At the heart of WITF’s mission to provide trusted news, cultural programming, and educational content lies a dedicated team working behind the scenes: the development department. Leading the charge is Elisa Balestra, Vice President of Philanthropy, who joined the station 11 months ago and has quickly immersed herself in connecting the community to the station’s mission.

At the heart of WITF&rsquo;s mission to provide trusted news, cultural programming, and educational content lies a dedicated team working behind the scenes: the development department. Leading the charge is Elisa Balestra, Vice President of Philanthropy, who joined the station 11 months ago and has quickly immersed herself in connecting the community to the station&rsquo;s mission.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

Behind the Scenes at WITF: How the Development Department Powers Public Media

A standing-room-only crowd filled the room at Gettysburg College as businessman, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein took the stage for this year’s Blavatt Lecture, an annual event hosted by the Eisenhower Institute that brings in speakers with distinctive perspectives on American democracy.

and

Veteran journalist David Greene and Pennon interim President and CEO Tom Baldrige discussed Greene’s new nonprofit, Always Lancaster, which will assume ownership of LNP | LancasterOnline and transition the historic newspaper into an independent nonprofit newsroom. Greene, who moved to Lancaster as a teenager and began his journalism career at McCaskey High School before going on to the Baltimore Sun and NPR, described the effort as “almost like a calling,” outlining a three-part revenue model built on subscriptions, advertising, and philanthropy to sustain local journalism.

A standing-room-only crowd filled the room at Gettysburg College as businessman, philanthropist, and historian David Rubenstein took the stage for this year&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/skDt11nCy6g?si=W7G8VJ8dvMv3bpVO">Blavatt Lecture,</a>&nbsp;an annual event hosted by the Eisenhower Institute that brings in speakers with distinctive perspectives on American democracy.
and
Veteran journalist David Greene and Pennon interim President and CEO Tom Baldrige discussed Greene&rsquo;s new nonprofit, Always Lancaster, which will assume ownership of LNP | LancasterOnline and transition the historic newspaper into an independent nonprofit newsroom. Greene, who moved to Lancaster as a teenager and began his journalism career at McCaskey High School before going on to the Baltimore Sun&nbsp;and NPR, described the effort as &ldquo;almost like a calling,&rdquo; outlining a three-part revenue model built on subscriptions, advertising, and philanthropy to sustain local journalism.

The Spark Weekly 2.15.2026: The Declaration of Independence at 250 and Building the Future of Local Journalism

League of Women Voters

Colorectal Cancer

(00:00:00)

We begin with the remarkable history of the League of Women Voters, born in 1920 from the women’s suffrage movement and led by NAWSA president Carrie Chapman Catt. Created six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the League set out to help newly enfranchised women learn how to register, how to vote, and how their government worked. In Pennsylvania, LWV chapters in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia mobilized quickly, registering thousands of women and building a culture of informed civic participation. More than a century later, the League’s mission has expanded across every state — and even to the US Virgin Islands and Hong Kong — continuing its work to strengthen democracy through education and engagement.

(00:22:19)

Then we turn to another essential form of empowerment: colorectal cancer prevention. Experts explain why colorectal cancer is both common and highly preventable, how routine screening beginning at age 45 can detect cancer early or remove precancerous polyps, and why understanding personal and family risk is critical. We also explore the lifestyle choices — from diet to physical activity — that significantly reduce risk and help people take control of their long‑term health.

(00:00:00)
We begin with the remarkable history of the&nbsp;League of Women Voters, born in 1920 from the women&rsquo;s suffrage movement and led by NAWSA president Carrie Chapman Catt. Created six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the League set out to help newly enfranchised women learn how to register, how to vote, and how their government worked. In Pennsylvania, LWV chapters in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia mobilized quickly, registering thousands of women and building a culture of informed civic participation. More than a century later, the League&rsquo;s mission has expanded across every state &mdash; and even to the US Virgin Islands and Hong Kong &mdash; continuing its work to strengthen democracy through education and engagement.
(00:22:19)
Then we turn to another essential form of empowerment: colorectal cancer prevention. Experts explain why colorectal cancer is both common and highly preventable, how routine screening beginning at age 45 can detect cancer early or remove precancerous polyps, and why understanding personal and family risk is critical. We also explore the lifestyle choices &mdash; from diet to physical activity &mdash; that significantly reduce risk and help people take control of their long‑term health.

How the League of Women Voters Shaped Democracy; and Why Colorectal Cancer Screening Still Saves Lives

AI in Education

Pennon and Always Lancaster

(00:00:00)

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Leamor Kahanov, higher‑education leader with 25+ years of experience as a provost, dean, and academic strategist. She joins us to discuss the same topic originally planned for Dr. Gaetan Giannini: how colleges can responsibly integrate AI into existing majors—and why an AI major isn’t always the smartest path. Drawing on comparisons to the early internet era, we explore why AI works best when embedded across disciplines, enhancing—rather than replacing—students’ core areas of study.

(00:22:09)

We also break down one of the region’s biggest media developments: the transfer of LNP/LancasterOnline from Pennon to Always Lancaster. Interim President & CEO Tom Baldridge and Journalist David Greene share what this change means for local journalism, community trust, and the future of independent news in Central Pennsylvania.

(00:00:00)
In this episode, we sit down with&nbsp;Dr. Leamor Kahanov, higher‑education leader with 25+ years of experience as a provost, dean, and academic strategist. She joins us to discuss the same topic originally planned for Dr. Gaetan Giannini: how colleges can responsibly integrate AI into existing majors&mdash;and why an AI major isn&rsquo;t always the smartest path. Drawing on comparisons to the early internet era, we explore why AI works best when embedded across disciplines, enhancing&mdash;rather than replacing&mdash;students&rsquo; core areas of study.
(00:22:09)
We also break down one of the region&rsquo;s biggest media developments: the transfer of LNP/LancasterOnline from Pennon to Always Lancaster. Interim President &amp; CEO Tom Baldridge and Journalist David Greene share what this change means for local journalism, community trust, and the future of independent news in Central Pennsylvania.

Behind the Scenes at WITF: How the Development Department Powers Public Media

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