Pittsburgh power 100

Pittsburgh Technical College (PTC) President/CEO Dr. Alicia Harvey-Smith was honored last night as a City & State Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Power 100 recipient at an event at Olive or Twist downtown. The event honored the city’s top political influencers in government, advocacy, media, health, education, business and more.

“It’s an honor to be considered among some of the region’s most impactful professionals as one of this year’s Power 100 honorees,” said Dr. Harvey-Smith. “We continue to strive toward making Pittsburgh Technical College a model for higher education and it’s humbling to see that work recognized, but it would not be possible without our dedicated faculty and staff.”

Mayor Ed Gainey was the event’s keynote speaker, while additional remarks were provided by Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, Allegheny Conference on Community Development CEO Stefani Pashman, Allegheny County At Large Council Representative Samuel DeMarco III and Senator Jay Costa.

Dr. Harvey-Smith’s award comes after having been recognized as a Smart 50 honoree each of the last two years, as well as earning the distinction of the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s 2021 CEO of the Year. Through the cultivation of both public and private partnerships, she recently launched the College’s first Health and Wellness and Fitness Centers to support comprehensive student development.

She has led the formation of the PTC Education Foundation and will launch the College’s first endowment campaign this month. In just the last three years alone under Dr. Harvey-Smith’s leadership, PTC has been awarded four National Science Foundation (NSF) grants in excess of $1.5 million. Through her leadership, PTC has developed articulation agreements with West Liberty University, Robert Morris University and more to expand educational pathways for students.

Dr. Harvey-Smith is actively engaged with a number of organizations through Board service or selective membership including the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI), Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures (PA&L), Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education (PCHE), Holy Family Institute – Nazareth Prep Fundraising Membership, The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), International Women’s Forum – Pittsburgh (IWF-P), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (AKA) and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania.

Visit PTC’s website for more information and follow PTC on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Heinz Endowments grants recognize 15 professional artists inspired by

their neighborhoods, international backgrounds, popular culture

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 1, 2023 – Pittsburgh artists spotlighting those living with accessibility challenges, exposing the effects of the war in Ukraine on Russian children, or helping youth learn to produce music by arranging and performing orchestral versions of hip-hop and pop songs are among the 15 new recipients of The Heinz Endowments’ Creative Development Awards.

The artists and organizations receiving grants, totaling $296,450, represent a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including filmmaking, photography, theater, and 3D-printed sculpture. The grantees were selected from nearly 90 applicants by a group of 11 regional and national artists and educators.

The Endowments launched the annual Creative Development Awards in 2022 to celebrate the region’s professional artists, with a special focus on those whose artistic achievements show great promise. The announcement of the 2023 awardees brings the program’s support of regional artists to a total of $647,000 in the past 13 months.

The Creative Development Awards aim to help advance grantees’ careers through increased visibility, professional partnership opportunities and financial assistance. Grant amounts in the program’s latest cohort range from $8,000 for individual artists to $35,000 for artist residency collaborations with regional venues.

“The art that enriches our daily lives is all around us, from the sculptures in our parks to the artists living and creating in our neighborhoods,” said Mac Howison, the Endowments’ Creativity program officer. “The artists and organizations funded by the Creative Development Awards are shining light on Pittsburgh’s triumphs and challenges; amplifying their deep connection to both our city and the world at large; and bringing insight, joy and beauty to all in our region.”

The 2023 Investing in Creative Development Awards recipients are:

