OUR Pittsburgh. ONE Pittsburgh. Advancing Racial Equity.

KEEP PITTSBURGH HOME: Mayor Ed Gainey Defends Renters and Civil Rights as Pittsburgh Fights Back Against Housing Discrimination and Federal Retreat

Gainey Draws the Line: City Uses its Powers to Protect Pittsburghers from Housing Discrimination

 Mayor Ed Gainey announced a powerful local response to the recent rollback of civil rights protections, calling it one of the most dangerous challenges to fairness in a generation. As the Trump administration dismantles fair housing protections and slashes funding for oversight, Pittsburgh is stepping up to defend its residents —and make one thing clear: public dollars will not support discrimination.

Joined by housing advocates, community leaders, and Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle on the 5th floor of the City-County Building, Mayor Gainey, along with representatives from the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, unveiled and signed Executive Orders reaffirming the city’s unwavering commitment to fair housing, racial justice, and the right for all residents to live without fear of displacement or exclusion.

“While we’re working here in Pittsburgh to make housing a human right, Washington is giving developers and landlords the green light to deny you housing because of how much you earn, where you’re from, what you look like, the faith you practice, or who you love.” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “But here in Pittsburgh, when civil rights are under attack, we stand up and fight back. When Washington uses its power to destroy and abandon, Pittsburgh chooses to build and protect. ”

What Pittsburgh Is Doing

Through these Executive Orders, the City of Pittsburgh will use its local authority to:

• Enforce fair housing rules where a Trump-led HUD has walked away—making civil rights a requirement, not a suggestion
• Require that any developer receiving local public financing formally certify that they will follow Pittsburgh’s fair housing laws and comply with oversight from the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations
• Prohibit landlords and developers who receive public funds from rejecting tenants based on their source of income—including Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Social Security, disability benefits, or other forms of public assistance

These actions, part of the Keep Pittsburgh Home campaign and the first of their kind for any municipality in the country, come in response to the termination of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. These rollbacks would devastate working families, renters, seniors, disabled residents, and Black and brown communities in Pittsburgh and across the country.

"Let’s be clear, while Trump and the MAGA machine are using executive orders to “move fast and break” the federal government, and producing enormous amounts of human suffering in the process, I am using Executive Orders to fight for Pittsburghers, strengthen our local safety nets, and protect our civil rights.” said Mayor Ed Gainey.

A Local Shield Against a National Storm

Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, Vice Chair of the URA Board and longtime fair housing advocate, spoke about the significance of the action:

“This isn’t about politics—it’s about people. We passed legislation to protect voucher holders, and the courts struck it down. Today’s announcement makes sure those protections are back—at least where we still have control: local investments.”

Speakers highlighted that Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable communities—particularly Black families, queer and trans renters, immigrants, seniors, and working-class residents—will bear the brunt of the Trump administration’s unchecked policies.

“As long as I am your Mayor, the City of Pittsburgh will fight discrimination and displacement. We will not allow public money to fund projects that push our people out of their neighborhoods. ” said Mayor Gainey. “And we will certainly not let the Trump Administration undo the progress we have made to build fair housing, and to Keep Pittsburgh Home.”

What’s at Stake If We Don’t Act

As the federal government retreats from civil rights enforcement, Pittsburgh is stepping in—because the stakes couldn’t be higher for voucher holders, trans and gender-expansive residents, Black families, immigrants, seniors, disabled renters, and other low-income tenants who are at greatest risk of housing discrimination. 

Discrimination against LGBTQIA+ communities is intensifying, with the Trump administration’s rollback of HUD’s Equal Access Rule allowing federally funded shelters to legally turn away trans people. 

“This is nothing short of terrifying,” said local housing advocate Kaiah Scott,  QMNITY Center Program Coordinator . “The community is looking to our city leadership for protection.”

The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations reminded the public that strong local laws already prohibit discrimination based on race, gender identity, immigration status, disability, and more—but many residents don’t know they’re protected. 

"The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations (PghCHR) is a civil rights investigative body that enforces Pittsburgh's civil rights laws, provides free training and policy review, and engages the community to ensure that people know their rights and responsibilities under the law. If you believe you have been discriminated against in Pittsburgh, please contact the PghCHR," said Rachel Shepherd, Executive Director for the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations.

By linking public funding to fair housing compliance, Pittsburgh is sending a strong, unmistakable message: City dollars will never be used to fund discrimination. This initiative upholds the dignity and safety of all residents—whether they are seniors on fixed incomes, transgender renters in search of a safe home, or families depending on housing vouchers. At its core, this is about ensuring the fundamental right to live with security and respect. These Executive Orders put Pittsburgh’s values into action, making them not just principles, but legally enforceable protections.

_______________________________________________________________________

About Keep Pittsburgh Home

Keep Pittsburgh Home is a citywide initiative that builds on Mayor Gainey’s strong record of housing progress over the past four years while launching a bold new vision to protect renters, support homeowners, and strengthen public housing. By expanding successful initiatives, strengthening tools like the Pittsburgh Land Bank, advancing tenant protections, introducing new legislation and proposing innovative strategies, the administration and allies are ensuring that residents can stay in the neighborhoods they’ve built while creating new pathways for affordability, stability, and community-driven development. 

By National Urban League
Published07 AM EST, Thu Mar 6, 2025

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“An elective despotism was not the government we fought for; but one in which the powers of government should be so divided and balanced among the several bodies of magistracy as that no one could transcend their legal limits without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.” -- Thomas Jefferson 

The foundational principle of the United States Constitution is the separation of powers, commonly described as "checks and balances." The authority of each of the three branches of government is limited by the other two.

While previous administrations have pushed the boundaries of those limits, no administration in modern American history has tried to disregard them as thoroughly and wantonly as the current one.  The New York Times is keeping a running list of examples.

If allowed to stand, the administration's anti-equity executive orders would hamstring the National Urban League's ability to advance fair housing, equal employment, financial opportunity, health care access, and the rest of our empowerment agenda.

But even more critically, the orders represent a violation of the First Amendment right to free speech, by censoring and chilling views on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Because the orders are vague as to what is and is not prohibited, they represent a violation of the Fifth Amendment right to due process. And, because the orders discriminate against people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people, they represent a violation of the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection.

And so we are asking the judicial branch to exercise its constitutional duty to check the power of the executive branch. This week, the National Urban League filed a federal lawsuit challenging three of those orders.  Represented by the Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal, we are joined in the lawsuit by co-plaintiffs, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Key to our complaint is the administration's wildly false assertion "that DEIA programs and activities are illegal and inconsistent with merit, hard work, and standards of excellence."

This misconception is the big lie behind the extremist anti-equity movement, which is nothing more than a desperate scramble to protect and preserve white, male advantage.

The day after Inauguration Day, the National Urban League launched the Demand Diversity Roundtable to combat the disinformation campaign aimed at undermining the principles of DEI.

Make no mistake - disinformation is the only hope the anti-equity movement has of succeeding, because the vast majority of Americans support diversity initiatives and understand their positive impact.  Multiple studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams tend to have higher profitability, better innovation, and improved decision-making.

Only by amplifying what LDF President and Director-Counsel Janai Nelson called "inaccurate, dehumanizing, and divisive rhetoric" can the Trump administration advance its anti-equity, anti-diversity agenda. We are hopeful that the court will act quickly, as Nelson added, "so the arduous work of advancing and sustaining our multiracial democracy can continue without unlawful interference from the Trump administration.” 

###

 7TBE 2/21/25 ▪ 80 Pine Street ▪ New York, NY 10005 ▪ (212) 558-5300

Connect with the National Urban League

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturbanleague 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NatUrbanLeague
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@naturbanleague
YouTube: http://bit.ly/YTSubNUL
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/SubscribeNUL
Website: https://www.nul.org  

State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes and House Speaker Joanna McClinton announced today the PA CROWN Act has advanced out of the House State Government Committee by a vote of 22-4 following its reintroduction for the 2025-26 Legislative Session.

“In Pennsylvania, it is currently legal for a person to be denied employment, schooling, and other public or social accommodations based on their hairstyle,” said Mayes, D-Allegheny. “This is outright discrimination, and we know it disproportionately affects Black Pennsylvanians. It is long past time for us to pass the CROWN Act and prevent Pennsylvanians from being targeted, harassed, and denied access to opportunities based on their hair.”

