Around the Burgh

By Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Honor Long-time Staffer on His 90th Birthday on October 11 Versus the New York Rangers

The Pittsburgh Penguins honored a true local legend on October 11, as David Blackburn, a fixture at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena and now PPG Paints Arena, celebrates 64 remarkable years of service—and his 90th birthday.

Since first joining the Civic Arena staff in 1961, Blackburn has served generations of fans with warmth, dedication, and an unmistakable smile. From ushering excited crowds during the early days of the Penguins, to scanning tickets with a personal touch in today’s high-tech era, Blackburn has been a constant presence through six decades of sports history.

The Penguins and Oak View Group (OVG) will pay tribute to Blackburn’s extraordinary contributions with a special in-game recognition. Dave will receive an honorary Key to the Arena, as well as a proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh. Dave will be celebrated by our fans, players, and fellow staff for a career—and life—defined by loyalty and service.

“David Blackburn is more than an usher—he’s part of the soul of this building,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager, Oak View Group Gary Desjardins. “His dedication to our fans and this city is nothing short of inspirational. We’re honored to celebrate not only his 64 years of service but also his 90th birthday—a milestone that reflects the strength, passion, and spirit that David brings every day.”

A native of Pittsburgh, Blackburn’s story reflects the spirit of the Steel City itself: hardworking, humble, and loyal. He has worked thousands of events over the years and is widely known for remembering fans by name, welcoming newcomers, and always going the extra mile to ensure a memorable experience.

“I never thought I’d be here this long, but I love the people,” said Blackburn. “The fans, my coworkers—they’re like family to me. This place has been my second home for a long time, and I’m grateful for every moment.”

Lenore Williams and East Liberty go way back. Growing up, she remembers riding the streetcars and spending evenings at The Regent Theater (now the Kelly Strayhorn Theater)—memories that root her firmly in the neighborhood she now helps lead as ELDI’s new board president.

“We would walk around to all of the stores, get some ice cream from Isaly’s, and just enjoy being around,” she recalled. “However, as some of the stores went away in the 70s and 80s, it was not quite as appealing to go into East Liberty. But thank goodness things change, and that vibrancy has returned to the neighborhood.”

Williams has played a direct role in bringing that vibrancy back, serving on East Liberty’s Community Planning Committee since 2014 and later as an ELDI board member and vice president of the board. This summer, as ELDI Board President Reverend Doctor Patrice Fowler-Searcy stepped into retirement, Williams took over for her, while Chad Restori assumed the role of vice president.

Alongside her community work, Williams has built a decades-long career in broadcasting. She started at WAMO in the 1970s and now works with American Urban Radio Networks, where she manages programming and collaborates with stations nationwide. Communication, she says, is the thread that ties her professional and community life together.

From 2004 to 2024, Williams was also actively involved in the Baum Centre Initiative, now known as the Baum-Centre Planning Forum, where she helped guide development along the Baum-Centre corridor to reflect local priorities.

We sat down with Williams to hear more about her background, perspective on East Liberty’s transformation, and vision for the neighborhood’s future as she settles into her new role.

Tell us about your connection to East Liberty. What drew you to get involved with ELDI?

East Liberty has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was born in Homewood, went to school at Taylor Allderdice, and my family went to Peabody, where my father taught. I went to church here, socialized here—it’s always been an integral part of who I am. So when I learned about the community planning meetings, I got involved. Eventually, I joined the board, and it’s been more than ten years now.

Over that time, what role have you played on the board?

My main focus has always been community involvement, ensuring residents are part of the conversation and that people who have been here a long time have a voice in what happens. ELDI has always emphasized that legacy residents need to be involved in their community’s future.

When you look back on your legacy in East Liberty and in community development, what contributions are you most proud of?

One of the things I’m proud that we have been able to accomplish is that you can’t point to a building here and say, “That’s the affordable housing.” Because everyone, no matter their income level, deserves to live in something that looks wonderful and well-maintained.

38% of rental housing in East Liberty is secured as long-term affordable, but you would never be able to tell that if you drive around the neighborhood. Next to that, we’ve been able to help many people own homes in the community—people who never would have considered that before. Through our Affordable Homeownership Program and work with our spin-off organization, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, more families have been able to buy homes, put down roots, and age here. That creates legacy, and that’s what makes a true community.