• Melissa Catanese ($20,000) to support production of a book, image prints and an installation of “The Lottery.” Inspired by the classic Shirley Jackson short story of the same name, the work merges photographic images of the distant past with mixed media depictions of the present into a psychological fiction centered around physical, political and ecological trauma.
• Natalie Condrac ($9,285) to fund the creation of a 3D house, furnished inside and out, allowing viewers to look through the windows and view the interior. Influenced by Pittsburgh’s intertwined neighborhoods, Ms. Condrac’s intricately detailed work explores the infinite possibilities of what goes on behind the doors and walls of our daily lives.
• Karina Dandashi ($18,000) to support two film projects: “Out of Water” and “Cousins.” Ms. Dandashi’s films explore nuances in identity through the intersection of family, religion and culture in Southwest Asian and North African countries, and Muslim communities in America.
• Film Pittsburgh ($35,000) to support an artist residency with filmmaker Gregory Williams for post-production work on his documentary film, "Warriors." Mr. Williams’ film intertwines the story of a Pittsburgh teen who had never before joined a protest, but very much wanted to, with images and documentary footage from protests that previously took place in Pittsburgh.
• Petra Floyd ($20,000) to support the development of “Audio.belisk,” a sonification of the sculpture “Five Factors” in Pittsburgh’s Mellon Park by artist Peter Calaboyias. The sculpture’s storied history includes an installation on the roof of the Carnegie Library parking garage in Squirrel Hill and a 20-year, post-restoration disappearance before it was found in a city warehouse in 2006. Mx. Floyd will transform the sculpture into an instrument and speaker using acoustic tools, enabling the public to “play” the sculpture.
• Guardians of Sound ($35,000) to support Idasa Tariq’s creative, performance and teaching artist role with Hip Hop Orchestra for one year. Hip Hop Orchestra is a music performance and education project for youth ages 9 to 19 that combines current mainstream music with acoustic and orchestral instruments to teach music composition, arrangement, performance and production.
• Owen Lowery ($11,715) for development of artwork prioritizing people living with accessibility situations. The multi-disciplinary artist’s “Access” project will include a series of interactive installations featuring mediums of accessible communication such as braille, sign language, text-to-speech, haptic feedback, and morse code.
• Bryan Martello ($20,000) to support completion of “The Front Yard,” a series of ephemeral black-and-white photographs that meditate on themes of pride, political rhetoric, and flexibility of history. Mr. Martello’s art combines photography printed on fabric with attached found objects to illuminate the dichotomies between private and public, the utilitarian and the decorative, and vulnerability and pride.
• Darrin Milliner ($8,000) to support professional studio space at Pittsburgh’s Redfishbowl Studios and an immersive solo art exhibit. Mr. Milliner’s work incorporates digital and analog collage, painting and illustration, and aims to absorb various cultural and social subjects that spark emotion and action.
• New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts ($35,000) to support a residency with Dr. Jason Méndez to write and produce the play "Sons of the Boogie,” which explores the changes a Puerto Rican writer’s former Bronx neighborhood has experienced from the golden age of hip-hop in the 1990s to the present day, focusing on “the beauty and sacredness of home.”
• Emily Newman ($16,500) for support of a film about Russian children affected by the war in Ukraine. Informed by a summer 2022 trip to Armenia to meet exiled families, the film will tap into the children’s imaginary landscapes and their poetic and artistic interpretations of their experiences, with an aim of informing the world of the effects of war on the young.
• Felicity Palma ($20,000) to support research, production, studio materials and equipment to create an experimental film that examines the effects of cancer treatment on a young working-class woman’s body. Through her art, Ms. Palmer utilizes personal experiences to spur wider cultural and social conversations about feminism, health, class and alienation.
• Mathew Rosenblum ($12,350) to support an audio recording of a new contemporary classical music work, "We Lived Happily During the War.” Influenced by Ilya Kaminsky’s poem of the same name, Mr. Kaminsky’s Ukrainian heritage, and the isolation, pain and political inaction he witnessed during the pandemic, the work will be released with an accompanying interpretive video.
• Sharrell Rushin ($15,600) to hire models to stage custom reference photos for use in prepping upcoming paintings, allowing her to lessen dependance on found images and stock photos and create art that highlights a wider variety of skin tones, textures and color palettes. The funding will also enable construction of uniquely shaped canvases and cover the cost of six months of studio rent and art supplies.
• Marvin Touré ($20,000) to secure a two-year, fixed lease of a customized studio with industrial ventilation to facilitate safe creation of his sculptures, which often include thermoplastic adhesives, silicone and resins. His art incorporates and transforms figures, games and imagery associated with childhood, spurring dialogues around memory and empathy.

Panelists who assisted in determining Creative Development Awards finalists and grantees were:

• Ian Brill, artist and Penn State University digital art instructor
• Daniel Byers, director of Harvard University’s John R. and Barbara Robinson Family Carpenter Center for Visual Arts
• Reginald Douglas, artistic director, Mosaic Theater
• Kimberly El-Harris, playwright, actor, director and educator
• Madeline Gent, executive director, Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
• Sam Helfrich, theater and opera director
• Staycee Pearl, co-artistic director, PearlArts
• Xan Phillips, poet, writer and visual artist
• Richard Purcell, associate professor of English, director of Arts Greenhouse at Carnegie Mellon University
• Maria Sensi Sellner, artistic and general director of Resonance Works
• William Shannon, choreographer, dancer and interdisciplinary artist

Key factors considered in determining grant recipients included quality of the artists’ current body of work, potential of future work, and clear articulation of artistic and career development goals. Professional artists who had a significant body of original works of art, were at least 21 years of age or older, and were a resident of an eligible southwestern Pennsylvania county were allowed to apply. 

The program awards one cohort of grants annually, and is one of the few grantmaking programs in the region that directly funds artists. Program details and guidelines may be found here.

This Grower’s Spotlight features  Mahogany Thaxton, a 2022 Braddock Farm workshare participant and a Grow Pittsburgh Member. Mahogany grew up in Pittsburgh and is working to better her community through her career and life. Part of this has been pursuing a master’s degree in library science and learning more about urban farming. Hear from Mahogany about her passion to make a difference in her community through a lens of lifetime learning. 

Grow Pittsburgh: Tell us a bit about yourself. 

Mahogany: I’m originally from McKeesport, Pennsylvania and now live in Homestead in a house I affectionately call my “old lady.” I’m a middle-aged Black woman, nonprofit fundraising consultant, soon to be library school graduate (support your local a library!), pessimist if I’m not careful, and all around lifelong learner. My partner lives in Braddock, we have a three-legged dog, and often pass Braddock Farm on our walks. Our dog loves to pretend to be a farm dog at Braddock Farm. 

Community building, community wealth sharing, and resource sharing are important aspects of my life.  My experiences as a fundraiser asking for money and as a philanthropic advisor to those giving money to nonprofits has helped me see how connected we all are, including how we direct our money – how much money we have, where we shop, who we give to, what information and resources we have to make the decisions we make including the food we eat. I think a lot about what being in relationship with plants and nature means when we think about community. 

