Foundations of collaboration

When your mission is to support the economic revitalization of an eight-country region, collaboration with community partners is essential — and at Rivers of Steel, it is part of the organization’s DNA. In any given year, the Homestead-based nonprofit partners with dozens of community stakeholders, just as they have done for decades.

Formed at a time when Southwestern Pennsylvania was suffering from the worst economic and social effects of the collapse of the steel industry, Rivers of Steel set out to improve the economic opportunities of former mill and coal towns, while also securing the unique cultural heritage of those communities. Heritage tourism, which is now one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, was hardly a concept at the time. Yet the organization’s founders blended their economic and preservation objectives, in the process becoming pioneers of industrial tourism. 

On the simplest level, this approach focuses on storytelling and interpretation to create a sense of place, sharing narratives that reflect the cultural diversity of an array of immigrants and migrants who settled in hills and dales and who, over generations, defined what it means to be rooted in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Storytelling alone does not make a good experience for a traveler; you need attractions, so Rivers of Steel made industrial preservation an organizational strategy. The founders decided early on to focus on saving the Carrie Blast Furnaces and other key historic industrial sites. 

Well-researched storytelling paired with historical attractions would be a sufficient foundation for a museum or even a collection of museums. However, together they still fall short of Rivers of Steel’s regional objective. 

After the region was recognized as a State and National Heritage Area in 1996, Rivers of Steel worked with the resulting expanded resources and its efforts became far more collaborative. These early efforts helped change how our region’s rivers were both perceived and used by opening up riverfronts and helping to build trails along riverbanks and abandoned railroads. Rivers of Steel also established a Mini-Grant Program to help community partners with similar goals to advance projects that would support their own tourism and cultural conservation objectives — projects that would make Southwestern Pennsylvania more resilient and attractive to visitors.

Partnerships as modus operandi and collective expansion 

From those early efforts, Rivers of Steel became adept at collaborating with and amplifying the work of like-minded partners and expanded its strategies beyond preservation and cultural conservation. 

One initiative, launched nearly two decades ago, is the Rivers of Steel Heritage Tours. Rivers of Steel packages group tour itineraries and markets them to tour operators outside the region, enticing them to experience Southwestern Pennsylvania, supporting an economic ripple effect while building a network of tourism partners. 

Always capitalizing on opportunities to expand efforts that could benefit the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, Rivers of Steel in 2013 engaged in its first creative placemaking effort: —”Alloy Pittsburgh,” a site-specific art installation at the Carrie Blast Furnaces. From there, Rivers of Steel expanded its programming to use the arts to enhance the appeal of the Carrie Furnaces as a destination. Arts became a catalyst for Rivers of Steel to work with communities on initiatives throughout the Heritage Area, using these same principles, including projects like Murals on a Mission and Homestead Live Fridays.

“At Golden Age Beer Company, we are thrilled to participate in Homestead Live Fridays as we see them as an opportunity to showcase our Homestead community by both increasing participation from our fellow community members and increasing visibility of our neighborhood to visitors from around the city,” said brewery owner Peter Kurzweg. 

These community-building efforts not only brought together artists, but also public officials, small business owners and an array of community stakeholders, to work with Rivers of Steel in a larger regional collaborative.

2023 Collaborations

In 2023, Rivers of Steel awarded mini grants to seven nonprofits and communities, and helped to share their stories through its Community Spotlight series. 

Rivers of Steel also hosted other nonprofits at their historic attractions, helping to make their events possible. The Pittsburgh Irish Festival’s annual weekend event returned to Carrie Furnaces for the second year in a row. Quantum Theatre’s production of “Hamlet” was also held there in August. The historic Pump House was the venue for JADED, Pittsburgh’s first Asian American & Pacific Island artist collective, to host their community festival, as well as for Tree Pittsburgh which utilized it for one of their tree adoption events. 

Other recent collaborations occurred on the programmatic level. One highlight of 2023 was the “Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka” exhibition, presented in partnership with The Society for the Preservation of the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka. For their first in-person “Be My Neighbor Day,” WQED brought in Rivers of Steel to help provide family programming at the event. Rivers of Steel also participated in a career day with the Waterways Association this year, and presented talks on a variety of topics at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, Northland Public Library and the Carnegie Library of Homestead. 

On the regional level, Rivers of Steel Heritage Tours launched a new itinerary for the Rebellious Spirits Tour that pairs visits to historical attractions – all associated with the Whiskey Rebellion — with tasting experiences at Washington County whiskey distilleries.

