Our discussion will center on the state of the environment in Pennsylvania, with Dr. Allen Dietrich-Ward of Shippensburg University, author of Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania. We’ll also be joined by a representative from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to discuss the 2025 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to spotlight the importance of keeping children safe and supporting families through education, community awareness, and access to critical resources. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA) leads the way with its annual Blue-Ribbon campaign and an array of statewide initiatives dedicated to prevention.

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In the shadowy woods above the Wissahickon Creek in present-day Philadelphia, legend has it that a mystic once awaited the end of the world. His name was Johannes Kelpius—a German-born spiritual seeker who led a small band of followers from Europe to the wilds of Pennsylvania in 1694. Their purpose? To prepare for the second coming of Christ and live lives of contemplation and purity.

On a recent episode of The Spark, host Asia Tabb sat down with Dr. Patrick M. Urban, professor of American literature at the University of West Georgia and a scholar of early German American culture, to uncover the story of this lesser known but deeply fascinating figure.

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