I’m currently exploring new ways of being in this world including how I can align my values and the pace of life that I want with my labor, so, I made a big leap and left my full-time job in January 2022. This new way of being in the world includes learning how to farm along with getting a master’s in library science degree, and sharing fundraising practices that shift from donor’s having power because of their money to donors being partners with the organizations they support, leaving decision making to those who are closest to the issues. In all these areas, community is first. 

GP: How did you get started growing food?

Mahogany: I feel the desire and importance of growing food in my bones, but it’s new in practice to me. Growing up I have vague memories of a small garden in my paternal grandma’s backyard in McKeesport and vivid memories from other people’s descriptions of a huge garden at my maternal great grandma’s in Blythedale, Pennsylvania, but I wasn’t connected to growing food throughout my teenage years and early 20s. About a decade ago, I started to think critically about my relationship with food overall, thinking about health and access to food. I was becoming more adventurous and curious about food. Believe it or not, I was a Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones girl and my freezer was always stocked! As I began to explore food and food systems I became interested in cooking my own food and understanding the ingredients that I was using, and that progressed into wanting to grow my own food. I had several friends along the way who grew their own food who were and still are an inspiration today. 

I felt like it was important to set my life up in spaces where I could grow my own food and be in tune with nature. I began learning from my neighbors and my friends, and moved into a house where I could have a cute little garden with a roommate. I had a few unsuccessful gardens, but I just continued to learn and to try.

GP: How did you become involved at Braddock Farms?

Mahogany: As I became more interested in growing my own food I started to look for more skill-building opportunities. I call myself a mini-prepper because I can see that the world is changing – it may not be apocalypse level but things are going to look different in a few decades if not sooner. One of the most important humans in my life was and is my grandfather – self-reliance for self and family was important to him and has become important to me. Growing your own food is a key point of being able to provide for myself, my family, and my community. I love to learn and share so part of learning to grow my own food is wanting to share what I learn with others, who can share what they learn, and so on. Let’s build community knowledge!   

I tend to be an overthinker which can hold me back sometimes. Spreadsheets and planning are great, but sometimes you just need to start planting instead of focusing on if you have the right soil composition or seed varieties.

So when I made the decision to leave my full-time job earlier this year, I wanted to set my life up in a way that supported the type of experiences that I wanted to have. Less overthinking and more putting plants into the dirt. So I began looking for experiences that would allow me to learn hands-on. 

My partner lives in Braddock so we go to the Farm Stand regularly for produce or to pick up seedlings.  It’s always been a really welcoming space so when I learned about the workshare and pre-apprentice programs in your newsletter I decided to apply.

I work four hours a week from April – October and do a little bit of everything. I’ve transplanted onions, tomatoes, lettuce, started seeds, practiced trellising, learned how to use all of the farm tools and equipment, learned when a green pepper has that harvest ready crunch, watched okra grow for the first time, planted bok choy using a seeding machine. It’s been interesting to see the cycle of what happens on the farm from seed to harvest. It’s a relatively small space but we can grow so much food if we time it right. 

GP: What are some lessons growing food has taught you? 

Mahogany: It’s hard! I knew farming was labor intensive but you really don’t realize just how physically demanding the work is until you’re doing it. It’s definitely given me an even bigger appreciation for farm workers and advocating for healthcare for everyone. Farming takes a toll on you physically and mentally. 

I’ve also really enjoyed learning about the transformations in nature and stopping to appreciate parts of each plant. I’ve become obsessed with okra this year, it’s such a beautiful plant. And eggplant, the fruit is beautiful but the leaves are absolutely divine. They’re so soft and furry.

It’s been interesting to understand how vegetables and seeds are bred to produce specific plants. I really enjoyed watching crops that start out the same but grow into something completely different like Brassicas. There’s something beautiful in each crop and I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to see that.

GP: What’s something you wish more people knew about the work you do? 

Mahogany: Farming is part of an entire ecosystem, it’s not just about planting food. The soil, bugs, animals, access to water… all of that is a part of farming and growing food. If we strengthen each part of that ecosystem we will have a stronger and healthier community overall.

It’s more than just the soil in your yard, it’s about the soil quality in your community. The water and air quality in your community really impact overall health. It’s easy to forget that in a lot of communities.

I think in Braddock those things go from theory to reality because of the active steel mill neighboring the community. I had always worried about it, but working on the farm (which is directly in front of the mill) I’ve learned a lot more about it. There are days where farm staff have to wear masks because the air quality is so bad and that makes it impossible to ignore.

 GP: What does being a part of Braddock Farms’ in recent years mean to you and how do you hope to continue the impact?

Mahogany: As someone who is in the community regularly with my partner, I’ve always appreciated the welcoming atmosphere of the farm. I love watching people line up for Farm Stand days or come to events. It’s a great place for community members to connect with each other and I love that most of the customers are Braddock residents.

As I’ve been working at the farm, I’ve really enjoyed starting conversations with people that stop by during the work day. I love talking to people about what we’re doing and asking about their gardens. There is so much knowledge to learn and share.

GP: Why do you support Grow Pittsburgh?

Mahogany: I believe everyone should have access to fresh, local, sustainably grown food and be able to gain the knowledge to grow that food themselves. I love that Grow Pittsburgh’s core programming is to teach others and they do so through community partnerships, providing access, knowledge, and resources for communities to grow food and relationships. 

GP: Which of GP’s core values, found here, do you resonate with and why?

