Community Engagement

Juneteenth Fact

Facts: Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Fact #1: Following the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, not all enslaved people immediately found freedom.

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in states then in rebellion against the United States. Union troops operating in said states gave teeth to the Proclamation. This, however, did not apply to the border states.

Find out more

Phipps Conservatory

Phipps Conservatory’s Homegrown Awarded Funding by Urban Garden Agriculture Resilience Program

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.

Superintendent Search

Pittsburgh Board of Public Education Seeking Community Input in Search for Permanent Superintendent

Community engagement critical component to create ‘Leadership Profile’ used to identify

ideal slate of candidates to lead Pittsburgh Public Schools

PITTSBURGH, May 4, 2022 – The Pittsburgh Board of Public Education is seeking maximum community input as part of its process to select a permanent Superintendent to lead Pittsburgh Public Schools. During the community engagement phase of this important process, the public is encouraged to participate through multiple opportunities to help determine the leadership traits and qualities needed to identify the next permanent Superintendent.

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

In March, the Board hired the consulting firm BWP & Associates (BWP) to lead a national search to identify qualified candidates to fill the post of permanent Superintendent for the District. BWP will use information gathered during a series of one-on-one interviews, small focus groups, Community Forums (see below for schedule dates) and through an online Community Input Survey to learn the strengths, needs, and relevant issues of the Pittsburgh School District as part of BWP’s effort to recruit the best slate of candidates. The nine-member Board will make the ultimate hiring decision for the next permanent Superintendent.

Feedback pertaining to the following questions will be discussed during the Community Engagement Activities and aggregated through the online Community Input Survey, specifically:

· What do you see as the greatest strengths of the Pittsburgh Public Schools?

· What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the Pittsburgh Public Schools?

· What skill sets, qualities, and characteristics does the next Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools need to possess and demonstrate?

· Is there anything else you would like to share regarding the hiring of the next Superintendent?

A short Community Input Survey is ready for input at pghschools.org/superintendentsearch. The deadline to complete the short survey is May 18, 2022, by midnight. Note that the Community Input Survey will also be available in six languages (Spanish, Arabic, Nepali, Pashto, Swahili, and Russian) beginning May 11, 2022.

In addition to the Community Input Survey and Community Forums, BWP will be conducting Focus Group sessions with participants representing District administrators, educators, parents and guardians, students, faith-based organizations, foundations, corporate leaders, in addition to Board members and other constituencies. By “Maximizing Community Input in the Search for a Permanent Superintendent for Pittsburgh Public Schools,” the insights garnered from all of these outreach efforts will build the foundation on which the Leadership Profile is developed by BWP and utilized in the selection recruiting process. The Leadership Profile will be presented to the public at a Board meeting during a Special Session on May 26, 2022.

Note: Due to personnel and privacy issues, the candidate pool must remain confidential until the final selection is announced.

Community Forum Details

Community meetings are being held in five geographic areas of the City of Pittsburgh to ensure maximum opportunity to participate in the process. Light refreshments will be served prior to the start of the meetings. To encourage participation, limited transportation will be offered from key locations within City neighborhoods by request. In addition, onsite childcare will be available to those requesting it by registering in advance. Though not required, participants are encouraged to wear face masks.

SCHEDULE FOR COMMUNITY FORUMS

Participants are requested to register in advance at https://www.pghschools.org//cms/module/selectsurvey/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=356.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

East

Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12

1101 N. Murtland Street, Pgh., 15208