businesses, strengthen community partnerships, and enhance neighborhood infrastructure. She’s here to share details about the upcoming 2025 East Falls Fest, happening Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Ridge Avenue and Midvale Avenue in East Falls. This annual neighborhood celebration will feature live music all day (in partnership with The Fallser Club), a beer garden by Wissahickon Brewing, food and drinks from local favorites like Taqueria Cresta, Le Bus, and Thunder Mug Café, plus family-friendly activities including rowing demos and circus arts. It’s a day of community, culture, and connection along the Schuylkill River.
🌐 Website: discovereastfalls.org
📸 Instagram: @DiscoverEastFalls
📘 Facebook: @EFDCorp

Segment 2: Action Wellness — Honoring the Legacy of AIDS Walk Philly
We’re joined by Evelyn Torres, Executive Director of Action Wellness, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with and affected by chronic illnesses, including HIV. Evelyn shares updates on Action Wellness’s ongoing work to promote health and wellness, and details about their upcoming special event — a retrospective celebration honoring the legacy of AIDS Walk Philly and the AIDS Fund, happening Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA). Guests are encouraged to make a $25 suggested donation, which includes one entry into a raffle for two tickets to GayBINGO! The celebration will honor decades of advocacy, remembrance, and community impact.
 🌐 Website: actionwellness.org
📲 Socials: Instagram / Facebook / Bluesky / LinkedIn — @actionwellnessphl
📅 Event Info & RSVP: actionwellness.org/join-us/special-events/aids-walk-retrospective
Segment 3: Lupus Foundation of America — Walk to End Lupus Now
Today, we’re talking about lupus — a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions worldwide. Joining us are Shawn Triggs, Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Delaware Valley Region at the Lupus Foundation of America, and Lynnai Jay, a lupus warrior, volunteer ambassador, and support group facilitator. They share valuable information about lupus awareness, local resources, and how the community can come together for the Philadelphia Lupus Loop & Walk to End Lupus Now, happening at the Navy Yard on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Registration opens at 8:00 AM, with opening ceremonies at 9:30 AM, followed by a 5K run/walk.
🌐 Website: lupus.org/pdv
📸 Instagram: @lfa_pdvregion
📘 Facebook: Lupus Foundation of America, Pennsylvania Delaware Valley Region

Insight Pt. 2: AIDS Walk Philly and AIDS Fund, a retrospective celebration, PHL City Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad

Segment 1: AIDS Walk Philly and AIDS Fund — Honoring a Legacy of Care  
We’re joined by Evelyn Torres, Executive Director of Action Wellness, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with and affected by chronic illnesses, including HIV.   Evelyn shares insights into the organization’s ongoing work to promote health and wellness, along with details about their upcoming special event — To honor the legacy of the AIDS Walk Philly and AIDS Fund, a retrospective celebration will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the William Way Community Center (1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA).   Guests are encouraged to make a $25 suggested donation, which includes one entry into a raffle for two tickets to GayBINGO! The event will celebrate decades of community impact and the continued mission to support individuals living with and affected by HIV.  
🌐 Website: actionwellness.org  
📲 Socials: Instagram / Facebook / Bluesky / LinkedIn — @actionwellnessphl  
📅 Event Info & RSVP: actionwellness.org/join-us/special-events/aids-walk-retrospective  

Segment 2: Dr. Nina Ahmad — Leadership, Equity, and Community Health  
We’re also joined by Dr. Nina Ahmad, Philadelphia City Councilmember At-Large — the first South Asian American, Muslim woman, and immigrant in recent history to serve on City Council.   As Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Human Services and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative Economy, Dr. Ahmad brings a scientific, data-driven approach to policymaking. Her work focuses on advancing equity, health, and opportunity for all Philadelphians.   🌐 Connect with Dr. Ahmad:  
Website: phlcouncil.com/ninaahmad  
X (Twitter): @cmninaahmad  
Instagram / Facebook / Threads: @cmninaahmad

Insight Pt. 1: Philadelphia Chapter of The Pierians, Inc.

Today we’re joined by members of the Philadelphia Chapter of The Pierians, Inc. — Felicia Collins, Chapter President, and event Co-Chairs Meridel Peterson and Donna Drake. They’re here to share details about the Inaugural Scholarship Fashion Show and Live Arts Brunch, happening Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 12:00 PM at the Brossman Center, United Lutheran Seminary (7301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia). This exciting event — featuring stunning fashions by local designer Azizza — raises funds to support emerging young artists in our community. Tickets are $70, and the venue offers parking and handicap accessibility.
✨ Event & Contact Information

What's Going On: about Keep It Clean With Raylene, Women Against Abuse – iPledge Campaign

Keep It Clean With Raylene & Cleaning for a Reason
We highlight an interview conducted by iHeartMedia Q102’s Rach on the Radio about Keep It Clean With Raylene, a Philadelphia-based cleaning company making a difference through its 18-year partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, the nonprofit that provides free home cleanings to cancer patients. Hear how Raylene Arko and her team bring hope, relief, and care to families across the city.
🌐 keepitcleanwithraylene.com | cleaningforareason.org
📱 Instagram: @keepitcleanwithraylene | @cleaningforareason
📞 Phone: 215-990-8149 (Keep It Clean With Raylene)  

Women Against Abuse – iPledge Campaign
On October 1st, I was honored to emcee Women Against Abuse’s 18th Annual iPledge Campaign at City Hall, launching Domestic Violence Awareness Month under this year’s theme: HOPE. The event featured a press conference and rally, calling on all of us to raise awareness, support survivors, and build a safer future. We also re-air my powerful interview with Megan, a survivor and thriver who once lived in silence but found inspiration to share her story through attending iPledge. Today, Megan is a voice for others, and this year she returned as a guest speaker at the rally. You’ll also hear an excerpt from the event.
🌐 womenagainstabuse.org
📞 24-Hour Toll-Free Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-866-723-3014