Mahogany: I know this sounds like a non-answer, but I resonate with all of them and think they are connected! I think all of them work together to create environments where all people can thrive, even through disagreements. The key is how does GP act on these values and imbed them in organizational practices.

Source: Grow Pittsburgh 

 A new web series featuring Superintendent Wayne Walters aims to bring clarity through transparency by breaking down the whys behind the actions and decisions of the school district. 

The Why Behind the What web series seeks to bring clarity through transparency by breaking down the whys behind the actions and decisions of District leaders.  Through the web series, Dr. Wayne Walters shares the why behind the what to improve understanding, transparency and purposeful communications with students, staff, parents, families, and the community as part of the District’s efforts to expand stakeholder communication and partnerships. 

The new series will be available once a week with topics that address issues such as COVID Compensatory Services, Science of Reading, Restorative Practices, Social-Emotional Learning and many more important issues. Dr. Walters has prioritized listening to the concerns and triumphs of the PPS students, staff and families and this new web series will enhance that experience.  

Dr. Walters New Series can be viewed here 

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh today announced a transformational gift that will allow the organization to magnify the impact of its mission of enabling African Americans to achieve economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott has donated $6 million to the local non-profit civil rights and social services organization, the largest single contribution in the Pittsburgh affiliate’s 104- year history.

“We’re honored and grateful that Ms. Scott and her team have recognized the Urban League’s value and impact to the community,” President and CEO Carlos T. Carter said. “By placing racial equity and social justice at the forefront of her philanthropic mission, Ms. Scott is shining a much-needed spotlight on the nation’s structural and institutional limitations and helping to build a stronger, more resilient society for everyone.”

Carter continued, “The Board of Directors and I acknowledge this contribution as a vote of confidence in the work of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh (“ULGP”) and an acknowledgement of the great work done by the ULGP staff who are engaged in executing the heavy lift of opening doors and creating pathways for underserved and marginalized people to achieve economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. 

The timing is perfect. Thanks to the efforts of past and present staff, Board members, volunteers, and supporters leading up to this moment, we are poised to create meaningful change.   Yet, the barriers faced by those we serve remain as high as ever and developing a level playing field requires a robust and sustained effort.  Now more than ever the needs of the community require increased funds to construct bridges to economic self-reliance.”

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh will determine the most impactful use of the contribution as part of its strategic planning process that is scheduled to begin in January 2023. 

The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh is one of 25 Urban League affiliates around the nation who received similar donations from Ms. Scott, who in 2019 signed The Giving Pledge, a promise by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charitable causes.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced that the winter shelter for persons experiencing homelessness will open today, November 15, 2022, at 7 PM. The seasonal, low-barrier shelter will open temporarily to provide cold weather shelter while Second Avenue Commons goes through final inspections for its occupancy permits. Located at Smithfield United Church of Christ, 620 Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh, the winter shelter will serve both men and women from 7 PM to 7 AM, seven days a week.

As has been the practice in the past, only persons served, shelter staff, and clinical volunteers are permitted inside the shelter which can accommodate 20 women and 50 men each night. Housing staff will continue to work with persons being served for housing and behavioral health referrals and will also begin the intake process for Second Avenue Commons so that individuals may be relocated once the occupancy permit is in place. Meal service will be provided, along with access to showers and laundry.

Services are being provided by Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net and Community Human Services Corporation through a contract with DHS To refer an individual for services, please send them directly to the Winter Shelter during operating hours, 7 PM to 7 AM.

Prepare to Prosper Initiative to Provide Work-Based Learning Opportunities and Paid Employment to Career and Technical Education Students 

Prepare to Prosper, a new partnership between the City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Public Schools, will provide work-based learning opportunities and paid employment to students in the District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Announced this morning as part of Mayor Gainey’s Pathways to Prosperity initiative, the City of Pittsburgh directly or through its partner network will provide entry-level, career ladder jobs to eligible CTE students. In addition, CTE students will receive short-term paid internships during the District’s Winter and Spring Breaks, co-operative education placements, and summer and part-time employment. 

“Prepare to Prosper is a true demonstration of the power of partnership and what can happen when we, the adults, work together to put students first,” said Superintendent Wayne N. Walters, Ed.D. “We are grateful to Mayor Ed Gainey and the City of Pittsburgh for its investment in our students through real-life work experiences and ultimately ensuring their economic livelihood through full-time career-ladder employment.” 

Within the next two years through the Prepare to Prosper partnership, in addition to paid work experiences, CTE students will participate in well-rounded experiences such as the CTE-City of Pittsburgh Career Expo, Hire Learning employability event, field trips, and job shadowing within City departments. Through event support, work-based learning and paid work, CTE students will graduate “work ready” as they transition to post-secondary education or into well-paying jobs.  

"Without our youth, there is no future," said Mayor Ed Gainey. "Our job as leaders is to make sure that you have an opportunity and path forward into a career where you can live a safe and thriving life for yourself and your family. This new partnership between the City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and business leaders from virtually every sector of our economy is the start of creating new pathways to prosperity for students in Pittsburgh." 

According to CTE Executive Director Angela Mike, “CTE needs its partners to prosper. We need partners committed to providing tangible outcomes for our students, as we work to prepare them for essential careers with family sustaining wages. This expanded partnership with the City of Pittsburgh is an important component of our Division’s upward trajectory and our long-standing mission to help address critical workforce shortages in our region.”

