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In the Spotlight Archive
10,000 Friends of PennsylvaniaEstablished 12 years ago to cultivate a statewide voice on land-use issues, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is an alliance of organizations and individuals who are committed to land-use policies and actions that reduce sprawl and strengthen the state’s diverse urban, suburban and rural communities. The nonprofit promotes development that will support the social and economic viability of Pennsylvania's cities and towns, protect environmental quality, conserve fiscal resources, and preserve rural and heritage resources. With headquarters in Philadelphia and offices in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, 10,000 Friends’ efforts include advocating for specific legislative initiatives; supporting quality housing, transportation and infrastructure development; advancing conservation of rural, heritage and natural resources; and establishing communication and education programs around the state that focus on these issues. Go to this Spotlight 
100 Black Men of Western PAThe 100 Black Men of Western Pennsylvania’s mission to improve the quality of life and to enhance educational opportunities for African Americans and minorities includes a special emphasis on young African American males. Of the 37 students participating in its programming this year, 29 are male. The organization’s mentoring initiative was established in 1991 and has provided educational and life skills support to more than 500 students, with 90 percent of the participants going on to post-secondary institutions. The "100" offers a series of activities that focus on education, health and wellness, economic development and financial literacy, networking, technology and culture. It is an affiliate of 100 Black Men of America Inc., which has more than 116 chapters with a total membership that exceeds 10,000 men who are committed to improving the quality of life in their communities and offering youth development and mentoring opportunities annually to more than 100,000 students. Go to this Spotlight 
Allegheny Land TrustFor nearly two decades, the Allegheny Land Trust’s mission has been to serve as the lead land trust in conserving and stewarding lands in and around Allegheny County that are vital to the scenic, recreational and environmental well-being of local communities. To do this, the Trust accepts property donations and purchases lands of particular natural significance. Staff and volunteers also monitor and manage conservation lands by walking trails and boundaries, reporting problems and, in general, providing the ongoing connections needed to ensure that native plant and animal communities are allowed to improve and mature without human intervention. Where appropriate, provisions are made for environmentally sensitive public trails, and efforts to remove invasive species are ongoing. Go to this Spotlight 
Allegheny Youth DevelopmentAllegheny Youth Development is a Christian-based nonprofit that provides academic assistance and self-control development to inner-city boys to help them grow into responsible, productive men and leaders within their community. It employs “soft” techniques such as mentoring, athletics, relationship-building and a fraternal, Christian atmosphere to produce “hard,” measureable results in academic performance and behavior. The organization also uses data to make decisions about curriculum and lesson planning, while considering the long-term needs and success of participants in the development of programming. According to AYD staff, this model takes six or seven years to run its course, but the results are dramatic and long-lasting, generating a long-term return on investment. Go to this Spotlight 
Arts Greenhouse, Carnegie MellonThe Arts Greenhouse is a hip-hop music education program that serves Pittsburgh teens through music technology classes, music recording projects, hip-hop performances and educational workshops on special topics relating to hip-hop. Currently, the Arts Greenhouse holds classes at Carnegie Mellon University and records with its School of Music. The program offers workshops in various locations in and around Pittsburgh. Every semester, project organizers distribute a music album featuring work produced by Arts Greenhouse participants. Go to this Spotlight 
ArtUpArtUp, also known as Artists Upstairs, is an educational arts organization devoted to the promotion and development of new works that explore the interrelationship between movement, media, sound, visual arts and theater. For the past few years, the nonprofit has been refining a new model for itself. It was originally founded in 5,000 square feet of raw space that it became known for, but now, with the help of its new creative team and board members, the organization is focusing on its networking skills and reinterpreting the concept of “space.” This has resulted in a new mission statement to guide ArtUp’s work: “Bridging a language of peace through the actions of art.” Go to this Spotlight 
ASSET Inc.Achieving Student Success through Excellence in Teaching, or ASSET, is an education nonprofit that provides teacher training and hands-on curriculum materials for elementary and middle schools. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the organization also manages and designs the “Science: It’s Elementary” initiative, which has taken the ASSET model of teacher training to school districts across the state. Go to this Spotlight 
August Wilson Center for African American CultureThe arts and culture center bearing the name of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Pittsburgh native August Wilson is devoted to preserving, presenting, interpreting, celebrating and shaping the art, culture and history of African Americans in western Pennsylvania and people of African descent throughout the world. From its home in Pittsburgh’s vibrant Cultural District, the sleekly modern August Wilson Center for African American Culture entertains, informs and cultivates audiences with exciting events, presentations, performances and activities for adults and children. It is a place where all ages can discover together. Within the center’s walls are multiple exhibition galleries; a 486-seat theater for performances in all genres; an education center for classes, lectures and hands-on learning; and spaces for community programs and events. It is unique in its provision of opportunities for experiencing theater, dance, music, history, film, literature, visual art, interactive education and spectacular entertainment, all under one roof. Go to this Spotlight 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater PittsburghSince 1965, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh has matched more than 19,000 children with adult mentors. The nonprofit unites the agency staff, volunteer mentors, and parents/guardians who work together to deter problematic behaviors in children before they take root. The program is designed to enable volunteers to provide role modeling, guidance and friendship that will help fill a void for children who are critically in need of stable and supportive bonds with caring adults. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ professional staff conducts volunteer orientation and training, rigorous screening, thorough assessment and careful matching of children with volunteers. The agency staff also furnishes ongoing support and supervision of each match to help ensure that all parties get through the rough spots in the relationship and to assist in improving the child’s long-term development. Go to this Spotlight 
Bodiography Contemporary BalletBodiography Contemporary Ballet is a nonprofit contemporary ballet company that focuses on realistic themes, such as relationships and real life issues, to produce art that is emotionally accessible and relevant to all audiences. Artistic and Executive Director Maria Caruso’s goal is to explore the universal human condition through the universal language of movement in an attempt to touch viewers’ hearts. Operating out of three local studios, including a Squirrel Hill site that was the first studio of the late renowned actor, dancer and Pittsburgh native son Gene Kelly, Bodiography fuses modern, jazz and pedestrian movement styles, with an underpinning of ballet technique. For some of the company’s latest productions, this has meant incorporating Caruso’s interest in health, science and medicine by including doctors, patients and scientists in the performances to add realism that has increased the impact of the work and its message. Go to this Spotlight 
Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational & Cultural CenterAlthough incorporated in 1994, the Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center can trace its roots back to 1930 when Pittsburgh's Bulgarian community leaders established a social and cultural organization for immigrants from southeastern Europe who came to Pittsburgh and other American cities in the early 1900s. Called the Bulgaro-Macedonian Beneficial Association-Otets Paissi, the early group recognized the community it represented and the monk who wrote the first history of the Bulgarian people. In 1935, a permanent home for the society was constructed in West Homestead, a borough east of Pittsburgh. Today, the BMNECC is the oldest Bulgarian Macedonian organization in the United States. It serves as the country's national center for Bulgarian and Macedonian culture and education. At its renovated West Homestead facility, the organization provides tours; cultural and educational programs; artistic performances; immigrant services; and opportunities for scholars, educators and the general public to examine a variety of artifacts and collections. Go to this Spotlight 
Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music SocietyCalliope promotes and preserves traditional and contemporary folk music and its allied arts. Its mission as presenter, educator, and community-builder has evolved naturally and steadily since it was founded in 1976. It remains the premier presenter of traditional and roots-based music in western Pennsylvania. At the same time, the Calliope School of Folk Music, Dance, and Craft provides accessible, high-quality instruction in heritage-based music and crafts to adults, teens, and children through classes, workshops, jam sessions and collaborations with other organizations. Finally, the nonprofit brings together people from many neighborhoods, ages and ethnicities to experience each other’s music and movement traditions, to trade stories and to forge friendships. Go to this Spotlight 
Carlow UniversityCarlow University is the first Catholic, women-centered, liberal arts university in Pennsylvania, and is committed to preparing students, primarily women, for leadership and service in personal and professional life. Go to this Spotlight 
Carnegie Museums of PittsburghPittsburgh industrialist Andrew Carnegie created his museums to be constantly changing places of exploration and growth. Starting with the museums of art and natural history in the late 19th century and rounded out with the openings of Carnegie Science Center and The Andy Warhol Museum nearly 100 years later, the family of museums has been known throughout the world for their vast art and scientific collections and their scientific research. Together, they use the freedom of art and the wonder of science to challenge individuals to see the world from a variety of perspectives. Carnegie Museums also reach out to the Pittsburgh region through a range of creative programming. From collaborations with local universities to discounted admissions for families and individuals with economic or physical disadvantages, the four museums have always looked for opportunities to engage people of all ages in the joy of discovery Go to this Spotlight 
Cave Canem Foundation, Inc.Based Brooklyn, N.Y., Cave Canem was founded in 1996 by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady to provide African American poets a place of their own in the literary landscape. Its name, Latin for “beware of the dog,” and its logo, a dog on a broken chain, have stood for the culture-shaping role that the nonprofit has played as a protector of poets and a catalyst for unleashing vital, new voices into the literary world. Over the years, Cave Canem has grown from an association of 26 poets to an influential movement with a renowned faculty and a national fellowship of 289 talented, high-achieving poets. In addition to an annual writing retreat at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, its programs include two book prizes with prestigious presses; workshops in New York City; Legacy Conversations; a Poets on Craft series; nationally based readings and panels; and the publication of two anthologies. Go to this Spotlight 
Center for Healthy Environments and CommunitiesIn 2004, The Heinz Endowments funded the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health’s establishment of a multifaceted, community-based environmental research group. Unlike many academic institutions, the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities intends to bridge the gap between the community and academia by incorporating first-hand accounts of health-related environmental issues, like coal fly ash and Marcellus Shale gas drilling, into more traditional chemical and physical studies. Go to this Spotlight 
Children's Museum of PittsburghHoused within the Old Post Office Building on Pittsburgh’s North Side since 1983, the museum offers innovative experiences that inspire joy, creativity and curiosity in children. Go to this Spotlight 
Christian Evangelistic Economic Development (CEED)Christian Evangelistic Economic Development is a nonprofit founded in 2004 to act as a catalyst in the development of holistic and participatory initiatives that transform communities. The organization’s pool of experts and partners are building a regional effort to economically empower and engage underserved and disadvantaged people who represent more than 26 countries and live in southwestern Pennsylvania. This group includes immigrants, refugees, minority groups, veterans and others. CEED assists in the development of small businesses, creation of jobs and revitalization of housing so that these individuals can become a driving force to enrich the community, promote diversity and boost the local economy. Go to this Spotlight 
Citizens for Pennsylvania's FutureCitizens for Pennsylvania's Future, or PennFuture, was created in 1998 through matching grants from The Heinz Endowments and the Pew Charitable Trusts to establish an effective statewide voice for conservation and environmental protection in Pennsylvania. PennFuture's mission is to promote a just future in which nature, communities and the economy thrive in the state. The organization presses for the enforcement of environmental laws and advocates for the transformation of public policy, public opinion and the marketplace, to restore and protect the environment and to safeguard public health. In a little over a decade, PennFuture has become Pennsylvania's leading environmental advocacy organization, advancing effective solutions for the problems of pollution, sprawl and global warming; mobilizing citizens; crafting compelling communications; and providing excellent legal services and policy analysis. Go to this Spotlight 
City TheatrePittsburgh’s City Theatre specializes in new plays, and its mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays that engage a diverse audience. Its facilities include the 270-seat main stage, the 100-seat Lester Hamburg Studio, and the Charles Morris Building, which houses rehearsal halls, and costume, prop, and paint shops. Begun in 1975 as the City Players, the company was initially part of the City of Pittsburgh's Department of Parks and Recreation, and gave free performances in schools, parks and government housing. Three years later, it changed its name to the City Theatre, and in 1987, it incorporated as a nonprofit performing arts organization. After several years of moving from one venue to another, City Theatre settled into its current home, a former Methodist church that was renovated and reopened for performances in 1991. The organization has since expanded its South Side site, acquiring more buildings to accommodate costume and set design, rehearsal space and parking. At the same time, its audience and reputation has grown, attracting nationally recognized theater artists and creating widely praised productions. Go to this Spotlight 
Community Human Services CorporationCommunity Human Services Corp. seeks to enhance people’s lives and strengthen communities by providing opportunities for individuals to develop their potential and by delivering comprehensive services that maximize the health and well-being of those the organization serves in South Oakland and the Pittsburgh region. Its programming reaches out to where people live and work, rather than operating from one central location. This approach encourages interaction among people of different backgrounds and helps to re-establish community while assisting persons at risk. Go to this Spotlight 
Conservation Consultants, Inc.For more than 30 years, Conservation Consultants Inc. has been helping western Pennsylvanians become more energy efficient and environmentally responsible at home and on the job. Among the nonprofit’s services have been energy audits, including thousands of home evaluations for low-income residents of Pittsburgh in which trained experts check and measure energy use, pointing out ways to improve comfort while reducing utility costs. The organization also provides technical assistance for green construction, with practical energy-saving information and connections to experienced contractors. And it offers outreach programs to schools and community groups, including tours of the organization’s energy-saving building, the CCI Center on Pittsburgh’s South Side. All of these efforts are part of a comprehensive process that includes follow-up reviews to ensure that recommendations are translated into concrete actions to help home and building owners save money, better protect the environment, and live or work in surroundings that promote health and safety. Go to this Spotlight 
CorningworksCorningworks is a vehicle for multi-disciplinary dance theater productions by Beth Corning. Issues such as art and myth, gender and aging are portrayed through both serious interpretations and humor. With a seasoned and passionate voice, Corning partners with renowned collaborators to explore and expose captured glimpses and startling slices of the human condition. Go to this Spotlight 
