- test-neighbhorhood@test.highlandparkpa.com

German Tutoring Available
by Michael Stang 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

Are you looking to brush up on your high school German? Are you learning German on Duolingo and need some help with answering WHY you are writing/saying certain things? Do you have a child learning German who needs some help over the summer/next school year? My name is Mike, and I am a 34-year-old German teacher living in Highland Park. I have been teaching German for 11 years now. I have taught language learners of all ages. I could meet remotely or in person. Pricing is negotiable, depending upon what you're looking for in our meetings. Resume can be provided upon request. Feel free to reach out with any questions; pass along this info to anyone you think might be interested. Auf Wiedersehen! -Mike

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Polk center speaker--NEW
by Elisabeth Crago 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

I have a brand new, unopened Polk Elite series (ES50) center speaker for a surround sound stereo or TV system. I bought a package from Polk (incredible speakers!) but I needed the slim profile center speaker and they did not allow me to customize the package—so I ended up with this extra one. Here’s the link: https://www.polkaudio.com/en-us/product/center-channel-speakers/signature-e… Currently available through Polk for $240; yours for $200 OBO. Thanks— Elisabeth

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Stereo & DVD player for sale, cheap
by Susan Zelicoff 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

Compact Panasonic Hi-Fi Stereo system with 5-disk changer DVD/CD player, cassette tape deck, speakers, sound processor, amplifier radio tuner, for sale, and also an optional Samsung TV (the deep kind). 15 yrs old. Great sound and many functions including sleep, edit and record. $5 per component or pair of speakers. Working condition. Used in the animal-free basement of a smoke-free home. See photos for connection ports. Rated 4.3/5 stars online and sells elsewhere for $115-$350 used. $25 takes all. Location: close to Ellsworth St and Morewood St., between Shadyside and Oakland. Description: The full system is called Panasonic DVD stereo system, model SC-DV150, and has its printed manual and original overall system remote control. It includes these components: Panasonic Sound Processor, Model SH-DV150 Panasonic Stereo Tuner Amplifier, Model SA-DV150. Has both play and record functions. Panasonic DVD/video CD player /CD Changer, Dolby, 5-disk, model L-DV150, with original remote control with Sleep function, Separate manual Panasonic Stereo Cassette Deck, Model RS-DV150, Dolby. Has Edit function. printed manual Two Panasonic speakers, model SB-DV150 10” ht, 8” wide, 6” deep Free Samsung 19” diagonal TV. If you buy the DVD player, you are welcome to a free TV but it is the old kind, very deep (the opposite of flat TV’s) and it only has audio in/out and coax cable ports (no HDMI, ethernet or other modern-type of ports). And it will be free to anyone if no one wants the DVD player. Front ports: RCA in and headphones jack out. Rear ports: RCA audio and video In, Coax cable in. User manual Original remote control Front view of full system including TV Rear view of main components Rear view of Speaker ports TV - side view

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Firing range petition signing - Saturday 9 - 10 am
by Highland Park Community Council 01 Jun '23

01 Jun '23

For people interested in signing the petition for a hearing in front of City Council on the impact of the firing range on the community, I had planned on being at Tazza today from 9 - 10 am. Unfortunately, Tazza is closed today! Therefore, I'll try again on Saturday. If you'd like to sign, please come down between 9 and 10 am. If that time doesn't work for you, please email me and we can figure out another way for you to sign it. Thank you! -- Click here to visit our website <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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Fwd: Bunkerhill @ One Wild Place closure
by Highland Park Community Council 31 May '23

31 May '23

FROM PWSA: Hello, Firstly, I want to apologize for the short notice on this as we just got approval for our schedule today. You may have seen some additional signs go up around the Bunkerhill/One Wild Place intersection. This is for work that will begin Friday. We will connecting the large-diameter main at this intersection. The work schedule is as follows: - Friday 6/2, 7:00 am - 5:00 pm: Intersection will be closed, traffic will be detoured onto Lake Drive and around the park. The will reconnect with the neighborhood via Stanton Avenue. - Saturday & Sunday: NO WORK, intersection will reopened to normal traffic. - Monday, 6/5, 7:00 am - 5:00 pm: Work will resume and be completed by end-of-day, barring any unforeseen issues. >From there, crews will jump into the park to complete installing the main. I will be sending a robocall today and tomorrow to the surrounding area. Sincerely, [image: www.pgh2o.com] <http://pgh2o.com/> Mora McLaughlin Construction Comm. Project Manager Office: *412.255.8945* <412.255.8945> Ext:8005 Cell: *412.689.4137* <412.689.4137> 24/7 media inquiry line: 412.430.3898 Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority 1200 Penn Ave , Pittsburgh , PA 15222 *https://pgh2o.com* <http://pgh2o.com/> [image: LinkedIn] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/pgh2o> [image: Twitter] <https://www.twitter.com/pgh2o> -- Click here to visit our website <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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House Cleaning
by Brent Lahaie 31 May '23