To commemorate the new partnership, approved by the Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of School Directors last month, CTE partners joined current students for a celebratory event at the City-County Building. 

The event included remarks by Board First-Vice President Devon Taliaferro, as well as key collaborators Partner4Work’s CEO Robert Cherry and Argo AI Founder and CEO Brian Salesky. CTE Executive Director Angela Mike summed up the day well, “We are grateful to the multiple industry partners who have stepped up to provide work-based learning opportunities and employment for the graduates of CTE. Today, we celebrate the expansion of our partnership with the City of Pittsburgh that will ensure there are no dead ends for the students at Pittsburgh Public Schools – only opportunities”

“Textbooks are too expensive, and have been for a very long time. …In 2020, 65 percent of students surveyed reported skipping buying a textbook because of cost; 63 percent skipped purchasing one during the same period of the previous year. …82 percent of students who reported missing a meal due to the pandemic also reported skipping buying textbooks due to cost;” (Fixing the broken textbook market, third edition, U.S. PIRG Education Fund)

During my first three undergraduate years at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, my tuition was paid primarily by my parents; supplemented by gifts from relatives as well as friends; and buttressed by loans. I saved on room and board by living at home. Walking and hitchhiking significantly reduced the cost of commuting between my Prospect home and the UPJ Campus located several miles away in Moxham. Left in the balance was the cost of textbooks.

I often did not purchase the required texts. When possible, I borrowed textbooks from the library. Occasionally, I enrolled in the same course with my friend George L. Joy and we shared the cost of a textbook. After my first UPJ year, I received an ongoing a “scholarship,” i.e., my oldest Brother Russell Jr. largely financed my books. With my “book scholarship” and other major assistance, between 1960 and 1968, I was able to earn my baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees from Pitt.

Later in life while working in the University of Pittsburgh’s Provost’s Office, a student made an appointment with me because he/she was unable to pay the remainder of their tuition. After I inquired about their grades, the student indicated that he/she was earning all “A” grades except in their Chemistry course for which he/she had an “A-.”  Because he/she could not afford to purchase the Chemistry textbook, the student simply listened to lectures, did the lab work, and performed on exams as best he/she could. After using institutional funds to pay tuition as well as purchase the Chemistry books, the student went on to earn a Bachelor of Science and, subsequently, a graduate degree in Chemistry. It was at that time that former Pitt Provost James V. Maher approved the institutional funding for “Jack’s Bookstore,” a fund used to provide many economically disadvantaged students with certificates to purchase books, a fund that led to remarkable academic achievement on the parts of the student recipients.

During the 2022 University of Pittsburgh Homecoming, the African American Alumni Council (AAAC) President, Thomas Brooks, had the opportunity to meet and bring to my attention Mr. Brandon M. Hines who, last year, won the Jack L. Daniel Book Award. When I followed up with Mr. Hines, he informed me of the following: “I went to G.W. Carver High School of Engineering and Sciences. Growing up, it was just my mother and me. Therefore, the book award definitely helped as she has taken on the bulk of my tuition that I wasn't able to cover with grants and scholarships. I don't have a full ride so each and every bit of money to help pay for school counts and is a very big deal to me.”

Similar to Mr. Hines, this year’s recipient of the Jack L. Daniel Book Award, Ms. Deseree Hardy informed me, “The Jack L. Daniel award helped me fund my education for this semester. At the beginning of this summer, my family and I began to worry how I would pay for the remaining cost for school; however, after receiving the news that I won this Award, we were relieved of some of these stresses. In regards to my background, I am a Pittsburgh native and graduated from McKeesport High School, about 30 minutes outside of the city. I am the oldest of my five other siblings and put a lot of value in being an older sister, which is one of the many important reasons why I decided to attend college, and a school so close in proximity to them.”

Today, innumerable college students face the obstacle of paying for books which could cost as much as $1.500 per year. In a May 26, 2020 article on textbook prices, Chris Manns wrote, “Surprisingly, however, two of the most expensive textbooks in existence are from the Liberal Arts fields.

History of Early Film costs $740. And Feminism and Politics retail for $600.” Today, from Amazon, one can purchase a copy of Biochemistry for more approximately $315. Browsing the current Pittsburgh Campus Bookstore, I found a “new rental” copy of a Psychology textbook for approximately $200.

Fortunately, at the University of Pittsburgh, there are a number of book scholarship opportunities such as the Jack L. Daniel Book Award, as well as Pitt’s AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund portfolio. Thanks to many generous donors, the latter fund is the largest of any affinity group, consisting of a market value of $624,000 at the end of the last fiscal year. More than 800 individuals have donated to the AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund, which has supported 117 students since its inception in 1997.

If we are to yield the benefits of higher educational opportunities, then we must remember that economic need does not stop at the entrance to Pitt’s main building, the Cathedral of Learning. Instead, it accompanies disadvantaged students, weighing heavily on their ability to succeed academically. Over decades, I have witnessed innumerable such students become high academic achievers at Pitt and later in society, in part, because they received funds from the AAAC Scholarship Fund. Accordingly, I strongly urge others to support our students, keeping in mind the fact that “when you give, you get ten times over.” Those who wish to be members of the giving vanguard can do so by contributing to the AAAC’s Endowed Scholarship Fund as part of their recently launched “Invest in Our Future” initiative at http://giveto.pitt.edu/aaacinvest. 