Crisis Center NorthCrisis Center North first began offering its services in 1978. It was through the efforts and resources of 13 women and volunteers that the then-North Hills Women’s Center got its start. Dee Walk, regarded as the organization’s founding “mother,” became involved with domestic violence issues in 1974, after the death of her husband Kenneth, a prominent counselor in the North Hills. For many years, Kenneth had volunteered to offer counseling to victims of domestic violence when the term “domestic violence” had not yet been coined. After his death, battered women with nowhere to turn continued to show up on Dee’s doorstep. Over time and through planning, the North Hills Women’s Center opened its doors. In 1982, the agency incorporated and changed its name to Crisis Center North. CCN aims to assist victims of domestic violence in the northern and western communities of Allegheny County, providing free empowerment counseling and advocacy to adult, teen and child victims of domestic violence. Go to this Spotlight 
Diversity Business Resource CenterThe Diversity Business Resource Center is a resource and referral center that provides a single point of contact for minority, women, veteran and other disadvantaged business owners who seek information and services to start, sustain and grow their businesses. Go to this Spotlight 
Earth ForceBased in Denver, Earth Force encourages youth to become active citizens who improve the environment and their communities. The nonprofit partners with businesses, schools, community-based organizations and civic leaders to provide young people with hands-on, real-world opportunities to practice civic skills, acquire and understand environmental knowledge, and develop the motivation to become life-long leaders in addressing environmental issues. Earth Force has established offices and affiliates around the country, including the Lake Erie-Allegheny Earth Force chapter that serves Pittsburgh and the entire western Pennsylvania region. Go to this Spotlight 
EarthworksEarthworks is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of irresponsible mineral and energy development while seeking sustainable solutions. It advocates for clean water, healthy communities and corporate accountability by working with communities and grassroots groups to reform government policies, improve corporate practices, influence investment decisions, and encourage responsible materials sourcing and consumption. The organization also exposes the health, environmental, economic, social, and cultural impacts of mining and energy extraction through work that is informed by sound science. Go to this Spotlight 
East End Cooperative MinistryFounded in 1970 through the efforts of 18 local congregations, the East End Cooperative Ministry is an interfaith organization dedicated to helping at-risk children and youth, the hungry, the homeless, and others in need throughout Pittsburgh’s East End. Today, its staff of 37 full-time and 25 part-time employees serves more than 4,000 people, including 1,000 children. More than 40 member congregations support the work, as well as local businesses, foundations, donors and volunteers. Go to this Spotlight 
East Liberty Development Inc.East Liberty Development Inc. was established in 1979 as a nonprofit redevelopment organization that would reverse the effects of failed urban renewal and revitalize the community. Over the years, ELDI has worked to reopen the business corridor to vehicular traffic; stimulate commercial and residential development; and encourage residents, business leaders and other stakeholders to participate in setting priorities and supporting productive changes in the community. The organization has created a four-pronged strategy that involves planning, advocacy, facilitation and investment, which together are designed to continue transforming East Liberty and create a model of successful community development. Go to this Spotlight 
Every Child Inc.Every Child Inc. was founded by Susan Davis in 1997. From its humble beginnings of operating out of the founder’s home, Every Child has grown into an organization with a diverse staff of 75 and an annual budget of about $4 million. The Pittsburgh nonprofit provides a variety of support programs for children, including adoption and foster care services, and has helped more than 3,000 youngsters achieve a loving family. Go to this Spotlight 
Frick Art & Historical CenterWithin the black wrought-iron gates surrounding the estate of Henry Clay Frick, industrialist and art collector, is Pittsburgh at the turn of the 20th century. But the Frick Art and Historical Center tells more than just the history of the city. It displays a historic era of this country that is relevant to each Pittsburgher and each American. From the Frick residence, Clayton, to the art museum, and car and carriage museum, the center serves about 135,000 visitors annually, including more than 14,000 local schoolchildren. Go to this Spotlight 
Friends of the RiverfrontFor more than 20 years, Friends of the Riverfront has been on the ground and in the water, working to protect and restore the Pittsburgh region’s rivers and riverfronts. The nonprofit is a pioneering organization that has been involved in creating nearly all of the trails that people bike, hike, rollerblade or paddle along the river shores. Through intense collaboration with community partners, government officials and a diverse volunteer base, Friends of the Riverfront has helped to transform the region’s rivers and riverfronts from industrial wastelands to international examples of environmental renewal. Go to this Spotlight 
Gemini Theater CompanyGemini Theater was established in 1996 as an interactive children’s theater. Its mission is to cultivate creativity, imagination and originality through the performing arts. The nonprofit is located in "The Factory" building in Pittsburgh’s Point Breeze neighborhood, where it has produced more than 60 children’s plays, 18 new full-length plays, and provided space for 20 young and developing theater companies Go to this Spotlight 
Good Jobs FirstGood Jobs First is devoted to encouraging economic development and smart growth by holding corporations and governments accountable for state and local subsidy use. The organization, founded in 1998 by Executive Director Greg LeRoy, publishes research and a host of web resources to inform constituency-based groups and government officials about the relationship between smart growth and good jobs. The staff at Good Jobs First works with a number of organizations involved in community, job and economic development to train and aid them in education, research and communications. Go to this Spotlight 
Green Building AllianceFounded in 1993, the Green Building Alliance is an organization committed to inspiring others to create healthy, high-performing facilities in which people live, work, learn and play. The nonprofit provides leadership in the green building movement by offering multiple programs and initiatives. It also links knowledge in the field to transformative ideas and collaborative action. Go to this Spotlight 
Group Against Smog and PollutionThe Group Against Smog and Pollution is a nonprofit citizens’ organization in southwestern Pennsylvania that is working for a healthy, sustainable environment. Founded in 1969, GASP has been a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator and policymaker on many environmental issues, with a focus on air quality in the Pittsburgh region. Go to this Spotlight 
GTECH (Growth Through Energy & Community Health)GTECH Strategies is a Pittsburgh nonprofit that is stimulating new ways of thinking about sustainable economic development by using innovative methods to transform environmental problems into social and economic opportunities. The four-year-old organization provides expertise and leadership to help Pittsburgh communities obtain the resources and training they need to overcome urban decline that is a result of vacant land, inefficient use of energy and waste. GTECH’s three focus areas include improving urban land use, which involves employing green redevelopment strategies to transform vacant or blighted properties into areas of viable community and economic development, and expanding the green economy locally by increasing opportunities and developing collaborations that will help build and strengthen a green workforce. The organization also promotes alternative energy use, which includes creating innovative social enterprise projects, goods and services by transforming waste products into useful and environmentally beneficial commodities. Go to this Spotlight 
Heritage Community InitiativesFor almost three decades, Heritage Community Initiatives has dedicated itself to serving residents in the Mon Valley region of southwestern Pennsylvania who face a complex series of social, education and economic obstacles. Nearly 20 percent live at or below the poverty line, compared to the 13 percent statewide average. A mere 19 percent earn higher than a high school diploma or GED, and unemployment rates have soared past 10 percent, compared to Pennsylvania’s 8 percent. Heritage addresses these challenges through expanding education opportunities, improving transportation and revitalizing the community. Its achievements have enabled residents to find or keep jobs, beautify their neighborhoods and provide their children with safe and enjoyable places to learn and play. Go to this Spotlight 