“Pennsylvania needs to pass the CROWN Act to finally end hair discrimination. It is long overdue, and if states like Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas can ban hair discrimination, so can we,” said McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware. “The good news is the state House passed the CROWN ACT with overwhelming bipartisan support in the last session, and I am confident we can garner the same support this term.”

The CROWN Act (now H.B. 439) would amend the PA Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on a person’s hair type, hair texture, or hairstyle.

In the previous legislative session, the CROWN Act passed the House 182-21 but was never brought up for a vote in the Senate State Government Committee. Twenty seven other states have created laws to protect individuals from hair discrimination.

The Carnegie Mellon University Rales Fellows Program brings together some of the brightest minds from underrepresented groups in academia. 

The program, launched in 2023, is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders while also increasing access to graduate-level education. 

In the age of burgeoning technological change, three students from the first-ever selection of fellows have decided to pursue master’s degrees from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon: Lizeth Anaya-Ojeda, Christian Johnson and Zoe Mercado.

One of the Bright Minds in the Program:

While attending high school in Mason, Ohio, Johnson was passionate about design and visual communication. Early in his academic journey, he developed interests and skills in photography, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

However, as an undergraduate at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Johnson chose to apply his creativity to a course of study in STEM, earning a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. "I really wanted to do things in the automotive space, just working with my hands," he said. "I worked on some projects — one was creating a semi-autonomous vehicle out of a Chevrolet Bolt EV.”

After graduating, Johnson took his skills directly into the industry, working for Microsoft as an engineer on the company’s Design for Excellence team. After volunteering to create a training and onboarding tool for new hires to the organization, he was able to merge his experiences in visual design and engineering.

"It was the start of me learning how to create a website — and in doing that, I learned user research, usability testing, how to prototype in low fidelity and high fidelity. It got to a point where I felt like I could go back and be as creative as I had been while staying within the tech industry," he added.

In March of 2023, the tech industry was affected by thousands of layoffs, and Johnson was one of many who lost their jobs. Still, he was able to continue his professional development and make inroads in the product design space. "I asked what I should do next, and everybody was saying, ‘just learn as much as you can,’" Johnson said.

The learning journey that followed took him to the online learning platform Coursera, where he earned a professional certificate from Google in user experience. He offered to volunteer as UX Designer for a non-profit organization called Orcasound, where he was able to gain valuable skills as a designer on a product team. After then taking his skills to companies like Honeywell and Amazon, his interest in the field of human-computer interaction was at its highest, and he decided to pursue higher education again.

“I started looking around at schools and Carnegie Mellon kept coming up," he said. "I knew that they had one of the best computer science programs in the country, and I also knew a whole host of people who’d graduated from HCII.”

While applying to attend HCII, Johnson also applied for the Rales Fellows program. Having been accepted to both, he is now using experience from all areas of his background to earn his degree — and ultimately, a career in product design or game design — with the support of a like-minded community and professional mentors.

"The fact that the program was trying to close the gap on the ‘missing millions’ really stuck out to me," he said, "There are underrepresented groups that don't have advanced degrees because they're not in a position to pay for them."

Since enrolling, the peers he has found in the program have also provided him with support and community. “I can't emphasize enough how thankful I am for the program, and for the people that they have brought to me. It did it in a way that I didn't know possible — I feel like I connect with every single one of the Rales Fellows and for that, I feel very lucky,” Johnson said. “We're able to come together and recognize who we are as people. Our work is going to get done, but to be able to have a good time while doing that work is huge.”

The future of human-computer interaction is expected to be heavily autonomous. But Johnson said that human creativity will still be needed in the age of AI, and that helping to prioritize that is one of his goals in and beyond his studies.

"When I think about what I'm doing now in HCI and how I'm trying to create products, I see that diversity is necessary throughout all of these products. That can be accessibility, like supporting people with limited motor skills to help type, or using screen readers for vision or low vision screening,” he said. “It can also be from an economical standpoint. If there's a low-income area, how can we get our products out there? How do we get products into the hands of students? How do we get them into HBCUs or other underrepresented communities or institutions?"

Finally, he noted that the structure and support offered by the program itself has been a comfort since arriving as well.

"This program gives us the opportunity and the luxury to only focus on school, and that, for a student, is massive," Johnson said. "I don't have to worry about tuition, which is one of the main barriers of entry in academia for people trying to get advanced degrees. It allows me to learn, unrestricted.”

Read More about the Program and the Participatnts 

Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Pittsburgh and the Black Equity Coalition (BEC) Data Justice Working Group are proud to announce the formation of the Community Data Justice Collaborative (CDJC) as a part of the Data Justice Project. This project, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation’s MADE for Health Justice Program, is designed to ensure that marginalized and historically excluded communities have a seat at the table in shaping how data is collected, shared, and used. The Collaborative was created following a transparent, open nomination process, drawing on input from communities that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in data.  

“Pittsburgh is made up of many diverse communities, but we know that that in most cases not everyone is afforded a seat at the table.  This is our way of saying no more.  As we seek to make decisions that impact our residents, we want to be sure that the data we collect is inclusive of everyone, and this initiative will ensure that,” said Mayor Ed Gainey.   

The Community Data Justice Collaborative (CDJC) is a groundbreaking effort by the city and the BEC to include democratic input on data governance.  The Collaborative brings together a diverse group of 12-18 members selected from a wide pool of community-nominated candidates. The committee overseeing the selection process prioritized individuals and organizations that represent communities often excluded from the data landscape—ensuring the Collaborative reflects a wide range of voices, experiences, and expertise.  

“We know that data shapes decisions affecting everything from public policy to health outcomes. The Community Data Justice Collaborative ensures that those most impacted by these decisions are also helping to define how the data is collected and used. This is not just about representation—it’s about real influence,” said Bobbie Fan, Data Justice Project Director.   

The announcement of the CDJC follows the selection of the Larimer Consensus Group for the Data Justice Project’s Neighborhood Power Building Initiative. The Neighborhood Power Building initiative will engage residents to develop a health improvement plan, building resident power towards improving the quality of housing and the built environment. 

“We are so excited to have this Power Building Initiative take place in the City of Pittsburgh,” said Darius Wallace, City of Pittsburgh Administrative and Project Coordinator. “It's important that we continue to create opportunities for our most marginalized residents to have meaningful participation in the design and implementation of the public systems that serve them.” 

The BEC will host the Data Justice Project Launch as a way to share more about the vision for the project and to engage in meaningful dialogue about building data systems that center equity and justice. The media is invited to attend the launch on November 14, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 PM and the Kingsley Center (6435 Frankstown Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206).   

The launch event will feature: 

• A welcome address introducing the goals of the Data Justice Project 
• An introduction to the Larimer Consensus Group, the BEC’s partner on the Neighborhood Power Building Initiative 
• A chance to learn more about the Community Data Justice Collaborative 
• Opportunities for community input and networking over food  

About the Black Equity Coalition 

The BEC is a coalition of physicians, social scientists, civic community leaders, philanthropists and academics who are committed to working on matters of racial equity by addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) in Black and Brown communities.  

A new study from researchers in Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering found that ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft have helped to mitigate racial discrimination against Black passengers.

The study builds on prior research that concluded using a Black-sounding name results in up to double the cancellation rate as when using a White-sounding name, but despite that substantial difference, wait times for a ride were the same or differed by mere seconds.

To understand the similarity in wait times, the CMU researchers ran simulations of all the rides taken in Chicago, both before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, across a variety of days. The research estimated that at least 3% of drivers must be discriminating based on race to produce the cancellation disparities prior studies have observed. But it also showed that the ability of these services to rapidly rematch riders to new drivers nearly eliminates the effects of driver racial discrimination on rider wait time disparities.

“The technology is mitigating a social issue, which is pretty rare,” said Jeremy Michalek, professor of engineering and public policy (EPP) and mechanical engineering. “Discrimination is having little effect on average wait times, at least in part because these apps are able to quickly rematch when somebody cancels. Whereas with taxis it was a very hard problem to solve.”

Racial discrimination against passengers hailing rides has been a problem throughout the taxi era. “In the absence of these apps, certain populations having extremely long wait times could be lost because it is a hidden injustice where people just get passed by on the street,” said Destenie Nock, professor of EPP and civil and environmental engineering. “Now you can be reconnected quickly, which allows for people to get to work on time, make their hospital appointments, and be active participants in the transportation system.”