Jack L. Daniel

Co-Founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

October 17, 2022

 Mayor Ed Gainey announced  his appointment of Sharon Watkins as financial empowerment manager. In this role, Watkins will launch and lead the City’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE). Watkins joins a cohort with four peers from cities across the country who are also launching Offices of Financial Empowerment in their respective cities. The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE), a national nonprofit organization, will support the cohort with funding and intensive technical assistance as part of a new two-year Financial Empowerment Fellowship training program.

Upon entering office, Mayor Gainey established financial empowerment as a key component to Pittsburgh’s Pathways to Prosperity initiative. As manager of the OFE, Watkins will work with City leaders and CFE Fund staff to institutionalize and catalyze the Administration’s ongoing efforts to expand financial empowerment throughout the City. She will also bring a financial stability lens to a range of related issues, and work to ensure financial empowerment is central to local anti-poverty efforts.

“I am honored to appoint Sharon Watkins as our new Financial Empowerment Manager,” said Mayor Gainey. “Sharon brings a wealth of financial strategy experience to this role and I know that our City will benefit greatly from her leadership. To truly become a Pittsburgh for all, we must lead with a focus on equity and improve resident economic security and mobility through proven programs and policies. The Office of Financial Empowerment is a significant step forward in achieving these goals.”

The Office of Financial Empowerment will center its work on improving the financial resilience and well-being of residents through financial empowerment initiatives such as:

• Expanding access to safe and affordable credit and banking products
• Increasing access to one on one financial counseling and coaching services
• Expanding community wealth-building strategies
• Identifying policy and programmatic barriers to improving financial stability

Watkins holds more than 20 years of strategic financial leadership and operations consulting experience. She previously served as community engagement and diversity manager for Partner4Work where she led efforts to connect job seekers with quality training and jobs. She also served as MUS compliance manager where she managed and oversaw the execution of a multi-city Department of Labor grant and lead the compliance team responsible for all monitoring and technical assistance to the workforce boards. Watkins is a Pittsburgh native and holds a MS in Non-Profit Management from Robert Morris University.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored the critical role that local government can – and must –play in building residents’ financial stability,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “An Office of Financial Empowerment, with dedicated leadership, is more than the sum of important individual programs – it’s a catalyst for truly embedding financial empowerment work across government. The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund congratulates the City of Pittsburgh, and is thrilled to partner with Mayor Ed Gainey and Sharon Watkins to launch and lead this new Office.”

Watkins began her role as financial empowerment manager on Monday September 26th.

 Closet Installations Scheduled for 10 Schools 

 Superintendent Wayne N. Walters Ed.D. and Pittsburgh Obama students joined Steelers' defensive tackle and team captain Cameron Heyward for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Craig's Closet at Pittsburgh Obama 6-12. As part of Cam's foundation, The Heyward House, Craig's Closet provides high school boys access to new and gently used dress clothes at no cost for interviews, internships, banquets and special occasions. In addition to the Craig's Closet at Pittsburgh Obama, students will have access to closets at nine other schools, including Pittsburgh Allderdice, Brashear, CAPA, Carrick, Milliones, Perry, Sci-Tech, Student Achievement Center and Westinghouse, by 2023. 

"Thanks to the Heyward House and Sport Clips, 'what to wear' will not be a barrier for our high school boys seeking to pursue their goals and interests," said Dr. Walters. "We are truly thankful for this gift that honors the legacy of Cam's father by giving students the confidence they need to walk into the spaces where they belong." 

Coming to the University of Pittsburgh from a single-parent home with six siblings, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward arrived with one suit to this name for the formal wear required of Pitt Panther football team players on game days. The Heyward House and Sport Clips developed Craig's Closet to ensure students have what they need to obtain their goals and walk proudly into any situation. Thanks to the collaboration, students at 10 PPS schools will soon be able "shop" for clothes, such as dress shirts, suits, clothes, and ties, to help them achieve their goals right at school.

"Many young people in our community face the same plight as my father, and I want them to know that they are seen, heard, and through this program, we are here to support them as they push forward in their future goals," said Cameron Heyward. "Yesterday would have been my father's 56th birthday. He was a man that took great joy and pride in his family and his community. I am proud to continue his legacy of giving back and helping move our community forward."

Community members interested in volunteering or donating to Craig’s Closet may reach out to Nicole Williams at nwilliams@theheywardhouse.org. Monetary and in-kind donations of new and gently used items accepted. 

Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, is introducing a bill today that would provide capital to small, local businesses eager to open their doors.

 “Local businesses are the engines driving our economy,” Abney said. “A financial jumpstart to help small businesses get established should encourage entrepreneurship.”

A modernization and recapitalization of the Small Business Incubators Act, House Bill 2839 would provide up to $20 million in grants and loans for small businesses in Pennsylvania. These funds can be used to cover startup and overhead costs.

 Workers and investments also would be protected in Abney’s bill because grant recipients who leave the commonwealth would be required to repay those funds awarded to them in full.

“Successful, local businesses help grow our economy and create good jobs everywhere,” Abney said. “These jobs pay real wages and offer both real benefits and a chance to retire, so all Pennsylvanians can have a better future.”

