Pittsburgh Positive Young People's Association
2023 Grant Amount: $50,000 over one year
“Harambee IV” is a collaboration of four organizations that have been working together to continue a 55-year tradition in the City of Pittsburgh. Based upon the Swahili word for "pull together," the annual Harambee Black Arts and Culture festivals have provided vibrant, shared community space in which Black artists, artisans, performers and entrepreneurs have been able to showcase their works. At its inception, the Harambee Black Arts festivals focused on using Black Power dialogue, visual art, music and Black Spirituality to being bring harmony, morality and rising consciousness to Pittsburgh and the rest of America. At its peak, the festival was the largest of its kind in Pittsburgh and 3rd largest in all of the United States.
The four organizations that now organize, promote and host these festivals are: Harambee Ujima Black Arts and Cultural Association, Pittsburgh Positive Young People’s Association, Teenworks Charitable Organization and ANEW Community Organization. Each year this collaboration hosts Harambee festivals in the neighborhoods of Homewood, East Liberty, Wilkinsburg and Homestead, respectively.
This grant will be used for artist exhibitions, cultural performances, festival operations and marketing materials for the Harambee Black Arts Festivals.
2022 Grant Amount: $40,000 over one year
Award Category: Discretionary Grant Support
To support the 3rd Annual East Liberty Merchants' Black Arts and Wellness Harambee festival and 2nd Line Parade in East Liberty. Harambe is from the Swahili word meaning “let’s all pull together,” which is part of the goal of the festival, held in Aug. 2022.
PPYPA partners with other community organizations hosting similar events throughout the city. The festivals serve as opportunities for youth, parents, local business owners, artists, community leaders, organizations and others to come together and celebrate, but also to share education and job opportunities, health and wellness information and to have a space for multi-generation families to gather and enjoy.