On May 2, Braver Angels’ own Red Co-Chair of Braver Faith, Lenny Greenberg, and Reverend Chad Butz joined The Spark to explore how faith communities can heal our fractured political landscape. Lenny, a retired high-tech executive, explained that “we must learn to talk to each other about our disagreements in a civil way again,” while Pastor Chad reflected on the shared mission of church and Braver Angels: “Relationship is at the heart of what it means to be Christian… and Braver Angels teaches us to compromise for the benefit of the relationship.” Both guests underscored the importance of releasing our need to be right so that love and care for our fellow humans can guide us toward a more united future.

On May 2, <a href="https://braverangels.org/">Braver Angels&rsquo;</a> own Red Co-Chair of Braver Faith, Lenny Greenberg, and Reverend Chad Butz joined The Spark to explore how faith communities can heal our fractured political landscape. Lenny, a retired high-tech executive, explained that &ldquo;we must learn to talk to each other about our disagreements in a civil way again,&rdquo; while Pastor Chad reflected on the shared mission of church and Braver Angels: &ldquo;Relationship is at the heart of what it means to be Christian&hellip; and Braver Angels teaches us to compromise for the benefit of the relationship.&rdquo; Both guests underscored the importance of releasing our need to be right so that love and care for our fellow humans can guide us toward a more united future.

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>.

Braver Angels and Faith Communities

Anthony (Tony) Tommasini is the former chief classical music critic for The New York Times, a role he held from 2000 until his retirement in 2021 after 24 years with the paper. A graduate of Yale University with a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University, he is also an accomplished author of four books, including The Indispensable Composers. As a pianist, he recorded two albums of Virgil Thomson’s music with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tommasini recently wrote about Marian Anderson’s legacy for the New York Times, a piece that earned praise from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In 2022, Gates and Penguin Press invited him to contribute to the “Significations” series. His upcoming book, Voice of a Century: The Life and Artistry of Marian Anderson, will be released by Penguin in September.

We talk with Andrew Dalton, President & CEO of Gettysburg History, and Jake Boritt, Producer of the Gettysburg Film Festival, about the town’s evolving identity, its role in American storytelling, and how history and the arts intersect in Gettysburg today.

We also explore recent public conversation surrounding Senator Doug Mastriano’s comments about Gettysburg’s “sharp left turn” and his concerns about the town’s cultural direction ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Andrew offers context from the perspective of a history professional—discussing how Gettysburg balances preserving its past with supporting a diverse, modern community.

Hear how the Gettysburg Film Festival is shaping cultural engagement, how local institutions approach historical stewardship, and why conversations about heritage, tourism, and community identity matter now more than ever

 

Anthony (Tony) Tommasini is the former chief classical music critic for&nbsp;The New York Times, a role he held from 2000 until his retirement in 2021 after 24 years with the paper. A graduate of Yale University with a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University, he is also an accomplished author of four books, including The Indispensable Composers. As a pianist, he recorded two albums of Virgil Thomson&rsquo;s music with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tommasini recently wrote about Marian Anderson&rsquo;s legacy for the New York Times, a piece that earned praise from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In 2022, Gates and Penguin Press invited him to contribute to the &ldquo;Significations&rdquo; series. His upcoming book, Voice of a Century: The Life and Artistry of Marian Anderson, will be released by Penguin in September.
We talk with Andrew Dalton, President &amp; CEO of Gettysburg History, and Jake Boritt, Producer of the Gettysburg Film Festival, about the town&rsquo;s evolving identity, its role in American storytelling, and how history and the arts intersect in Gettysburg today.
We also explore recent public conversation surrounding Senator Doug Mastriano&rsquo;s comments about Gettysburg&rsquo;s &ldquo;sharp left turn&rdquo; and his concerns about the town&rsquo;s cultural direction ahead of America&rsquo;s 250th anniversary. Andrew offers context from the perspective of a history professional&mdash;discussing how Gettysburg balances preserving its past with supporting a diverse, modern community.
Hear how the Gettysburg Film Festival is shaping cultural engagement, how local institutions approach historical stewardship, and why conversations about heritage, tourism, and community identity matter now more than ever
&nbsp;

The Spark Weekly | March 22 | Marian Anderson and The Gettysburg Film Festival

Gettysburg Film Fest

Mark and Val Wines

(00:00:00)

We talk with Andrew Dalton, President & CEO of Gettysburg History, and Jake Boritt, Producer of the Gettysburg Film Festival, about the town’s evolving identity, its role in American storytelling, and how history and the arts intersect in Gettysburg today.

We also explore recent public conversation surrounding Senator Doug Mastriano’s comments about Gettysburg’s “sharp left turn” and his concerns about the town’s cultural direction ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. Andrew offers context from the perspective of a history professional—discussing how Gettysburg balances preserving its past with supporting a diverse, modern community.

