engagingyouthpgh-blog

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Grocery Store in Garfield

Many years ago Father Leo Henry brought Aggie to the site of Giant Eagle and asked her if she saw something concerning about the building. She looked long and hard at the building, but could not find what was wrong with it until Father Henry told her that it could use a coat of paint! From that experience she realized that people seem to accept the decay and decline of their neighborhood as a natural course of life instead of organizing for better conditions.

Unfortunately when Aggie returned to Garfield she was faced with the grim reality that her neighborhood did not have a Giant Eagle. Garfield was a food desert– residents cannot readily access fresh, healthy, and affordable food within a mile of where they live. On June 4, residents celebrated when a Bottom Dollar opened on Penn Avenue after many hard years of organizing. The celebrations were short lived as the store closed shortly after it opened. Fortunately, Bottom Dollar left a few resources inside of where it’s store once stood. Aggie organized the community to fight for the resources in the store and for another store to open in the neighborhood. Community members were willing to go to jail for civil disobedience in order to bring a grocery store to her neighborhood. The community championed this ALDI’s store and their perseverance paid off - it will be open later this year.

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The Closing of the Alley Way

Not too long ago, children in Garfield feared playing in the street because of the fast street traffic. Parents and other community members finally said enough to their children staying in doors. The community identified a solution: closing off the alley way would minimize traffic on that particular street without affecting the greater traffic patterns. Aggie represented her community, going personally to city council and requesting the alley’s closure. She argued that the alley way would be greatly appreciated by the kids and not missed by drivers because there were many alternative routes through Garfield. Aggie got a resounding “No” from City Council.  

For some the “No” would be the end of the efforts, but for Aggie it was only the beginning! She went back to the people she was representing, the parents and children alike, and organized a second trip to city council. This time, she would not be the one arguing the case; she filled over two buses with parents, children, and community organizers that volunteered to advocate for closing the alley. Hand in hand with Aggie, they all marched into city hall. Immediately, city hall members wanted them removed because they were an unnecessary distraction. They requested that the Aggie’s group go first so that they could get them out of the building as fast as possible. Playfully, Aggie told them that she didn’t want to disturb their session and they could wait just like how they made her wait before when she had come alone.  She led the children to the seats in the back of the room. When their turn came, the children explained that even though they really wanted to play outside they were not allowed to because the traffic made it dangerous for them.

When Aggie read the next legislation from City Council it did indeed contain a clause that closed off the alley way. Because of her incredible tenacity and creative stubbornness to see change through, the children in her community could once again play in the streets.

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10 posts!

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One Week Left to Apply!

There is only one week left to apply for our grant opportunity of up to $25,000! We are looking to fund existing organizations that work to involve youth in grades 6th - 12th in civic engagement and the related topics of youth organizing, leadership and advocacy. You can find our application HERE. The deadline for the application is August 3, 2015 at 9:00 a.m.

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The Need for Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation

Garfield used to be a booming, blue-collar Irish neighborhood with a peak population of 11,283 in 1950. Over the next several decades, however, the residents slowly left the community. Steel mills closed, urban redevelopment failed as it displaced residents and shuttered businesses, and all the while suburbanization rapidly took place. Years of underinvestment plagued the community and crime became more prevalent. To halt the downward spiral of Garfield, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation (BGC) was formed in 1975, 40 years ago this October, by Rev. Leo Henry and Aggie Brose (an amazing community leader who we’ll be talking more about). Serving as the community development corporation for Garfield, BGC has a grassroots-oriented mission to improve the quality of life for all through active and transparent community engagement. BGC has been crucial in bringing basic community needs to the neighborhood from a grocery store to a bank (which we’ll be covering in another post), responsible redevelopment of the Penn Avenue business district, and helping residents with affordable housing. Garfield is going through a transformation, becoming a community revolving around art, restaurants, and other small local businesses. Change is happening in Garfield, whose population today stands at 3,675, with the residents leading the way.

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The Velvet Stiletto: Aggie Brose

In simplest terms Aggie Brose is a Garfield woman. As a resident of Garfield she is aware of the needs of her community and how to make a positive change in the lives of her neighbors. She has championed, advocated, and organized for her community for more than thirty years.  

On July 15, 2015 we met with Aggie over lunch at the People’s Indian restaurant. We were mesmerized by her passion for Garfield. We wanted to highlight her in a blog segment in order to thank her for her dedication.

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#FlashbackFriday

Flashback to visiting the Center for Sustainable Landscapes at Phipps Conservatory and learning about sustainable architecture and design during orientation week. Sustainability FTW!