Partners for creative economy

Rivers of Steel’s collaborative work sets the stage for its newest initiative: Partners for Creative Economy, which was just announced this fall with support by a POWER grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. By bringing together artists and designers with community groups, local governments and heritage tourism organizations, Rivers of Steel aims to build creative leadership, provide career opportunities in historic trades and turn towns into destinations for visitors. 

This new program has five key strategies:

• a creative leadership program
• joint program partnerships
• collaborative marketing efforts
• a new workforce training initiative
• an expanded Mini-Grant Program.

Together, they’ll further advance the community-based work of Rivers of Steel.

“Partners for Creative Economy presents comprehensive solutions to complex challenges that have persisted for these communities left behind since the collapse of Big Steel,” said August Carlino, president and CEO of Rivers of Steel. “The foundation for this work is the relationships Rivers of Steel has built with communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania over the past 30 years. We’re looking forward to creating a new vision of the region, spurred by this initiative and underscored by creative collaboration.”

For more updates on Rivers of Steel’s community collaborations, be sure to sign up for their newsletter. 

The post A confluence of heritage and growth appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

When Sudanese activist and best-selling author Rania Mamoun celebrated the release of her poetry collection, “Something Evergreen Called Life,” at City of Asylum in March, it was not your average book launch. It was the first public-facing event she participated in without the use of her pseudonym, RaMa, since her arrival in Pittsburgh in 2019. 

“I will always remember the palpable energy of collective love, support and pride in the room on the day of Rania’s book launch,” said Catherine Skolnicki, the residency manager at City of Asylum. “A feeling of relief was present, mainly for Rania, and for those of us who knew her and her challenge of maintaining anonymity here for nearly four years.”

Mamoun spent years as a diligent activist in Sudan. She did all she could to speak and act out against the regime of Omar al-Bashir, hosting resistance group meetings in her own home, distributing flyers and writing on walls, and participating in demonstrations and protests in the streets. After she was forced to flee with her young daughters, she arrived in Pittsburgh’s North Side to begin her new life as a writer-in-residence. For her safety, her identity was kept secret from the public, and it wasn’t long before her life in anonymity grew even more isolated due to COVID.

For Mamoun, far from home and friends, living in a city so different from her own, and faced with the anxiety of keeping her identity secret, separation was nearly complete. Moving through feelings of grief and fear, she began to write, encouraged and (virtually) accompanied by City of Asylum co-founder Diane Samuels. Mamoun wrote a poem a day for 100 days, documenting not only her despair, but also her moments of hope. 

These poems would become “Something Evergreen Called Life,” the collection that would lead to a sunshine-filled Saturday in March, a gathering of new friends and loved ones where Mamoun would share her work and her name with the world. “I feel more myself, I feel that I got my identity back,” she said. “I’m not scared anymore.”

Now free to be her fullest self, Mamoun is embracing more opportunities to participate in public events. This October, she will be featured in not one, but two public programs at City of Asylum as part of their third annual International Literary Festival (LitFest). 

At its core, LitFest aims to highlight and celebrate global voices and literature and to encourage cross-cultural exchange. Mamoun’s first event offers a reading and conversation with fellow Sudanese author and Caine Prize winner Leila Aboulela. 

“I’m so excited for the LitFest events,” Mamoun explained. “First, because I am meeting with [Leila Aboulela] who I have admired since I was in my 20s … I never would have thought that I would meet her one day.” 

Aboulela, also living away from the pair’s home country of Sudan, resides in Scotland. The two will have the chance to discuss their craft, the reality of writing as women and how writing away from home has influenced their work. 

Continuing City of Asylum’s practice of amplifying global voices, Mamoun’s second program at LitFest comes in the form of an ambitious collaboration between 11 writers. It includes some writers from the University of Iowa’s International Writers Program as well as each of Mamoun’s fellow writers-in-residence at City of Asylum: Jorge Olivera Castillo, Oleksandr Frazé-Frazénko, Olena Boryshpolets, Anouar Rahmani and Volodymyr Rafeyenko. 

Skolnicki explained that a program like this “offers the public insight into the diverse layers of brilliance, perspective and creativity that the residency program is hosting, and to the artists who [she has] the fortune of working with nearly every day.”  

The LitFest program features incredible writers from South Africa, Ukraine, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Yemen, Cuba and more, all exploring and sharing their different passions across multiple genres. For Mamoun, the program is another step away from isolation and into the arms of community. 

