Shining Bright in the Community

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December 10, 2024

Why Not You: Quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara have made it a passion to give back to kids through their Why Not You Foundation. And on Tuesday, they opened their first Why Not You Center, located inside the Shadyside Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, yet another step in fulfilling Wilson's promise to give back to the Pittsburgh community. 

"Ciara and I are blessed to give back to the community and make a positive impact in the lives of young people. Opening our first Why Not You Center in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Pennsylvania is a significant step toward creating lasting change," said Wilson. "Every child deserves the support and resources to approach each day with a "why not you" attitude and have the opportunity to dream big and achieve their goals."

The Why Not You Center is designed to enhance educational and recreational environments for kids, reflecting the Why Not You Foundation mission of addressing poverty through education and health programs. The premise of the center is to encourage a Why Not You mindset among the kids and teens, supporting their growth in academic success, career and life readiness, character, leadership and healthy lifestyles.

Around 75 kids were on hand for the opening, and it will be enjoyed by countless others.

Earlier this year Wilson helped kick off a summer camp for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) through the foundation and made a $50,000 donation to the BGCWPA at the time.

Source: Steelers

On November 15, 2024, at 3:30 PM, Center of Life (COL) announced ambitious plans for a community development project at Hazelwood Green (4501 Lytle Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15207). Led by CEO Tim Smith, this initiative aims to establish a cutting-edge community center that will strengthen the lives of Hazelwood residents and surrounding communities through expanded access to education, arts, health, and wellness resources.

Innovative Collaboration and Sustainable Design

Center of Life has built a strong coalition for this project, including partnerships with the University of Pittsburgh, Primary Care Health Services, Inc. (PCHS), and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center (COTRAIC). The new multi-use facility will feature resources for STEAM education, performance and practice areas for arts programming, flexible workspaces, and spaces for holistic wellness. The shared vision for the project will connect Hazelwood Green to the broader neighborhood and create a place for individuals and the community to learn, to live, and to grow.

The design, created by AE Works, will utilize the principles of the Living Building Challenge, which encourages development that supports not only the planet but the health, knowledge and economic wellness of the community. The facility will truly embody the Center of Life motto — “Everything is about people.”

A Legacy of Community Investment

Since 2001, Center of Life has been a pillar of support for Hazelwood, delivering impactful programs that empower students and families across 30 ZIP codes with services in education, employment, healthcare, and the arts. Inspired by the Almono Group's visionary purchase of Hazelwood Green in 2002, which laid the groundwork for equitable community development, Center of Life is honored to bring this vision to life, creating pathways for residents to thrive and access opportunities from within the neighborhood.

"Almono is proud to support Center of Life in its development of the COL Hub at Hazelwood Green. The Almono members have long recognized the need for and supported the Hazelwood neighborhood in its desire for deep interconnection with this historic brownfield site. Almono and COL, as a community-based organization dedicated to empowering youth and families, have for many years collaborated in programming to ensure that this physical, social, and economic community connection gets stronger every day. Almono and COL will continue working together in ways that honor our shared development goals."
— Todd Stern, U3 Advisors, Development Advisor to Almono, L.P.

In collaboration with the tireless efforts of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative (GHCC), the Hazelwood community is committed to leading the way in these transformative investments. When speaking about these exciting developments, Rev. Michael Murray Sr., Chairman of The Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative expressed: “I take pride in sharing how valuable this organization is and take pleasure in being able to work collaboratively together with them. I have placed my own children into the care of this organization, and it’s been such a wonderful opportunity for them [...] I share my heart's appreciation with this organization, and I would do it all over again with them. They are indeed an asset to the lives of those living in the community.”

By embracing the vision outlined in the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan, the community aims to shape a future that reflects their collective resilience and determination. CEO Tim Smith remarks that “Center of Life desires to build something that is worthy of the people,” and this reveal has laid the foundation for a space that all residents can proudly call home.

A Vision for a Brighter Future

This transformative project marks Center of Life’s deepened commitment to the future of Hazelwood, continuing to empower families and youth to thrive. Center of Life invites community members and partners to join this journey of sustainable growth, equity, and inclusivity — a vision for a community where all can flourish.

You can also view a more detailed scope and background of the project at

www.centeroflife.org/hazelwoodgreen

Join us in supporting Jerome Bettis' mission to bridge the digital divide with his CyberBus program. 