Homeless Children's Education FundThe Homeless Children’s Education Fund is devoted to ensuring that children who are homeless have access to the same educational opportunities and experiences as their peers. The nonprofit organization raises public awareness of the existence of children’s homelessness and the challenges to their academic success. It provides enhancements to and support of learning within transitional and bridge housing, as well as emergency shelters, and offers opportunities for adults, youths and children to become advocates for families experiencing homelessness and for the educational rights of the children affected. HCEF has engaged residents in the Pittsburgh region — from private individuals and community organizations to political figures, corporations and foundations — in providing direct educational support within 17 residential facilities serving families. As the organization strives to meet the educational needs of these children, its efforts complement the work of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit without duplication. This assistance has resulted in agency-based learning centers with computers and peripheral equipment; resource libraries with books and educational software for every age and reading level; and workshops for agency staff members on such topics as bullying, health issues, and using art and storytelling with children. Go to this Spotlight 
Housing Alliance of PennsylvaniaSince 1985, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania has worked to provide secure, appropriate and reasonably priced housing to all Pennsylvanians, particularly those with low incomes. The statewide organization, formerly called the Pennsylvania Low Income Housing Coalition, boasts more than 500 individual and group members who are involved in the alliance’s goals in their rural, urban and suburban communities. The organization’s core principles include that communities should have suitable housing for individuals and families; homes should be close enough to local employers that parents don’t sacrifice time with children to commute to work; and diverse groups of people should collaborate to create a solid community. The alliance also encourages businesses to help skilled workers find housing and government officials to plan for an ever-expanding community. Through online forums on its website, the alliance facilitates discussions on issues such as blighted and vacant property and homeowners in distress. The organization also helps residents learn about housing laws and legislation. Go to this Spotlight 
Jazz Workshop, Inc.Jazz musician Harold Young felt students in Pittsburgh city schools weren’t getting enough from their music programs, so he started Jazz Workshop Inc. in 1973. He began with a few African American professional musicians teaching eight African American students at the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood. Today, the program has expanded greatly in numbers and diversity. Still based at the Carnegie Library, the Jazz Workshop now boasts hundreds of people who attend classes for instruments, voice and dance. Beyond providing instruction, Jazz Workshop, Inc. also hosts community performance events to help keep jazz alive in the region. Go to this Spotlight 
JFilm: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film ForumJFilm: The Pittsburgh Jewish Film Forum promotes community dialogue and cultural understanding by exploring and celebrating Jewish culture through year-round film programs and presentations by guest artists. Its signature event is the three-week JFilm Festival, which was started in 1994. The festival screens current and thought-provoking films, and hosts filmmakers from around the world to speak with audiences and lead workshops at local universities. Through all of its programming, JFilm actively reaches out to people of different races and religions, ages and abilities by showing films with a broad range of themes and by collaborating with a diversity of community and educational organizations. Go to this Spotlight 
Journey to NormalThe Journey to Normal project seeks to help female combat veterans in their transition from military service to civilian life by allowing them to tell their own stories and assisting them in connecting to various resources they need. The initiative is in the process of producing a feature-length documentary, an online video archive, a web portal, site-specific video installations and outreach efforts. The collective narrative and the personal interactions are designed to honor the sacrifices of these women and help bridge the perceived gap between military and civilian culture. Go to this Spotlight 
Kelly Strayhorn TheaterIn 1919, the Regent Theatre, a state-of-the-art playhouse, began showing America’s favorite silent films. East End residents could catch Mary Pickford or Douglas Fairbanks on screen as well as enjoy music and live performances. More than 80 decades later, after being shuttered for years, the Regent was transformed into the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, named after two famous Pittsburgh sons, actor-dancer Gene Kelly and jazz composer Billy Strayhorn. Today, the nonprofit community performing arts center is bustling with a range of programming – and still hosts film screenings and live music, dance and other performances. Go to this Spotlight 
Kente Arts AllianceFormed in 2007, Kente Arts Alliance is an African American arts organization with the mission of presenting high-quality art of the African Diaspora. The nonprofit presents programs that entertain, inform and uplift the residents of underserved communities. Among Kente Arts’ goals are to increase the visibility and awareness of African Diaspora art and to use venues in communities where people live in order to increase access and affordability. The organization also aims to build sustainable arts programming to support community revitalization and to develop new audiences, which will expand patronage to the arts. Go to this Spotlight 
Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.’s mission is to strengthen leadership in southwestern Pennsylvania through programs, partnerships and connections that develop a diverse and motivated group of leaders to serve the region. The nonprofit organization attracts bright and ambitious individuals to its programs; recruits academic leaders, policy experts and daily practitioners as faculty; and offers engaging classes in basic and advanced community leadership. Participants and graduates are not afraid to tackle difficult issues or take unpopular stands to act as catalysts for positive change in the region. Alumni are eager to connect with other leaders and are a rich resource for local nonprofit and public boards and commissions. They also form a network of more than 1,700 influential civic leaders who are working to maximize the region’s potential. Go to this Spotlight 
Local Government AcademyThe Local Government Academy promotes excellence in local government by providing educational and training opportunities for public officials, public employees and local citizens. It helps elected officials learn or increase their knowledge about ways to foster strong and responsive local governments, and it provides technical assistance to those officials as they address critical issues that arise in their communities. The academy also supports collaborations among municipalities and different agencies as they develop projects that will benefit residents of more than one community. The organization’s services include about 30 educational programs that are offered each year at various locations in Allegheny, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Except for conferences and roundtable discussions, these programs are taught in a classroom-style setting by instructors from government, education, civic and business sectors. The academy also provides grants to help communities create and implement multi-municipal plans that conform to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and it hires undergraduate and graduate students as summer interns who are assigned projects that help to learn about and support local municipal operations. Go to this Spotlight 
Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Inc.The Loyalhanna Watershed Association was founded in 1971 to address the impact of pollution on the 298-square-mile Loyalhanna Creek Watershed, which is located in southwestern Pennsylvania’s Westmoreland County, and to preserve its natural areas. The watershed is comprised of 2,500 miles of streams, each varying in origin, size and quality. It has been affected by environmental challenges such as abandoned mine drainage; sedimentation as a result of erosion and nutrient loading; and the combination of historic coal mining, farming and development. The Loyalhanna Watershed Association strives to achieve its mission of preserving the watershed through the coordinated efforts of its more than 900 members, 15 board members, three full-time staff and the support of multiple partnering organizations. Go to this Spotlight 
