Stop the Violence Fund

Your Voices.  Your Action. Our Victory! 

CommUnity, I am proud to celebrate the successful preservation of the Stop the Violence Fund and the passage of key amendments to strengthen the legislation —a critical investment in the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

Despite ongoing public debate and calls by some to redirect these resources elsewhere, together we stood firm in the belief that saving lives must remain a top priority. In partnership with Council President Daniel Lavelle and Councilman Khari Mosley, we ensured this fund remains protected to continue supporting the community-based organizations on the front lines of violence prevention.

This isn’t just policy—it’s progress. From 2022 to 2024:

• Homicides dropped 41%
• Non-fatal shootings dropped 38%
• And in 2024, zero teenagers aged 13–17 were victims of homicide—a 100% decrease from previous years.

These results are real. They represent lives saved, futures protected, and neighborhoods growing stronger.

Let’s be clear: the Stop the Violence Fund is not a political football—it’s a promise. A promise to prioritize safety, invest in prevention, and stand with the people doing the work to make our communities safer every single day.

Congratulations to all who helped secure this crucial win. Together, we are proving that smart, community-driven investments can and do save lives. 

#StopTheViolence #CityofPittsburgh #LetsGetItDone

Mayor Ed Gainey, City of Pittsburgh

State lawmakers took part in a roundtable and toured a nonprofit in Westmoreland County that serves seven counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, supplying families and babies not only with the basics but also the ability to celebrate achievements and moments in life that sometimes can be overlooked depending on people’s personal finances.  

The House Majority Policy Committee and Black Maternal Health Caucus co-hosted a roundtable discussion and tour of Beverly’s PGH, which formerly went under the brand of Beverly’s Birthdays. Beverly’s PGH is a nonprofit with a dedicated mission of providing every child and family with the support and resources they need. 

“We included this event during the Black Maternal Health Week Summit because we have introduced Momnibus 2.0, which includes a variety of bills and legislation connected to the work of Beverly’s PGH,” said state Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, who co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus and co-hosted the event.

One of those bills, the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit Program, has been introduced by Mayes and Rep. Gina H. Curry this session.

“This legislation would be a pilot program to examine how we can source these kits for moms and babies all across the commonwealth, and Beverly’s is the premier organization that does this work,” Mayes said.  

Beverly’s work includes Pennsylvania’s one-of-its-kind formula bank, with seven locations and one mobile bank. Since it opened in June 2022, it has helped serve the formula needs for about 3,500 babies and infants. 

“I want to thank the Black Maternal Health Caucus for the work they are doing in improving the health of not only Black moms but of all moms in the state,” said state Rep. Arvind Venkat, who co-hosted the event and represents portions of Allegheny County. “As a physician, I have seen this crisis pretty close at hand and can share stories of patients who unfortunately we have allowed to let fall through the gaps. This work and the Momnibus is really how we move the ball forward and make a difference.

“We’re seeing challenges to how we deliver health care around the country, and further threats that may be coming out of D.C.,” Venkat added.

Beverly’s Place founder and Executive Director Megs Yunn and her team explained their mission of celebrating and strengthening families. 

Like many nonprofits and businesses, Beverly’s has experienced uncertainty in product prices following the recent tariff announcements, which has provided another level of concern for the nonprofit as it attempts to acquire all the goods families, babies and children need.

“We are so happy to be able to partner with the Maternal Black Health Caucus and the work they are doing to bring serious issues to the forefront,” said House Majority Policy Chairman Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “We will continue the work needed to get these bills moving and improving lives across the state.” 

Beverly’s has existed for 13 years, and it has been located in its current North Huntingdon location for about three years. Beyond just providing basics, it also hosts baby showers and provides about 12,000 birthday gifts a year for children and families that could not otherwise celebrate in that manner. 

Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found at pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee/Galleries.

The Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Ave., is calling on library patrons to participate in a Library Expansion Working Group to assist library leadership with making design decisions. Using funding from an Allegheny Regional Asset District grant that was received in 2024, Millvale Community Library (MCL) will expand into the connecting building, 211 Grant Ave., which is currently rented out to Abeille Voyante Tea Co.