I’m also proud of the work I was able to do with the Baum-Centre corridor. For a long time, there was no real oversight—Shadyside, Oakland, Friendship, East Liberty, and Bloomfield were all working separately, and no one was talking with each other. Through the Baum-Centre Initiative, we were able to bring residents and organizations together to have a say in what was happening in their community. That collaboration is something I look back on with pride.

One of the things I’m proud that we have been able to accomplish is that you can’t point to a building here and say, “That’s the affordable housing.” Because everyone, no matter their income level, deserves to live in something that looks wonderful and well-maintained.

You’re stepping into a new leadership role after Rev. Dr. Patrice Fowler-Searcy’s long tenure as board president. What have you learned from her?

Patrice has been my pastor, my colleague, and my friend. Her patience, dedication, and devotion are qualities I hope to live up to. She’s been such an inspiration and a calming force in her leadership. My job, as it has been before, and as Rev. Dr. Patrice Fowler-Searcy has always done, is to make sure that the tools are in place and the support is there to continue building the vision of a vibrant, mixed-income community outlined in East Liberty’s community plans.

What do you see as ELDI’s priorities moving forward?

There’s still housing development that needs to happen and opportunities for homeownership we want to expand. But more broadly, it’s about making sure everyone feels included and that nobody misses the opportunity to share their voice. East Liberty is growing, and that’s not a bad thing. We just want to ensure that we are maintaining the roots and diversity that have always made this community strong.

Finally, what does community development mean to you?

Community is home. It’s where people feel safe, welcome, and proud to live. It’s where you have a mix of people, businesses, arts, and culture that reflect everyone. That’s what we’re building in East Liberty—a place where everyone belongs and feels at home.

Planting with Purpose: Building Climate Resilience Through Community Trees

A data-driven, community-focused initiative to grow Pittsburgh’s urban canopy, improve climate resilience, and invest in neighborhoods most at risk.

– Beginning in 2023, the City of Pittsburgh partnered with Resilient Cities Catalyst, Tree Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, and UrbanKind Institute to develop a data-driven, replicable approach for urban forest management that advances the city’s Climate Action Plan Urban Canopy goals. The project was funded by a grant from Google.org via ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. ICLEI is an international organization that supports climate-oriented urban development. This grant was a part of their Action Fund to foster data-driven environmental and climate action at the local level in partnership with Google.org.

This project was a collaboration between multiple City departments including the Department of City Planning (DCP), Department of Public Works Forestry Division (Forestry), Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI), Department of Innovation & Performance (I&P).

The interdepartmental team sought to focus Pittsburgh’s urban canopy investments such that we could achieve multiple co-benefits, preparing climate-vulnerable neighborhoods to manage risk while offsetting carbon emissions and reducing energy consumption. As part of the project, the City acquired best-in-class data sets, including climate risk data from First Street Foundation, which was used to help target planting efforts towards areas where trees will provide the greatest climate resilience benefits to residents.

Each planting was preceded by sidewalk repairs and replacements to ensure each tree would have sufficient space to grow and thrive. These new trees will work to improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island effect, absorb stormwater, and reduce cooling costs for residents living in these three communities.

The City plans to institutionalize this collaboration to use data to identify all the communities most in need of additional tree canopy to improve their resiliency as we continue to face the effects of a changing climate. The methodology prioritizes investments in the urban canopy that prioritize climate risks and environmental justice.

Over the course of two years, the project team completed two (2) tree plantings for a total of 50 new trees in Beltzhoover along Estella Ave. and Climax St., two (2) tree plantings for a total of 47 new trees in Hazelwood along Courtland St. and Blair St., and one upcoming (1) tree planting with a total of 21 new trees in Homewood along Hamilton Ave.

In total, this funding will have supported five (5) tree planting events and several tree adoption events, both of which serve as opportunities to plant trees and speak with residents about climate risks, urban canopy benefits, and how they can work with the City and other partners to improve their neighborhoods.

This current source of funding is wrapping up with a final tree planting in the Homewood neighborhood on October 9th, 2025. The final planting event is in partnership with DOMI’s Critical Sidewalk Gaps Program that replaced and installed new sidewalks along Hamilton Avenue between Oakwood and Collier Streets. Each new section of sidewalk includes a tree pit that will be the final home for the trees planted on October 9th. The

addition of trees to this new streetscape design will improve traffic calming and provide shade for pedestrians that travel through this corridor.