City of Pittsburgh, Computer Reach Form Partnership to End Digital Divide
Initial donation of over $92,000 worth of IT equipment will be refurbished and reused

 The City of Pittsburgh and Computer Reach announced the successful donation of 324 desktop computers, 74 laptop computers, 427 monitors, 243 keyboards, and 170 mice to Computer Reach. This first donation, completed in early August, is the culmination of multiple years of work by the Department of Innovation & Performance (I&P) to give back these devices to the community and avoid paying an e-waste recycler for proper disposal.

“Our department is laser-focused on ensuring innovation and technological excellence are at the forefront of Pittsburgh’s future,” said Heidi Norman, Director of the Department of Innovation and Performance. “This is but one aspect of the city’s commitment to close the digital divide and promote increased digital literacy in Pittsburgh. Our partnership will create opportunities outside of the city government to enable residents to learn how to use new technology and protect our environment by reusing these devices.”

Computer Reach is a Wilkinsburg-based organization focused on making technology available to people most in need through refurbished equipment, computer literacy, training, and support. Their vision is to create a computer-literate world where the benefits of technology are shared by all. In addition to refurbishing devices, Computer Reach works to end the digital divide with their Digital Literacy Classes, Digital navigator Program, and Computer Lotteries.

“A reused computer is so much more valuable than one that is just disposed of in a landfill,” said Dave Sevick, Executive Director of Computer Reach. “It is one less chip to be made, one less rare metal to mine, and one more opportunity for a person to get connected to the world. I am thankful to the City of Pittsburgh for their commitment to ending the digital divide and look forward to getting these devices back into the hands of communities in need.”

A total of $135,000 for 10 local arts and community-building programs. Support also goes to Los Angeles-based center for homeless youth. 

Girls Rock! Pittsburgh, Steel City Arts Initiative and Afro-American Music Institute are among the organizations receiving operating-support grants from the Mac Miller Fund. 

Established at The Pittsburgh Foundation by the family of the world-famous musician following his death in 2018, the fund’s mission is to carry on Miller's artistic and creative legacy, primarily by supporting programs that help youth from underserved communities recognize their full potential.  

“We are proud to support these incredible organizations in honor of Malcolm's dedication to art and making communities kinder places,” family members said in a statement. “They are doing groundbreaking work by giving access and opportunities to young people in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles—two places central to his life. The fund is made possible by Malcolm's fans, so together we can support work in honor of his heartful spirit.” 

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 were awarded to the following local organizations for general operating support:   

• 1Hood Media: building liberated communities through art, education and social justice. 
• Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation: supporting its Boom Concepts program. The organization is dedicated to developing artists and creative entrepreneurs who represent marginalized voices. 
• Afro-American Music Institute: nurturing thousands of musicians’ talents through its programs, which center curriculum on music of the African Diaspora.  
• Assemble: envisioning diverse neighborhoods of empowered people who create, connect, learn and transform together. The mission is to unite communities of artists, technologists, makers and learners. 
• Girls Rock! Pittsburgh: Using music programming to empower female youth of all identities, abilities and backgrounds to develop self-confidence, creative expression, independent thinking, mutual respect and cooperation while cultivating a supportive and inclusive community of peers and mentors. 
• Manchester Bidwell Corporation: combining seemingly disparate elements – adult career training, jazz presentation and youth arts education – into a whole, serving a wide range of people in the Pittsburgh region.  
• Pittsburgh Youth Chorus: empowering and inspiring leaders of the future through singing programs for youth in grades one through 12.
• SLB Radio Productions Inc.: building community through radio and other audio-based programming to amplify voices of youth and others in marginalized communities to achieve social change.  
• Steel City Arts Initiative: providing school-aged children and their families with the cultural, artistic and educational tools necessary to become positive and active members of society. 
• Sweetwater Arts Center: helping artists of all ages and backgrounds reach their full potential. The organization partners and collaborates with schools and community groups to provide affordable, accessible and high-quality arts learning.  

In keeping with another facet of the Miller Fund’s mission – supporting organizations that directly assist youth aged 27 and under in need of a range of essential human services, including addiction-recovery treatment – a $20,000 grant will go to Los Angeles-based Safe Place for Youth. 

The funding will support programs that offer young people facing homelessness opportunities to thrive by providing lasting, community-driven solutions that address racial and social inequities. 

 The  Mac Miller Fund was established at The Pittsburgh Foundation in 2018  by the family of the late Malcolm McCormick (Mac Miller) to honor the Pittsburgh native and internationally celebrated music artist and producer. The Fund is managed through the Foundation’s  Center for Philanthropy. It is one of only a few programs in the country offering expertise to donors to help them determine how to meet philanthropic goals through grantmaking and nonprofit management, personalized education sessions and guidance on multi-generational giving. 

With help from the Sustainability Fund, the Gardening Team at  Braddock Youth Project built new compost bins this summer. 

Apply to the Community Garden Sustainability Fund for materials like compost, fencing, tools, or other garden supplies and infrastructure.

The CGSF is a project of Grow Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, sponsored in part by Allegheny County Economic Development, that exists to provide material and technical assistance to existing community food gardens in Allegheny County. These include gardens managed by schools, community organizations, shelters, religious institutions, and individuals. The Sustainability Fund supports projects that will improve or enhance gardens so that they may have a long-lasting positive impact as part of their communities. The program has been active since 2013, having supported 125+ community gardens with over $175,000 of materials.    