Danielle Spinola, owner of Abeille Voyante Tea Co., said her shop will move into 207 Grant Ave., which she purchased in 2019, but moving and renovations were paused due to the pandemic.

“The library and the tea shop have such a strong partnership that already exists, and that will grow with this expansion,” Spinola said. “If we could knock out a wall between the two buildings and build a bridge, we would.”

MCL’s main library is a large open space that is just over 2,600 square feet, which includes two public bathrooms and a small office. Expanding the library will allow for better separation of adult and youth spaces and provide areas for quiet reading, learning and meetings. The library is asking for community input on all facets of the conceptual design process and will be creating a Library Expansion Working Group led by Neighborhood Allies Social Impact Design (SID) team.

“This project is about honoring what already makes Millvale special while planning for what’s next,” said Tamara Emswiler, Senior Program Manager of the Neighborhood Allies Social Impact Design Program. “We’re proud to support a co-design process that preserves the library’s role as a vital community hub and supports the thoughtful growth of Abeille Voyante Tea Co. This kind of work is strongest when it reflects the values of a place—and Millvale continues to lead with inclusivity, connection, and a deep commitment to community-driven development.”

Over the course of 2025, SID will work with library patrons and to create a final design plan that is built on community aspirations and aligns with the library’s goals of creating functional space that enhances inclusivity and fosters community connection. This deliverable will be complete by the end of the year and fundraising will begin in 2026 with renovations taking place in 2026-2027.

The Heinz Endowments has started the new year by reaffirming its commitment to the Sarah Heinz House. The Endowments’ board of directors has approved two significant grants totaling $3.05 million. This funding will ensure that the organization, which is over 120 years old, remains a critical center of support for youth and families on Pittsburgh’s North Side and across the city and continues to foster healthy personal and social development for those it serves. The investment comes at a pivotal time as the Sarah Heinz House prepares to build on its legacy of service and continue adapting to meet the community's evolving needs in 2025 and beyond.

“The Sarah Heinz House has been a vital resource for generations of young people and families in Pittsburgh,” said Endowments President Chris DeCardy. “These investments ensure the facility remains a safe, welcoming space for the community to thrive and grow for years to come.”

The most recent grant, approved at the Endowments’ fall 2024 board meeting, awarded $1.8 million to the organization for critical upgrades to its facility, including roof repairs, resurfacing the indoor pool, replacing the climbing wall, updating fencing, and enhancing the building's security systems. Work on these projects is underway and will continue through 2025.

The pool resurfacing project was completed at the end of December 2024, a contractor has been selected for the fencing upgrades, and estimates for the new security systems are currently being solicited. These upgrades are essential to maintaining the safety and usability of the facility for its growing membership.

The Heinz Endowments has also provided $1.25 million to support a community outreach plan to extend the organization’s services to reach more youth and older adults in the North Side community and to help fund operations. This community outreach initiative is advancing and has so far led to considerable growth in participation. The Sarah Heinz House achieved a remarkable 159% increase in the number of youth members served in 2024 compared to 2023.

“The funding not only addresses our vital infrastructure needs but also enables us to expand our reach and enhance our impact,” said Sarah Heinz House CEO Demeshia Seals. “We are deeply appreciative for The Heinz Endowments’ unwavering belief in and support of our mission, 'to empower all, especially those who need us most, to laugh, learn and lead.'”

A founding member of the national Boys and Girls Club network, the Sarah Heinz House achieved another significant milestone in 2024 when it was designated as an Allegheny County senior center. Through this designation, the Sarah Heinz House has expanded its outreach to older adults with new programs and services, complementing its longstanding focus on empowering youth.

“Our partnership with the Sarah Heinz House reflects the shared belief that every child, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Carmen Anderson, vice president of Learning and Equity at the Endowments.