Hear how the Gettysburg Film Festival is shaping cultural engagement, how local institutions approach historical stewardship, and why conversations about heritage, tourism, and community identity matter now more than ever

(00:22:40)

We sit down with Mark Rhodes, a Brooklyn native who made York, PA, his home and built a life dedicated to leadership, equity, and community impact. After a 33‑year career with Harley‑Davidson, Mark launched his own training and diversity consulting firm and went on to serve as chairman of the Confronting Racism Coalition and vice chair of York’s Human Relations Commission. Today, he continues his community work on the boards of the York County History Centers and Ophelia’s Making Agency.

Alongside his wife Val—who enjoyed a 36‑year career with M&T Bank—Mark is now co‑owner of Mark and Val Wines, an urban winery created to celebrate and elevate Black excellence in the wine industry. Their mission is to offer high‑quality, small‑batch wines crafted by Black winemakers and to provide a welcoming, inclusive space for all through their tasting room, wine club, and online shop.

(00:00:00)
We talk with Andrew Dalton, President &amp; CEO of Gettysburg History, and Jake Boritt, Producer of the Gettysburg Film Festival, about the town&rsquo;s evolving identity, its role in American storytelling, and how history and the arts intersect in Gettysburg today.
We also explore recent public conversation surrounding Senator Doug Mastriano&rsquo;s comments about Gettysburg&rsquo;s &ldquo;sharp left turn&rdquo; and his concerns about the town&rsquo;s cultural direction ahead of America&rsquo;s 250th anniversary. Andrew offers context from the perspective of a history professional&mdash;discussing how Gettysburg balances preserving its past with supporting a diverse, modern community.
Hear how the Gettysburg Film Festival is shaping cultural engagement, how local institutions approach historical stewardship, and why conversations about heritage, tourism, and community identity matter now more than ever
(00:22:40)
We sit down with Mark Rhodes, a Brooklyn native who made York, PA, his home and built a life dedicated to leadership, equity, and community impact. After a 33‑year career with Harley‑Davidson, Mark launched his own training and diversity consulting firm and went on to serve as chairman of the Confronting Racism Coalition and vice chair of York&rsquo;s Human Relations Commission. Today, he continues his community work on the boards of the York County History Centers and Ophelia&rsquo;s Making Agency.
Alongside his wife Val&mdash;who enjoyed a 36‑year career with M&amp;T Bank&mdash;Mark is now co‑owner of Mark and Val Wines, an urban winery created to celebrate and elevate Black excellence in the wine industry. Their mission is to offer high‑quality, small‑batch wines crafted by Black winemakers and to provide a welcoming, inclusive space for all through their tasting room, wine club, and online shop.

Culture, Community, and Craftsmanship: Pennsylvania Stories That Matter

Marian Anderson

Pennsylvania Hospital

(00:00:00)

Anthony (Tony) Tommasini is the former chief classical music critic for The New York Times, a role he held from 2000 until his retirement in 2021 after 24 years with the paper. A graduate of Yale University with a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University, he is also an accomplished author of four books, including The Indispensable Composers. As a pianist, he recorded two albums of Virgil Thomson’s music with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Tommasini recently wrote about Marian Anderson’s legacy for the New York Times, a piece that earned praise from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In 2022, Gates and Penguin Press invited him to contribute to the “Significations” series. His upcoming book, Voice of a Century: The Life and Artistry of Marian Anderson, will be released by Penguin in September.

(00:22:40)

Stacey C. Peeples, Curator and Lead Archivist at Pennsylvania Hospital, is helping guide the hospital’s celebration of its 275th anniversary by overseeing the transformation of its historic Pine Building into a public museum. As America’s first chartered hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital will use the new museum—opening in May—to showcase exhibits that connect its rich medical history with Penn Medicine’s ongoing innovations in science and healthcare.

(00:00:00)
Anthony (Tony) Tommasini is the former chief classical music critic for&nbsp;The New York Times, a role he held from 2000 until his retirement in 2021 after 24 years with the paper. A graduate of Yale University with a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University, he is also an accomplished author of four books, including The Indispensable Composers. As a pianist, he recorded two albums of Virgil Thomson&rsquo;s music with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Tommasini recently wrote about Marian Anderson&rsquo;s legacy for the New York Times, a piece that earned praise from Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. In 2022, Gates and Penguin Press invited him to contribute to the &ldquo;Significations&rdquo; series. His upcoming book, Voice of a Century: The Life and Artistry of Marian Anderson, will be released by Penguin in September.
(00:22:40)
Stacey C. Peeples, Curator and Lead Archivist at Pennsylvania Hospital, is helping guide the hospital&rsquo;s celebration of its 275th anniversary by overseeing the transformation of its historic Pine Building into a public museum. As America&rsquo;s first chartered hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital will use the new museum&mdash;opening in May&mdash;to showcase exhibits that connect its rich medical history with Penn Medicine&rsquo;s ongoing innovations in science and healthcare.

Braver Angels and Faith Communities

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