“To participate with other writers in the second event, it feels like an opportunity to connect with [them] and hear from different nationalities,” she said. “Each writer writes about their experience, which gives us a peek into their cultures in their own countries.” 

Far from the uncertainty and solitude of her arrival in 2019, Mamoun’s participation in this festival continues a joyful heralding of a new, liberated chapter in her life — one filled with warmth, connection and plenty of light.

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For many people, the mention of arts in education might evoke a memory of a 45-minute class with a split focus between personal expression and an exercise in the practice of a technical medium. While that experience resonates for certain students, some would not consider it to be a transformative one.

For Rivers of Steel, not only does arts in education look dramatically different for students, but its impact also stretches far beyond artistic proficiency — their practice engages youth with one another and with the community. In the process, it fosters collaboration and civic pride for the creators of a public art piece and for community members.

The surprising medium for this engagement? Graffiti murals.

Evolving out of Rivers of Steel’s interpretation of the postindustrial history of the Carrie Blast Furnaces, the nonprofit organization has developed a range of programs to engage youth in creative placemaking, both in and out of school.

Now, during National Arts in Education week, the organization celebrates successful collaborations with schools and communities throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.

Customized collaboration with area school districts

“The Graffiti Arts program has organically, and rather quickly, grown during the last few years,” said Rivers of Steel’s Director of Education Suzi Bloom. “What began as hands-on field trips to the Carrie Blast Furnaces expanded into single-day classroom workshops and multi-visit outreaches at the schools — or a combination thereof. Lately though, most schools are also customizing their residencies to include the creation of a graffiti mural somewhere on their campus.”

The benefit of customization is the ability to link with academic priorities and learning objectives. For each recent mural project, Rivers of Steel has collaborated with classroom teachers, administrators, students and even outside partners to bring colorful murals to school and community spaces.

For California Area Elementary School, administrators looked to transform their restroom spaces while engaging students in the project. While the teaching artists completed much of the final murals, the students had an opportunity to visit the Carrie Blast Furnaces and to participate in the classroom in hands-on graffiti writing experiences that gave context to the language, forms and underground culture of the medium as a creative art form.

Inspired by the California Area project, Jamie Schmidt, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at Duquesne Middle School, reached out to Rivers of Steel to help bring to life a vision she had for a project with their seventh- and eighth-grade art students. An installation, created earlier this year that reads “Once a Duke, Always a Duke,” allowed students to make their mark in the colorful brickwork.

After receiving a Moonshot grant from Remake Learning, Duquesne expanded their partnership with Rivers of Steel to include additional workshops during spring and fall 2023.

Last year, Rivers of Steel was able to collaborate with Propel Braddock Hills Middle School on a mural project that promoted school spirit, also with funding support from Remake Learning. Art teacher Susan Sarabok’s students in grades six through eight worked with Rivers of Steel teaching artists who combined two established forms of style-writing traditions not often thought of together — modern graffiti and traditional Turkish calligraphy.

Other projects recently completed include a removable mural at Shaler Area High School, which was a collaboration with support from the LIGHT Education Initiative, and also a second-year residency with Bellevue Elementary in the Northgate School District that aimed to integrate arts education across the curriculum. 

“Our students and families were blown away by the transformation of the space,” said Bellevue Principal Michael Amick. “Our kindergarten wing looks so much more vibrant now. Students were actually squealing when they went down the stairs and saw all the changes.”

Innovative learning benefits students and the community

“Having a collaborative project helps develop a range of life skills for students,” said Chris McGinnis, Rivers of Steel’s director of arts. “From visual literacy and communication skills to the ability to manage a project from conception to execution, youth gain valuable experience that prepares them for leadership roles, higher education and today’s workforce.”

These collaborations are not limited to the classroom. Over the last two summers, Rivers of Steel Arts has been working with youth through community-based programs at the Rankin Christian Center and with the Art in the Garden program in East Liberty. 

“Community murals have the unique ability of bringing folks together from various age groups and experiences, to take part in something positive for their neighborhood or main street,” McGinnis continued. “Even small interventions can have a lasting impact if the project brings the right people together. Our mural projects often connect youngsters with older residents and highlight local creatives previously unknown to the community, who then end up working together on future projects.”

Classroom educators and administrators who are interested in graffiti-based residencies or mural projects, can contact education@riversofsteel.com to learn more. Community contacts looking to collaborate can reach out to arts@riversofsteel.com.