Individual racism is only one part of the equation, and the larger systemic problem of residential segregation led the team to focus on Chicago – one of the most residentially segregated cities in the United States, which also happens to make a lot of data available about ride-hailing trips.

Even when drivers treat everyone equally, Black riders in Chicago experience notably longer wait times because of where people live, the study showed. Residential patterns in Chicago are influenced by a long history of discriminatory practices, including redlining, and other factors like inherited homes and wealth. Today, Black residents are concentrated in South Chicago, which is further from busy downtown areas, meaning fewer drivers are in the area to pick up passengers.

This research is unique in that it distinguishes between “direct discrimination, like when a driver cancels on a rider because of their race, and systemic discrimination, where history has informed patterns in where people live so that even when the effects of direct discrimination are small or disappear altogether, disparities can persist,” said EPP PhD student Anna Cobb. “Being able to distinguish these effects can help inform how we address disparities in the real world.”

“It is encouraging how well this technology has mitigated the effects of driver discrimination on riders,” Michalek said. “But in a society with entrenched disparities, even a service without any direct racial bias can produce large gaps in service quality that can reflect, or even exacerbate, existing disparities.”

Corey Harper, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Heinz College, and EPP alumnus Aniruddh Mohan also contributed to the research.

Pennsylvania faces one of the United States’ lowest levels of digital literacy and connectivity, according to its Department of Labor and Industry. To address this issue, the Greater Pittsburgh Digital Inclusion Alliance (GPDIA) convened a network of Western Pennsylvania organizations and launched a targeted effort to bridge the region’s digital divide. Collectively, they invited the University of Pittsburgh to be a core partner, providing backbone support for their efforts.

Together, they formed the Pennsylvania Leading Equity Access Program (PA LEAP) and submitted a $16.8-million, four-year proposal for funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to build such a bridge in 13 local counties, 11 of them rural.

Coalition officials felt so strongly about the project’s breadth and Western Pennsylvania’s needs that they requested above the usual $12 million maximum for the NTIA’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. The project aims to serve individuals of all prioritized Covered Populations — some 240,000 total, by NTIA reckoning — across a wide geographic reach: from Lake Erie to the Ohio and West Virginia borders to the Laurel Highlands.

Coalition officials hope to launch in December, should the NTIA grant arrive in that time, and extend the project into a fifth year for program-end evaluation.

“The University of Pittsburgh is deeply concerned with the digital divide in Western Pennsylvania. Achieving digital equity — the idea that all Pennsylvanians have what they need to thrive in a digital world — benefits Pitt’s workforce, student body and the social and economic health of the region,” said Lina Dostilio, vice chancellor for engagement and community affairs. In addition to ECA, Pitt’s role as a key partner in this project is enhanced by additional support and leadership, including Chief Information Officer Mark D. Henderson, a staunch advocate for Pitt’s digital equity collaborations.

A lot of people still think access to the internet is a luxury, and we know as a coalition it isn’t.
JEN BLATZ

“It’s an unprecedented effort of collaboration and cooperation amongst organizations that are paddling around in the same pool,” said Jen Blatz, GPDIA program director. The alliance consists of 37 member organizations — almost all of which previously competed for the same grants and funding — forming a communitywide, multi-sector group under the National Digital Inclusion Alliance umbrella. “We now have a clearer understanding to the point where we’ll never have a digital skills class with an empty seat. I’m in a lot of national meetings, and I don’t think anyone has done as detailed sharing of information among organizations as we did.”

Amid National Digital Inclusion Week 2024, the coalition is focused on addressing barriers to digital equity through its project’s objectives: digital inclusion referral services, digital skills training, workforce development and access to refurbished devices.

In addition to Pitt, the coalition includes GPDIA members Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the City of Pittsburgh’s Rec2Tech, City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority, Computer Reach, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Literacy Pittsburgh, Neighborhood Allies, Tech2Elevate, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, Vintage Center for Active Adults and YWCA Westmoreland County.

“A lot of people still think access to the internet is a luxury, and we know as a coalition it isn’t,” Blatz said. “Broadband has become fundamental to every dimension of our lives.”

[Read more: How a Hill District CEC program is closing the digital divide in Pittsburgh]

Continued Carey Harris, chief executive officer of Literacy Pittsburgh: “Digital literacy has rapidly become as important as language in navigating work, health care, banking and life. Literacy Pittsburgh is pleased to be part of this coalition, which is poised to provide seamless and integrated support to our region. We are excited to play a central role in growing the digital skills of adults across our region, including job search, online safety and telehealth, as well as industry-recognized credentials.”

"Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania is proud to partner with the University of Pittsburgh and others on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Digital Equity competitive grant program,” President and CEO Monique McIntosh said. “We are committed to dismantling barriers that limit economic mobility, earning potential and career advancement for under-resourced individuals so that they can meaningfully participate in their careers, communities and personal lives.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reports nearly 1 in 5 Pennsylvania citizens live in poverty and 45% reside in broadband-spotty census tracts with high Digital Divide Indexscores.

In the project’s Western Pennsylvania footprint, communities struggle with the affordability as well as the availability of broadband. PA LEAP envisions deploying Digital Navigators — for one-on-one training and attention — through community networks, allowing residents to better find affordable, available options. Access is vital for everyday services: education, job opportunities, telemedicine where there is little health care, access to public benefits and other essential services. Blatz pointed to one example where the strengths of Allegheny County’s experience could be replicated in surrounding counties, and at a low cost.

“Digital skills training and digital navigation: Those are the backbone, the two core principles to being on one side of what we call the digital divide,” Blatz said, “and crossing over to the other side.”

Pitt’s Information Technology department will also play a key role in the coalition, leveraging its expertise and ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in alignment with the Plan for Pitt.

“This critical effort to bridge the digital divide is the result of years of collaboration with our community partners,” said Henderson, Pitt’s CIO and vice chancellor overseeing IT. “Pitt is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of our region, and that includes ensuring that digital equity becomes a reality for all Pennsylvanians. We’re proud of what this coalition has achieved together and look forward to seeing the profound impact this work will have in the backyards of our campus footprints and across the commonwealth.”

The proposal covers the following counties: Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette and Somerset. According to PA Leap, the populations served by the project number 36,000 covered households, 13,000 veterans, 14,000 facing a language barrier, 30,000 people with disabilities, 56,000 aging citizens, 76,000 from a racial or ethnic minority, and 72,000 rural residents. Some people may qualify under more than one Covered Population.

“Many communities, including individuals and families with lower incomes, rural residents and individuals with a language barrier, cite affordability or a lack of options when choosing an internet service provider or buying a reliable device. Others, including older adults, veterans or individuals with disabilities, may need additional assistance and skills training to successfully navigate the internet and other fast-changing technologies,” said Jen Schuchart, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s director of meeting basic needs. “Internet access is a basic human need, and, as a coalition, we’re working to make technology more accessible for our community.”

Digital equity planning remains in its early stages. Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburghunveiled their first such plan last December, and Pennsylvania’s was announced in January.

Because of past funding limitations, “people are often left behind in a debate about who’s most deserving,” Blatz said. “We’re including everyone.”

Source:

By Chuck Finder

During my November 17, 2023 Pittsburgh Urban Media interview with the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel, we focused a bit on equity and social justice as well as her statement, “The more I’ve learned about the world-class talent here and the work they are doing, the more I’ve found myself repeating the words: “Anything is possible at Pitt.” (Latest News (pittsburghurbanmedia.com)).  

The May 30, 2024 issue of Pittwire Today indicated what is possible regarding equity and social justice under Chancellor Gabel’s leadership.  Therein, we learned that a Black male Pitt alum “…Dwayne Lee Pinkney has been appointed executive senior vice chancellor for administration and finance and chief financial officer pending Board of Trustees approval, Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel announced Thursday.  Pinkney (GSPIA ’87), who will start later this summer, will serve as a key advisor to Chancellor Gabel and the senior leadership team on financial objectives and policies, including administrative initiatives and programs that support the priorities in the University’s strategic plan, the Plan for Pitt 2028. The newly created role combines the responsibilities of the offices of the CFO and Business and Operations under Pinkney...”

