Long before founding Pennsylvania, William Penn Jr. was just “a guy in England,” according to historian Daniel K. Richter. But his story—and the colony he helped establish—was anything but ordinary.

Long before founding Pennsylvania, William Penn Jr. was just &ldquo;a guy in England,&rdquo; according to historian Daniel K. Richter. But his story&mdash;and the colony he helped establish&mdash;was anything but ordinary.

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>.

William Penn’s "Holy Experiment": Quaker Roots, Radical Toleration, and the Birth of Pennsylvania

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.

From Music Icons to Medical Milestones: Marian Anderson and Pa.'s Oldest Hospital

AACA

Peace Corp 65 Years

(00:00:00)

The AACA Museum in Hershey began with a passionate group of automobile enthusiasts whose idea evolved into a broader mission to preserve and share America’s automotive history. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993, the museum launched a $12 million campaign to create a world‑class facility. Their vision became reality in 2003 with the opening of a 71,000‑square‑foot museum featuring interactive exhibits, rare vehicles, and educational programs. Today, visitors can explore eight decades of motoring history, supported by workshops and community programs that highlight the automobile’s impact on American life. The museum is recognized as a Smithsonian Affiliate and houses renowned collections, including the world’s largest Tucker automobile collection and the Museum of Bus Transportation collection.

(00:22:51)

Kelsey McMahon, a Communications Specialist with the Peace Corps, is a Southeast Pennsylvania native with family roots in Lewistown—where her grandfather helped launch Juniata River’s Goose Day. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in South Africa from 2014–2016, later supported a South African organization through the Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot in 2021, and now works in the agency’s Office of External Affairs in Washington, D.C.

She will discuss several key topics: the Peace Corps Week celebration, the 65th anniversary of the agency, its new nostalgia‑themed recruitment campaign (“Still the Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love”), the launch of the Tech Corps initiative supporting AI adoption abroad, and her personal journey through service and communications roles within the organization.

 

(00:00:00)
The AACA Museum in Hershey began with a passionate group of automobile enthusiasts whose idea evolved into a broader mission to preserve and share America&rsquo;s automotive history. Incorporated as a nonprofit in 1993, the museum launched a $12 million campaign to create a world‑class facility. Their vision became reality in 2003 with the opening of a 71,000‑square‑foot museum featuring interactive exhibits, rare vehicles, and educational programs. Today, visitors can explore eight decades of motoring history, supported by workshops and community programs that highlight the automobile&rsquo;s impact on American life. The museum is recognized as a Smithsonian Affiliate and houses renowned collections, including the world&rsquo;s largest Tucker automobile collection and the Museum of Bus Transportation collection.
(00:22:51)
Kelsey McMahon, a Communications Specialist with the Peace Corps, is a Southeast Pennsylvania native with family roots in Lewistown&mdash;where her grandfather helped launch Juniata River&rsquo;s Goose Day. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in South Africa from 2014&ndash;2016, later supported a South African organization through the Peace Corps&rsquo; Virtual Service Pilot in 2021, and now works in the agency&rsquo;s Office of External Affairs in Washington, D.C.
She will discuss several key topics: the Peace Corps Week celebration, the 65th anniversary of the agency, its new nostalgia‑themed recruitment campaign (&ldquo;Still the Toughest Job You&rsquo;ll Ever Love&rdquo;), the launch of the Tech Corps initiative supporting AI adoption abroad, and her personal journey through service and communications roles within the organization.
&nbsp;

William Penn’s "Holy Experiment": Quaker Roots, Radical Toleration, and the Birth of Pennsylvania

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