The Sarah Heinz House, established in 1901 on Pittsburgh’s North Side, is a historic community center dedicated to uplifting youth and families through education, recreation, and leadership development. Named in honor of Sarah Young Heinz, the late wife of H.J. Heinz Company founder Henry John Heinz, the center reflects her legacy of compassion and service to others. Originally founded to support immigrant families with English lessons and vocational training, it has evolved to offer a full slate of after-school and summer programs in STEM, robotics, arts, and athletics.

Do you have big ideas on how to activate Downtown Pittsburgh this winter? We want to hear them!

With support from Citizens, we present the Downtown Placemaking Grant, a program that offers grants ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 to bring your vision to life and to utilize and program our public spaces.

We are now accepting applications for 2025 programming! Any submissions for winter programming ideas will receive expedited review and response, in an effort to bring the vision to life this winter.

Apply here https://buff.ly/3PsVY2d 

Bill Strickland will now dedicate his efforts to the Strickland Global Leadership Institute (SGLI), a nonprofit he founded to support the network of vocational training & arts education centers guided by his vision, facilitate the creation of new centers, and train people in how to start and lead these centers. The move follows Strickland’s retirement from Manchester Bidwell Corporation on January 1, 2025.

At SGLI, Strickland will serve as the Founder & Vice Chair. He will focus on driving support for the organization and helping current and future centers guided by his vision maximize their impact. Joining SGLI full-time provides Strickland with the opportunity to continue his life’s work of alleviating “cancer of the human spirit” through beautiful environments, caring instructors, supportive & challenging programming, and an overall culture of hope and personal transformation.

“It is wonderful to take this next step in continuing to spread the work begun at Manchester Bidwell around the world,” said Strickland. “SGLI is uniquely positioned to help communities invest in growth and wellness with pride, joy, and hope. I am excited to share my experiences and knowledge to help current and future centers transform lives.”

There are now 17 centers in the United States and abroad formed with Strickland’s methodology of unapologetically providing top-quality facilities and training to underserved communities.

Since its founding, SGLI has focused on developing a refined model for launching new centers that amplifies the successes of past center creation efforts. SGLI will also work collaboratively with existing centers to provide ongoing support that advances the unique missions and impact of each organization. It will also establish an academy to train people in how to start and lead centers. The organization is run by Anthony Cascione, SGLI’s President.

“The work of the centers animated by Bill’s vision has powerfully positive implications for communities within and outside the United States. With Bill’s leadership and expertise, SGLI is ready to help existing centers expand their impact and bring the transformative methods Bill has pioneered to more communities,” said Amy Atkinson,

Board Chair of both SGLI and the Hope Center for Arts & Technology in Sharon, PA.

Strickland founded the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in 1968 from a rowhouse in Pittsburgh’s North Side to provide opportunities for young people to learn ceramics in a supportive, nurturing environment. He would later merge his arts education program with an adult vocational training school and operate both programs together under the same roof, as Manchester Bidwell Corporation.

Manchester Bidwell would go on to become the pioneering example of Bill’s vision for how to alleviate “cancer of the human spirit” through beautiful environments, caring instructors, supportive, challenging programming, and an overall culture of hope and personal transformation. Today, the center serves hundreds of young people and adults every year through vocational training & arts education in a 60,000 square foot facility complete with a commercial-grade teaching kitchen, 30,000 square foot greenhouse, and a jazz hall & Grammy Award-winning recording studio.

In the years since founding Manchester Bidwell, Bill and his vision gained international acclaim. For his work in vocational training and arts education, Bill earned the MacArthur Fellows Genius Award (1996), the Skoll Award (2007), the Goi Peace Award (2011), and more than 25 honorary doctorate degrees. His vision is the subject of four Harvard Business School Case Studies and is described (with piano accompaniment by Herbie Hancock) in his 2002 Ted Talk. Bill is the author of Make the Impossible Possible with Vince Rause.

Bill has guided the creation of nonprofit vocational training & arts education centers in the United States and abroad, including centers in San Francisco, Boston, New Haven, Cleveland, Buffalo, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Israel.