The above Pittwire Today issue also indicated that a Black woman, Michele V. Manuel, would become the first woman to serve as Pitt’s Dean of Engineering.  More specifically, the article stated, “The University of Pittsburgh has a new U.S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering, effective Sept. 1: Michele V. Manuel, a leading materials engineer, innovator and leader who will be the first woman to hold the position.”  The news release also stated, “Manuel has served as chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Nuclear Engineering program at the University of Florida since 2017 and is the Rolf E. Hummel Professor of Electronic Materials. During her tenure as chair, she established new positions and programs, leading the recruitment of 20 faculty members and turning the department into one of the largest and most diverse of its kind in the U.S. … She’s a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of ASM International (formerly the American Society for Metals) and received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and a National Science Foundation CAREER Award…”

Additionally, the above Pittwire Today indicated that a White woman, Carla Panzella, was selected to serve as Pitt's Vice Provost for Student Affairs, and that a Black woman, Lorraine Craven, “assistant dean for student experience, will serve as Pitt’s interim dean of students…”  It was also noted that “As associate vice provost and dean of students, Panzella served as liaison to the Office of the Provost, supporting its academic team with a focus on maximizing the impact of student success programs for underrepresented first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students while also supporting graduate and professional students. Alongside the Provost’s data analytics team, she led assessment efforts designed to collect and analyze qualitative data to augment survey data and provide a holistic understanding of the student experience… ”  Regarding Craven, the article indicated, “Lorraine Craven, assistant dean for student experience, will serve as Pitt’s interim dean of students. Craven has amassed an 18-year career in higher education, including efforts in both student affairs and enrollment management. Notably, she has served as chief student affairs officer for Penn State Greater Allegheny.”

Also, of tremendous equity and social justice significance is the fact that, on May 6, 2024, Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Joseph J. McCarthy announced that a Black woman would become the new Dean of the School of Education.  More specifically he wrote, “After a comprehensive national search, I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher has been named the new Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the School of Education, effective May 1, 2024.  …Prior to her role as Interim Dean, Eboni served as the School of Education’s Associate Dean for Equity, Justice, and Strategic Partnerships and a professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy. She came to Pitt in July 2022 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education, where she was a professor and spent seven years as director of the Office for Community College Research and Leadership. While there, she also worked as associate head of the Department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, and as associate dean of the Graduate College…”

 The foregoing major appointments took place against a recent backdrop of Pitt having lost a number of significant senior Black administrators.  Some ardent supporters of equity and social justice feared yet another episode of “being sick and tired of being sick and tired” given the ebb and flow of Black-related equity and social justice at Pitt.  However, the new appointments are monumental in and of themselves and portend what else might come from the current Pitt administrative leadership.  

Having been one of the faithful critics of the University of Pittsburgh’s Black-related equity and social justice progress over the years, at this moment it seems appropriate to reiterate an often-used statement by my mother, i.e., “You’ve got to give credit where credit is due.”  Thus, Pitt senior administrators are to be acknowledged for the major equity and social justice outcomes discussed herein.  Given that so much more good work needs to be done, Pitt leaders might take note of the Jonas Salk’s words on the occasion that he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, i.e., “The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”

 Now that the aforementioned new appointees have significant seats at the “Pitt table,” hopefully they will join with those previously seated to produce a sea change in Pitt’s equity and social justice outcomes as evidenced by things such as [1] Black students graduating at rates equal to or greater than the student body average, especially in STEM fields; [2] Pitt significantly increasing its contracts with Black-owned and operated companies; [3] dramatic increases in Black professional staff; [4] increased hiring of Blacks from the Pittsburgh area; and [5] exponential increases in sponsored research related to the Black diaspora.  Indeed, in the spirit of the self-proclaimed “prophet,” it should be remembered that, instead of merely taking a seat, there came a time when he turned over the “money tables” in the temple courts and drove some away from the tables!  Truly, “anything is possible at Pitt” and, with Chancellor Gabel’s leadership, sooner than later Pitt can become a world-class leader in all aspects of equity and social justice.

Jack L. Daniel

Co-founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

May 31, 2024

Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D., nationally recognized for her work in health equity, has been appointed deputy director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center where she will expand her efforts aimed at reducing health disparities, advancing the science of community outreach and engagement, and promoting representation in the workforce and clinical trials.

Baskin, professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Division of Hematology/Oncology, also serves as assistant vice chancellor for community health equity at University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences. She joined UPMC Hillman and Pitt in 2022.

In announcing the appointment, UPMC Hillman director, Robert Ferris, M.D., Ph.D., said Baskin will continue to play a critical role in the overall strategic direction and mission of the cancer center ‘to end cancer as we know it.’

“Dr. Baskin’s significant research in population science, strategic planning and understanding and advancing health equity will lead our cancer center to further improve cancer prevention, early detection and treatment programs for our patients and our broader catchment area,” said Ferris. “Her knowledge will also contribute immensely to our leadership team as she brings a unique perspective as a behavioral scientist that is complementary to the current leadership expertise in basic and translational research and clinical care.”

“I am honored to begin this new senior leadership role and work with current and future cancer scientists, clinicians and staff to realize a shared vision where everyone has access to high quality cancer prevention, early detection and care,” said Baskin.

In her new deputy director role, Baskin joins current deputy director Jeremy Rich, M.D., as they collaborate to promote and invest in strategic new projects at UPMC Hillman to improve cancer center recruitment, shared resources and pilot programs.

Baskin will establish and maintain a culture of engagement, development and equity that supports members of the cancer center and diverse stakeholders throughout the region and oversees the population science research programs. Rich, a physician-scientist who is also a professor of neurology at Pitt’s School of Medicine, will oversee the basic science and translational research programs at UPMC Hillman. Both will be involved in all aspects of operations and may function as senior leader in the director’s absence.

“Dr. Baskin has built an exceptional reputation in population health sciences and health equity in her more than 20-year career,” said Anantha Shekhar, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice chancellor for Pitt Health Sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of Pitt’s School of Medicine. “I am confident she will bring a new level of expertise to UPMC Hillman and Pitt Health Sciences as we work together to close the gap on cancer-related health disparities.”

Prior to joining UPMC and Pitt, Baskin served at the University of Alabama at Birmingham as the inaugural vice chair for culture and diversity in the Department of Medicine and the inaugural associate director for community outreach and engagement for the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. She has served on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Accelerating Rural Cancer Control External Advisory Board, multiple external advisory committees for NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and is the current chair of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Continuous Update Project Global Expert Committee on Cancer Incidence. Baskin is a fellow and past president of the Society or Behavioral Medicine and fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She is also a member of the first cohort of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders Program, and an authorized facilitator for nationally known training programs on unconscious bias.

Baskin earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and sociology from Emory University and Master of Science in community counseling and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Georgia State University; she is also a licensed psychologist.

CREDIT: UPMC
CAPTION: Monica L. Baskin, Ph.D.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Pitt’s Institute of Politics today released a major new study on racial disparities in the county’s Criminal Justice System, titled, Creating a Path Forward to Reduce Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System in Allegheny County. The study was commissioned by Pitt’s Institute of Politics (Institute or IOP) and was conducted by two research organizations, the RAND Corporation and RTI International.

The RAND Corporation and RTI International collaborated in developing and deploying a distinctive mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research. Because the pandemic interfered with the normal operation of the system in later years, their work focused on the period from 2017 to 2019. During that time period, 88,511 new criminal charges were filed.

“Recognizing that there are significant racial disparities in our criminal justice system nationwide, in 2016, we initiated an in-depth look at our system locally to identify opportunities for improvements with a goal to reduce racial disparities,” said Fitzgerald. “This report is the latest step in that effort and provides a qualitative and quantitative look at each step of the system, and provides recommendations based on that work.”

Again, there are significant racial disparities at almost every point in the criminal justice system and Allegheny County is not alone in that distinction. Substantial efforts to improve the criminal justice system and reduce the population of the jail have been successful, but the racial disparities actually grew during that effort. Though Black people made up just 13 percent of the county’s population, Black people comprised 49 percent of the population of the Allegheny County Jail in 2016. By 2021, though the number of Black people held in the county Jail had decreased as the overall population of the Jail was reduced, clearly a favorable development, the percentage of Black people in the Jail’s population had risen to 66 percent. In 2022, that percentage was 65 percent, and it currently stands at 67 percent.