Join us in our mission to empower under-resourced communities through digital literacy and education. The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation is launching a $2.5 million capital campaign with a primary goal of raising funds by the end of 2025. This ambitious effort will allow us to expand our impactful programs, with a particular focus on our signature CyberBus initiative. Our goal is to introduce two additional CyberBuses—one in Pittsburgh and one in Detroit—by 2025, bringing essential computer science education and resources directly to the communities that need them most. Together, we can drive change and help build a brighter future for our youth. #RollWithTheBus

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With the winter season approaching, Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is taking proactive steps to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have a safe place to go, night or day. Today, Erin Dalton, director of DHS, is announcing a comprehensive winter shelter plan that will increase capacity, extend service hours, and provide essential resources to help individuals stay safe during the coldest months.

DHS’s winter shelter plan, which will be in effect from November 15 to March 15, includes a network of 12 facilities across the county, bringing total shelter capacity to over 600 beds for single adults. This network of shelters will provide overnight and daytime accommodations, hot meals, warm clothing, and access to critical support services such as medical care, counseling, and case management.

“Our goal is to ensure that no one has to spend a night out in the cold,” said Erin Dalton. “I’m so pleased that this year we will not need a Code Blue protocol for people experiencing homelessness because shelter and daytime supports will be open every day, all winter, and not just on the coldest nights of the year.”

Highlights of the winter shelter plan include:

Second Avenue Commons (2AC) Reopening with Extended Daytime Hours: Guests are transitioning back to the Second Avenue Commons shelter on October 28, with full operations starting the next day. On October 29, the 2AC Engagement Center will re-open with expanded daytime hours of 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.

This means that anyone in need of help will be able to drop in to the 2AC location on any day. Several other locations are also available during the daytime to support people experiencing homelessness. For a full list of the county’s drop-in & engagement centers, visit: connect.AlleghenyCounty.us/get-help-now/

Increased Capacity and Hours within our Existing Shelter System: DHS will open 105 additional beds on November 15. In addition, and new this winter, these shelters will be open 24/7, ensuring residents have access to warmth and safety around the clock. 

Locations opening November 15 include:

• Salvation Army Women’s Overflow Shelter (20 beds)
• Second Avenue Commons Overflow Shelter (40 additional beds)
• EECM Winter Overflow Shelter (20 additional beds)
• Light of Life Winter Overflow Shelter (25 additional beds)

New Winter Shelter:  By December 11th (or sooner if the existing shelter system is at capacity), DHS will open an additional winter shelter in partnership with Northside Partnership Project and Community Family Advocates. Located at the Community Resource Mall on Maple Avenue, this program will have sufficient capacity to shelter anyone who needs a safe place to stay this winter.  This program is a result of a proposal submitted to DHS as part of a competitive solicitation process. Free transportation to the Northside Partnership Project shelter will be available each evening from Second Avenue Commons, making it easier for individuals to access services.

For a full list of the county’s shelter locations for single adults, visit: connect.AlleghenyCounty.us/get-help-now/

To access family shelters, please contact the Allegheny LINK at 1-866-730-2368.

Because nobody should live in emergency shelter or on the street, in addition to providing shelter services, DHS is continuing to work with partners to identify affordable housing units through its 500 in 500 campaign. If you own or manage a building with units that you would like to make available to individuals exiting our homeless shelters, please contact Chuck.Keenan@AlleghenyCounty.us. 

Other ways to help include donating to the “Spread the Love” campaign. Community members are welcome to donate items such as blankets, warm clothing (including hats and gloves), and hygiene products. These items can be dropped off at the Human Services Building located at 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Pittsburgh Mercy is also collecting pet supplies (crates, beds, leashes, food/treats, toys, and medicine). Visit https://www.chewy.com/g/pittsburgh-mercy_b103207728.

DHS encourages anyone in need of shelter or housing assistance to reach out and take advantage of the available resources including:

Allegheny LINK
In Person at 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM
By Phone at 1-866-730-2368

Second Avenue Commons (Pets are Welcome)
In Person at 700 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
By Phone at 412-775-9001

Casa San Jose is a community resource center that advocates for and empowers Latinos by promoting integration and self-sufficiency. Monday, the organization celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for Casa San José’s new community center at 1600 Broadway Ave. This exciting milestone marks the beginning of a transformation that will create a vibrant space for Pittsburgh’s Latino community!

The event, held at 1600 Broadway Ave, was attended by community leaders including Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, families, and local advocates who came together to celebrate this significant achievement.

The new Casa San José Community Center will serve as a cultural hub and resource center, offering vital services to Latino families across the region. From educational programs to advocacy services, the center is designed to meet the community’s needs and foster a sense of belonging for Pittsburgh’s Latino residents.