Using detailed property-level climate risk data and ecosystem benefits calculations to develop a new community and neighborhood forestry methodology and creating the connections necessary for sustained commitment to data-informed urban canopy investments were major goals to ensure the project’s outcomes and learnings would be formalized well beyond the end of the project period.

This process will be institutionalized through a Tree Equity Working Group to strategically increase the urban tree canopy in our most heat-risk communities, with an emphasis on communities of color. The trees we plant will provide shade, air pollution reduction, and storm water management to the neighboring residents for generations to come.

We want to thank the following community partners for their contributions to this work:

· CONNECT: The Congress of Neighboring Communities

· FroGang Foundation

· Hazelwood Initiative

· Homewood Promise Center

· Tree Pittsburgh

· UrbanKind Institute

· Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Get Involved

Join the City of Pittsburgh and Tree Pittsburgh in a community tree planting event on October 9th, 2025 from 9:30am – 1:30pm in Homewood on Hamilton Avenue. We will plant 21 large balled and burlapped trees along the street on Hamilton Avenue. Tree Pittsburgh will provide all the safety gear and tools necessary to get the work done! Boots or sturdy sneakers are recommended. Long pants and sleeves are encouraged. Register now to stay in the loop about event details. For more details about this collaboration please see the newly published report Putting Down Roots.

By Ervin Dyer

Pitt hired Allen Greene as its director of athletics in October 2024. Prior to his intercollegiate athletic career, Greene, originally from Seattle, played college baseball at the University of Notre Dame and professionally within the New York Yankees' minor league system. Photography by Tom Altany/Pitt Photography

Growing up in Seattle, barely a day passed without Allen Greene and friends shooting hoops, sliding into bases or skipping into their own street games.

It was the late 1970s and early ’80s, an era when being a kid meant playing outside, and the son of Claude and Lynda Greene — an executive with Nordstrom and executive director of a non profit, respectively — joyfully romped into the sunshine. 

For Greene, “playing sports was no different than breathing,” and the kid who would grow up to become Pitt’s athletic director found the fresh air of athletics everywhere, from the local playground to O’Dea High, the Catholic all-boys school where he played three sports.

Greene’s baseball prowess eventually earned him a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he won on the field and in the classroom. His time at O’Dea and in college were “transformative,” Greene says, giving him a sense of brotherhood and confidence and nurturing the philosophy that winning was holistic, something that should manifest in all aspects of his life, not just sports.

“Sports,” he says, “give you a perspective that the journey is more rewarding than the destination.”

But the destination has been pretty good, too.

After serving as a three-year starter for the Irish, Greene was picked in the ninth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Notre Dame and a master’s degree at Indiana University’s South Bend campus. 

Prior to taking the helm at Pitt, Greene led departments and shaped student-athletes as director of athletics at Auburn University and as a senior deputy athletics director at both the University of Mississippi and the University of Tennessee. He was previously director of athletics at the University at Buffalo.

Pitt Magazine spoke with the University’s newly minted athletic director about the influence of sports on his life and his work. As a leading figure in the discourse over name, image and likeness (NIL), Greene also discussed new NCAA policies that allow student-athletes to earn money from their personal brand and the way that sports shape students’ futures.

“Our role is to meet them where they are and walk alongside them as they pursue who they hope to become,” Greene says. “Ideally, we help them stretch beyond even what they imagined was possible.” 

The conversation has been lightly edited.

PITT MAGAZINE: How are team sports beneficial to society, to the individual?

ALLEN GREENE: They are a powerful training ground for essential life skills — among a few are self-discipline, sacrifice, resilience, time management, teamwork and the ability to embrace something bigger than yourself. These traits are the building blocks of a great teammate and, ultimately, successful organizations.

Beyond the scoreboard, team sports teach us to value diversity — not just in background, but in roles and strengths. A basketball team full of point guards won’t win many games and neither will one made up entirely of centers. Success comes from blending different talents, perspectives and personalities. It’s in that mix, working alongside people who aren’t like you, where growth and greatness happen.

What athletes have influenced you?

AG: Growing up, I had a lot of sports heroes who shaped how I played and how I saw the world. Pelé was one of the first. I admired his talent, of course, but he also had a huge social impact on me. Until I saw Pelé, I didn’t even realize that someone who looked like me could 
play soccer at that level and be that revered. 