Though other studies have calculated such disparities at specific points in the county’s criminal justice system, none of them have pushed further to develop the more focused data that could provide the foundation for well-informed efforts to address these disparities through improvements to the system. As described in the research report itself: “although these prior studies were able to document racial disparities at particular decision points within the Allegheny County criminal justice system, no study had conducted a systematic assessment of the size of racial disparities at all key junctures of the system. Furthermore, these studies did not identify the specific reasons for these racial disparities, which is a critical step in identifying policies that can potentially mitigate these disparities.”

To facilitate that critical next step, this report includes twenty-nine recommendations for reform. They touch every stage of the criminal justice system and involve changes to existing practices and procedures; the development or replication of innovative models; enhancements in data transparency, analysis and evaluation; and policy analysis.

“I appreciate the work that the IOP has done around this issue. The efforts by Mark Nordenberg and Frederick Thieman, Co-Chairs of the Criminal Justice Initiative, and Samantha Balbier, Director of the IOP, cannot be understated. Their reports and suggested plans of action have been instrumental in our successes to date,” Fitzgerald continue. “Just as importantly, none of this would have been possible without the leadership of our judicial leaders, including President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark and Administrative Judge of the Criminal Division Judge Jill Rangos. Their work and cooperation throughout this process has only underscored their deep desire and interest in making changes that can improve the legal system for participants.”

As has been noted, in addition to the quantitative research, which was conducted by the RAND Corporation, this initiative also featured qualitative research, which was conducted by RTI International. Again, as described in the report itself: “The research team used a mixed-methods approach to conduct this research, which integrated statistical analysis of administrative data for all key decision points in the criminal justice system (i.e., quantitative analysis) with analysis of interviews with 40 community members and 20 system professionals who work in the Allegheny County criminal justice system (i.e., qualitative analysis).”

This qualitative research shed additional light on improvements that might be made to the criminal justice system. It also served as a reminder that making improvements to the system itself, as important as that can be in reducing racial disparities, will not eliminate them. That point is forcefully made by two of the key themes that emerged from the qualitative research:

• “Racial and economic segregation has led to a concentration of poverty in Black neighborhoods and a dire need for investment in education, public health, housing and other resources;” and
• “Cumulative trauma across the lifespan has created a dire need for resources to treat mental health issues, including substance use, that increase criminal behavior.”

Addressing such deeply embedded social problems is largely beyond the reach of leaders within the criminal justice system. However, such findings and recommendations could help shape the policy agendas of elected officials with broader responsibilities and authority.

Other noteworthy features of the initiative, include the fact that it was administered by a third-party, objective community partner, the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics. The research was undertaken by two independent research organizations, the RAND Corporation and RTI International. And the work was funded entirely by local philanthropies, most notably by the Heinz Endowments.

The initiative also was structured so that it would be informed both by perspectives from within the system and perspectives held within the broader community. At every stage of the process, from the initial selection of the research team to the review of drafts of the final research report, professionals from within Allegheny County’s criminal justice system were involved. Community members whose lives have been impacted by the criminal justice system, as well as professionals who work with them, also were engaged, both through the qualitative research and through their participation in key committees.

As new leaders assume positions in the county, the important work of implementation will become their responsibility. This report should give them a significant head-start in dealing effectively with a critical problem. Progress on this key front would help the county fulfill the vision advanced in the IOP’s 2016 Criminal Justice Task Force Report, that “the processes of the criminal justice system should be fair; socially and financially equitable; and structured to avoid even the appearance of bias, particularly racial or ethnic bias.”

The IOP’s Overview of this project

The Executive Summary of the Report

The comprehensive research report 

True T PGH proudly announces "TRUE T EDU", a new partnership with Grow with Google as a member of their esteemed Partner Program. This collaboration marks a significant opportunity for True T PGH to extend vital digital skills training and resources to the underserved LGBTQIA+ and Black communities in Pittsburgh, Pa. The program aims to empower individuals with in-demand skills, eliminating barriers such as the need for prior experience or a college degree.

Through the Google Career Certificates, participants gain access to comprehensive job training in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing & e-commerce, IT support, project management, and user experience (UX) design. Crafted by seasoned Google professionals with extensive experience in these domains, the certificates offer practical, hands-on training and can be completed in under six months part-time.

"As we join hands with Grow with Google, we're not just offering skills; we're unlocking doors to possibilities. True T Edu underscores our commitment to empowering every individual, regardless of background, with the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in the digital age." - John Easter III, Project Lead at True T PGH

One of the distinguishing features of these certificates is their flexibility, allowing learners to access instructional materials, videos, and assignments at their convenience, either via the web or mobile devices. Moreover, the program offers a pathway for educational advancement with a recommendation from the American Council on Education (ACE®) for up to 15 college credits, recognized by esteemed institutions such as Purdue University Global, Northeastern University, and the University of North Texas - equating to the equivalent of 5 bachelor’s degree level courses.

Graduates of the program will have the added advantage of accessing CareerCircle resources to collaborate with local recruiters, connecting them to job opportunities aligned with their career aspirations. With access to an extensive network of over 150 U.S. employers and 80% of Fortune 500 companies through Allegis offices nationwide, certificate holders stand poised for entry-level roles within these prestigious organizations.

John "Dez" Easter III assumes the pivotal role of Project Lead, supported by Julian McClain in Project Support, and Duane "Naheen" Binion in Administrative duties.

Applications for this exclusive opportunity will be accepted from December 18th to January 11th, accommodating a limited capacity of 50 students. Interested individuals can apply at the link below.

The City of Pittsburgh announced today it is partnering with the Black Equity Coalition (BEC) and other community partners following a $1.1-million-dollar award from the de Beaumont Foundation Modernized Anti-Racist Data Ecosystems (MADE) for Health Justice grant. The focus of this collaborative initiative is to support communities in creating health equity-focused local data ecosystems.

Data Justice for Pittsburgh’s Black Neighborhoods is a cross-sectoral collective and working group consisting of the Black Equity Coalition, POISE Foundation, University of Pittsburgh Center for Health Equity, City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation and Performance, City of Pittsburgh’s Mayor’s Office, Carnegie Mellon University Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment (CREATE) Lab, The Forbes Funds, Gateway Medical Society, UrbanKind Institute, University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center (WPRDC).

“Making sure everyone, regardless of race or financial status has access to equal health care is the best thing for the people who call Pittsburgh home. Removing the barriers whether seen or unseen allows residents the opportunity to have a full life,” said Mayor Ed Gainey.

Further, the MADE collaboration will help residents in Black communities that have been harmed by residential segregation and disinvestment in the city gain tools to improve the quality of housing and the built environment. One of the Data Justice for Pittsburgh’s Black Neighborhoods goals is to ensure that the Black community has a meaningful participatory role in the design of public data systems that will help redress environmental injustices.

“To ensure data are a force for good, we need to create data ecosystems-dynamic collections of information that center and uplift the needs of the most marginalized. We’re excited to partner with communities across the nation that have taken on this challenge,” said Jamila Porter, DrPH, MPH, principal investigator for MADE for Health Justice and chief of staff at the de Beaumont Foundation.

The city’s work with the BEC is expected to build meaningful community participation into the city’s data governance practices which will allow public agencies to be held accountable for their use of data and technology. The groundbreaking partnership will also provide data literacy training workshops to increase understanding about how power imbalances in data perpetuate structural racism and harm minority communities along with collectively identifying ways to improve data collected, shared, and used to improve environmental health outcomes.

“Equity is at the core of POISE Foundation’s philosophy. We are excited to partner with the City of Pittsburgh and BEC’s Data Working Group who are focused on developing practices that gather, analyze, design, and communicate information using an equity lens. We are equally excited to be part of this national cohort to both learn and share what we hope to be leading practices in the field,” said President and CEO of POISE Foundation Mark Lewis.

 Lisa Schroeder is president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation. She was appointed in February of 2019 and took the helm in June that year to lead the philanthropy, which was established in 1945. As the leader of one of the oldest and largest of the country’s 750 community foundations, Lisa is only the sixth president and first woman appointed to the position.

The Foundation has about $1.5 billion in total assets and oversees about 2,500 individual charitable funds. The main mission is to improve quality of life in the Pittsburgh region by evaluating and addressing community issues, promoting responsible philanthropy and connecting donors to the region’s critical needs.

In 2020, less than a year into her term as president, Lisa directed the Foundation to the frontlines of crisis response as Covid-19 strained the limits of the region’s public health system, shuttered the economy and illuminated longstanding racial inequities. The Foundation raised millions of dollars for immediate relief, collaborated with its foundation partners to raise more for longer-term recovery and developed programs and services to address racial justice issues.  