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The saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While this old adage isn’t totally accurate when it comes to job searching and career advancement (you have to know something!), it certainly helps to have contacts in your profession to move up the ladder. But how do people make the right career connections, especially in this new, modern “remote” work world?

Pennsylvania Women Work [PWW] is a local nonprofit that supports people on their path to career success through free programming and services. Whether someone is just beginning their job search, re-entering the workforce after a career break or trying to move into a leadership position, PWW connects job-seekers to seasoned professionals from across industries.

Through one-on-one mentoring, career coaching and group workshops, the support, knowledge and connections made through the organization offer a support system for local professionals working toward achieving their career goals. 

“While our organization provides services to all people, we recognize the challenges women in particular face in finding employment and climbing the career ladder. At PWW, we have decades of experience supporting women through the highs and lows, helping them to find their career path and the confidence to achieve their goals,” said PWW Executive Director Kristin Ioannou. 

PWW’s 3 Cups of Coffee is a free program that connects job-seekers or those looking to advance their career with a professional mentor in their field. Together, the two meet for three one-hour mentoring sessions either virtually or in person. They create a custom career plan while networking and building connections. 

“Networking can feel intimidating, but 3 Cups of Coffee takes the awkwardness out of the equation by connecting mentees to volunteer mentors who are excited to talk to them and help however they can,” said Maple Chen, manager of product strategy for American Eagle Outfitters. 

Chen is one of more than 300 mentors volunteering with PWW. The organization’s pool of mentors represents more than 200 companies. Last year, the program connected 166 professionals to mentors.

“Building relationships and learning from others is an important part of our growth — it helps us advance in how we think, in how we look at things and in how we identify solutions and new innovative ideas. When we make networking a priority it is a two way investment — in ourselves and in others,” explained Carrie Ortsey, the vice president of talent development and modernization for Highmark Health and a 3 Cups of Coffee mentor. 

This powerhouse group of 3 Cups of Coffee mentors support their mentees in obtaining employment or educational opportunities, leading to an 80% placement rate. Above that, participants of the program see a 65% increase in salary on average, according to data collected by PWW from their 3 Cups of Coffee participants. 

Stats and data aside, the mentors involved in this program witness the impact firsthand. Whether it’s helping their mentee make an important connection, encouraging them to participate in a workshop, providing advice for interviews or resumes or simply being there as a helping hand, every mentorship results in positive change, opportunity and connection. 

“PWW offers low time commitment, highly impactful career programs that give women the opportunity to connect,” said Jazmine Grant, senior counsel at PNC Bank. “I have recommended their programming to my friends in all stages of their careers — those just starting out and those who are seeking a career change.” Grant is a 3 Cups of Coffee mentor and vice president of PWW’s board of directors. 

Whether someone is looking to build their network as a participant or join the organization as a volunteer, there’s a place for everyone at PWW. 

“PWW helps connect women in a safe, supportive and engaging way. Their team is encouraging and the individuals who volunteer are genuine and care about helping others,” Ortsey said. “Together, PWW is making a difference in our community and the lives of women.”

Those interested in learning more about PWW’s 3 Cups of Coffee program can visit www.3cupsofcoffee.org.

The post More than coffee: Pennsylvania Women Work mentorship program brewing brighter career futures appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Mayada Christiansen loves putting puzzles together. She always has, both literally and figuratively. Christiansen’s favorite pastime is symbolic of the collage of pieces she has placed together to create a thriving workforce development ecosystem for the region.

As senior director of youth workforce programs for Partner4Work, the workforce development board for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, her priority is to ensure that young adults have the resources they need to thrive through Partner4Work or in partnership with the region’s many nonprofits and youth-serving agencies. This includes providing services to complete high school, earn a GED diploma or certificate, obtain certifications or search for and find employment. 

“I like connecting the dots for young people and bridging the two worlds between workforce and education,” Christiansen said. “I’m mission-driven to create quality experiences for young people with a systems approach, which fosters access to all opportunities and resources that are available, but may be harder to find for the 18-24 segment of our community.”

From Christiansen’s perspective as a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership [GPNP], where she serves on the Advisory Team, the region is well-equipped with partnerships to help youth succeed in becoming the next generation of leaders and employees.

“One of the things I value most about The Forbes Funds and being a member of its GPNP network is the fact that we come into the sector with a fixed mindset that no one, single organization can uniquely solve the problems facing our communities, particularly for our youth,” Christiansen explained.