Manchester Academic Charter SchoolManchester Academic Charter School opened in the fall of 1998 on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Manchester provides personalized education to 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with a waiting list of more than 400 children. Last year, the school was honored with one of the country’s coveted Blue Ribbon awards for school excellence by the U.S. Department of Education, the first charter school in the region to be so recognized. Go to this Spotlight 
Minority & Women Educational Labor AgencyThe Minority & Women Educational Labor Agency is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit focused on improving the participation of minorities and women in the building trades. Go to this Spotlight 
NEEDThe Negro Educational Emergency Drive began in 1963 as a temporary effort to provide financial assistance for 76 black high school students who had been accepted to college but could not afford to attend. The work was led by two Pittsburgh community leaders and pioneers, Marion Jordan and Florence Reizenstein, both members of the Urban League’s Education Committee. As the years passed, NEED became a permanent fixture on Pittsburgh’s education landscape and evolved into a nationally recognized college access program that provides scholarships, internships, mentors and counselors for local students. With support from the region’s corporate, philanthropic and general communities, NEED has assisted about 19,000 youth since its inception, providing more than $19 million in grants. This support has helped the region’s next generation of leaders to overcome financial, social, educational and cultural barriers in pursuing academic and career success after high school. Go to this Spotlight 
Neighborhood Learning AllianceNeighborhood Learning Alliance’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for African American and lower-income families in the Pittsburgh area. Through partnerships with a broad range of community and faith-based organizations and programs, the nonprofit works to enable disadvantaged youth to reach their academic potential and eventually complete high school. Initiatives include Graduation Champions, a one-on-one mentoring and tutoring program to help struggling seniors graduate. This program and many others assist students in developing invaluable time management and social skills, while improving academic proficiency. Staffed with people who are invested in the lives of participants, Neighborhood Learning Alliance provides students with innovative, motivational, youth-friendly environments that are setting the standards for after-school programming. Go to this Spotlight 
Northside Coaliton for Fair HousingFormed in the summer of 1998 to respond to the potential mass eviction of over 300 families living in the Northside Associates Properties (formerly Northside Properties), Northside Coalition for Fair Housing is a resident-focused community development organization whose mission is to engage in activities that preserve the long-term affordability, quality and diversity of housing in the Pittsburgh North Side communities, while improving the quality of life for all North Side residents. Go to this Spotlight 
Northside Urban Pathways Charter SchoolEstablished in 1998, Northside Urban Pathways is a free public charter school housed on five floors of a downtown Pittsburgh office building. Every student at the school has a personal education plan developed by a team that includes the student, parents or other supportive adults, and a teacher/advisor. Students learn through a combination of individualized practice and basic skills development, theme-based courses, small-group projects, community-based shadowing and internship experiences. Go to this Spotlight 
Oakland Girls ChoirThe Oakland Girls Choir was established in 2005 to provide an opportunity for girls of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to experience the joy of singing together in a comprehensive choral training program. Students come from cities and townships across the Pittsburgh region and are grouped into ensembles by age and skill level. Based in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood, the choir focuses on building a community of mutual respect and encouragement, creating a safe haven for all participants and maintaining a welcoming environment for new members. Each singer understands that her contribution is valued and that her voice is a unique gift. Choristers also develop the values of discipline, poise, and dedication in creating art while encountering the beauty and power of choral music. Go to this Spotlight 
Oakland Planning and Development CorporationTo fulfill its mission of building a better Oakland neighborhood in Pittsburgh, the Oakland Planning and Development Corp. provides job placement services, neighborhood preservation and investment programs, resident volunteer efforts, youth services and community engagement. The nonprofit connects people and organizations with diverse concerns and perspectives and helps them identify shared goals developed through open dialogue and direct action. The result is an economically stronger; more culturally cohesive; more action-oriented; and more actively employed, engaged and inclusive Oakland community. Go to this Spotlight 
Off The Wall ProductionsOff the Wall Productions was founded two years ago in Washington, Pa., by Virginia Wall Gruenert, an actress and playwright from New York, and her husband Hans, a businessman and native of Germany. The couple combined their artistic and business expertise to bring live professional – and often provocative – theater to Washington’s growing cultural scene and to expand the region’s dramatic arts options beyond the Pittsburgh city limits. Go to this Spotlight 
Office of Child DevelopmentThe University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Child Development is a university-community partnership dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and families. OCD conducts a variety of multidisciplinary, community-driven, responsive and collaborative projects that turn knowledge into action and respond creatively to challenges facing children in Pittsburgh and around the world. Go to this Spotlight 
PA Parks & Forests FoundationEstablished in 1999, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation is a statewide, nonprofit organization devoted to conserving and supporting the 120 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. The foundation promotes local volunteerism to enhance visitors’ experience of the parks and forests through recreation and education, and it provides opportunities for citizens to donate or bequeath money to help maintain these areas. Parks & Forests Foundation has 32 chapter friends groups and supports an additional 14 independent groups throughout the state. Go to this Spotlight 
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter SchoolsThe Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools’ goal is to inform and guide teachers, parents and school districts in bringing a charter school into their community. The organization also counsels the Pennsylvania Department of Education on topics that involve charter schools. Another part of the council’s work is to monitor and endorse legislation that might aid in building strong charter schools. While they are “public” entities, charter schools are started by people who must make agreements, or charters, with local districts that outline their goals, plans and how they will quantify success. There are approximately 140 charter schools in Pennsylvania, some of them cyber schools, and the coalition represents 85. Of the roughly 1.4 million students in charter schools across the country, the organization says about 70,000 of them attend Pennsylvania charter schools. Go to this Spotlight 
Pennsylvania Resources CouncilEstablished in 1939, the Pennsylvania Resources Council is one of the state's oldest citizen action environmental organizations. Recognized as a state and national leader in waste reduction and recycling, PRC's work includes litter and visual blight prevention, watershed awareness, composting and a variety of projects developed in response to community needs. With offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the strength of PRC's programs is derived from its continuing efforts to bring people, businesses, and government together to prevent and solve environmental problems. Go to this Spotlight 
Phase 4 Learning CenterWhile alternative education continues to be a challenge for school districts across the country, PHASE 4 Learning Center Inc. has taken a corporate training center design and created an award-winning alternative education model. The 8-year-old nonprofit approaches high school dropouts and students who’ve struggled with behavioral, social or other issues and treats them as young adults who are capable of directing their own education with the help of a support network of instructors, mentors and family members. Most of the PHASE 4 sites are shopping malls or centers, which are viewed as neutral territory without the baggage that can be associated with school buildings. And the use of an online curriculum that meets state education guidelines and other education technology helps to hold students’ interest while providing the flexibility some need to accommodate job schedules or social service appointments. The results include a 98 percent high school graduation rate; recognition by local, state and national education and business organizations; and, most important, hundreds of formerly at-risk young people who have been nurtured to become contributing members of their communities. Go to this Spotlight 
Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy EnergyPhysicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy is a new organization dedicated to supplying objective, evidence-based, scientific information and resources on unconventional gas development, also known as hydrofracking. PSE's mission is to bring transparency to the important public policy issues surrounding energy production of all kinds. The nonprofit is dedicated to addressing a lack of unbiased information on unconventional gas development. It counters unsupported assertions by rapidly investigating and distributing carefully vetted, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information to improve the understanding of citizens, advocacy groups, media, policymakers and politicians about the evolving energy industry. Go to this Spotlight 
Pittsburgh FilmmakersFounded in 1971, Pittsburgh Filmmakers is one of the largest and oldest independent media arts centers in the country. In January 2006, the organization merged with Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, broadening its artistic offerings to southwestern Pennsylvania. Filmmakers offers a curriculum of courses in film, video, and photography to university and independent students in the Pittsburgh region. The organization exhibits the work of prominent photographers and filmmakers in its two galleries, where it also displays work by students and members twice a year. It owns and operates three theaters, which exhibit a wide variety of first-run foreign and independent American films as well as classics and documentaries. The organization’s Center for the Arts is a nonprofit arts campus that offers community arts education programs, contemporary art exhibitions, and services and resources for individual artists. Go to this Spotlight 
Pittsburgh International Children’s FestivalThe Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival is the annual culmination of efforts by the city’s International Children’s Theater to provide extraordinary and unique experiences for young people each theater season. The spring event offers a variety of performances to engage audiences by highlighting different cultures and perspectives and using different mediums to express ideas and stories, such as puppetry, soundscapes, music, movement and dance. This May marks the 25th anniversary of the festival, which is welcoming featured performers from Canada, Mali, the United Kingdom and Ireland, along with those from across the United States. There will be more than 65 performances in several venues in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, and each production will be educational as well as fun. Activities include free hands-on educational, cultural and international experiences, as well as performances at the free outdoor Community Stage. Go to this Spotlight 
Pittsburgh Jazz SocietyThe Pittsburgh Jazz Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of all jazz. It accomplishes this by supporting music education opportunities, sponsoring live performances, partnering with other groups and agencies, and organizing community outreach activities. Established in 1987, the Jazz Society also is a vital link between local jazz fans and the national jazz community. It is a member of the American Federation of Jazz Societies, Pennsylvania Jazz Service Organization, National Jazz Service Organization and the International Association for Jazz Education. Among its events are Sunday Night Jazz concerts and Jazz Day in the Park, while its educational and community outreach activities include the Pittsburgh Jazz Society Student Big Band and the Jazz Society’s scholarship program. Go to this Spotlight 
Pittsburgh Musical TheaterIn 1990, Ken Gargaro founded Pittsburgh Musical Theater as a performing arts company that is community-centered in its focus but always professional in its execution. The nonprofit organization later expanded its mission to include a strong commitment to education, training and outreach programs through its Richard E. Rauh Conservatory for Musical Theater. Today, the company offers professional productions at affordable prices to nearly 50,000 people a year, with attention given to providing special rates for young people who represent about 50 percent of its audience. Go to this Spotlight 
Pittsburgh New Works FestivalWhen Donna Rae started the Pittsburgh New Works Festival in 1991, she wanted to offer members of the Pittsburgh theater community – playwrights, companies, actors – somewhere to show off their talent. Today the nonprofit invites 18 local theater companies to perform 18 new one-act plays from writers across the country at its annual September festival. Longevity is one of the biggest achievements for the group’s totally volunteer staff. Despite being forced to leave its Strip District location two years ago, the organization persevered and is heading into a third year in the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks. Now, festival organizers hope the nonprofit will grow by adding new board members and beginning a workshop aimed at teaching youth about playwriting. Go to this Spotlight 
Prime Stage TheatreEducation is the cornerstone of Prime Stage Theatre’s mission and vision. For 14 years, the nonprofit organization has offered enriching and entertaining, as well as educational, experiences to western Pennsylvania middle and high school students, their teachers and families. Its programs for schools and home-school families are designed to encourage students to read literature, participate in the theater-creating process, attend the plays based on materials they have read, and grow into lifelong patrons and possibly practitioners of the dramatic arts. Go to this Spotlight 
Progression ConsortiumGab Cody and Sam Turich have been professional and life partners for nearly 14 years. They have produced several theater and short film projects, and in the last year formed the Progression Consortium with the nonprofit Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Through this collaboration and with grassroots and foundation support, the couple has produced their first feature film, “Progression,” which was inspired by a 27-year-old annual progressive dinner in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville, where the movie is set and where the couple has made their home. Go to this Spotlight 
Rachel Carson Homestead AssociationThe Rachel Carson Homestead is the birthplace and early home of scientist and author Rachel Carson, who died in 1964. The 19th century farmhouse is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is located northeast of Pittsburgh in Springdale, Pa. A marine biologist, Carson became a successful writer, and her fourth and most famous work was "Silent Spring," a warning about the dangers associated with the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and their potentially adverse effect on the environment and human health. Her message is as important today as it was more than 40 years ago when the book was first published. "Silent Spring" is credited as being the founding document of the modern environmental movement. (Photo courtesy of the Lear/Carson Collection, Connecticut College) Go to this Spotlight 
River City BrassFounded in 1981, River City Brass builds upon the long-standing tradition of brass bands popularized in this country and Great Britain, and features 25 brass players and three percussionists. The ensemble performs a 56-concert series in eight different venues here in western Pennsylvania and tours extensively throughout the United States, with more than 20 performances each year as part of the community concert series, major symphony pops series and arts festivals. Its sweeping repertoire includes American tunes, Big Band swing and jazz, music from Broadway and Hollywood, classical and contemporary masterworks, and traditional marches. The organization’s mission is to propagate and perpetuate musical culture, primarily American musical culture, across a broad spectrum of the public through brass band performances, educational programs and the production of recordings. River City Brass views its central obligation to be serving the people of western Pennsylvania through music. Go to this Spotlight 
Sarah Heinz HouseThe Sarah Heinz House’s roots stretch back to 1901 when Howard Heinz, son of H.J. Heinz Co. founder Henry John Heinz started Covode House, a small club on Pittsburgh’s North Side that provided recreational and social activities for boys, almost all of whom were first-generation immigrants. Girls were admitted to the club in 1903. When the demand for youth programs at Covode House grew too great for its small facility, a new building was constructed in 1913 and named in honor of Howard Heinz’s mother, Sarah Sloan Young Heinz. In the 1930s, Sarah Heinz House became one of the first members of the national Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Today, Sarah Heinz House, a Boys & Girls Club, provides children and teenagers with powerful role models and a safe, fun place to go after school, on weekends and in the summer. Educational, artistic, recreational and community service programs are available to promote healthy lifestyles and offer an environment that is welcoming, nurturing and challenging. In 2007, the facility was expanded with the construction of a “green,” energy-efficient, state-of-the-art building adjacent to the original Heinz House structure. Go to this Spotlight 