She incorporated many of the lessons learned during that period into a new strategic plan that has a vision statement committing the Foundation to realize a region free of inequities, and one in which all residents have opportunities – not just to survive but to thrive.

Her life experience has prepared her to take on these challenges. As a nonprofit executive and civic leader in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, she has a distinguished record in turning place-centered organizations into powerful movements for quality-of-life improvement.

From 2002 until 2015, she led Riverlife, a public-private partnership established to guide and advocate for redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s three rivers. Riverlife is still shepherding her vision and the result today is a spectacular 15-mile system of riverfront parks, trails and spaces for millions of users in the heart of the city. The organization has led $132 million dollars in riverfront infrastructure development, which, in turn, has leveraged $4.2 billion dollars in investment along the three rivers.

Returning to her hometown of Baltimore to become president and CEO of the Parks & People Foundation, she oversaw completion of a $14 million capital campaign. Her “Every Kid Deserves a Park” program led to construction of new family-friendly parks serving more than 60,000 people in city neighborhoods struggling from decades of disinvestment. She also launched an international competition to create a waterfront park connecting 22 neighborhoods along the Patapsco River to $500 million worth of development opportunities.

Lisa serves on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Pittsburgh Promise, the Forbes Funds, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics Board of Fellows and the National Center for the Humanities. Her awards for leadership include the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Outstanding Women in Business Award and Baltimore’s 2016 Community Service Award. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of William Smith College, she received a Master of Science degree from Columbia University.

PUM ONE ON ONE CEO, Lisa Schroeder

PUM: Your team at the Pittsburgh Foundation recently announced a new Strategic Plan: From Surviving to Thriving. Tell us more about the strategic priorities under this plan and its significance.

Thank you for your interest and we’re excited to be able to share the foundation’s new work plan with PUM readers!

We will be ramping up our fundamental role serving as a hub for the residents of our region who want to undertake personal philanthropy to support the causes that they believe will improve quality of life.

The new vision underlying our commitments is to realize an equitable, vibrant and just Pittsburgh region in which everyone – regardless of race or other aspects of identity and circumstance – can thrive.

To get there, we will ramp up three functions: We will promote the philanthropy of our donors, Support Community through grant-making, and Catalyze Partnerships through convening and advocacy for policy change. Overarching all three is a commitment to address racial and economic inequities. 

PUM: That commitment to Racial Justice is significant. Your plan points to racial disparities in access to resources and opportunities. Can you explain more about the range and how we can address them in the region?

We recognize that making the region a model of racial justice – becoming a society in which race is no longer a determinant of who thrives and who gets held back – is a big challenge, but one we need to take on because an inequitable Pittsburgh is a Pittsburgh unable to thrive. We believe the need to set an aspirational goal is clear, based on the flood of data showing shocking quality-of-life differences according to race and economic condition. Some examples we referred to in developing our plan:

· Of the $12 billion in home loans approved for Pittsburgh homebuyers between 2007 and 2019, just 7% went to minority residents.

· In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Allegheny County, Black patients died at twice the rate of white patients.

· The poverty rate in Allegheny County for Black residents is nearly 30% compared to about 8% for white residents.

In taking stock of these disparities, we realize that our success in eliminating them depends on ramping up public awareness of the economic and social costs, because all of us, not just those figuring directly in the statistics, are harmed. Our work will involve leading public convenings to understand the needs, and forming partnerships with corporate, government, civic and philanthropic sectors in the region to leverage support and work toward solutions.  

We believe that if enough of us make this a priority, we will achieve the goals of the plan. 

PUM: The Foundation will invest $50 million of its unrestricted grant-making pool over the next five years to advance racial equity and racial justice. Can you provide more details about how this will unfold and specifically how the funds will be used? 

We’ve made the $50 million commitment of support through our own Foundation-directed grants to increase the numbers of Black-led and Black community-serving organizations, because it is important to hold ourselves accountable. We are focusing our grant-making in the following areas:

· ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION: Helping communities at risk of environmental harm by preventing exposure. We also will support organizations that promote equitable access to healthy air, water and land.

·  ECONOMIC MOBILITY: Reducing the racial wealth gap and supporting access to higher education, homeownership, career advancement and entrepreneurship.

·  EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE: Supporting civic participation, community organizing and citizen engagement to achieve policy changes and community-driven solutions that address the root causes of economic and racial inequities.

·  ARTS & CULTURE: Strengthening small to mid-sized arts organizations and supporting the careers and lives of individual artists by fostering a diverse, healthy and just arts ecosystem.

· BASIC NEEDS: Ensuring that everyone has access to the most essential resources for wellbeing: food, shelter, physical and mental health care, child care, education and employment.

PUM:  According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which reported in September that, while 12.8% of the nation – a total of 41.4 million people – live below the poverty line, Pittsburgh had a much higher rate across the board – 20.2%. More than a third of Pittsburgh’s Black and Latino residents, and more than one-in-four Asian residents lived below the poverty line last year. How will this plan help people of color living below the poverty line thrive specifically? 

Our plan calls for us to increase our convening power. We will bring together leaders with diverse backgrounds, talents and perspectives, and from all sectors of community life, including nonprofit, government, education and business to better understand what people need to thrive. By bringing community leaders and resources together, we expect those partnerships to identify significant opportunities where we can work together to support progress. 

An example of this is our work to provide affordable housing and end homelessness and eviction. The relationships we formed to provide emergency aid during the pandemic period will help us maximize opportunities to improve public health and the environment.

We will continue, as we have for 78 years,  to provide expertise and connect our donors to organizations serving the causes they care about. We are excited about  engaging young, mid-career people, especially those who are Black, Indigenous or identify as people of color (BIPOC), to engage in their own philanthropy along with us. 

We are increasing our advocacy activity on issues where we can advance changes in policies that hold back BIPOC communities.

PUM:  Other surveys your team used to develop your new strategies report that the racial and ethnic well-being gap widened during the pandemic, burdening BIPOC and immigrant communities and further highlighted historic disparities that have bolted the door to opportunities for generations of families. How will this be addressed through the strategic plan?

The Foundation will build on relationships established across the region over nearly eight decades to identify community resources and identify gaps; to nurture cross-sector partnerships and investments to transform systems in several ways: The Foundation has increased the diversity of highly qualified BIPOC-, women-, disabled- or veteran-owned management firms advising on the Foundation’s investment portfolios from 9% in 2021 to 17% last year. Nationally, only 1.4% of invested assets are managed by firms whose owners meet one or more of the diversity categories. 

We are also expanding our support for nonprofits to include a variety of non-monetary sources of support and capacity building through a “More-Than-Money” program. We’ve created new staff teams devoted to public health, policy and community impact; and we’ve increased our budget for research and data analysis to better understand disparities and develop solutions. 

While all of these measures are critically important to our success in eliminating disparities, the key determiner will be the number of residents who want to participate with us in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. It will take all of us.

Learn More About The Pittsburgh Foundation

 A new report from  the University of Pittsburgh’s Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) is shedding light on educational barriers plaguing Black students and families in Pittsburgh and nationwide.

On Oct. 19, representatives from CRSP presented findings from “Strength for the Journeys: Lessons from African American Families on Academic Programming and Educational Involvement in Greater Pittsburgh,” a report the center has been working on since 2018. The Heinz Endowments-supported project offered a more in-depth look at the disparities outlined in previous CRSP studies and explored how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated issues such as mental health challenges among students and parents alike. 

“We are calling attention to the collective issues that Black families face and the assets that have been supportive to them [and] are important for recommendations in the space of educational practice,” said James Huguley, associate dean and associate professor in the School of Social Work and the lead researcher on the project. “In this report, we see the day-to-day consequences of racialized economic and education oppression lived out.”  

The Pittsburgh College Access Alliance (PCAA) — a coalition of community organizations formed to address educational inequities by fostering educational access, opportunities and a network of support within Black communities — approached Huguley to develop the report. The founding members include the Crossroads Foundation, the Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education, Higher Achievement, the Negro Education Emergency Drive and The Neighborhood Academy (TNA). 

[Pitt’s Just Discipline Project expanded to more schools this fall.]