“This is an incredible moment for Beechview and the entire Latino community in Pittsburgh,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. “Casa San José has been a pillar of strength, empowerment, and advocacy. Today’s groundbreaking marks the next chapter in their mission to ensure every Latino family has the support they need to thrive. This community center will be a safe haven for families to come together, celebrate their culture, and access the resources they deserve.”

Casa San José has been at the forefront of addressing the needs of Latino immigrants in Pittsburgh, offering programs and services that help new residents establish roots, integrate into the community, and flourish. The new community center will further enhance these efforts, providing a permanent space where families can connect, grow, and succeed.

“Building spaces by and for the community is how we create lasting change,” continued Lee. “Casa San José has shown us what’s possible when we center community-led solutions. I’m committed to standing with them every step of the way.”

The event was a celebration of community pride, resilience, and the collective vision of Casa San José’s staff and leadership, including Executive Director Monica Ruiz, who has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission. The groundbreaking symbolizes the start of a new era for the Latino community in Beechview, one that will foster empowerment, support, and opportunity for generations to come.

As a part of our commitment to creating opportunities for community engagement and investment in our work, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh welcomes volunteers to participate in a wide range of activities that provide direct support for our clients and staff.

We are excited to partner with local and national businesses that believe that everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy home.

Read about our Corporate Partnership Opportunities here to learn about the different ways your organization can help deliver critical home repairs to our low-income neighbors.

Have a group that can’t donate? Let’s talk.

If you have ideas for other ways you’d like to collaborate with RTP, please contact give@rtpittsburgh.org.

Serving as a vehicle for youth education and development, the Youth Farm at Hilltop Urban Farm engages school-aged children from the Hilltop communities with food production and teamwork. Partnering with the Pittsburgh Arlington School, Lighthouse Cathedral, and the New Academy Charter School, the Youth Farm acts as a living agricultural and ecological laboratory for children. It promotes the teaching of Nutrition & Cooking, Growing Food, Local Food Systems, Agriculture as a Career Pathway, and Ecology of Western Pennsylvania through the lens of urban farming with the support of program partners Penn State Extension, Allegheny Land Trust Education Department, Power Up, and Grow Pittsburgh.

All elements of the Youth Farm are visually appealing, colorful, child-friendly and scaled to size. Children can expect to learn, play and interact among raised bed growing areas, youth gardens, a youth orchard and a youth food forest.

After-school programs, summer camp, youth employees, tours & workshops. Reach out to learn more about what is being offered this year. 

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The Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Education Department provides children, birth to five, with a comprehensive program designed to reinforce and respond to the unique strengths and needs of each individual child and family. Kimberly Russo Joseph, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Education Programs shares more detail information about how these programs are helping children in Pittsburgh thrive early on in their learning process. 

One on One with Kimberly Russo Joseph –Pittsburgh Public Schools - Executive Director Early Childhood Education

Kimberly Russo Joseph is the Executive Director for the Early Childhood Education Program at Pittsburgh Public Schools. The Early Childhood Education Program encompasses grants from Federal Head Start and Early Head Start, state grants for Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program and provides Early Intervention (ages 3-5) services for the City of Pittsburgh. Prior to this position, Ms. Russo Joseph spent 15 years working for the Early Childhood Education Program as an Education Coordinator and Program Officer and she was also a pre-k teacher for six years in both Pittsburgh Public Schools and Norfolk Public Schools. In addition to being a life-long early childhood educator, Ms. Russo Joseph is also the mother of two young children, Bella (age 3) and Maddy (age 18 months). Pictured right. 

PUM: Tell us more about your role overseeing the Early Childhood programs at PPS. 

As the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Education Programs at Pittsburgh Public Schools, I support the staff who work with children and families from prenatal through age five through multiple grants and programs. These programs include:

• The Early Childhood/PreK Program for children ages 3-5 years is funded through Federal Head Start, the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP), and PA PreK Counts grant.
• The Early Head Start Program is for families from pregnancy through 36 months.
• The Early Intervention Program provides special education services for children ages 3-5 in various settings.

All these programs and grants work together to provide holistic services to children and their families across Pittsburgh.

PUM: What special projects and goals are you focused on this year to help improve these programs? 

This year we have been implementing Conscious Discipline thanks to a special grant from the R.K. Mellon Foundation. Conscious Discipline focuses on child and adult social-emotional well-being. It helps the staff support our children as they develop self-regulation skills, manage their feelings, make friends, share with others, and express themselves in a safe and healthy manner. This Program has been so great because, coming out of covid lockdown, many young children didn’t have the typical social interactions they would have in the past. This Program has helped us make up for that social development learning loss in a fun and interactive way.