“I am so excited for Bill Strickland to take this next step in doing what he started on the North Side in Pittsburgh: spreading his vision to help people find jobs and make a positive difference in other cities and communities around the world. The Strickland Global Leadership Institute is a wonderful extension of the work Bill began at Manchester Bidwell to help other communities start their own centers and make a positive impact on their most important asset, their people,” said Kevin Acklin, Pittsburgh Penguins’ President of Business Operations and Board Chair of Manchester Bidwell Corporation.

To learn more about the Strickland Global Leadership Institute, visit www.stricklandgli.org 

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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Spreading some joy: Steelers rookies were having a good time on Tuesday morning, visiting patients at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

The rookies spent time playing games with the kids, doing art projects and posing for pictures in the hospital's Fred Rogers Atrium.

It is the latest project for the team's rookie class, who are committed to giving back to the community throughout the season.

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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.

Pittsburgh Pioneer Education Center Unveils New Aquatic Therapy Pool: A Milestone in Enhancing Student Well-Being Through Specialized Aquatic Therapy

The Pittsburgh Pioneer Education Center proudly unveiled its newest addition—a state-of-the-art therapy pool designed to provide essential aquatic therapy services to students with multiple disabilities. This significant milestone was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the school’s ongoing dedication to student well-being and academic achievement. Staff, students, families, 

community members, and District leadership gathered on Wednesday to commemorate the momentous occasion, 14 years in the making. The new therapy pool, funded by Elementary
and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, is a vital resource designed to provide specialized aquatic therapy for students. With the capacity to accommodate up to four individuals at a time, it stands as one of only three such facilities in the region—and the only
one offered by a public school. This pool will deliver essential therapeutic interventions for some of the District’s most vulnerable students. 

Superintendent Dr. Wayne Walters, who attended the event, expressed his enthusiasm for this significant milestone, stating, "This new aquatic therapy pool represents a tremendous leap forward in our ability to meet the diverse needs of our students. I am filled with excitement for the many students who will benefit from it in the years to come. I look forward to celebrating with you all again when we witness the positive impact this pool will have on the lives of our students." 

Proud Pittsburgh Pioneer mom Kelly Luhn also spoke at the event, highlighting the profound impact the new therapy pool will have on students. "Some of these children have never had the chance to be in a pool before. They've never had the opportunity to get in the water, feel it on their bodies, and use it to help them develop. Maybe to grow stronger, learn balance, how to stand up, and maybe even how to walk," she shared, underscoring the pool's potential to transform lives. 

Tuesday, October 1

Reaching out to area youth: Steelers players were out and about in the community today, using their off day to give back in numerous manners.

Calvin Austin III and Thomas Graham Jr. spent time at Café Momentum, where they met with Liz Ryan, the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the United States.

Café Momentum Pittsburgh is a place where Pittsburghers can go and enjoy fine dining. It also offers a culinary internship to teens 15 to 19 who are justice-involved. Café Momentum, which originated in Dallas, provides a transformative experience through a 12-month paid post-release internship program. Participants rotate through the restaurant, focusing on life and social skills, coaching and development.

Throughout the month of October, the Steelers will be working with organizations around the city as a part of Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) to raise awareness about the impact of the justice system on children and the organizations that are working to make a positive impact in the community.

Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM) is an annual campaign where advocates come together to organize digital and in-person events and activities to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of young people impacted by the justice system.

This year is also the 50th Anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Action, which is a United States federal law providing formula grants to states that follow a series of federal protections on the care and treatment of youth in the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems.

Source: Steelers.com

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.

School days: Linebacker T.J. Watt and his wife Dani were busy on Tuesday, visiting multiple schools in the Pittsburgh area as part of the Steelers back to school blitz.

Watt began his day at Pittsburgh King, where he read to the students and then handed out supply bags to help the kids in the school year.

"It's fun. It really is," said Watt. "To see the excitement, to feel the excitement, I haven't been around a bunch of screaming kids at 9:30 in the morning ever.

"It's fun to be able to do it with Dani. Having a little one on the way, it puts things more into perspective about people who are less fortunate and don't have the school supplies or the toiletries to be able to go to school and not have to worry about those things, and that's what we're trying to provide.