Like most kids my age, I tried to mimic everything Michael Jordan did — the knee brace, the wristband, the way he wore his socks and of course the signature tongue out. I wanted to be just like him. Same with Ken Griffey Jr., though I could never replicate his swing, I taped my bat handle the way he did. Then there was Tony Gwynn — the ultimate hitter in my eyes. I still have his baseball card in my wallet. 

But over time, it wasn’t just about style or skill — it became about the qualities they embodied. Their calm under pressure, their competitive spirit and their grit. Those attributes stuck with me and continue to influence how I approach challenges today. 

So, what influences are you still using? 

AG: That’s a great question. I often draw from the analogy of a master carpenter — someone who has a wide range of tools and knows exactly which one to use depending on the task. The most effective leaders, in any field, develop that same instinct: knowing when to lean into empathy, when to push and when to listen. 

I try to lead with a steady hand — calm, intentional and transparent. I aim to be authentic in every setting, and I trust the people around me to do what they do best. Part of leadership, I’ve learned, is knowing when to step in, and just as importantly, when to step back. 

Over the past 15 years, I’ve grown more comfortable in my own skin, and that’s been a powerful shift. It’s allowed me to be more open and to see vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a strength. I’ve come to believe that being genuine and willing to show that side of yourself creates deeper trust and more meaningful connections, regardless of the audience.

What is your vision for Pitt Athletics? 

AG: Our goal is to cultivate an environment where everyone who represents Pitt Athletics, whether it’s our coaches, student-athletes or staff, has the support and resources to operate at their highest level, a championship level.

What are some steps to move Pitt toward this vision?

AG: Transforming a complex organization during complex times doesn’t happen overnight. It’s like steering a huge ship. Progress is made through a series of intentional and incremental adjustments focused on culture and strategy. 

To achieve sustained success, we need a culture rooted in service. One that values strategic thinking, encourages calculated risks and embraces both accountability and imperfection. Most importantly, it has to be a culture where excellence is not just hoped for — it’s expected. 

Who is being served in this culture?

AG: We’re in the business of serving one another — caring more about the success of others than your own. That mindset has shaped much of my recent leadership approach, and I believe it captures the heart of who we aspire to be: a team driven by selflessness, connection and shared purpose. 

NIL is changing the landscape for student-athletes. How can Pitt be mindful of nurturing the whole student in this environment?  

AG: To put things in perspective, real NIL impacts only about 1% of our overall student-athlete population, concentrated in football and men’s basketball. We recognize that NIL quickly turned into the pay-for-play model that we’re experiencing today, which impacts additional student-athletes across those sports and more. But what hasn’t changed is that 100% of our student-athletes should be focused on their holistic development, and we have an obligation to accompany them on their journey. 

This industry is attractive to me because of the transformational impact we can have on young people’s lives. There is no greater privilege than helping young people grow, evolve and find purpose during some of the most pivotal years of their lives. 

The Pittsburgh community should know that I am the person I am today because countless individuals invested in my holistic development, particularly during my college years. I’m indebted to intercollegiate athletics and am grateful to have the opportunity to return the favor. Furthermore, it’s my responsibility to lead this department with the same commitment to future leaders. We are an institution of higher learning, and our mission is to shape productive citizens. Every single day, we work toward that purpose. 

What’s ahead for Pitt in the ACC and how do we ensure that Pitt’s stature among the upper echelon of athletic programs nationwide continues?

AG: The landscape of college athletics is shifting rapidly, and we’re operating in a more competitive and complex environment than ever before. But with change comes opportunity, and I believe Pitt is positioned to seize it.

We must be both bold and strategic. We must double down on what makes Pitt special — world-class academics, a proud community and a tradition of grit and excellence. But it also means making smart investments: in our people, our infrastructure and in services that help student-athletes thrive. We also need to be future-focused. That includes enhancing our philanthropic efforts, growing revenues in innovative ways and aligning with corporate partners. 

Proudly, we’ve always punched above our weight class, and we are building this department to last all twelve rounds. 

You come to Pitt from myriad professional experiences. What are you bringing with you?

AG: Everything, including the kitchen sink! I’d be doing a disservice to this role if I didn’t bring forward the lessons, insights and experiences I’ve gained from the different places I’ve been.

Over the past several months, I’ve pulled from each stop along the way, and I expect the same from everyone on our team. Whether you’ve worked at 10 institutions or only ever called Pittsburgh home, bring what you’ve learned. It all adds value.

