LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Patti Labelle is a force to be reckoned with. This, and her long-standing connection to our city, made her the perfect choice for our annual Women of Influence cover. Born here in Philadelphia, the R&B icon, who still lives in the suburbs, helped define the famous Philadelphia sound. This past November, she was honored with the Marian Anderson Award during a star-studded gala at the Kimmel Center. In May, she will release her newest album while simultaneously continuing her work in the culinary world. Last year she launched Patti’s Pies as well as an array of marinades and hot sauces to accompany her boldly flavored recipes.

From the women’s marches that took place all over the world on January 21 to A Day Without a Woman in March, our Women of Influence Issue could not have come at a more relevant time in the national conversation. This same discussion informed many of our interviews with the six Philadelphia women we interviewed for our annual feature.

Our Healthy Living section returns again for 2017. Philadelphia Style’s resident doctor, Nina Radcliff, spoke to some of the area’s top health systems and their talented doctors for insights into cutting-edge treatments and preventative care techniques. Philadelphia is and has always been at the forefront of medicine. It’s a legacy that’s woven into the city’s history, like politics and education.

I am happy to share this amazing issue with you and hope you enjoy the pages ahead.