A Front Door to Pitt: Five Years of Engagement & Impact at Pitt’s CECs
The Office of Engagement and Community Affairs is excited to share A Front Door to Pitt: Grounded in the Heart of the Community, a report of engagement and impact with Pitt's Community Engagement Centers (CECs) from the past five years.
2023 Winter Recess Closure
Our Homewood and Hill District teams wish you all a safe and healthy new year and are excited to welcome you back in 2024.
Vernard Alexander Named Director of the Community Engagement Center in Homewood
Vernard Alexander serves as the new Director of the Community Engagement Center (CEC) in Homewood, effective Nov. 13, 2023.
The Gismondi Foundation has committed to more than $1 million to support Pitt's community engagement efforts
The Gismondi Foundation — created by Pitt trustee John Gismondi (A&S ’75, LAW ’78) and his wife, Lisa — has topped the $1 million mark in giving to the University of Pittsburgh to strengthen and expand the educational support it provides in school and out of school across its Neighborhood Commitments in Homewood, the Hill District, Oakland and Greater Hazelwood.
Construction and renovation begins at the New Granada Theater
The Hill Community Development Corporation kicked off the start of its construction and renovation project for the Historic New Granada Theater and surrounding spaces with a groundbreaking ceremony on May 25.
With the development corporation leading construction and renovation, the ceremony marks the beginning of the initial $36 million development phase of the historic New Granada building and nearby retail spaces.
The construction and renovation project includes apartments, performance areas, retail spaces, restaurants and 40 units of affordable office space.
Introducing Kelly Protho, Director of the CEC in the Hill District
Kelly Protho is excited to return to the Hill District as director of the Hill District Community Engagement Center (CEC).
Protho, who started in her new role on March 17, most recently worked as a senior applied learning and development specialist with the Allegheny Department of Health and Human Services. She earned her bachelor’s in political science at Hampton University.
How Pitt is taking steps to make life sciences jobs more accessible for all
With regional demand growing for workers in the life sciences, the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs on May 13 brought together representatives from academia, industry and workforce development to present findings on those opportunities — and ensure they are available to community members no matter their level of education.
This Pitt program trains members of Black churches to provide bereavement counseling
Researchers from Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences are helping address racial disparities in mental health care by training congregants of Black churches in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood and Wilkinsburg Borough in counseling skills, creating new entry points for residents to access services.
Celiwe Jones joined Pitt's CECs as workforce development career counselor
Celiwe Jones (SOC WK ’00) will help job seekers revamp their resumes and find jobs within the Pitt as the new workforce development career counselor for the University’s Community Engagement Centers (CEC).
The new position will work with communities in Homewood and the Hill District, offering career counseling, resume and cover letter support and employment workshops. Along with providing resources for job seekers, Jones will connect local residents with opportunities within the University.