Although each organization had been successful in their respective missions before, including offering scholarships and college preparatory education, the consensus was that they could accomplish more together. To do so — and to better understand the needs of the families PCAA aims to help — the group engaged CRSP to initiate a listening tour with students, parents and alumni from each organization.

“When we attempted to study similar [collaborative] models within the nation, we quickly learned that no other organization was doing this work,” said Anthony Williams, TNA’s head of school.

The focus group sessions revealed that the barriers preventing Black families from obtaining quality education fall into three main categories: school and institutional, race and society, and financial. Structural issues included overcrowding, lack of funding, low expectations, peer distractions, teacher burnout and a lack of rigor. 

While attending private school largely curtailed these challenges, many families faced economic barriers that made this an unattainable option. And those who could afford private school found that new issues replaced old ones; CRSP’s study noted that kids instead encountered racism, classism and racialized social isolation, among other negative experiences.

“The parents were loud and clear around the need for diversity in training, representation and curriculum to offset the racial isolation and discriminatory experiences they were having,” said Huguley. “These experiences lend support to what other parents have experienced and voiced in public and private settings in our region in the past year and a half.”

Families contributing to the project recommended a number of solutions to boost achievement and challenge oppressive systems, including more equitable distribution of educational resources, better training for educators, establishing Black parent support networks and much more.

“This work adds important validation and voice to the authentic struggles and strengths of real people that are behind every statistic that we see in striking publications like the Gender Equity Report or the Just Discipline school suspensions report,” said Huguley.

The report is just the first step in a broader CRSP plan to transform educational attainment in the region. The next phase will see the center partner with the Center for Urban Education on a project that will delve deeper into Black families’ pandemic experiences in Pittsburgh’s Hill District neighborhood.

For those interested in participating in the next community conversation about the research, a forum and dinner will be held at 5 p.m. on Nov. 1 at The Neighborhood Academy, 709 N. Aiken Ave.

SOURCE— Kara Henderson

Destenie Nock (right), an assistant professor in the departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, is focused on applying high-level mathematical modeling to real-world issues in energy systems planning and equality. Her recent work has involved creating an energy equity metric that illustrates the socioeconomic divide in access to energy.

Q: In terms of improving public access to alternative energy options for more Americans, does the Inflation Reduction Act get it right? Does it do enough from an equity perspective to make it easier for more Americans to shift away from fossil fuels?

This is the first time we're seeing energy justice in a bill like this, with over $60 billion targeted for environmental justice efforts. There's also money to spur production of solar panels and wind turbines, and for processing critical materials in the United States. This is huge for energy justice and jobs.

A big part of the energy transition is what happens to the workers, not just ones who are selling and maintaining services, but the ones who are building, mining, doing research and development. Creating a domestic industry around that is critical to this transition. There are jobs that will come from manufacturing and construction, but with a domestic industry, it will be a much longer-term approach.

For example, there's $500 million for heat pumps and critical mineral processing. If we're trying to get people to shift away from natural gas to more electrical-based systems, we need to tie energy justice and housing by upgrading that infrastructure. Heat pumps that can both heat and cool will be central to that energy transition as well. They are more efficient than traditional heating systems, such as electric radiators, and that will help reduce our dependence on expensive energy generation systems like oil and natural.

Q: There were some carbon capture and storage provisions in the new law that some environmentalists saw as giveaways to the fossil fuel industry. How should we be thinking about those?

With one bill, it's hard to get it completely right, but compared to what we had before — the IRA — it's a good compromise. We weren't going to get this bill through the government without any support for fossil fuel. There are wealthy, powerful actors looking to protect their interests in that industry. I understand why some people are upset, but there's a larger picture at play here for reducing emissions.

One way to reduce emissions is to reduce the fossil intensity of the supply side. But there's also the demand side and reducing demand for fossil fuels. If we do that then it will start to push out those fossil fuel generators and that will be good for energy justice and climate justice.

Q: Shortly after this passed, California announced plans to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars beginning in 2035. Is that the kind of significant action we're going to need to see more of to deliver in terms of meeting emissions goals?

I think we'll see more actions like this in the future. It's great to try to get different people to invest in electric car manufacturing and improving number of vehicles made for sale. One challenge is that demand for electric vehicles has outgrown the supply. That leaves me worried that we could potentially be putting the onus on consumers to switch their technology when it is still not widely available.

I like to see in IRA that we're improving manufacturing capacity. But the law assumes people don't want to buy electric cars, when they do. Tesla has a long waiting list of people who want to buy their vehicles.

The concern here is for low-income and vulnerable populations who tend to depend on secondhand vehicles, and secondhand batteries that tend to die. There is some data that shows second life batteries don't work as well — their range is unreliable and they don't hold a charge as well.

One thing for the California policy to be successful will be heavy investment in public transportation and I'm not seeing that yet. If we're going to ban the sale of these vehicles knowing people still have to get to work and there's still a gap between deployment of our technology needs and the public demand, then we have to take that into account. In places like New York City and the Washington, D.C. metro area, people don't have to own vehicles to get around as long as they are close to the subway. In California, I did not find that to be the case when I visited, and that's a big challenge. Here in Pittsburgh, my public bus service stops at 9 p.m., so unless I want to be Cinderella, I need my own vehicle.

So while I'm glad to see this move, let's make sure the alternative isn't just another personal vehicle but a strong public transit system.

Source: CMU

Onome Oghifobibi arrived at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2015 for a pediatric residency and then completed a neonatal-perinatal fellowship, caring for some of the most vulnerable infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. During these years, he witnessed a disconnect between the region’s world-class universities and hospitals and the striking health disparities that some people faced. He wanted to stay at Pitt to help.

His timing was perfect. Because of a University-wide initiative, Oghifobibi is now an assistant professor of pediatrics, where he helps by not only caring for infants but by developing a program with the Allegheny County Health Department to combat a significant health disparity — the distressing rate of maternal and infant mortality in Pittsburgh’s Black and Brown communities. For Oghifobibi, staying at Pitt meant “feeling valued and heard” and that other people cared enough about his community-driven work to retain and support him.

“Staying here is an opportunity for me to help with the health disparity crisis,” he says. “We have the resources — great universities and a world-class health care system.”

Oghifobibi’s hire was a part of the Race and Social Determinants of Equity, Health and Well-being Cluster Hire and Retention Initiative at Pitt. The goals of the initiative are to engage more faculty to conduct research, educate students and engage in service designed to eliminate racial disparities and improve measures of well-being in the Pittsburgh region, nationally and around the world. Leading Pitt’s cluster hire are Paula K. Davis, associate vice chancellor for health sciences diversity, equity and inclusion, and John Wallace, vice provost for faculty diversity and development in the Office of the Provost. The initiative calls for numerous faculty member hires over four years.

In less than a year, the cluster hire has already brought to Pitt many outstanding faculty members. And that’s just the beginning, according to Davis, who chairs the health sciences’ cluster hire committee with Naudia Jonassaint, associate professor and vice chair for diversity and inclusion in the Department of Medicine and associate dean for clinical affairs, and MaCalus Hogan, professor and vice chair of orthopaedic surgery in the School of Medicine.

In addition to Oghifobibi, the cluster hire is bringing faculty with a wealth of academic interests and research expertise to Pitt. Ashley Hill from the Graduate School of Public Health conducts research aimed at reducing disparities in sexually transmitted infections among young people. Taofeek K. Owonikoko is head of the School of Medicine’s hematology/oncology division and focuses on discovering new biomarkers in lung cancer and other solid tumors. Katrina Knight from the Swanson School of Engineering is improving synthetic mesh materials that are used to treat pelvic organ prolapse.

But recruitment is only one part of a successful cluster hire. Davis and Wallace are also actively working to retain new faculty, which involves evaluating the hiring departments’ mentoring and inclusion plans and planning opportunities for new hires to develop social networks. For example, to inspire and encourage collaboration and multidisciplinary research among the cluster hires, the Offices of the Provost and the Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences co-sponsor the Race &... Lecture Series, which provides a spotlight for each new faculty member to describe their work and interests to the Pitt community. 

“The idea is not just to bring people here but to ensure that they’re successful and that we can retain them, as well as, frankly, effectively retaining our existing diverse faculty,” Wallace says.

That Pitt’s cluster hire in the health sciences was able to advance new areas of academic interest and research speaks to the efforts of Davis, Jonassaint and Hogan, each of whom credits the support of Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine, who sparked the cluster hire’s success and helped it quickly gain momentum.