PUM: There are various programs available at the Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Education Department that provide children, ages Birth to Five, with a comprehensive, flexible program designed to reinforce and respond to the unique strengths and needs of each individual child and family. What do families need to know about these programs? What makes these some of the best programs in the region?

The PPS ECE Program has multiple grants so we can provide high-quality early childhood services free of charge to most families in Pittsburgh. Currently, we operate 84 Early Childhood/PreK classrooms, 4 Early Intervention classrooms, and 6 Early Head Start classrooms in PPS school buildings. Our Early Childhood Program classrooms operate 6 hours a day and are led by highly qualified staff with specialized child development and early education training. All our lead teachers have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and over 50 percent also hold a master’s degree. All of our assistant teachers hold the minimum of an associate’s degree or a child development credential. In addition to our classroom staff, every family is assigned a Family Services Specialist whose job is to support each family with their personal goals and help them with whatever resources they may need.

All of our Early Childhood Education Program classrooms utilize a researched-based curriculum aligned to both state and federal early learning standards to ensure that all academic skills are addressed throughout the day. The Program also strongly believes in the power of play, so intentional learning centers are set up in every classroom for students to learn and explore while interacting with their peers in a playful setting. The teachers also work with the families to set individual learning goals for every child. In addition to whole group time, the children engage in small group lessons designed to address their learning and developmental goals.

In addition to our district classrooms, we partner with multiple high-quality early childhood programs across the city through our HSSAP and PreK Counts grants because we know our 6-hour day only works for some. When we partner with a childcare center, we provide them with curriculum materials, mental and behavioral health services, an Education Coach, and Family Services Specialists so we can assure that all children, no matter where they attend, receive high-quality services so they can be social-emotionally and academically ready to start kindergarten. We also offer an Early Head Start home-visiting program for pregnant mothers, infants, and toddlers, so we can bring our services to you if you are at home.

Having various options for families, and keeping families involved in their child’s education, is a significant part of our holistic approach to child development and early education.

PUM:  Why should families enroll their children in an early childhood program?

Research has shown over and over again the importance of the first five years of a child’s life. Approximately 90% of brain development happens before age 5, so we must expose young children to environments that foster this rapid development. High-quality early childhood programs are designed with this in mind and are constructed to address not only academic skills and development but also social-emotional development. Children who have early solid childhood experiences and develop a love of learning at an early age do much better in kindergarten and beyond since they come into formal schooling with a strong foundation.

PUM: How old must a child be to enroll in the Early Childhood Program?

Our Early Head Start Program enrolls families from prenatal through 36 months, and our Early Childhood/PreK Program registers children from 36 months/3 years through age 5 (children who do not meet the September 30 cut-off date for kindergarten).

PUM: Does a family have to choose a school in my neighborhood?

No, the Early Childhood Education Program does not provide transportation, so families are welcome to enroll their child at any school or center that they can easily access.

PUM: How many days a week does the Program operate?

All PPS Early Childhood Education Program classrooms operate five days a week for 6 hours a day and follow the PPS district calendar regarding holidays, days off, and early release days.

PUM: What other services are available through the Early Childhood Program?

In addition to regular classroom education, the Early Childhood Education Program provides all children with various screenings such as developmental, behavioral, growth, hearing, vision, and speech screenings, and then offers Early Intervention services for those in need. The Program also provides mental health services to children and families in need and can help families create individualized plans for home life. The Program also partners with several outside organizations to enhance what’s happening in the classroom, such as the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, the Carnegie Science Center, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and more so children have exposure to a myriad of topics and genres.

PUM: How do families apply?

Families apply for the Early Childhood/PreK Program online: https://www.pghschools.org/ec-enrollment. We are currently accepting applications for a few remaining slots for the 2022-23 school year and applications for the next school year (2023-24). More information about the application process, as well as more information about the Program and a list of sites, can be found on the PPS ECE website at https://www.pghschools.org/earlychildhood.

Families interested in applying for our Early Head Start Program should call (412) 529-8020 or (412) 529-8029.

PUM: How does the Lottery application process work?

Families who apply for the 2023-24 school year on or before March 24 will be entered into the PreK lottery. A lottery is run whenever there are more applications than available seats at a particular location. The lottery is a computerized random drawing. Families that apply in time for the lottery will be notified of their status by May 16, 2023.

If a family misses the lottery window, that’s ok; we accept applications year-round and will enroll age-eligible students wherever we have classroom space.  

PUM: Any important upcoming dates for registration? 

The 2023-24 school year application opened up on February 1. To be included in the lottery, the application must be complete by March 24. We have rolling admission, so applications are accepted year-round.