Smart Talk Thursday: WITF’s Toward Racial Justice engagement series; Economic recovery efforts after pandemic

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

A row of signs advertising jobs are posted in front of a Burger King restaurant, Thursday, May 21, 2020, in Harmony, Pa. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits in the two months since the coronavirus took hold in the U.S. has swelled to nearly 39 million, the government reported Thursday, even as states from coast to coast gradually reopen their economies and let people go back to work.

Systemic problems require systemic change. WITF presents a bi-weekly summer series of virtual community conversations to address systemic racism and injustice.  

The series will be a forum for essential conversations about race and racism — its effects on housing, education, finance, healthcare, relations with police and inequality.  

Appearing on Smart Talk to share details is series moderator Charles Ellison, executive producer and host of Reality Check, a daily public affairs program on WURD radio in Philadelphia. Joining him is Major Kristal M. Turner-Childs-Director, Bureau of Forensic Services, Pennsylvania State Police & WITF Board Member.  

As states begin to ease coronavirus-related restrictions the economy is sending signals of a potential recovery. Some experts are saying the numbers show what could be a slow and prolonged rally.  

Michael Horrigan, president of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research authored an article for the PEW Charitable Trust and he’ll join Smart Talk to discuss what current economic data says about jobs and a recovery.   

One Central Pennsylvania county is working to provide tools for small businesses to jump start a recovery there.   

Lancaster County is one of only seven in the state to have received direct CARES money from the federal government. County leaders established a grant application program designed to help small businesses reemerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Lisa Riggs, President of the Lancaster county Economic Development Company and Tom Baldrige, President and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber, appear on Smart Talk to share details about the Lancaster County Economic Recovery Plan.