31 May '23

Hello, This is just a reminder that I am looking for new clients to clean for. I usually clean most houses every two weeks but we can work out a schedule that works for you. I live in Morningside so I would love to have more clients in Highland Park, but if you have friends around town feel free to let them know too. I offer a set price for each time I come and clean. Each house is different and everyone has their own requirements, so if you are interested let me know and we can set up a time for me to visit and work out a price. The easiest way to get in touch with me is via text/phone at 412-520-2241. If you prefer email, I can be reached via the following email address: brentlahaie(a)gmail.com. Thank you! Margaret Lahaie

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Bunkerhill and One Wild Place closing
by regina＠wholechoice.net 31 May '23

31 May '23

Hi, I just read Bob Strasenic's note on the intersection closing. I also contacted Mora yesterday - I think she contacted several of us in the late afternoon Bob. Yes, the intersection will be open all weekend. The work will be done Friday 7am-5pm, and also on Monday, same times. The detour will be routed through the Park, to come out on One Wild Place at the junction where the mosaic wall starts (below the Bunkerhill intersection). I do have some concerns - the original plan was to have the intersection closed for 3 consecutive days, with round-the-clock work. I'm waiting to hear back from Mora on how that amount of work could be done in two days. Also she clarified, new for me, that the detour decisions, including routes and signage, and also timing decisions for road closures, are decided by DOMI.

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Vinyl LP's/albums
by Susan Zelicoff 31 May '23

31 May '23

Before I put them in the trash, does anyone have interest in vinyl LP albums if they don’t have their covers? We had a pipe burst while away and the cardboard covers became irretrievably moldy as a result. If interested, I can provide the titles. There are between 25- 50 so I don’t want to bother creating an inventory unless someone replies.

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May Stop the Violence Newsletter
by JayGilmer 31 May '23

