About

Strong Communities, Stronger University
a collage of images featuring community members at various university sponsored programming

A long-term commitment

Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments are the University’s flagship place-based community partnerships. The commitments, focused on the Oakland, Homewood, Hill District and Greater Hazelwood neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, provide long-term commitments of staffing, infrastructure and coordination to facilitate mutually beneficial collaborations between Pitt and the local community.

Community Engagement Centers:
A front door to Pitt grounded in the heart of the community

Community Engagement Centers (CECs) are vibrant, welcoming spaces that create a front door to Pitt right in the heart of the community. Led by center directors, CECs foster collaboration and house services and programs offered by Pitt faculty, staff, and students.

CECs make Pitt’s neighborhood commitments visible and bring Pitt into the neighborhood. At CECs, community members can access resources and  services they need, community organizations can partner with Pitt programs to strengthen their efforts, and Pitt faculty and students can work and learn with the community.

staff and collaborators

Shaped and led by a network of collaborators

The CECs are staffed by small but mighty teams of four: a director, an outreach coordinator, a receptionist/administrative assistant and a welcome attendant.

Together, CEC staff help facilitate partnerships between the community and University. Connecting Pitt faculty and students with community partners brings the CECs to life.

Integral to the inner workings of the CECs, also, are the Neighborhood Advisory Councils in Homewood and the Hill District comprised of residents and members of community organizations. These groups of people help ensure that the community has a stronger say in how the University shows up by providing a forum for insights and co-creation of community-engaged projects.

keith caldwell

[Em]powered by People

Keith Caldwell
Executive Director of Place Based Initiatives

Our Neighborhood Commitments staff »

attendees at the grand opening of the cec in homewood

Stronger communities, stronger university

Since the Plan for Pitt was announced in 2016, this nationally recognized approach to hyper-local engagement anchored by CECs has supported an incredible array of projects and partnerships.

Explore Our Impact

7,500 total visitors to the CECs since opening

7,500 total visitors to the CECs since opening Since opening, the CECs in Homewood and Hill District had 7,500 visitors.

68% of budget spent with local Black owned businesses

68% of budget spent with local Black owned businesses In 2022-23, 68% of the CEC operating budget was spent with local Black owned businesses.

156% increase in PittEnrich tutoring hours

156% increase in PittEnrich tutoring hours In 2022-23, our Homewood youth participated in 156% more tutoring hours through PittEnrich.

209 STEAM Saturday participants

209 STEAM Saturday participants In 2022-23, 209 Hill District youth participated in STEAM Saturdays at the CEC.

191 hires to Pitt from our Neighborhood Commitments neighborhoods

191 hires to Pitt from our Neighborhood Commitments neighborhoods In 2022-23, 191 new staff were hired at Pitt from the Homewood, Hill District, Greater Hazelwood, and Oakland neighborhoods.

33 education and wellness programs offered in Homewood

33 education and wellness programs offered in Homewood In 2022-23, 33 community-benefiting education and wellness programs were offered to residents at the Homewood CEC.

1,142 visitors to the Hill CEC last year

1,142 visitors to the Hill CEC last year In 2022-23, 1,142 community members visited the Hill District CEC for programming and events.
Explore Our Impact
When we combine the community's agendas and wisdom with the University's assets and resources, we can make a difference.
a crowd of adults sit around a children's read aloud at the cec in homewood
For community partners

this means deeper relationships and greater access to Pitt's expertise, resources, and connections to enhance the work they are doing in the community.

For residents

this means more opportunities in the neighborhood to pursue lifelong learning, improve their health and wellness, connect to employment opportunities, and get involved with the arts.

Communities are powerful partners for innovation and learning.
For Pitt faculty and staff

this means easier access to community connections and more support to establish new partnerships.

For Pitt students

this means more opportunities to learn from and with community members in real-world settings that broaden their perspectives and better prepare them for professional and clinical practice.

pitt students lead a steam saturdays session

What can we do together?

Build Capacity

Through support for local entrepreneurs, class projects that enhance community organizations’ work, and various professional development programs we can build business and organizational capacity.

Improve Residents' Quality of Life

By offering health and wellness services, links to employment, family-support programs, technology assistance, and opportunities to get involved with the arts, we can be a strong partner and asset.

Conduct Better Research

Through more intentional community engagement and better coordination between projects, more of our urban research can be applied at the neighborhood level and lead to impact relevant to the community.

Support Young People
Through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) programs, tutoring and mentoring, involvement in Pittsburgh Public Schools, and partnering with out-of-school-time organizations, we can help young neighbors learn and grow.

We want to engage because it provides opportunities for our students to gain valuable experience, enhances our researchers’ work, and gives us the opportunity to put our mission into action within the community. Explore our impact. »

Where to Find Us

Homewood

Homewood is a neighborhood of deep roots, strong family ties, and a common bond based on decades of shared efforts to renew. Pitt’s commitment to Homewood builds on a history of partnership between the University and a network of community collaborators. Together, we’re building a sustainable foundation for the community’s future.

Our Commitment in Homewood
Where to Find Us

Hill District

The Hill District is the center of the city. A historic community at the crossroads of Pittsburgh’s past and future. Pitt’s commitment to the Hill District is rooted in the space the University and the neighborhood share in the center of the city. Together, we’re building bridges of exchange and opportunity.

Our Commitment in the Hill District
Where to Find Us

Greater Hazelwood

Pitt has been a collaborator in the Greater Hazelwood community for 25 years and is a powerhouse in the life sciences. The next phase of Pitt’s community commitment will support community-led efforts to identify educational and economic benefits for the people of Greater Hazelwood in the emerging life sciences industry.

Our Commitment in Greater Hazelwood
Where to Find Us

Oakland

The University of Pittsburgh has called Oakland home for more than a century. We are committed to being good neighbors who contribute to our community’s shared success. The Office of Engagement and Community Affairs team work hard to ensure Pitt aligns the needs of a vibrant campus with enhanced quality of life in the neighborhoods that surround us.

Our Commitment in Oakland
outside of the community engagement center in homewood
outside of the community engagement center in the hill district
aerial view of greater hazelwood in pittsburgh
aerial view of oakland in pittsburgh
tree planting in oakland
Our Impact
grant writing workshop certificate awardees
Resources
peer read aloud
Frequently Asked Questions
Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments are led by the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, an initiative within the Office of University Relations.
Office of Engagement and Community Affairs

The Office of Engagement and Community Affairs (ECA) is the core unit at the University of Pittsburgh with responsibility to advance a community engagement strategy for the University, to ensure that Pitt is a partner and asset to the region, to mobilize the University’s response to community-identified problems and concerns and to support faculty and staff in delivering sustainable and substantive engagement and outreach activities.

Office of University Relations

The Office of University Relations aims to act as a strategic leader and collaborative partner regionally, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and around the world; champion University initiatives and strategic priorities to amplify their impact and strengthen Pitt’s brand; spearhead programs and campaigns that drive and grow Pitt’s global reputation; represent and facilitate advocacy for the University’s interests; and serve as a trusted resource and advisor for all corners of the University.

In addition to ECA, University Relations includes the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy and the Office of University Communications and Marketing.