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Highlight: Damon Bethea

Damon Bethea is not only the program director of the Be a Middle School Mentor at the United Way of Allegheny County, but a mentor at Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8 as well. In the fall he will be entering his third year as a mentor at Manchester. He has had two mentees during that time: Josh and Tyreek. He met both of his mentees during his first year as a mentor when he played Uno with them. The Uno cards created a comfortable space for them to speak openly every Thursday. Although Josh was originally matched with Damon, he did not continue the program his seventh grade year. Fortunately, Tyreek was in the need of a mentor that year so Damon became his mentor.

During the past two years Damon and Tyreek have formed a strong bond. When Tyreek approached Damon about help with his unsanitary grade in his Reading class they worked together to address the root cause of his problem. One question that Tyreek continuously asks Damon is whether he will come back the following week; every week his answer is yes and he takes the appropriate measures to ensure that he is there for Tyreek. Due to their strong bond that they have formed in the past two years Damon has etched Tyreek’s promotion date in his calendar so he can watch him promote from middle school in June 2016.  

If you are interested in the Be a Middle School Mentor please contact Damon Bethea at 412-456-6770 and sign up at http://unitedwaypittsburgh.org/mentor/join/signup/ !

 E-Mail: Damon.Bethea@uwac.org

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Being a Middle-School Mentor

Mentoring a middle school student is not only a crucial opportunity for the mentee, but also for the mentor. It provides a sense of what it’s like to be a teenager growing up in Pittsburgh, allowing the mentor to be more empathetic with their student. But before that connection can occur, potential mentors must go through a process to ensure they are prepared to meet with their mentee. After applying <HERE>, dial 2-1-1,or by calling (412) 456-6770), mentors select their preferences for which school site works best with their schedule, and attend a training session that covers basic procedures for their assigned school site. In between the selection process of getting a mentee, mentors must secure specific clearances to be eligible.

Once the site coordinator pairs the mentor and mentee, they jointly partake in an orientation to set the expectations. Over the course of the year, the pair play games, talk, and truly bond – guiding the student on future educational and career opportunities. In the fall of the following school year, the mentor continues with their student if they are going into 7th or 8th grade, or they are paired with a new 6th grader when their mentee is promoted to high school. Each connection with a student is unique and makes a lasting impact. Consider joining this fantastic program today at http://unitedwaypittsburgh.org/mentor/join/signup/ and make a difference in a middle schooler’s life!

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From left to right: (interns )Steven O’Brion, Isaiah Cofield, Christina Ambrosino, Amma Ababio, and (senior intern) Donshaé Pollard

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The Be a Middle School Mentor is a program initiative of the United Way of Allegheny County in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools, Mentoring Partnership of South Western Pennsylvania and four mentoring agency partners (Big Brother Big Sisters, Communities in Schools, Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center and Urban League). The program connects middle school students with caring adults that will help them to develop crucial skills inside and outside the classroom.

Mentors can be teachers, family and community members. With the help of their mentors, mentees have increased their grades, attendance, interest engagement in school, and future aspirations. The program is currently in sixteen middle schools, and hopes to expand to all Pittsburgh Public Schools middle schools (including K-8 and 6-12 schools, and one charter school).

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On Tuesday, we toured the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The building was the first convention center in North American to be LEED certified. This is a view from the roof, parts of which are a green roof. Later in the day, we toured Pittsburgh’s Energy Innovation Center, which works to support socially responsible workforce development, sustainable technology development, and job creation.

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Our RFP is live!

Our request for proposals is currently live! Aligning with the United Way’s priority to help youth succeed through leadership and mobilization, this funding opportunity of up to $25,000 aims to support existing organizations in Allegheny County that work to involve youth in grades 6th through 12th in civic engagement and the related topics of youth organizing, leadership and advocacy. Please visit our RFP HERE for more information or to apply!

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The Heinz Interns at UWAC

Hello Viewers & Welcome!  We are a group of five interns: Christina Ambrosino, Isaiah Cofield, Stephen O’Brion, Amma Ababio, and one senior intern Donshaé Pollard. We are currently stationed at United Way of Allegheny County — a change agent and efficient community fundraiser base that improves lives by addressing critical community needs. As part of The Heinz Endowments’ Summer Youth Philanthropy Internship Program, we are providing the youth voice to the grant-making process by writing, editing, and publishing a grant opportunity for up to $25,000. We will use this blog to chronicle our experience as interns and highlight the “Be a Middle School Mentor” program.