Ashley Priore, founder and CEO of Queens Gambit, a national nonprofit elevating a new generation of strategic, inclusive and civic-minded leaders through the power of chess, could not agree more. Priore is working with GPNP to center youth in the conversations that will take place at this year’s GPNP summit on Nov. 9 and 10. 

“Intergenerational conversations are key when it comes to workforce development and inclusive engagement,” Priore said. “At this year’s summit, The Forbes Funds is showing intergenerational diversity in action, providing a blueprint for the region on effective youth engagement.” This year’s summit will engage numerous youth voices not only as participants, but also as partners and presenters.

Priore said she believes youth must be included in and leading conversations about topics that affect them, including about their participation in the workforce. 

As Priore sees it, “it’s important to note though that intergenerational diversity can’t be one-sided. It requires a dialogue and mutual understanding between all generations with a common, shared end goal: a thriving region.” 

This year’s GPNP summit will create a space to do just that. Sean Spencer, co-founder and chief financial officer at Future Kings Mentoring, and Vidya Surti, Radiant Hall board member and youngest member of the Regional Asset District Advisory Board, will be presenting at the summit, highlighting the power of cross-generational impact and intersectional engagement. 

“Youth have more power than they even realize and often go through challenges to have the courage to speak up or the adult audience isn’t taking their voice serious[ly],” Spencer said. “At Future Kings Mentoring, we empower our young men to know their voices have power and can be used as a bridge for understanding and unity.” 

Along with more than 1,200 attendees of the GPNP summit, organizations like Partner4Work will be demonstrating the power of partnerships to give youth a seat at the workforce development table, creating pathways to employment for the change makers of tomorrow. And when that happens, you might find Christiansen high-fiving a young professional, knowing the future of the region’s workforce puzzle is in great hands.

Any community member can help design innovative and essential summit content that will inspire action by recommending speakers for the GPNP summit. To secure your spot now at this year’s event and take advantage of early bird pricing, get your ticket today.

The post Nonprofits help solve the puzzle for Southwest Pennsylvania’s future appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Ray Nell Jones, founder and CEO of Pittsburgh-based The Allignment Chapter, never wants a parent or caregiver to have to choose between diapering their child or being able to keep a clean home.

It’s the firm belief that all families deserve to have tools to stay aligned with their finances in a stress-free home that led her to found the nonprofit organization, which saw an increase from 25 to 189 calls per day for emergency requests for assistance during the pandemic.

Jones’ organization is one of many in the region working to meet community needs and one of three honored in 2021 by the Greater Pittsburgh Nonprofit Partnership [GPNP] Nonprofit Excellence Awards.

There are 8,500 nonprofits located in the 11-county region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. With 15% of the state workforce employed by nonprofit organizations, these organizations heavily impact the lives of Pittsburgh-area residents —  from workforce development to community revitalization to addressing homelessness and supporting families in need.

While nonprofits help individuals and families face their challenges, these organizations can have their own obstacles to navigate. GPNP unifies the voices of nonprofits and helps them work together to build power and support. From its inception in 2005, GPNP — the front door to The Forbes Funds — has helped nonprofits network, create solutions for mutual benefit through advocacy, and recognize their transformative impact throughout the region.

The highlight of the year for GPNP members is the biennial summit, which will be held this year on Nov. 10 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. On the evening before the summit, The Forbes Funds will be hosting a special gala to be attended by a wide variety of nonprofits and donors from the philanthropic community. 

At this year’s inaugural gala, due to the generosity of local attorney John P Gismondi and The Gismondi Family Fund, GPNP will present the inaugural Gismondi Excellence Awards for innovation, inspiration, advocacy, education and health. Each of the five honorees will receive a monetary award. Five additional GPNP awards will be presented to leaders and partners who are transforming the sector while demonstrating a commitment to social justice, equity and impact.

“This is an event about celebration and inspiration,” Gismondi said. “We will celebrate the excellent work of Pittsburgh nonprofits and, at the same time, we hope to inspire potential donors to help these organizations sustain their missions.”

“Our nonprofits do great work, and they deserve to be publicly recognized, and they also deserve the opportunity to raise their visibility with folks who have the capacity to help them continue that work.”

The awards event will be part of the GPNP Summit, which will be replete with power-packed workshops and speakers. The summit is themed “Transformative Leadership, Partnership, and Co-creation.” 

“Change moves at the speed of trust, and the challenges before us require a transformational type of leadership…” said Fred Brown, president & CEO of The Forbes Funds. “In that regard, our GPNP Summit serves as the apex and tip of the spear for this regenerative activity.”

