WURD Radio held its annual gala over the weekend at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, recognizing the contributions of Dr. Walter P. Lomax, the founder of the station. The event celebrated the station’s 13th year of existence and highlighted the significant impact WURD has had in informing Philadelphia’s Black community.
“I really just want to thank everyone who is here,” said Sara Lomax, president and CEO of WURD Radio. “These are really challenging times for an organization like WURD. We sit at the intersection of media, which is under attack, and Black media empowerment, which is absolutely under attack.” Lomax expressed deep gratitude for the ongoing support from listeners and the wider community.
During the event, WURD announced the launch of “Freedom Journeys: Celebrating the Lives of 250 Phenomenal Philadelphians,” a new multimedia project spotlighting the work of Black residents—both past and present—who have made an impact. These two to three-minute video presentations will air on WURD leading up to Philadelphia’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
“The point is we’re under attack right now,” said City Council President Kenyatta Johnson in his remarks. “We know African American history is American history, and so this evening is an invitation for all of us to stand and speak truth to power.”
### Community Impact Award Recipients
This year’s recipients of the 2025 Community Impact Award included:
– Loree Jones Brown, CEO of Philabundance
– Solomon Jones, WURD Radio host and executive director of ManUp PHL
– Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute
– Dolores Robinson, trailblazing talent agent and producer
“It’s moments like these, when our nation’s leaders are not demonstrating compassion, that our work becomes even more important,” said Loree Jones Brown. “The weight of these challenges and the scale of the work can be overwhelming. That is why I am grateful not to have to labor alone. Nights like this lighten the burden.”
Jones Brown also shared words of encouragement for all who attended. “We are all in this fight to make Philadelphia, the country, and our communities better places. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done out of love for my people,” she said. “I am honored to be honored by my own, and I am grateful for the platform that I have been given at WURD. I love our folks.”
### “Defenders of Democracy” Panel Discussion
The Founder’s Day event featured a “Defenders of Democracy” panel discussion, moderated by WURD host James Peterson. The panel included attorneys Michael Coard, Keir Bradford-Grey, and Dolores Robinson. They focused on the current state of democracy in the United States, legal strategies to protect the civil rights of African Americans, immigration, and the military occupation of American cities.
“People often say that things are getting worse in America; that’s not really true,” said Michael Coard. “Racism is more visible in America, and we’re figuring out a plan to reignite the civil rights-type litigation of the 50s and 60s.” Coard emphasized the importance of Black media in activism, telling the stories of the struggles and issues that Black communities face across the nation.
Mayor Cherelle Parker, who also spoke at the event, said, “What this meeting affirms for me is that all of us, in our own right, have a role to play. There are many ways we can contribute to the social and economic advancement of African and African American people here in our great city.”
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*Photo caption:* The event included a “Defenders of Democracy” panel discussion featuring attorneys Michael Coard (second from left), Keir Bradford-Grey (center), and Dorothy Robinson (right). The discussion was moderated by WURD host James Peterson. — TRIBUNE PHOTO/KYLAN WATSON
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/wurd-holds-founders-day-gala-to-recognize-contributions-of-dr-walter-lomax/article_e8442cf1-6886-4520-af6d-55b89c367424.html