Source: University of Pittsburgh

As the Nonprofit Debuts New Nature Experience, It Also Announces an Additional $1 Million Transformational Gift to Launch the Next Phase in Making Frick Park More Accessible

 A new chapter begins in Pittsburgh’s largest city park. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is proud to announce the grand opening of the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail at Frick Park. This transformative new experience reimagines what it means for a public park to be truly accessible, inclusive, and enriching for all.

Nestled beside the Frick Environmental Center (FEC), this innovative space—designed by Pashek+MTR, the project’s landscape architect and lead—offers a new discovery area and a fully accessible 1/3-mile trail that winds through woodland. Along the trail, visitors find a series of thoughtfully designed stations that invite connection, creativity, rest, and wonder — each intentionally crafted to engage the senses and celebrate the healing power of nature. Eisler Landscapes, the project’s general contractor, brings these elements to life. 

“This is more than just a new project — it’s a model for what the future of our parks can be,” said Catherine Qureshi, President and CEO at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. “It’s a place where everyone, regardless of ability or background, can experience the joy of discovery and the peace that comes from time outdoors.”

Throughout the space, visitors can pause at spots like the Meadow View Pavilion, where views of Clayton Hill meadow reveal the quiet rhythms of butterflies, birds, and pollinators at work. At the Meadow Kaleidoscope, native plants and mirrors combine to create swirling, natural patterns. The Discovery Pavilion welcomes creativity through loose parts play and nature art, while the Timber Fort sparks imaginative adventures for young explorers.

The Sensory Nature Trail offers an entirely new way to interact with the environment, which centers on stillness, observation, and presence. At the Rest Nest, visitors are encouraged to slow down and settle into the moment. The Pebble Harp allows people to gently add musical notes to nature’s existing soundtrack. The Sit Spot and Observation Deck invite reflection and expanded perspective, while Whisper Tubes offer playful communication across the landscape.

Each stop along the trail includes QR codes with prompts and information to engage the senses further and deepen the experience.

This visionary project has been made possible through the generosity and belief of many community partners. In addition to support from the City of Pittsburgh’s Parks Tax Trust Fund, key funding has come from: The Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, Clearview Federal Credit Union, Leslie Fleischner, Fleischner Family Charitable Foundation, FISA Foundation, Massey Charitable Trust, Robert and Mary Weisbrod Foundation, Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, Sheetz, and Carole and Jerry Katz.

“This space simply wouldn’t exist without these generous partners,” Qureshi continued. “They understood the vision and helped make it a reality— not just for today, but for future generations.”

The nonprofit has also introduced an expansive Lending Library at the FEC, offering free day-use items designed to enhance the experience along the Sensory Nature Trail and throughout Frick Park. Available during the FEC’s daily operating hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the collection includes a variety of assistive tools, sensory resources, and exploration gear. All items are free to borrow for the day and are available to all park visitors.

As the Parks Conservancy celebrates the opening of this landmark project, it also looks toward the future. In that spirit, the organization is proud to announce a $1 million commitment from the Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation — an investment in accessibility that will support the renovation of the FEC’s amphitheater and the hiring of the Parks Conservancy’s first full-time Accessibility Coordinator. Construction on the amphitheater is expected to begin in 2026. 

“For nearly a century Frick Park has connected people to the beauty and serenity of nature in the heart of the city,” said Audrey Hillman Fisher, president of Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation. “The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is mapping out the future of Frick Park to ensure it remains an essential and welcoming way for new generations to be uplifted by the wonder of our natural environment.”

The gift from the Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation will allow for a number of accessibility-related upgrades to the amphitheater, including new lighting, ADA-compliant pathways and performance spaces, and shade structures. 

“This contribution is about what comes next,” Qureshi continued. “It’s about ensuring that the promise of accessibility isn’t a one-time effort — it’s part of how we grow, lead, and serve the community.”

To learn more about the Outdoor Discovery Space and Sensory Nature Trail, please visit pittsburghparks.org/odssnt.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) is proud to announce Tayshawn Lyons, a 15-year-old from Stanton Heights and student at Shady Side Academy, as the 2025 Youth of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes Tayshawn’s exceptional achievements, leadership, and dedication to inspiring others.