Important information: Due to reduced staffing and less funding available this round, we will be prioritizing:

1. Applications that are clear and specific (include measurements, amounts, and links to specific items) 
2. Projects that require minimal staff time to implement. If you wish to apply for a larger, more complicated project requiring consultation or our staff time to install, we recommend you apply next round starting March 1, 2023.

Applications for this round are due by September 1, 2022. 

 Community collaborations in urban agriculture are receiving support through a partnership between the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) and the American Public Gardens Association (Association). Under the third year of the Urban Agriculture Resilience Program, 24 urban agriculture collaborations between public gardens and community partners across 19 states are receiving $440,800, the largest amount awarded through the program to date.
 

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, in collaboration with Operation Better Block,
 is one of the recipient gardens for the Homegrown program. Homegrown is a Phipps program dedicated to increasing community access to fresh produce, promoting better food choices and improving the overall health of families and children. Since its inception in 2013, Homegrown has installed over 300 raised-bed vegetable gardens at households in underserved neighborhoods and provided mentorship and resources to hundreds of community members. “Phipps is excited to continue our work supporting healthy food access through backyard gardening and are thankful to APGA and USGB for supporting these efforts nationally,” said Gabriel Tilove, Phipps Director of Adult Education and Community Outreach. Homegrown will continue to nurture healthy communities as it expands into neighborhoods that are challenged by food insecurity and its significant impacts on health and families. To learn more about Homegrown, visit phipps.conservatory.org/Homegrown.

The Urban Agriculture Resilience Program supports food growing and education activities in urban communities experiencing food insecurity and strengthens their capacity to engage in urban agriculture. In 2022, 73 organizations will participate in the program, representing a wide range of community partnerships including botanic gardens, arboreta, public schools and school districts, universities, parks and recreation departments, youth organizations, community centers, food banks, health centers, urban farms, community gardens, faith-based organizations and small businesses.

“We are so happy to continue this program supporting urban agriculture education and food production among public gardens and partnering organizations across the country,” said Saharah Moon Chapotin, USBG executive director. “Growing food is such an important way to build community and resilience as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and in many food-insecure neighborhoods, having ready access to fresh, nutritious fruits and vegetables is equally critical.”

"We are pleased to partner with the USBG on this effort that results not just in thousands of pounds of food being delivered to urban communities but also in furthering our knowledge so as to create and improve hundreds more partnerships like those who have received these awards,” Association Executive Director Dr. Casey Sclar said. “It's simply fantastic!"

The Urban Agriculture Resilience Program began in 2020 as a way for the USBG and the Association to help public gardens continue urban agriculture and food growing programs facing funding and capacity challenges due to COVID-19. Learn more about previous awardees at www.USBG.gov/UrbanAg.
 

 New non-profit to increase support for single-parent families in pursuit of higher education 

(April 14, 2022, Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Scholar House, an affiliate of the Family Scholar House based out of Louisville, KY, has appointed Dr. Diamonte Walker as its inaugural CEO. Walker recently served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. She will focus on establishing the Pittsburgh Scholar House as a critical resource within the continuum of care dedicated to helping income eligible single parents earn four-year degrees as a two-generation strategy to enable economic mobility within the City of Pittsburgh.   

The Pittsburgh Scholar House will operate in alignment with the Family Scholar House strategic goal of helping participants complete their post-secondary education and enter high-growth careers to enable economic mobility and sustain a better quality of life for them and their children. This goal is achieved through outreach and expansion by providing resources that include innovative and ethical best-practices for data collection and data-informed services for this subset of the academic community.  

"An intentional focus on higher educational attainment is needed to address Pittsburgh's protracted poverty and economic mobility issues. The data informed two-generation model has repeatedly demonstrated successful academic and life outcomes for families,” said Diamonte Walker. “Those outcomes translate to addressing the solvable, but real challenges adult learners with children face when pursuing higher education. I am honored to lead the Pittsburgh Scholar House as we take a humanistic approach to poverty mitigation by elevating the voices of these scholars as they become thriving college graduates.”  

The Pittsburgh Scholar House is supported by all 11 colleges and universities that make up the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE) and funding partners at The Heinz Endowments, Henry L. Hillman Foundation, and PNC Foundation. In 2019, the foundations collaborated with PCHE to begin the process of bringing the Family Scholar House model to Pittsburgh and supported the search of a leader for the affiliate.   

“The decision to establish the Pittsburgh Scholar House stemmed from a visit by leaders from several of Pittsburgh’s leading foundations to the five Family Scholar House campuses in Louisville,” recalled Dr. David Finegold, Chatham University President and PCHE Chairman. “They were very impressed by Family Scholar House’s results and the comprehensive wraparound services offered to single-parents and their children that helped them achieve college graduation rates of over 90%.”  PCHE Executive Director Karina Chavez added: “We are thrilled to appoint Dr. Walker as the inaugural CEO of the Pittsburgh Scholar House, and confident that with her leadership we will successfully replicate similar educational outcomes here in Pittsburgh.” 

PCHE will incubate the Pittsburgh Scholar House until a dedicated board of directors is formed and the affiliate secures 501(c)(3) status. Dr. Walker’s official start date is April 18, 2022.