In The News

Improvements to New Kensington's "Corridor of Innovation" are described, specifically murals on dilapidated buildings as part of a revitalization project. (The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County is involved in this initiative, providing building owners with grants to use toward facade improvements.)

The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County has awarded grants totaling $50,000 to local nonprofits through its Youth Philanthropy Internship Program. Two teams of 11 interns, ages 16-19, from seven schools in the county each selected three grant recipients to share half of the funding.

Faith Forward Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit is pursuing a renovation of Mozart Hall on Latrobe's Main Street in hopes of reopening a restaurant on the historic building's first floor. The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County awarded Faith Forward a $15,000 grant to help preserve and stabilize the building.

The Westmoreland County Land Bank will tap a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County to acquire and demolish blighted structures in Sutersville Borough, officials announced Tuesday. The grant originated in the Foundation's “Boosting Community Pride” program.

Two nonprofit organizations have collaborated to create a program for recovering addicts to contribute to community revitalization while fostering a sense of purpose and meaning. This is funded by the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

Thanks to a grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation, Heritage Community Initiatives of Braddock helps travelers plan cheap, efficient transportation.

The Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh partnership between The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowments have awarded 12 artists and organizations grant support.

With the appointment of Janis Burley Wilson as CEO and president of the August Wilson Center last week, they now have a leader who can make the institution worthy of its name.

After a three-year search, the board of the August Wilson Center For African American Culture named its new president and CEO Thursday. Janis Burley Wilson, who is not related to the center’s namesake, has overseen programming at the center since the Cultural Trust took over temporary operation two years ago. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Burley Wilson’s hire means the conversation is no longer about saving the center, named after Pittsburgh Playwright August Wilson.

Janis Wilson is officially the new head of the August Wilson Center. She is the current vice president of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and has been a long-time events programmer for the AWC.