OUR 412

Following the horrific mass shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, and at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, NY, Governor Tom Wolf today called for immediate action from the General Assembly and Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to pass common sense legislation to prevent gun violence.

“Shaping the Arts: Black Women and Femme Artists and Creators” will be a focal point of the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s 2022-2023 season. The programming includes the work of Urban Bush women; Terri Lyne Carrington; and Toshi Reagon’s genre-defying Parable of the Sower. ."

 Dr. Michael Forbes earned his B.S. Degree in Chemistry and his Medical Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1986 and 1990 respectively.  Dr. Forbes was named “…chief academic officer, a new position that will oversee and align the hospital’s research and medical education strategies.  

Mayor Ed Gainey  announced investments and initiatives to address the city’s pressing infrastructure needs. As part of the city’s commitment, Mayor Gainey announced the creation of a comprehensive Bridge Asset Management Program, an update on the Swindell Bridge, and his plan to address equitable regional infrastructure investment. The announcements were made in advance of National Infrastructure Week, May 16th – May 20th, 2022.

There is no more important decision we will make as a Board than selecting the right Superintendent for our District. Community engagement is an essential part of this process,” said Board President Sala Udin. “We are inviting members of both the Pittsburgh Public Schools family and broader City of Pittsburgh community to participate in Community Forums and complete surveys so that your voices can be heard.” 

 Jonathan Bailey Holland will join Carnegie Mellon University as the Jack G. Buncher Chair and new head of the School of Music beginning Aug. 1. Most recently, Holland served as chair of composition, contemporary music and core studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, a position he has held since 2016 in addition to serving as professor of composition.

Starting Sat., May 7, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is presenting this year’s Summer Flower Show: Monet in Bloom, inspired by the works of impressionist painter Claude Monet. In this spectacular new exhibit — which follows in the footsteps of Phipps’ blockbuster Van Gogh in Bloom show from 2019 — the gardens of Phipps will bring three-dimensional life to Monet's breathtaking scenes of delicate flora and dreamlike design. Vivid botanical displays will place you directly into stunning scenes from the artist’s own canvasses – beloved paintings that have stood the test of time for 100 years. 

 The Frick Pittsburgh is pleased to present Romare Bearden: Artist as  Activist and Visionary, an exhibition of original artworks, limited edition prints, and archival materials through which innovative artist Romare Bearden (1911-1988) celebrated African American subjects, beginning Saturday, April 30 at The Frick Art Museum. Drawing on his own experiences, Bearden created narratives that reflect both the nostalgic rural North Carolina of his childhood and the vibrant urban life

of places like Pittsburgh and Harlem. 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American and History (NMAAHC) will host a variety of virtual and in-person events and programs highlighting the experiences of African American Juneteenth celebrations. Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth marks the moment in United States’ history—June 19, 1865—when the remaining 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Confederate states were legally declared free two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. 

For Jess Towns, a case of turf toe (a painful injury that permanently sidelined Pittsburgh Steeler great Jack Lambert) led to her receiving a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship. After suffering the injury while cheerleading, Towns began researching ways to improve the safety of the sport, including reducing concussions and other impact injuries.  

Stephon Burton, 24, knew he wanted to go to law school by the time he was in 7th grade. “I just knew it was something I wanted to do, and I remember doing research on both colleges and law schools with my mom,” the Fort Washington, Md., native said. After earning his BA in political science at Washington and Jefferson College, 

At just 28, Ryellen Joaquim’s music career has led her to performing with orchestra tours around the world—in countries such as Portugal, Bolivia, Ukraine, Scotland and the U.S.—and participating in acclaimed events like Brazil’s Festival de Música de Santa Catarina and as principal viola for the U.S. Color of Music Festival.

With a double major in social work and communications and more than 100 hours of volunteer service during her Carlow career, Gabby is respected for consistently applying a social justice lens to her thinking, writing, and breadth of projects and activities. 

Gabby brings her deep sense of care and compassion, along with her advocacy skills, to bear in all that she does.

Lisa Oguike and Vijay Adipudi will address their fellow graduates from the stage during Carnegie Mellon University’s 124th Commencement, expressing gratitude for the skills they developed, connections they made, memories they treasure and challenges that helped them grow.

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced it is making a $2.5 million equity commitment to Black Tech Nation Ventures (BTN.vc), a majority Black-owned venture capital fund based in Pittsburgh, PA. BTN.vc provides funding and resources for Black-led technology startups and firms with diverse founders and teams, with a goal of enabling wealth creation for underrepresented entrepreneurs in FNB’s seven-state footprint and across the United States.

Duquesne University has named Pittsburgh City Police Commander and Chief of Staff Eric Holmes as the University's next chief of police and director of public safety.

Holmes succeeds Tom Hart, who retired at the end of March after more than 10 years of service to Duquesne. Chief Holmes starts Monday, May 23, 2022.  

The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus today joined the Wolf administration and the nonprofit Voices Underground in celebrating the inaugural awarding of Journeying Toward Freedom grants through the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, according to PLBC Chair and state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila.

The inaugural awards will support Juneteenth celebrations across the commonwealth in 2022 for seven organizations.

City Theatre Company, the Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh Glass Center, and Pittsburgh Public Theater—have appointed Fatima Bunafoor to be their shared Talent & Equity Director, in an effort to address common staffing challenges and inclusive human resources objectives. The cohort of theatres seeks to advance better practices related to human and personnel management, including developing and sharing learning policies around hiring, retention, staff development, and organizational culture in an industry-setting partnership model.

 Because of a University-wide initiative, Oghifobibi is now an assistant professor of pediatrics, where he helps by not only caring for infants but by developing a program with the Allegheny County Health Department to combat a significant health disparity — the distressing rate of maternal and infant mortality in Pittsburgh’s Black and Brown communities.

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced it has received charitable sponsorships from PNC Bank to improve health equity in the greater Pittsburgh region. The funding will support AHN’s Healthy Food Center at West Penn Hospital, as well as the health system’s ‘First Steps and Beyond’ program to improve Black infant health outcomes.