Tayshawn, who maintains a 3.9 GPA, has been an active participant in BGCWPA’s Estelle S. Campbell Clubhouse for over two years. His impressive accomplishments include earning the President’s Excellence Award, a Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy Certificate of Achievement, and the PPG Artificial Intelligence Pathways Institute Certificate of Achievement. Additionally, he is a high school varsity football letter winner.

Beyond academics and athletics, Tayshawn has fully immersed himself in BGCWPA programming, participating in Money Matters financial literacy workshops, and the S.E.L.F.I.E. Project—a social-emotional learning program focused on equity and inclusion.  He has also participated in teen night activities, a professional pathways tech internship, and even skiing at Seven Springs. A leader among his peers, Tayshawn serves on the BGCWPA Youth Advocacy Council. 

“Tayshawn exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose and passion,” said Scott Flurry, Director of Teen and Career Development at BGCWPA. “He has a vision to empower others and a heart for giving back to his community. His achievements are a testament to his drive, resilience, and unwavering faith.  He represents so well what it means to be a Club Kid!”

Tayshawn’s aspirations include pursuing a degree in computer science, technological engineering, or software development at Morehouse College. He aims to mentor young people, encouraging them to embrace their authentic selves and unlock their full potential. As Tayshawn states, “To whom much is given, much will be required. The opportunities and blessings we receive come with the responsibility to work hard, set meaningful goals, and uplift others.”

The Youth of the Year Award is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive, celebrating outstanding youth who inspire their peers and communities. Tayshawn’s journey will continue as he represents BGCWPA at the state competition. The winner advances to regional, and potentially national competitions.

Tayshawn will officially be recognized as the 2025 Youth of the Year at the BGCWPA’s FOR KIDS Gala which will be held on March 29, 2025 at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland.  For more information about the FOR KIDS Gala, please visit https://bgcwpa.org/events.

The judging panel included Jackson Elizondo from Confluence Wealth Management, Amber Deemer from Clearview Federal Credit Union, and BGCWPA leadership. Their decision considered Tayshawn’s essays, interviews, and vision for leveraging the Youth of the Year platform.

BGCWPA congratulates Tayshawn Lyons and looks forward to supporting his continued success.

Phipps Edible Garden Program Reflects on the Past Decade and Looks Toward Another Year of Helping Local Communities 

This year, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens celebrates the tenth anniversary of Homegrown, a community outreach program dedicated to increasing community access to fresh produce, promoting better food choices and improving the overall health of families and children. The Homegrown program began in Homewood and has since expanded to include Larimer, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, East Hills and the Greater Hazelwood area (Hazelwood and Glen Hazel).  

Since its inception in 2013, Homegrown has installed almost 400 raised-bed vegetable gardens, totaling over 700 raised beds, at households in neighborhoods with low food access. The program has provided valuable mentorship and resources to hundreds of community members. Homegrown gardeners have each harvested an average of 35-40 pounds of produce each summer. Through their partnership with Homewood-Brushton YMCA, 1600 pounds of free produce have been harvested since 2021. Over the past ten years, 875 people have gained access to Homegrown gardening resources and over 3,000 community members have received produce shared by a Homegrown gardener.    

In the coming years, Homegrown looks forward to continuously educating and equipping local gardeners across the region.  

Homegrown participants share their thoughts:

Jamie P. says, “My grandma would have been so happy if she knew that gardening changed my life in the way that it did.”  

Bernadette R. describes how relaxing it is to be in the dirt and how she felt particularly appreciative of her plants during the pandemic. 

Missy T. shared that when she needed to do physical therapy, her aunt brought her a spade and soil to use as her recovery, and her love of gardening took off. “What started as physical therapy ended as mental therapy.” 

Eva C. shares this advice: “Grow, grow, grow and share with your neighbors and friends.”   

n addition to raised-bed vegetable gardens, Homegrown also offers a wide variety of classes that aim to build gardening skills and knowledge so that participants can keep their gardens growing. Homegrown has hosted over 100 classes that community members have found both enjoyable and greatly beneficial. Covering topics from weed and pest management to plant-forward cooking skills, monthly classes and periodical workshops allow new gardeners to realize the full potential of their raised beds while offering opportunities for neighbors to connect.    

"I love how gardening looks different for every person. Some people have fun getting their kids or grandkids involved. Sometimes adults help out when their parent has health issues. Other people say their garden is their space for relaxation! Everyone in Homegrown makes it their own," says Homegrown Garden Installation Coordinator Allison Glick.  