"It's such a busy time of year, but it's so important on these Tuesdays, our off days, that we take the time to get out in the community and show people that we're not just on television and we are separated. I want to bridge that gap and show people that we care, and we want to help them as much as possible."

It was then off to Pittsburgh Milliones where he took questions from the kids and again handed out supply bags.

"That was funny. They asked my favorite class, and I don't have a favorite class if I am being honest with anyone," said Watt. "The questions, it's always surreal when kids are nervous to ask questions. I have to remember, to them I am some big guy. But I am such a normal goofball that I forget that sometimes. The kids had great questions, and it was fun to be able to answer some of them."

Watt did the event in conjunction with The Education Partnership, who work to provide school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools across Southwestern Pennsylvania. The agency has served more than 374,770 students in 201 schools and given out more than $65,000,000 worth of school resources.

Source: Steelers. com

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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Get out and about while safely working on projects that help create a more vibrant and beautiful Downtown. 

As people begin returning to the neighborhood, volunteers are needed now, more than ever, to preserve, beautify, and clean up our historic Downtown. Volunteering with our highly-acclaimed Clean Team is an impactful way to get outside and enjoy the neighborhood while also ensuring it remains a welcoming space for all.

And, of course, your safety is a priority. All volunteers will follow proper health and safety protocols, social distancing, and face masks/covering requirements to stay safe while working effectively.

Our volunteers work weekdays and weekends on a wide variety of projects. Volunteer initiatives all revolve around our mission to make Downtown vibrant, clean, and accessible, and can include picking up litter, cleaning graffiti, weeding public spaces and parks, raking leaves, and cleaning public fixtures like newspaper boxes, light fixtures, and bus shelters. 

Additionally, volunteers may be mobilized following large events like parades, celebrations, and more. Our volunteers are a crucial part of ensuring residents, workers, and visitors always see an energetic city in motion, and we could not accomplish what we do without their help!

Whether you’re a Downtown resident looking to help keep the neighborhood clean, a corporate team looking for an out-of-office experience to give back to the community, a school group planning a service day, or just someone interested in making Downtown Pittsburgh shine, we can craft a volunteer experience suited to your needs.  

Visit our volunteer scheduling page on the Pittsburgh Cares hub to browse available volunteer dates and register for upcoming opportunities. 

Register Now

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.

WHO | HONOREE      August Wilson                 

EMCEE                          Angelique Jackson, Variety Correspondent

GUEST SPEAKERS    Denzel Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and the cast and filmmakers of The Piano Lesson

Accepting the star will be Constanza Romero Wilson

WHAT                            Dedication of the 2,799th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

WHEN   Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM PT

WHERE                         1611 Vine Street, in front of The Montalban Theatre

WATCH LIVE              The event will be streamed live exclusively at www.walkoffame.com   

Playwright August Wilson will be honored posthumously with the 2,799th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, January 7, at 11:30 am PT at 1611 Vine Street. Wilson will be honored with a star in the category of Live Theatre/Live Performance. Joining emcee Angelique Jackson will be Denzel Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and the cast and filmmakers from The Piano Lesson. Accepting the award on behalf of the family will be Constanza Romero Wilson, wife of August. The Piano Lesson is the third Wilson play to be adapted for film by producers Denzel Washington, Todd Black and executive producer Constanza Romero Wilson.  Washington continues to bring the plays to screen in partnership with Netflix.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame for the City of Los Angeles and has proudly hosted the globally iconic star ceremonies for decades. Millions of people from here and around the world have visited this cultural landmark since 1960.   

ABOUT OUR HONOREE   

“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to pay tribute to trail-blazing playwright August Wilson, whose profound storytelling continues to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world,” stated Ana Martinez, Producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies.

August Wilson was born in Pittsburgh on April 27, 1945, as the fourth of seven children. He grew up in the ethnically diverse but impoverished Hill District of the city. With his German-immigrant father absent throughout his childhood, Wilson was raised mainly by his African-American mother, Daisy Wilson, whose surname he would later adopt. After dropping out of high school following unfounded accusations of plagiarism, Wilson worked odd jobs while continuing his informal education with trips to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, where he read the works of Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, and Ralph Ellison. Following a short enlistment in the Army in 1962, Wilson returned to working a series of menial jobs.