Schenley Heights Community Development ProgramSince its inception in 1995, the Schenley Heights Community Development Program has provided an alternative to crime and other socially destructive activities that too often plague inner-city, low-income communities. It has been dedicated to building capacity among children, ages 3 to 18, and their families by offering different activities that promote academic and life success as well as encourage behavioral and physical wellness. More than 350 youth and their families, most of whom live in Pittsburgh’s Hill District community, participate in a variety of successful programs. SHCDP strives to continuously develop new ways to make a positive difference in the lives of its participants, and is currently in the process of updating its strategic plan and developing fundraising and technology goals and objectives. Go to this Spotlight 
Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture OrganizationThe mission of the Silk Screen Asian Arts & Culture Organization is to celebrate diversity and promote multicultural appreciation of the Asian and Asian-American experience through cultural events. The nonprofit’s signature event is its annual Silk Screen Film Festival, which showcases the life and culture of Asian people around the world. But Silk Screen also provides year-round programming, which highlights Asian and Asian-American arts and includes educational outreach, art exhibits, theater, workshops, and dance and music performances. Go to this Spotlight 
Silver Eye Center for PhotographySilver Eye Center for Photography is the only organization in western Pennsylvania dedicated solely to the understanding, appreciation, education and promotion of photography as an art form and as an expressive means of visual communication. The nonprofit began in 1979 as two separate organizations: Blatent Image Gallery, a cooperative gallery designed to provide exhibition space to local fine art photographers, and The Silver Eye Photographic Workshop, which brought nationally known photographers to Pittsburgh to exhibit their work and conduct workshops. These two organizations merged in 1985 and became the Blatent Image/Silver Eye, which later changed to Silver Eye Center for Photography in 1992. Today, Silver Eye features five to eight premier exhibitions in the Main Gallery and 20-24 exhibitions in the New Works Gallery online. Exhibitions are enriched with lectures, panel discussions, workshops, portfolio reviews, interactive gallery tours, video screenings and more. The organization also offers professional development and creative workshops for photographers and visual artists, and a variety of opportunities for members to become involved in the region’s photography community. Go to this Spotlight 
Society for Contemporary CraftElizabeth Rockwell Raphael established the Society for Contemporary Craft in 1971 to broaden opportunities for craft artists to exhibit and sell their work. It has been presenting contemporary art in craft media by international, national and regional artists ever since. The organization offers cutting-edge exhibitions focused on multicultural diversity and non-mainstream art, provides a range of classes and community outreach programs, and operates a retail store. Go to this Spotlight 
Sustainable PittsburghEstablished in 1998 as part of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, Sustainable Pittsburgh works to build coalitions that will promote change on sustainability issues. The organization’s mission is to influence decision makers in the Pittsburgh region to integrate economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality into sustainable solutions for communities and businesses. Sustainable Pittsburgh became its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006. Go to this Spotlight 
The Allegheny FrontFor more than two decades, “The Allegheny Front” radio program has covered environmental issues in western Pennsylvania, broadcasting throughout this region and central Pennsylvania. “The Allegheny Front” began in 1991 and continues to serve the community as an insightful source of local and regional environmental news and information. Through news stories, interviews and commentaries, the program explores a range of environmental issues affecting the region. Go to this Spotlight 
The Children's Institute of PittsburghWhen Mary Irwin Laughlin opened her heart to a 6-year-old boy who had been hurt in a train accident in 1902, she never could have imagined that the Memorial Home for Crippled Children would grow into one of the nation’s leading pediatric care centers. After several transformations reflecting the needs of the community, Laughlin’s center reestablished its original mission and, in 1998, took on the name, The Children’s Institute. Since then, the organization has provided children and their families with services to accommodate a range of special needs. To do this, the institute relies on its three program areas: the Hospital, the Day School, and its adoption and foster program Project STAR. Most recently, the Children’s Institute has received $725,000 in funding from the Endowments to complete its pioneer autism research project, attempting to find a link between autism and western Pennsylvania’s environmental pollutants. Go to this Spotlight 
The Consortium for Public EducationThe Consortium for Public Education has evolved and expanded over the past 25 years, but its commitment to promoting quality education has not wavered. The organization began in 1985 as the McKeesport Education Consortium with a mission to restore and build confidence in the public schools of the McKeesport Area School District. Other initiatives to support and enhance school improvement strategies gradually were added, and in 1987, as the nonprofit grew to serve 20 southwestern Pennsylvania school districts near the Monongahela River, it became the Mon Valley Education Consortium. Because of the continued expansion of its work, the organization changed its name to The Consortium for Public Education in April 2007. Today it partners with 30 school districts throughout western Pennsylvania. Its initiatives fall into five main categories: leadership development for individuals and organizations, middle-high school transformation, early literacy, networking and advocacy. And its mission has broadened to ensure that all children in the Pittsburgh region start school ready to learn and graduate from high school prepared for lifelong learning, careers and citizenship. Go to this Spotlight 
The Education PartnershipBased in Pittsburgh, The Education Partnership is dedicated to addressing educational inequities by providing and enabling access to the tools and resources necessary to support teachers and to enhance students’ ability to learn and succeed. The organization serves a geographic area encompassing six counties – Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland – and uses an approach to addressing educational inequities that is pragmatic and results-driven. This is best exemplified by the organization’s core program, which is providing school and classroom supplies at no charge to schools where at least 70 percent of the student body qualifies for the National School Lunch Program. Go to this Spotlight 
The Foundation for Pennsylvania WatershedsThe Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds gives grants to more than 150 statewide groups working to protect, preserve and restore local watersheds. Founded in 1994, the agency was originally known as the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Program, though their mission and dedication to waterways have not changed throughout the years. Despite economic woes, the foundation continues battling for funds to ensure the longevity of Pennsylvania’s lakes and streams. Go to this Spotlight 
The Fred Rogers CompanyFred Rogers founded Family Communications in 1971 as a nonprofit organization that produced the children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for PBS. In the years that followed, the company not only created hundreds of episodes of this much-loved program, but also extended Rogers’ values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. Today, the organization honors the late educator and television host by continuing his work under a new name: The Fred Rogers Company. It is building on Rogers’ legacy in innovative ways through a wide variety of media, and engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. Go to this Spotlight 