“Absent Dr. Shekhar’s and Provost Ann Cudd’s decision to take bold steps to support the hires, we absolutely would not be having this conversation,” says Davis. “In many schools, the approach to diverse, equitable and inclusive recruitment is passive. But this isn’t the field of dreams — you know, ‘if you build it, they will come.’ They’re not coming. You have to build relationships with people.”

To the committee, diversifying the faculty and its research interests through the cluster hire is nothing short of a paradigm shift. They believe the benefits will go beyond research: Pitt’s capacity for innovation will increase, and students and trainees will have role models to provide roadmaps for navigating academic life and career aspirations.

Despite early successes, Wallace, Davis, Jonassaint and Hogan are not done. All agree that investing the resources, creating infrastructure and empowering people to execute a vision will help Pitt become a magnet for change.

“Eventually, it won’t be ‘change’; it’ll just be who we are,” says Hogan. “We’ll be known for valuing people for who they are and what they do.”

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

Source: University of Pittsburgh

NEW HEALTH EQUITY SCORECARD: State-by-State Scorecard of Racial and Ethnic Disparities Finds All

States’ Health Systems Are Failing People of Color.

In Nearly Every State, Black Americans Are More Likely Than White Americans to Die from Preventable and Treatable Conditions Exacerbated by Lack of Timely, High-Quality Health Care

A new health equity scorecard released  by the Commonwealth Fund finds 

deep-seated racial and ethnic health inequities in all 50 states and the District of

Columbia — disparities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Achieving Racial and Ethnic Equity in U.S. Health Care: A Scorecard of State

Performance is a comprehensive examination of how health care systems are

functioning for people of color in every state. Part of the Commonwealth Fund’s

ongoing series examining individual state health system performance, the

report uses 24 measures to evaluate each state on health care access, quality and

service use, and health outcomes for Black, white, Latinx/Hispanic, American

Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN), and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific

Islander (AANHPI) populations.

The health equity scorecard reveals that even among high-performing states,

racial and ethnic health disparities can be dramatic. For example, Minnesota’s

health care system, which has historically performed well in Commonwealth

Fund state scorecard rankings, has some of the largest health disparities between

white and nonwhite communities. Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut

are other traditionally high-scoring states where white residents receive some

of the best care in the country but where quality of care is far worse for many

populations of color. Similarly, in states like Mississippi and Oklahoma whose

health care systems have historically performed poorly for both white and Black

populations, white patients still received markedly better care.

In addition to showing how people of different races and ethnicities fare within

each state, the Fund’s scorecard ranks how well each state’s health system is

working for each racial and ethnic group. For instance, the health care system in

California works better for Latinx/Hispanic people than the Texas health care

system. In both Texas and California, however, the health system benefits white

people more. Among states with large American Indian populations, South

Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming have the worst-performing

health systems for these communities while California’s system ranks at the

top — though there are still wide disparities with other populations in the state.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Structural racism and generations of disinvestment in communities of color

are chief among many factors contributing to pervasive U.S. health inequities,

the authors note. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, people in many

communities of color are more likely than members of white communities to

live in poverty, to work in low-paying, high-contact industries, and to reside

in high-risk living environments. Many Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and AIAN

populations then face an unequal health system when they need to access care.

They are less likely to have health insurance, more likely to face cost-related

barriers to care and medical debt, and more likely to receive suboptimal care.

Health inequities are perpetuated and reinforced by each of these contributing

factors — all of which have their roots in both past and current policies at the

federal, state, and local levels. The authors suggest pursuing four broad policy

goals to create an equitable, antiracist health system:

1. Ensuring affordable, comprehensive, and equitable health insurance

coverage for all

2. Strengthening primary care

3. Lowering administrative burden for patients

4. Investing in social services.

Since health inequities vary across states, there are also opportunities for

state programs to tailor interventions that address the unique needs of their

communities.

HOW WE CONDUCTED THIS STUDY

State health system performance was evaluated for each of five racial and ethnic

groups — Black (non-Latinx/Hispanic), white (non-Latinx/Hispanic), AIAN

(non-Latinx/Hispanic), AANHPI (non-Latinx/Hispanic), and Latinx/Hispanic

(any race) — among 24 indicators of health system performance. Indicators were

grouped into three performance domains: health outcomes, health care access,

and quality and use of health care services.

For each of the 24 indicators, the researchers calculated a standardized score

for each state/population group with sufficient data (e.g., Latinx/Hispanic

individuals in Texas). Within each performance domain, they combined

indicator values to create a summary score. The domain summary scores in each

state were then combined to create a composite state health system performance

score for each racial and ethnic group.

Based on the overall composite scores, each racial/ethnic group within each state

received a percentile score providing both national and state-level context on the

performance of a state health system for that population. The percentile scoring,

from 1 (worst) to 100 (best), reflects the observed distribution of health system

performance for all groups measured in this report and enables comparisons

within and across states. For example, California’s health system score of 50

for Latinx/Hispanic individuals indicates that it is performing better for those

residents than Florida’s health system does for Latinx/Hispanic people, with a

score of 38. However, both groups fare worse than white residents in California,

where the health system performs at a score of 89 for them.

Read More: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2021/nov/achieving-racial-ethnic-equity-us-health-care-state-performance

 PPG (NYSE: PPG) and the PPG Foundation today announces a commitment to invest $20 million by 2025 to address systemic racism and advance racial equity in the U.S. by funding educational pathways for Black communities and people of color. The commitment strengthens PPG’s focus on education – a priority giving area for PPG and the PPG Foundation – and furthers its support of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

“We aim to reach diverse students and communities to champion change and empower historically underrepresented populations with greater opportunities to achieve brighter futures,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, (pictured) PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility. “Through this important commitment, we will prioritize equity and justice within education to close the racial gaps in STEM learning and careers, and help our society meet collective challenges quickly, creatively and effectively.”

The $20 million investment reflects commitments to support:

Advanced STEM education and career development - Supporting Black people and people of color who are pursuing advanced studies in engineering, chemistry and data science by funding scholarships, and academic and career counseling programs. PPG will focus on programs that promote inclusion, provide professional development and build bridges that enable middle and high school students to successfully pursue advanced learning opportunities and STEM careers.

K-12 STEM education - Encouraging interest among more Black students, and students of color, through hands-on STEM experiences in afterschool programs, camps and in-school settings, as well as mentoring and career exposure.

Social justice - Supporting new partners dedicated to social justice that were identified in collaboration with PPG’s employee resource networks (ERNs). PPG will support a range of social justice initiatives that focus on civil rights, criminal justice reform and the cultural heritage of Black communities and people of color.

Beautifying diverse communities - Increasing the number of PPG COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® projects that impact diverse communities.

Ongoing impact opportunities - Funding additional opportunities impacting Black and people of color populations that will be identified in collaboration with PPG employees, leaders and community partners, on an ongoing basis.

The PPG Foundation will direct at least 25% of diversity funding to organizations serving the company’s global headquarters community of Pittsburgh. It also will continue to invest more than 50% of its U.S.-based grantmaking to support causes that focus on Black communities and people of color, veterans, women, LGBTQ+ populations, economically disadvantaged individuals and families, and people with disabilities.

The community engagement commitment supplements PPG’s actions to further progress diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) companywide. PPG will continue to identify additional opportunities to ensure support to underrepresented groups around the world.

“At PPG, we believe in DE&I and have long upheld these values throughout our company and community engagement efforts to create stronger, more sustainable communities,” said Marvin Mendoza, global head, DE&I, PPG. “Our new community engagement commitments build upon PPG’s purpose to protect and beautify the world and align with our practices to create an equal and just society.”

In 2020, PPG continued its focus on DE&I across the company. In response to George Floyd’s death and the widespread civil rights movement that followed, the PPG Foundation made initial investments in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Policing Equity and the Equal Justice Initiative. In November 2020, the company appointed Mendoza to design, lead and execute PPG’s global DE&I vision and strategy, and leverage data-driven insights to accelerate the company’s DE&I agenda. PPG also relaunched and expanded its ERNs, providing employees with more opportunities to share ideas, learn from one another, and leverage the unique skills, experiences and perspectives of the PPG team.

PPG’s global community engagement efforts and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $11 million in 2019, supporting hundreds of organizations across 38 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at communities.ppg.com.

Source: PPG