Tickets for this year’s summit are still available, register here.

A previous version of this article included information on submitting nominations for the awards. Nominations have closed and winners will be announced at the GPNP summit.

The post Nonprofits require support and partnership to continue transforming SWPA appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Historic preservation is sometimes viewed as pitted against development. But that’s not how the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation sees it.

“For Rivers of Steel, historic preservation has never been a barrier to development,” said Augie Carlino, the president and CEO of Rivers of Steel. “Rather, its role is as an economic engine — an inspiration for economic revitalization to embrace preservation and a sense of place.” 

River of Steel’s objective is to use Southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial and cultural heritage as components of community redevelopment. It is a long-term vision to heal the wounds created by the collapse of Big Steel through historic preservation, heritage conservation, interpretation, education and, ultimately, heritage tourism.

Now, during National Preservation Month, Rivers of Steel shares more about its stewardship of three National Historic Landmarks: the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale and Rankin, the Bost Building in Homestead, and the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop in Rices Landing.

A sense of place after Big Steel

One might think that the priority in historic preservation of these three iconic landmarks was only to save the buildings, but understanding their importance to the region’s identity was also key. 

As an organization charged with highlighting the region’s industrial and cultural history, Rivers of Steel tells the stories of these places — places that represent the people who inhabited them, folks who sacrificed through labor and celebrated their diverse cultures, imprinting a work ethic and a rich tapestry of ethnicity on these hills and valleys. 

That distinct character is the foundation for the organization to share narratives that help new generations to become acquainted with their families’ legacies, stories that help recently arrived residents gain a sense of place, and visitors to comprehend the ramifications that Big Steel had globally, in terms of not only production and iconic infrastructures, but also the effects on local culture.

The status of three iconic landmarks

The Bost Building, the strike headquarters for the 1892 Battle of Homestead, was the first of the three historic preservation landmark projects. It sat abandoned and vandalized until restored in 2002 after an investment of $4.5 million. 

Today, as the main offices and visitors’ center for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, it is a place reconstructed to house the organization’s archives and interpretive galleries. Its current exhibition is Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka and is a destination for travelers seeking to explore more of the region.

More recently, Rivers of Steel announced the completion of a $1.5 million, 10-year restoration of the W.A Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop in Greene County.

However, it is the iconic Carrie Blast Furnaces, which Rivers of Steel began managing in 2010, that attracts visitors from across the region and the world. 

Most visitors take the Industrial Tour or attend an event, like their signature Festival of Combustion. But for those looking for a hands-on way to connect, Rivers of Steel offers a variety of metal arts workshops to choose from; these and other arts programs create opportunities for individuals to appreciate the heritage experientially. 

The preservation journey of the Carrie Blast Furnaces is ongoing. The National Historic Landmark site consists of 33 acres, just under 20% of the historic footprint of the mill. 

The nearby Hot Metal Bridge also has a National Historic Landmark status. Allegheny County is redeveloping it with consultation by Rivers of Steel. Separately, the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) is developing an additional 55 acres east of the furnaces, a project in which Rivers of Steel plays a more limited partnership role.

The popularity of heritage tourism

In recent years, heritage tourism has been the fastest-growing segment in tourism. Travelers are seeking authentic experiences, including learning opportunities and immersive events. Heritage tourists stay longer and spend more money, and while it appeals to all ages, heritage tourism engages younger audiences more than any other type of travel. 

Annual visitation for Rivers of Steel’s attractions in 2022 exceeded 50,000 people. Through its partner collaborations and efforts to entice visitors to the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, a study published in 2020 demonstrated that for every million dollars in investment Rivers of Steel receives, its impact generates over $92 million for the region. 

“Retaining the authentic charter of a place resonates with visitors and builds pride with residents who witness their communities coming back to life,” Carlino said.

The post How honoring industrial and cultural heritage can help to lift up communities in the present day appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Sapana Adhikari began working in the environmental services department of Allegheny Health Network Jefferson in summer 2021. Her leadership skills and positive attitude earned her a promotion to team leader, but she still struggled with an essential aspect of her job.

“Sometimes patients ask us something, and we are not understanding,” Adhikari explained. “That is not a good thing for us.”  

Like many on her team, Adhikari is originally from Nepal. Married with a teenage son, she came to the United States in 2015 as a refugee. Communicating in English is crucial to success in the workplace, but learning the language is an ongoing process. Each new environment requires a new set of phrases and vocabulary. 

