The Spark WITF, Inc.

This broadcast is a celebration and commemoration of the illustrious career of Scott LaMar, a broadcasting legend with over 40 years in the industry. In his final broadcast on WITF, Scott reflects on his journey into media, sharing the reasons behind his career choice and revisiting some of his favorite interviews and moments from shows like The Spark and Smart Talk. Recorded in front of a live studio audience, this special program highlights Scott's significant contributions to WITF and the lasting legacy he hopes to leave. From compelling interviews to memorable on-air moments, Scott's dedication and passion for broadcasting shine through. This engaging retrospective show that honors Scott LaMar's remarkable career and the impact he has had on the world of media, and WITF.
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From Scott LaMar:

After 32 years at WITF I’m retiring at the end of this week. On the Spark, we're broadcasting several of my most memorable conversation.

On November 19th, 2013 Scott went to Gettysburg to speak with some special guests about the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.
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From Scott LaMar:

After 32 years at WITF I’m retiring at the end of this week. On the Spark, we're broadcasting several of my most memorable conversation.

Wednesday, we went back to June of 2014 When Federal Judge John Jones appeared on the program.

In May of 2014, Judge Jones struck down Pennsylvania’s defense of marriage law as unconstitutional.  The law had defined marriage as between a man and a woman.  The ruling made same sex marriage legal in Pennsylvania – the 14th state where same sex couples could marry at the time. It was a historic decision. At the time, many were interested in Judge Jones’ legal interpretation that went into his ruling. Same sex marriage was eventually upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Jones joined us to discuss how he arrived at his decision and the role of the judiciary.
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From Scott LaMar, co-host of The Spark.

After 32 years at WITF I’m retiring at the end of this week. On The Spark Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we’re airing several of my most memorable conversation. Tuesday, we go back to September of 2019 when Sue Klebold appeared on the program.

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Over the course of minutes, they would kill twelve students and a teacher and wound twenty-four others before taking their own lives.

Since then, Sue Klebold, Dylan’s mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently?

Sue Klebold wrote a book -- A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy, in which she talks about Dylan’s seemingly normal childhood, the day of the Columbine shooting and the years afterwards when she grieved and struggled to understand her son and what’s she’s learned about mental health or brain health as she refers to it.

Mother and author Sue Kebold appears on this special edition of The Spark.

 
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Coming up on this week's program, 

A new report shows just how dire Pennsylvania's teacher shortage is. Also, the role of bail in criminal cases.
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Denzel Brown, a native of Lancaster and a graduate of McCaskey High School, has carved a path of academic and professional achievement that underscores his commitment to economic empowerment. Brown furthered his education at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. His career trajectory includes significant experience in the banking sector, having worked at Santander Bank, BB&T, and First National Bank of Pennsylvania. During his tenure in these institutions, Brown excelled as a lender and relationship manager, cultivating vital business relationships and gaining valuable insights into financial services.

Brown's expertise and passion have led him to ASSETS, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming communities through social enterprise and economic development. He firmly believes that the key to bridging the economic gap for women and minorities lies in business ownership and success, which can be fostered through accessible business capital tailored to these often underserved markets. This perspective is informed by his understanding of the systemic barriers that these groups face when navigating traditional lending channels.

Statistical evidence underscores the challenges that minority communities encounter in the financial sector. As recently as 2019, a significant portion of Black and Hispanic households were without basic banking services. Specifically, 13.8 percent of Black households and 12.2 percent of Hispanic households lacked a checking or savings account, a stark contrast to the 2.5 percent of white households without such accounts. This disparity is often attributed to a deep-seated mistrust of banks among many Black and Hispanic individuals, a sentiment that Brown recognizes and seeks to address through his work.

Brown's approach involves not just providing knowledge but also ensuring that business capital is readily available and specifically tailored to meet the needs of minority entrepreneurs. By doing so, he aims to foster an environment where economic success is attainable for all, thereby narrowing the economic divide. His work at ASSETS reflects a broader mission to empower communities by dismantling financial barriers and creating inclusive opportunities for economic growth.
Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.