31 May '23

Good morning, Please enjoy and share! Thank you. Jay Gilmer412-255-6774 ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: City of Pittsburgh Office of Community Services and Violence Prevention <stoptheviolence(a)pittsburghpa.gov>To: "jaygilmer(a)verizon.net" <jaygilmer(a)verizon.net>Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 08:31:03 AM EDTSubject: May Stop the Violence Newsletter | Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, Northside Peace Ambassadors, Event Reports, Grantee Progress, Summer Jobs, Resources, Facts & Stats & More | | | | | | | | In This Issue: *National Gun Violence Awareness Day& Wear Orange WeekendZone 1-Friday June 2Zone 2-Saturday June 3* *Zone 1-Northside Peace Ambassadors* *Zone 5-Memorial to the Lost* *Zone 5-Through My Lens-Kids Voices* *Progress Reports from 2022 Grantees* | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | May 31, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | Stop the Violence Newsletter | | | | | | | | | | The City of Pittsburgh Office of Community Services and Violence Prevention exists to change the community narrative about violence and stop the spread of the disease of violence in the City. While we are concerned as well with the surrounding areas and will share solutions and events in those areas, we only have jurisdiction in the City. We would be pleased to share our knowledge and strategies with any jurisdiction outside of the City. Table of Contents - Violence Prevention Partner Update-Zone 1: Infinite Lifestyle Solutions Peace Ambassadors - Event Report & City Solutions: Student Police Academy-Spring 2023 Graduation - Violence Prevention Partner Update-Zone 5: Bible Center Church - Through My Lens - Event Report & City Solutions: Citizen Police Academy-Spring 2023 Graduation - Event Report-Zone 5 & Something You Can Do: Memorial to the Lost - Solutions-Zone 2: The Cellar Downtown - City Solutions: 2022 Stop The Violence Community Investment Grant Funded Programs-Progress & Impact - Archive: Event Report & City Solutions: Violence Prevention Partner Press Conference-March 2023 - Solutions: Summer Learn & Earn: Last Chance To Sign Up - Solutions: Call 211 for Youth Diversion Services - Something You Can Do: Participate in Wear Orange Weekend June 2 and 3, 2023 - Violence Prevention Partner Activity-Zone 2+: Ozanam Basketball League - Something You Can Do: Join Greater Pittsburgh Area MAD DADS - City Solutions: To Prevent or Interrupt Violence, Contact REACH - Solutions Archive: Cure Violence-Part 1 - City Solutions: Let Us Know Using StopTheViolence(a)PittsburghPA.Gov - Training: Community Violence Intervention; Group Violence Intervention+, GVI Support & Outreach; Conflict Resolution Training and More - Facts and Stats: From April 2023 - Coming Events - Solutions: Hotlines Ready To Serve You - Tips for You, Poll Responses & Previous Newsletters - Community Resources: 40 Resources Listed - Domestic Violence Resource Guide brochure - You and the Police brochure Please complete the 10 polls in this Newsletter (#10 is at the very end of the Newsletter) NOTE: This Newsletter is full of pictures. If you cannot see them, they may be blocked by your computer. You can unblock by clicking on a button that may be at the top or bottom of your computer screen. Please encourage the people in your networks to subscribe to the Newsletter. If anyone you forward the Newsletter to would unsubscribe, you will be unsubscribed as well (and would need to resubscribe to receive the Newsletter again). If you're interested in helping stop violence, please send us an email by clicking HERE. Sign up here to receive the monthly City of Pittsburgh Stop The Violence Newsletter | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Violence Prevention Partner Update-Zone 1: Infinite Lifestyle Solutions Trained Peace Ambassadors Are At Work! | | | | | | | | | | Infinite Lifestyle Solutions was provided a small grant to train middle school Peace Ambassadors and community adults who will use restorative conflict resolution skills to mediate or diffuse conflicts or acts of violence at the John Morrow Intermediate School (Brighton Heights). | | | | | | | | | | After being selected, the students completed an initial 6 week training which ended in December. Sessions included Restorative Practices, Anti Bullying and Cyber Bullying, Conflict Resolution, Changing Social Norms around violence, Trauma informed care, and Self-care & Mindfulness. Training also included weekly check-in by outreach workers and attendance at restorative circles with police to build stronger relationships. | | | | | | | | | Above: Officer Derrick Payton, Project Manager Dana Brown and Executive Director Cecilia Ware with a graduating Peace Ambassador | | | | | | | Upon completion of their training, students are assigned a post outside the school to support their peers by interrupting any conflicts or suspected acts of violence before it begins. They are present after school to oversee dismissal and assist with the safe passage of their peers to their homes. For a student to maintain being Peace Ambassadors, they must have passing grades, attendance, and behavior. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The impact of the Peace Ambassadors has been clear. According to Executive Director Cecilia Ware, “there has been a reduction in fights inside and outside the John Morrow School and students are respectfully listening when being redirected and not fighting. This teaches students that violence is a disease and how they can be violence interrupters. They support their peers who are being bullied by interrupting violent acts and decreasing violence. They make their school and community safer.” | | | | | | | | The John Morrow Intermediate School Peace Ambassadors | | | | | | Poll #1: Do you think that the Peace Ambassadors is a good idea? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Event Report & City Solutions: Student Police Academy-Spring 2023 21 High School Students graduated! By John Tokarski, SaferTogether Coordinator for Zones 4 and 6 | | | | The Spring 2023 session of the Student Police Academy (SPA) recently conducted its graduation ceremony by conducting their very own crime scene investigations and then reporting out their findings, before receiving their graduation certificate! | | | | | Students and parents at the SPA graduation | | | | | | | | | | A class of 21 high school students, from across the city and throughout the county, from private, public, parochial and charter schools participated in the recently concluded session. | | | | The Pittsburgh Student Police Academy, which was conducted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, by providing an opportunity for students to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The SPA brings the police and the students close together in a setting that is non-confrontational and offers a sample of police training to each participant in a safe and comfortable learning environment. As participants of the SPA, residents received 1.5 hours of training one evening a week for 10 weeks. | | | | | Assistant Chief Phil Carey, New Police Chief Larry Scirotto and Detective Bobby Shaw at SPA graduation | | | | | | A SPA participant examining a pretend victim at a mock crime scene. | | | The City of Pittsburgh's Student Police Academy (SPA) allows students to experience some of the highlights of police training and the various operations of the police bureau The classes are traditionally held at the Point Park University, in Downtown Pittsburgh, along with a number visits to the various police specialty units. The students were taught the basics of criminal law, search and seizure, patrol tactics, the history of policing, police accountability and many other subjects. | | | | John Tokarski, SPA Director, had two highlights from this SPA: "One was witnessing such a mix of students (socioeconomic, city vs suburban, private/parochial vs public school) melt together and establish friendships. The second was watching them take the info they were taught in the classes taught and bringing it all together with their own investigation of a "crime scene" and forcing them to make decisions and come to conclusions with the evidence they came upon at the crime scene and their conclusions." | | | | | | | | Above: The graduating class from the Spring 2023 Student Police Academywith Assistant Chief Phil Carey at Police Headquarters | | | | For additional information and/or questions regarding the upcoming Fall 2023 CPA session, please contact: John Tokarski at john.tokarski(a)pittsburghpa.gov or call 412-432-8674. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Violence Prevention Partner Update- Zone 5: Bible Center Church - Through My Lens Helping Kids Thrive! | | | | | | | | | | One component of the grant to Bible Center Church’s The Maker’s Clubhouse was to help 30 fourth and fifth grade students at Faison and Lincoln Schools to showcase their neighborhoods and share their feelings about violence. This resulted in a family –friendly Photovoice exhibit entitled Through My Lens: What It’s Like to Be a Child in My Neighborhood. | | | | | | | | | | The Through My Lens project asked the question “Have you ever wondered what life today is like through the eyes of a child?” Between January and May 2023, students in the Homewood and Larimer neighborhoods learned to use photography and Photovoice methods to creatively share their experiences and leverage their stories to advocate for change. The project guided these young voices on their path to becoming key agents in transforming our communities. | | | | | | | | | | | According to Dr. Sheila Roth, Continuum of Support Project Manager for the Department of Public Safety, “it was amazing! The work and words of these young students was so impactful. The Through My Lens project gave voice to children and offered a creative outlet for them to tell their stories in a safe, supportive, environment. It not only shows the impact of trauma but the resilience and strength of these children.” | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Photovoice is an established method developed initially by health researchers. It enables students to take photographs they take of their neighborhood and reflect in journals on the reasons, emotions, and experiences that guided them to choose their selected images. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dr. Roth also said "the exhibit was a powerful reminder of the impact of trauma on individuals and communities and it was also a demonstration of the resilience that lives with individuals and communities when support and love are present." | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Through My Lens is part of The Maker’s Clubhouse’s three-pronged approach to violence prevention,” said Executive Director of Bible Center Church’s The Oasis Project Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wallace. “The two-generation approach equips parents and students with the tools they need to speak about violence occurring in the neighborhoods where they live, learn, work and play.” | | | | | Rev. Dr. Cynthia Wallace of Bible Center Church | | | | | | | | | | | If you would like to arrange a display of the Through My Lens exhibit in your community, please contact the Stop the Violence Office. | | | | | | Poll #2: Are you interested in seeing the Through My Lens exhibit? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Event Report & City Solutions: Citizen Police Academy-Spring 2023 25 Graduates! By John Tokarski, SaferTogether Coordinator for Zones 4 and 6 | | | | The Spring 2023 session of the Citizen Police Academy (CPA) recently conducted its graduation ceremony in the courtroom of Judge Jill Rangos with participants serving as both witnesses and as jury members in a mock criminal trial, before receiving their graduation certificate! | | | | | | | | Above: The graduating class from the Spring 2023 Citizen Police Academy | | | | A class of 25 residents, from both the city and throughout the county, registered this past January for the recently concluded Spring session. | | | | The Pittsburgh Citizen Police Academy, conducted by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, provides an opportunity for residents to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The CPA brings the police and the community close together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant. As participants of the CPA, residents received 2.5 hours of training one evening a week for 10 weeks. | | | | | Sergeant Tiffany Kline-Costa with MiRan Surh, President of the Korean American Association of Greater Pittsburgh at CPA graduation | | | | | | Officers watching the mock trial at the CPA graduation | | | The City of Pittsburgh's Citizen Police Academy (CPA) allows participants to experience some of the highlights of police training and the various operations of the Police Bureau. The classes are traditionally held at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill, along with a number visits to the various police specialty units. | | | | John Tokarski said: "the highlight of the CPA was without question the opportunity for the citizens to participate in a "criminal mock trial." For some of them to to be involved in the investigation of a crime scene which led up to a charge being made, and then the rest of them serving as either "police officers testifying as witnesses" or as members of the jury, opened their eyes to the whole process and the environment of the courtroom during the prosecution." | | | | | A CPA participant acting as a witness at the mock trial in the courtroom of Judge Jill Rangos | | | | After completing the CPA, MiRan Surh, Director of Community Relations for the Emmaus Community of Pittsburgh, arranged for the staff at Emmaus Community undergo active assailant training from the Police Bureau and Stop the bleed, CPR, AED and Narcan Application training from Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services. These trainings are available to any organization in the City. | | | | For additional information and/or questions regarding the upcoming Fall 2023 CPA session, please contact: John Tokarski at john.tokarski(a)pittsburghpa.gov or call 412-432-8674. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Event Report- Zone 5& Something You Can Do: Memorial to the Lost Another way to remember victims and overcome trauma! | | | | On Saturday May 6 the Memorial to the Lost was dedicated on Bennett Street in Homewood. The purpose of the Memorial is to honor victims of gun violence and their families. It offers another way for family and friends of victims to process their grief. | | | | | | | | | | | Above: Memorial to the Lost on Bennett Street in Homewood.Below: Memorial to the Lost at Frankstown & Murtland in Homewood. | | | | | | | | | | | This visual and sobering event invites visitors to walk among t-shirts inscribed with names and dates/ages of death. The display started at 7228 Bennett Street, next to Bethesda Presbyterian Church. It then moved to the corner of Frankstown Avenue & Murtland Street, across from Shiloh Community Baptist Church, where it will be until June 3. On June 17, the Memorial will open at Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race Street. The dedication will be June 17 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. | | | | | | | | Unfortunately, the exhibit was vandalized a the Bennett Street location on Mother's Day weekend. The story on the vandalism of the Memorial appeared on WTAE-TV. You can see it below. | | | | | | | | If you would like the Memorial toe the Lost to be displayed at your church or community location, please contact Marilyn Mulvihill at Heeding God's Call. | | | | | | Poll #3: Did you watch either video on the Memorial to the Lost? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Solutions-Zone 2:The Cellar Downtown Open To All High School Kids! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City Solutions:2022 STOP The ViolenceCommunity Investment Grant Funded Programs- Progress & Impact | | | | Community organizations received 2022 Stop The Violence Community Investment Grants in order to implement programming that would affect violence and/or remediate trauma caused by violence or place protective factors around vulnerable populations. A condition of the grants is that the recipients regularly report their progress, impact and successes. The last such report covered he period ending March 31, 2023. The results can be summarized as: - Hundreds of positive, constructive activities directly touching the lives of thousands of youth and adults in high-risk neighborhoods throughout the City. - Organizations incorporating violence prevention and conflict resolution into their existing activities. - 45 separate organizations are starting to see themselves as components of the City’s violence prevention team, as evidenced by the use of the City’s Choose Peace-Stop Violence and Violence Prevention Partners logos. - A Facebook group called “Violence Prevention Partners” was created by a grantee for sharing events and photos. - Collaboration among the separate organizations continues to increase. - Increasing utilization of Department of Public Safety sponsored training activities relating to physical and mental health. - Many neighborhood facilities which had not previously been regular hosts for community meetings and events have been utilized for such purposes. - Increasing utilization of the Reach street outreach team for engagement with individuals and situations that could result in violence. Here are a few highlights from some of the reports: | | | | 1 Nation Mentoring - Zones 3 & 6. Coordinated by Kevin McNair. As trusted school mentors, we're made aware of issues that may be brewing both in school and the community. This allows us to get to the root of the issues and more often than not, mediate the involved parties before it escalates to violence. We have