To learn more, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Homegrown. 

The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) — an organization focused on preparing Black professionals for career advancement — has expanded its team by hiring Calvin Stovall as Director of Executive Programs. In his new role at TALI, Calvin will be responsible for overseeing the national and regional Executive Leadership Academy, as well as recruiting, developing, and positioning program participants for executive leadership. He will also assist TALI as it expands into new markets. 

Calvin brings a wealth of knowledge to the Institute, armed with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality and non-profit services industries, plus two decades of practical branding and leadership experience. He officially joined the TALI team on January 2, 2024. However, prior to this position, in 2023 he created a leadership course— entitled Customer Focused Leadership — and served as program director for TALI’s inaugural National Executive Leadership Academy cohort. 

“Calvin has a broad background that includes marketing, customer service, hospitality management, fundraising, and executive leadership. His passion for motivational speaking, developing executive talent, and his natural ability to connect with people make him a perfect choice to serve as TALI’s Director of Executive Programs” says Evan Frazier, President & CEO of The Advanced Leadership Institute.  “Last year as program director for TALI’s National Executive Leadership Academy at CMU, Calvin demonstrated strong abilities to lead, facilitate and support cohort member learning in engaging and meaningful ways.”

Calvin most recently served as CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, a Memphis-based non-profit built on the rich legacy and tradition of the iconic 60’s and 70’s soul recording label, Stax Records. Calvin also served as marketing and brand strategist for the fundraising arm, ALSAC, for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The pinnacle of his hospitality career was his promotion to vice president of brand marketing with Hilton Worldwide where he was responsible for the marketing and public relations efforts for more than 150 Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels. While under his leadership, Homewood Suites by Hilton was voted best in class by numerous consumer advocacy publications, including Consumer Reports and recognized four times by J.D. Power and Associates for its unwavering commitment to customer service quality.

Calvin’s remarkable career includes serving as the CEO, Chief Experience Officer for ICONIC Presentations, LLC., where he specializes in delivering customized customer experience and leadership keynote presentations and workshops for organizations nationwide.  

As a former executive, Calvin has walked in the shoes of TALI’s cohort members and can therefore add a lot of value to the TALI team. He is passionate about his new role. “TALI’s mission is important to changing the trajectory of diverse leadership in corporate America,” says Calvin. “The leadership programs have positively impacted Pittsburgh’s companies and organizations, helping to advance top Black talent. As we expand, I am looking forward to playing a role in how we can leverage the regional model nationally.”

Calvin holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University and a Master’s of Professional Studies from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

Among his many accomplishments, Calvin was voted as one of the Top 25 Social Media Influencers in Hospitality by the International Hospitality Institute. That same institute also named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Hospitality.

Calvin has also written a soon-to-be published book entitled “Hospitality Historiography” – a coffee table style book highlighting hotel, motel and resort contributions of African Americans starting from the late 1700s until today.    

About The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)

The mission of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) is to cultivate Black executive leadership to strengthen companies, institutions, and communities.

TALI is supported by major corporations and foundations including Founding Underwriters: BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Highmark Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation; Excellence Partners: Henry L. Hillman Foundation and Highmark; Lead Contributors: BNY Mellon, Eden Hall Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. Presenting Sponsors: Giant Eagle, Highmark Health, PNC, and UPMC. Gold Sponsors: American Eagle Outfitters, Bank of America, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, CNX, Covestro, Dollar Bank, Duquesne Light Company, FedEx Ground, FHLBank Pittsburgh, Golub Capital, Koppers, PPG, and Wabtec Corporation; Silver Sponsors: Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition; and Bronze Sponsors, which can be found on TALI’s website.

To learn more about The Advanced Leadership Institute, visit www.taliinstitute.org