The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PennsylvaniaSince 1995, The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania has been a leader in efforts in the Pittsburgh region to connect young people with caring adults. Through its work with program staff and volunteers to raise awareness and recruit mentors, the organization has increased the number of youth being served by mentors by 400 percent since 1998. Its multipronged approach includes helping in the creation of mentoring programs, providing technical assistance to existing programs, recruiting volunteers to be mentors, training mentor volunteers, and convening the staff and volunteers of local mentoring programs. The result has been a multiplier effect that enhances not one agency but hundreds, and affects the lives of thousands of children each year. Go to this Spotlight 
The Mon Valley InitiativeFormed in 1988, the Mon Valley Initiative (MVI) is a nonprofit, grass-roots coalition made up of 10 community development corporations. These groups of neighbors, representing 12 municipalities, came together in an attempt to deal with the loss of jobs, people and tax bases after the closing of major steel mills and related industries in the region. MVI’s mission is “working together to unite the communities and restore the economic vitality of the Mon Valley.” MVI has identified these four program areas – housing and real estate development, housing counseling, workforce and business development and community outreach – as points in which its staff can fill gaps and leverage resources and partnerships to provide significant impact for improving the quality of life in its member communities. Go to this Spotlight 
The Pittsburgh Cultural TrustThe Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the city’s downtown Cultural District. Jack Heinz and a group of regional leaders banded together in the 1980s to create an urban cultural district that could contribute to the vitality of downtown, which had been decimated by the collapse of the steel industry. Together, they worked to reclaim the seediest district in this city: a 14-block red-light district along the Allegheny River. Jack Heinz began with establishing Heinz Hall as a new home for the Pittsburgh Symphony. And, in 1984, as the ornate symphony hall breathed new life into downtown, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was formed as both an arts agency and a real estate and economic development catalyst. The Trust's plan for development has been a holistic approach that has included streetscaping programs, facade restorations, new cultural facilities, and public open spaces and art projects. The end result encompasses a complete transformation of Pittsburgh's downtown, from a red light district with only two cultural facilities - Heinz Hall and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center - to a vibrant animated area with more than 14 cultural facilities, public parks and plazas, and new and proposed commercial development. Go to this Spotlight 
The Pittsburgh PromiseThe Pittsburgh Promise is a scholarship program that provides eligible graduates of city public schools with scholarships of up to $40,000 to pursue higher education. The organization’s larger goals include helping to reform local urban public schools so that they prepare students for success in higher education and assisting in developing urban neighborhoods so that they are environments that are conducive to learning. In addition, The Promise is intended to invigorate the entire community, improve the quality of life in the region, and create a highly qualified workforce that will meet the needs of local employers, both now and in the future. Go to this Spotlight 
The YMCA of Greater PittsburghThe YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh is committed to building strong children, families and communities through programs that develop the whole person, as embodied in its symbol, the triangle, signifying the union of the spirit, mind and body. The organization assists people in learning the skills and attitudes that will enrich their lives, lead them to interracial and intergenerational understanding, and help them realize their full potential as members of the Pittsburgh region. Christian in its heritage, the YMCA is ecumenical in its delivery of services and its membership. Go to this Spotlight 
Tuesday Musical ClubFounded in 1889, the Tuesday Musical Club provides a range of opportunities for people in the Pittsburgh region to learn, perform or appreciate a variety of music. It offers coaching sessions and workshops, and it gives local musicians the chance to play or sing before audiences or to have their compositions performed. The organization also is committed to reaching out to the community by arranging free concerts, including those at local senior residences, and supporting the next generation of artists by providing scholarships to college music students from the Pittsburgh area. Go to this Spotlight 
Washington & Jefferson CollegeLocated about 30 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pa., Washington & Jefferson College was founded in 1781. The college is one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished co-ed liberal arts colleges for undergraduate students. Go to this Spotlight 
Washington County Community FoundationThe Washington County Community Foundation was created in 1995 by community leaders who wanted to encourage charitable giving. Its mission is to improve the quality of life primarily in Washington County by providing a vehicle for philanthropic giving across a broad spectrum of giving levels. It is committed to supporting diverse community needs and providing prudent stewardship of charitable funds. By offering gifting opportunities to donors on an individualized basis and at reasonable fees, the foundation strives to make charitable giving easier, more satisfying and more effective. Go to this Spotlight 
Westmoreland Museum of American ArtAs the only museum of American art in western Pennsylvania, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art features paintings and sculptures by such celebrated American artists as Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Located in Greensburg, 35 miles east of Pittsburgh, “The Westmoreland,” as it is known, has assembled works by significant American artists, concentrating on the mid-18th through the mid-20th centuries. Recently the collection was expanded to include 130 pieces of post-1950 American contemporary art given to the museum by Diana and Peter Jannetta. The Westmoreland also has become known as the repository for works by southwestern Pennsylvania artists, including those of the Scalp Level School, holding many exhibitions and publishing several books on the subject since 1981. The museum underwent a major renovation in the 1990s and has launched another capital campaign to accommodate the museum’s continued growth in offering programs and events about the heritage of our nation and southwestern Pennsylvania region. Go to this Spotlight 
World Affairs Council of PittsburghFor nearly 80 years, the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh has encouraged western Pennsylvania residents to develop an appreciation and understanding of international issues. While it has had a special focus on promoting international education among the region’s high schools, it also has advocated for a similar awareness among professionals in the community. Through its International Affairs Education Program, the World Affairs Council has reached more than 275 schools throughout the region and has been expanding that work to give a broader range of students the opportunity to learn about international issues and to study abroad. The organization also is seeking to extend its reach into the region’s professional community by offering new programs such as the Political Salon series, which gives local professionals the chance to meet in a relaxed environment and discuss foreign policy topics of interest to them. Go to this Spotlight 
WQED MultimediaWhen WQED went on the air April 1, 1954, it became the nation's first community-supported television station. The media nonprofit later expanded to include WQEX-TV in 1959, which provided televised classroom instruction to the region's schools; WQED-FM 89.3 in 1973, which was founded as the region's only 24-hour classical radio station; and Pittsburgh Magazine, which evolved from a program guide called QED Renaissance to a full-fledged city magazine. Over the years, the organization has made changes such as selling Pittsburgh Magazine in May 2009 so that it could concentrate on its core educational mission through television, radio and the Internet. But today WQED Multimedia continues to partner with hundreds of local community organizations to address education, arts and culture, community health, economics, and other important local issues through its form of civic journalism. Go to this Spotlight 
Yoga in SchoolsYoga in Schools seeks to empower students and teachers by helping them learn yoga-inspired exercises to promote lifetime wellness. Since 2005, which was the first year of programming, the organization’s professional staff and volunteers have exposed about18,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade to yoga programs and 1,000 teachers to varying levels of its Tools for Teachers trainings and Yoga Ed curriculum. Yoga in Schools’ goal is to make yoga available in all schools so that students and teachers develop body-mind awareness and the ability to nurture their own well-being. Go to this Spotlight |
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