Fortunately for Adhikari and her team, AHN Jefferson recognizes the importance of investing in their employees. Her then-supervisor, William Dilla, former director of environmental services for AHN Jefferson, reached out to Literacy Pittsburgh for help.

“I met with Bill to discuss the challenges his team was facing,” said Nicole Johnson, special projects manager at Literacy Pittsburgh. “I shadowed employees to understand the nature of their job responsibilities and the communication expected.” 

With that information in hand, Johnson designed a customized 15-hour employee training program to build the English language skills of Adhikari and her co-workers. 

“At AHN Jefferson, we focus on conversation skills or small talk,” said Johnson. “Small talk is a huge part of how employees can be successful with patient satisfaction and being seen as a team player.”

Classes typically are structured to take place twice a week for 90 minutes over the course of about five weeks. Instruction takes place on-site, and employees are paid for their class time. Literacy Pittsburgh communicates with the employer throughout the process, providing weekly attendance reports and a recap of the language learned in class, allowing supervisors to practice with employees. Companies receive a report at the end, outlining qualitative and quantitative results and recommendations for next steps.

“It has provided a lot of value,” said Dilla. “We have seen a significant increase in our core behavior surveys, which are based on engagement. We have also seen a shift in retention where employee turnover has really decreased. And, we’ve seen patient satisfaction scores increase.”

Adhikari also appreciates the opportunity to learn. 

“I want to personally thank my managers and my English teachers,” she said. “Otherwise, we have to go somewhere to take English class. That takes our money or our time. But our company gives us a very good thing. I learned a lot of things.”

Allegheny Health Network is among a growing number of local companies that recognize that investing in their employees pays off through retention, customer satisfaction and a stronger team. Literacy Pittsburgh has also provided Employee Training Services to UPMC, Rivers Casino and Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center (Cotraic), among others. The organization has often been invited back to provide additional learning opportunities. 

A fee-based program, Employee Training Services at Literacy Pittsburgh can address a variety of employer needs. In addition to workplace English, classes include math brush-up, business writing and computer skills. 

Another offering, cross-cultural communication, gives supervisors the tools to communicate more effectively and create a welcoming environment. In this series of three 90-minute workshops, supervisors learn about immigration in our region, explore cultural differences that may exist in the workplace and develop strategies to build more effective communication.

Better communication boosts employee satisfaction, positively impacts retention and ensures customer satisfaction.

“Now we satisfy our patient if they ask us anything because we understand now what they want,” said Adhikari. “That’s why they are happy. That’s our goal. We need our patients happy here.”

Learn more about Literacy Pittsburgh’s Employee Training Services  at www.literacypittsburgh.org/employers.

The post Investing in the communications skills of English language learners pays off for local employers appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Inside a home on a quiet street in Mt. Lebanon, Mickey, David and Cary gather around a table, sharing a meal they made together. Mickey has been learning how to cook and helped Cary prepare the vegetables. David always pours the drinks. They talk about their food, the weather, their favorite TV crime shows. They laugh and make plans for an upcoming party. They know each other well after all the hours they’ve spent together in this house, weathering the pandemic over the last three years.

They are three men over 50. Two of them have Down syndrome. One of them, a former lawyer, now works as a direct support professional, employed by the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh.

Their likenesses are greater than their differences, and on nights like this, it shows.

Cary reflected on why he chooses to work as a direct support professional. 

“In the morning when I wake up, I wake up with a smile on my face, and at night when I go to sleep, I go to sleep with a smile on my face,” he said. “To me, direct support professional means being of service to another human being.”

The Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh was founded more than 30 years ago by Ken and Lorraine Wagner. At that time, Ken and Lorraine had raised four children, including a daughter with a developmental disability. They decided to leave their careers and former home to start something new. They envisioned a place where people with and without disabilities could share their lives and build community together.

Ken and Lorraine opened the first Emmaus home in Pittsburgh’s South Side in 1994, welcoming Diane and Debbie, two unrelated women with intellectual disabilities. The four of them lived together family-style, steeped in the happenings of everyday life. 

Diane and Debbie walked to their jobs at Goodwill every morning. Ken and Lorraine supported them in making breakfast and doing laundry. They went to the church next door on Sundays and joined the Special Olympic track and swim teams. The four of them broke bread together at the dinner table every night, celebrating birthdays and holidays, and sometimes, on the hard days, mourning losses together. 

