In The News

Forging Forward is a series of eight articles about our region’s recovery and resiliency in the time of COVID, presented with the generous support of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Act now and make it count. That was the theme echoed by many during the Pittsburgh Business Times' Sept. 2 virtual panel on corporate philanthropy and crisis recovery. Featuring leaders from Pittsburgh's philanthropic and business community, panelists discussed how businesses and individuals can give back to the region by taking advantage of different resources that are available, whether it be through nonprofit foundations or by volunteering time and resources at the individual level. Center for Philanthropy Director Kelly Uranker was one of the panelists.

Jamillia Kamara, program officer for education at The Pittsburgh Foundation, is among this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees. Each year, Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP recognize 40 outstanding individuals under the age of 40 whose creativity, vision and passion enrich the Pittsburgh region.   

The Pittsburgh Foundation had expected to mark its 75th anniversary in 2020 by offering a wide range of community development programs and digging into creating a new strategic plan that would thoughtfully sharpen the focus of its agenda for the next five to 10 years. Those plans rapidly changed in March when Covid-19 arrived.

Nearly 200 local nonprofits will receive funds for things like healthcare, transportation, food, shelter and other causes. Segment features Kelly Uranker.  

In response to the ongoing impacts of the covid-19 pandemic, a group of 15 foundations and a private Pittsburgh-area donor have announced the Arts|Equity|Reimagined Fund to help regional arts and cultural organizations weather the effects of the shutdown. “The reason the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County sees these grants as really important is that it gives small arts organizations the opportunity to reimagine how they do their work,” said Phil Koch, executive director of the Pittsburgh Foundation affiliate.

Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship & Veteran’s Home is a congregation, but not one that can ask for offerings on Sunday. They’re all homeless, or close to it. “We have a housing program for homeless veterans, many of which are combat veterans who suffer from the traumas of war,” says Rev. Michael Wurschmidt of Shepherd’s Heart. Their House of Hope offers transitional housing for male veterans, including rehabilitation, counseling and food until they are stable and ready for independent housing.

Those featured include 1Hood Media founder and CEO Jasiri X, state Rep. Summer Lee, D-Swissvale, co-founder and editor-in-chief of VerySmartBrothas Damon Young, and Wasi Mohamed, former executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. The episode was filmed in January. After it airs, members of 1Hood Media will host a live Facebook Chat to share their experiences since the taping.

Regional leaders address population loss and Pittsburgh’s future, including Pittsburgh Foundation President and CEO Lisa Schroeder. "We will not survive and thrive unless we connect our citizens—all of them—with viable employment (and a way to get there), safe affordable housing, robust K–12 education and health care."  

Many legislators are calling for the moratorium to be extended.