Live from BlackStar Film Festival with Simone Holland

When thinking about Maryam Pugh, Tayyib Smith and Sam Katz, we think accomplished visionaries. First up, the revolution may not be televised but it will be featured thanks to Philadelphia Printworks founder, Maryam Pugh. Her mission to promotes social justice just got bigger since being featured in Target stores. This powerful partnership aims to amplify social justice messages and showcase artists from underrepresented communities. Next up, Tayyib Smith and Sam Smith bring their superpowers together to pay homage to the profound Black history of a specific Philadelphia area. Legacy Reclaimed: A 7th Ward Tribute honors the lives of the 19th-century Black residents of the 7th Ward in Philadelphia (located between 6th Street and 23rd Street and between Spruce Street and South Street). 

Kyra Knox and Lady Alma are two dope ladies using their voices in different ways. Kyra is using her directing voice to make sure Philly’s basketball courts stay safe. Her passion for the arts created a project that Philly needs: the documentary Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia. The documentary discusses the impact of gun violence in city and highlights the non-profits working hard to create change. Lady Alma has been a legendary force in house music for decades. Around the world she IS the queen of house. We first heard her singing about happiness with Philly legend King Britt and now you can hear her touring around the world and on the Philadelphia Eagles' first Christmas album which raised $1.2M for local charities.  

Two people that are the voices of Philadelphia: Alejandro Bedoya and GoGo Morrow. First up, Alejandro is not just the Philadelphia Union’s team captain, but also a passionate advocate to end gun violence. He’s also on the board of Live Work Philadelphia whose mission is to grow and diversify the middle-income population in the City of Philadelphia. Add to the list of accomplishments: helping secure Philadelphia's bid to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup! Next up, GoGo Morrow has been blessed to join the stage with the likes of Kanye West and Lady Gaga. She has also made her mark in her hometown of Philadelphia with a sold-out concert at the Theater of Living Arts and now has taken her Philly roots to Los Angeles. And yes, she still reps that 267 number.  

Music and food on your mind? Khemist and Alisha Miranda are about to help sooth your musical and culinary requests. Philly is home to some of the greatest MCs and to add to the list we have Khemist. He’s a teacher, an academic and multi-instrumentalist who has released several studio albums and mixtapes. And now Khemist is working with organizations like the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Kimmel Cultural Campus bridging gaps between the music and local communities. Next, if you want to get the latest on good eats, Alisha Miranda is your person! You can find Alisha’s opinions in places like Eater Philly, the Philadelphia Inquirer,  Thrillist, Philadelphia Magazine and Resy. And in her spare time, she produces and hosts #LatinxIndustryNight where she highlights all the tasty goods in Philly’s Latino community. 

Philly loves options and that’s what Meeka Johnson and Rene Melendez are serving. Johnson has done it all. She's known in Philly for her sense of fashion innovation. She's put in decades of work as a fashion stylist and consultant. And she's even created her own fashion-forward clothing line. But now we are obsessed with her All Black Everything Pop-Up, which is essentially the Black version of QVC on Instagram that exclusively highlights dope Black-owned brands. Next up, Melendez is the owner of Izlas Latin Cuisine. He dishes on what all of our palates have been waiting for: a Latino restaurant that presents food from several Latin-American countries. And it just so happens Izlas is a part of Dine Latino Restaurant Week which includes deals from some of the city’s best Latino-owned restaurants.  

It’s the Oscars of food and we have Chad Williams and Jamila Robison talking all things culinary. It was 10 years ago when his now wife Hanna Williams introduced the thought to Chad to buy the Rittenhouse Square staple Friday Saturday Sunday. Two years into the gig and right before the opening, Chad and Hanna would make their commitment to each other and the restaurant official by marrying in its kitchen. Now they have the best restaurant in the country. Next up, not only is Jamila Robinson the first Black female judge on the World's 50 Best Restaurants panel, but she’s also the chair of the James Beard Foundation's Journalism Awards program. She also knows a thing or two about Philly’s culinary scene and how it can change communities.  

Love + Grit celebrates all things Philly and the BlackStar Film Festival was full of Philly legends and up-and-comers including Emmy Award winner and Mural Arts Philadelphia Black Artists fellow Simone Holland. Simone initially came to the film festival as a cinematographer for another BlackStar Fellow project and returned a second time as a fellow herself. Live from the Daily Jawn Stage at the Kimmel Cultural Campus, Justin and Laiya talk with Simone about her premiere film, All That’s Left. The film challenges the perspective of existing, longing for acceptance, all around the epicenter of one's life: the kitchen table. We also had to quiz the audience on Philly’s TV and film influences. Can you finish the lyrics to the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song? Can you name the Netflix western based on Philly’s urban riding club?  

Philadelphia’s music scene has produced some of the most notable acts in hip-hop and R&B. Case in point Freeway and Julian King. This year, Freeway is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album: Philadelphia Freeway. He’s also using his platform to better his life as a spokesperson and health ambassador for the National Kidney Foundation and the organization he founded, the Freedom Thinkers Academy. Next up, Julian King comes from the same institution, the High School for Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA), as some of your favorite musicians like Boyz II Men and Jazmin Sullivan. And today he has leaped to national stages such as John Legend’s team on NBC’s The Voice and writing and performing the theme song for the Emmy® Nominated film “All Boys Aren't Blue.” Freeway and Julian ARE Philly. 

It’s not that our hosts are always hungry, it’s that we have dope people like Justin Coleman and Dionicio Jimenez! Coleman's Bake’n Bacon food truck stepped on the scene in 2019 and has continued to meet his challenge of twisting bacon into all kinds of delicious goodness - like a bacon beer. And soon you’ll get to enjoy Justin’s new brick and mortar restaurant! Next up, Chef Dio is no stranger to Philly’s culinary scene. A true success story, Dio started as a dishwasher, moved to kitchen prep, sous chef and moved up to executive Chef for restaurants like El Rey and Xochitl. And now he lights up Kensington with great aromas at his James Beard nominated Cantina La Martina. 

Nikisha Bailey and Denice Frohman are two women taking arts and culture to new levels. Bailey wakes up every day and finds time to work on two things she loves: coffee and music! She’s a music executive who was named a 2x Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player and owner of Win Win Coffee Bar, a brand handpicked by Goldman Sachs to be a featured vendor at its 10KSB National Summit. Next up, Frohman’s accolades list starts as a Pew Fellow and Baldwin-Emerson Fellow and leads up to performing at the White House, the Lincoln Center and being featured by many national outlets including the New York Times. In addition to making a career out of poetry, Frohman also creates safe spaces for teens and facilitates workshops for adults and young people.