As the community grew and welcomed more direct support professionals, Lorraine and Ken eventually moved out of the home, and two additional women with intellectual disabilities moved in. Debbie passed away in 2021 after living with Diane for 27 years.

The Emmaus Community has continued to grow and thrive. Now, in 2023, Emmaus supports 14 community-based homes for people with intellectual disabilities, and also serves individuals who live with family or independently but are seeking support and a greater sense of community in their lives. 

Across the board, research shows that people with intellectual disabilities face much higher levels of isolation and loneliness than the general population. Recognizing this, the Emmaus model is built upon community and inclusion. The Emmaus philosophy recognizes that all people have gifts to share as well as struggles and areas where they need support. The emphasis is on building meaningful relationships between people.

The Emmaus definition of community extends beyond its residents and staff to include the many family members, volunteers, friends and supporters who believe in the mission. Emmaus brings people together throughout the year for a variety of events and looks forward to holding its first in-person gala in three years — the Emmaus Roarin’ 20s Gala — on April 22 at the The Westin Pittsburgh on Penn Avenue. 

“Emmaus events help us raise the funds needed to support our mission and expand our programming, but more importantly, they’re an opportunity to get to know the people who make up our community and find out how to be a part of it,” said Emmaus CEO Karen Jacobsen. “Come meet our residents on the dance floor. You might decide to join our team!”

When Emmaus residents and program participants were asked what they love about life at Emmaus, their answers ran the gamut, but perhaps the most poignant response came from Carl, who said without pause: “At Emmaus, they treat me like a human being.”

The post Sharing life at the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.

Chances are good that if you’re familiar with Rivers of Steel, it’s because you’ve been to a tour, workshop or event at the Carrie Blast Furnaces — or perhaps you’ve been on a sightseeing tour on the Explorer riverboat. If so, you’ve taken part in one of the group’s heritage tourism initiatives, a critical element of their role as a National Heritage Area [NHA]. 

However, their mandate as an NHA extends far beyond this public-facing role; in fact, most of their work supporting communities happens in partnership with an array of community stakeholders, from other nonprofits, businesses and local leaders to artists and academics. 

The objective? To support economic redevelopment in communities within the eight-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania that comprises the Rivers of Steel NHA. 

But what is an NHA? 

In short, it is a geographical area designed by the U.S. Congress as a region whose story is nationally important to the understanding of our country’s development and character. For Rivers of Steel, that narrative relates to the industrial and cultural heritage of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. 

Yet what differentiates Rivers of Steel from many of the other 61 NHAs is its focus on economic development, in addition to telling their region’s story. Rivers of Steel is one of the first NHAs, recognized by Congress in 1996, and is managed by the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation. 

A nonprofit, Rivers of Steel was created after the collapse of the steel industry to preserve the region’s character through interpretation, historic preservation and cultural conservation, while uplifting communities devastated by the changed economy. 

Preserving heritage through partnerships

The foundation of Rivers of Steel’s work is through various community partnerships.

Rivers of Steel’s Mini-Grants Program is one of these initiatives. It provides grants from $1,000 to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations, local governments and educational institutions to develop programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours and other endeavors that are consistent with Rivers of Steel’s mission. 

One such grant, awarded to Center of Life, supported an urban furniture project at the Hazelwood Green, in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, Arts Excursions Unlimited and local teens.

“Hazelwood built a large portion of Pittsburgh utilizing the former steel mill on the Hazelwood Green site,” said Center of Life’s Patrick Ohrman. “Visiting the site to see this installation and all of the new development is an opportunity for people to really understand the history of Hazelwood. This project is a testament to the power that can be created when nonprofit organizations and universities work together to transform the ways in which others think about development.”

While mini-grants extend the reach of Rivers of Steel, other community initiatives originate from their arts programming, including the recent Industrial Grit and Graffiti project. 

“At Rivers of Steel, we see creative placemaking as an opportunity for us to work directly with our community partners on a project they find important,” said Chris McGinnis, director of Rivers of Steel Arts. 

“Sometimes this takes the form of a new mural, created in collaboration with local residents, and other times it might be a public workshop series or large event intended to bring people closer together,” McGinnis said. “In either case, we find that locals are the experts and bringing artists into the neighborhood allows us to work as a creative conduit, helping to channel the community’s energy into something exciting.” To learn more about the various ways Rivers of Steel supports community redevelopment, visit the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area page.

The post Introducing the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area appeared first on PublicSource. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. Visit www.publicsource.org to read more.