 The Josh Gibson Foundation celebrates Major League Baseball's formal inclusion of Negro Leagues statistics in Major League Baseball's records. Sean Gibson, who is the Executive Director of the Josh Gibson Foundation and Josh's great-grandson, was a member of MLB's Negro Leagues Statistical Review Committee. "This was a long process, entailing Herculean efforts by a lot of people. We appreciate the many boots on the ground who painstakingly compiled these Negro Leagues statistics to
ensure they could be part of MLB's historical record." On December 16, 2020, Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. announced "that Major League Baseball is correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history by officially elevating the Negro Leagues to 'Major League' status." Yesterday, May 29, 2024, MLB began fulfilling its promise, noting in its press
release that statistics of the Negro Leagues from the period 1920 to 1948 will now
"officially enter the Major League record." At the time of its December 2020 announcement nearly three and a half years ago, the Josh Gibson family, in response to Commissioner Manfred's citing "the long overdue recognition* this meant for Black ballplayers in the segregated era, suggested that something more was at stake. We said *there are stronger words that resonate with us and remain our beacon for honoring the legacy of the Negro Leagues. Words like validation, redemption, justice. In a word, Negro League ballplayers already knew they were major leaguers. It is just that the rest of the
world did not. Today, we, alongside the families of the more than 2,300 players, coaches, managers, and executives from the 1920 to 1948 period whose statistics are now integral to the MLB record, celebrate the stories that now can be told, not in the shadows of the game, but in the full light of day! 

Josh Gibson is now MLB's career leader in Batting Average (.372), Slugging (.718), and OnBase plus Slugging (OPS, 1.177) and holds the highest single season records for Batting Average (.466 in 1943), Slugging (974 in 1937), and OPS (with the top two 1.474 in 1937 and 1.435 in 1943).  "The Gibson family is humbled by Josh's representation among all-time league leaders on the Game's storyboard," says Sean Gibson, who continued *We always knew how special he was, and now the whole world can see his professional accomplishments in the context they deserve. We are excited that the names of Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, Turkey Stearnes, Oscar Charleton, and others are also elevated where they should be.”

The Josh Gibson Foundation is equally grateful that the few living players from that era know that their Negro League careers are now part of the MLB storyline Willie Mays, who needs no introduction but who played for the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons in the last Negro League World Series; Bill Greason, Mays' Black Barons teammate who also appeared briefly for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954; and Ron
Teasley who played with the 1948 New York Cubans. We understand and welcome that in the days, weeks, and indeed years ahead, that the newly reconstituted official historical record will stimulate conversation and reflection about the Game. Although some of the Negro League greats were generally known, often their recognition was based on legend and anecdote. Now, the data, tirelessly garnered by Seamheads and recognized by MLB tell the stories we all both
want and need to hear. And as we celebrate this important milestone, we remember, too, that Negro League baseball preceded 1920's formal first League, included independent play when formal Leagues were not in place, and extended beyond 1948 after Jackie Robinson until the American and National Leagues were fully integrated over a decade later. 

The stories of these men and women also are a part of the legacy of the Negro
Leagues. As we wrote several years ago, "It is important to recognize the tireless of efforts of the families of Negro Leaguers who have kept the players front and center for many years. Some, like the Gibson family, established non-profits to honor their family's Negro League player, but also to do good for the community, often with a focus on disadvantaged youth through the prism of sports and education. We are grateful to all who have supported our efforts and have made a difference in the lives of others. We know Josh and his counterparts are smiling down on us from heaven when they see
our work, much of which has taken place out of the spotlight and media glare. Baseball over the years has been called America's pastime. The contemporary sports world is crowded, and baseball may not get the attention it had in years past. But MLB's initiative, while it cannot change the past, does help prompt us that remembering "all" of baseball's storied history can help us build a promising future
for America's Game and the Society of which it is a part. 

Sean L.. Gibson
Executive Director
About the Josh Gibson Foundation The Josh Gibson Foundation believes in the endless possibilities for potential in today's youth. By providing academic and athletic programs that foster leadership and scholarship, the skills necessary for tomorrow's successes are created today. Our goal is to carry on the legacy of greatness and accomplishment embodied by Josh Gibson, by developing programs that help children of every level of ability reach their potential, and to create opportunities that set The Josh Gibson Foundation apart from other organizations and provides value for
our communities. To learn more, please visit www.joshgibson.org

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting released the following statement after the incorporation:

“This is a historical moment for the game of baseball as these great players will forever be recognized within Major League Baseball’s official record books. Congratulations to all these great players, especially Pittsburgh’s own Josh Gibson. The Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays are an important part of the rich history of baseball in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have long celebrated these great teams and players such as Josh Gibson, Ray Brown, Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard and so many others for their tremendous accomplishments. Whether it is in our Pirates Hall of Fame, the large baseballs on the riverwalk, the Crawfords and Grays Championship banners, the many other displays throughout PNC Park, or the support of educational displays and programs within our community, we are proud to continue to share the stories of these great players for generations to come.”