In 1965, Wilson purchased his first typewriter for $20, and began to write poetry inspired by the authors whose works he encountered during his trips to the public library. He passed time in coffee shops and cigar stores, observing the lives and voices of people he encountered in the Hill District, often recording his thoughts on cocktail napkins and later using these notes to create the personalities of the characters in his plays.

Inspired by the Black Power movement of the late 1960s, Wilson joined a group of poets, educators, and artists who formed the Centre Avenue Poets Theater Workshop, through which he met Rob Penny. In 1968, they co-founded the Black Horizons Theater, a community-based theater company in the Hill District of Pittsburgh. Wilson served as the director and occasional actor, while Penny was the playwright-in-residence until the mid-1970s, when the company dissolved. Wilson then moved to Minnesota in 1978, at the invitation of his friend Claude Purdy, a co-founder of St. Paul’s Penumbra Theater, where Wilson concentrated on playwriting, channeling the voices he remembered from the Hill District. His works penetrated the broad experience, both the triumphs and struggles of Black Americans, conveying their stories on the popular American stage with gravity and emotional heft. The centerpiece of Wilson’s body of work was The American Century Cycle (TACC), a career-spanning project composed of 10 plays, each one set in a different decade of the 20th century, with Pittsburgh and the Hill District in particular serving as the setting for all but one of these works. Wilson’s first professional production was Black Bart and the Sacred Hills, staged by St. Paul’s Penumbra Theater.  In 1979, he began writing Jitney. Much later, the rewritten version of Jitney went on to win an Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2002, then won the Tony Award for Best Revival in 2022. This work is considered the first installment in TACC.

Wilson won significant acclaim and attention for his next play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, his only play in TACC that does not take place in Pittsburgh (it was instead set in a 1920s Chicago recording studio). First staged in 1982 at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, it had its Broadway debut two years later under the direction of Wilson’s frequent collaborator Lloyd Richards. Writing for The New York Times, theater critic Frank Rich noted that Wilson “sends the entire history of Black America crashing down upon our heads.” Fences was Wilson’s next play, making its Broadway debut in 1987 with James Earl Jones as the lead in a role that, in its 2010 revival and 2016 film adaptation, would be reprised by Denzel Washington. The play initially ran for 525 performances and earned Wilson a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a Tony Award for Best Play, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. Wilson would later win a second Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for The Piano Lesson which launched on Netflix this past November 22nd and is available globally. His plays were nominated a record six times for this prestigious award.

In 1991, Wilson moved to Seattle, Washington with his future wife, costume designer Constanza Romero Wilson. While in this city he wrote five more installments in TACC: Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean, King Hedley II, and Radio Golf.

Other plays written by August Wilson include Fullerton Street, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Homecoming, How I Learned What I Learned, and TheColdest Day of the Year. His last written work, Radio Golf, premiered on Broadway in 2006, just months after his death from liver cancer.  

The curtains closed for August Wilson on October 2, 2005.        

ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER’S WALK OF FAME

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a celebration of art, entertainment, and all things Hollywood. Star ceremonies are broadcast worldwide, connecting fans with their favorite artists. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City of Los Angeles. Honorees are selected by a committee of their peers. Sponsors fund the star, the ceremony, and the maintenance of the legendary attraction. The Walk of Fame is free to all. To learn more and find your favorite stars, visit www.walkoffame.com.

Hollywood Walk of Fame contact: Ana Martinez, Ana@hollywoodchamber.net   

ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (HCC)

Since 1921, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce exists to promote and enhance the business, cultural, and civic well-being of Hollywood. With some 700 members representing over 148,000 employees, the Chamber is the largest business organization in Hollywood. It serves as a place for diverse members to foster and implement big ideas that help drive commerce and improve the community of Hollywood. The Hollywood Chamber is the proud steward of two global icons: the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign. Steve Nissen is the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, and Sarah Zurell is the 2024/2025 Chair of the Board. To make a difference, connect with us at www.hollywoodchamber.net.