mediated a majority of instances with no second altercation. We provide progressive conflict resolution that generally resolve the issue so it doesn't trickle into the community. We also train peer mediators. Abiding Missions - Zone 3. Coordinated by Jordan Shoenberger. We continue to connect with the youth in our community. Our youth continue to find connections, and we have found ways to add four youth from our waiting list to our program, one of which is an identified bully, whom we hope to pour into. Bible Center Church - Zone 5. Coordinated by Cynthia Wallace. We completed two, 8-week cohorts of our “Parenting While Black” parent empowerment class for 20 parents. One parent shared, "The PWB program taught me that we as black people need to be aware of the racial bias which our children go through within the school system, that we as parents do not recognize. By attending all these sessions I have a lot more knowledge of what's out here in this racist world that we all must work on together. I am looking forward to passing what I have learned to my family and friends, in hopes of fighting racism on all levels." Brothers & Sisters Emerging - Zone 5. Coordinated by Bob Jones. We are conducting the Gatorway Male Mentoring Program with fifteen Black males ages seven through fourteen with the Coaching Boys to Men curriculum which builds youth into responsible, respectful and non-violent relationships. Center of Life - Zone 4. Coordinated by Patrick Ohrman.We are helping those we serve understand the effect that violence can have on a community is vital. But it's important to teach those we serve not only how to prevent violence but what to do in instances of violence. Community Empowerment Association - Zone 5. Coordinated by Rashad Byrdsong.CEA staff has been conducting weekly groups at Westinghouse Academy, in both the High School and Middle School Side. Currently 27 youth from the high school Side and 5 from the middle school side have been referred. East End Cooperative Ministry - Zone 5. Coordinated by Michael Bartley and Reverend Darnell Leonard (Executive Director).A male eighth grader who was labeled the school’s “problem child.” often threatened teachers and was given detention. At the request of the principal and teachers, our team placed him in a designated group session. After a few sessions, we determined that he was lashing out due to his father’s untimely and violent murder. We were able to set him up with grief counseling sessions and enrolled him in one of our evening recreation programs. Another young man in sixth grade had very low self-esteem due to psoriasis and low-income. He felt so low about himself that he could not name a single thing he liked. Staff scheduled him an appointment with a dermatologist and purchased him new clothing and a haircut. This, as well as our classes on self-image, had a great impact on him, as he soon was able to name 15 things he liked about himself. Homewood Children's Village - Zone 5. Coordinated by JaLissa Coffee.During the robotics session, one of the female students initially responded to the task by stating that “it’s too hard.” However, after a conversation about failing forward, she was the only one to complete the challenge after continuous iterations of coding, trial and error, recoding, and success. There was a male student that was low energy and was not going to participate in the art activity. Yet, as the intention was self-expression of their current mood or self-identity, his energy rose, and his mood brightened as he engaged. Iota Phi Foundation - Zone 1. Coordinated by Rahmon Hart.We met several times with the Mayor's Office and included them in a Town Hall Meeting/Public Forum. The partnership included developing a session that focused on combatting violence in the community. The Youth in our programs are building strong relationships with each other and they are being empowered to be coalition builder ambassadors and leaders in their community. It has been extremely rewarding to see the parents and students connecting outside of our program and developing strong bonds. Friends is something that we believe is essential to curtailing violence in our community Melanin Mommies - Zone 5. Coordinated by Latrice Rose.Participants experiencing anxiety, PTSD, Depression, have reported 40% reduction through pre and post evaluations. Northside Partnership Project – Zone 1. Coordinated by English Burton and Reverend Eleanor Williams.We have launched an anti-violence campaign and communications strategy in the 18 neighborhoods on the Northside. The primary theme is “See Something-Say Something”. After presenting the SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING t-shirts and yard signs at different venues, people began to ask where they can get them, and they began to talk about the importance of protecting their neighborhoods. Ozanam, Inc. - Zone 2. Coordinated by Darrelle Porter.Through building relationships between youth and mentors from different neighborhoods, Ozanam has been able to effectively foster positive working relationships that have reduced conflict. Involvement with Police has built positive images with youth. Ozanam has worked diligently to promote violence prevention in our neighborhood while also developing vehicles for violence prevention partners to work together for our youth. Project Destiny - Zone 1. Coordinated by Reverend Brenda Gregg and Dr. Daphne Curges. Through the use of this grant, we were able to hold four healing sessions between Nov 1st and December 31st. This was all inspired by the shooting incident at the Destiny of Faith church, and fears within the neighborhood. Congregant members of Destiny of Faith, employees of Project Destiny, Inc. and several members from community partners participated in these interventions, and we were able to share comfort and love to our neighbors who needed it. PROMISE - City-wide. Coordinated by Jakim Donaldson. Our program brought kids together from all over the city who may have never gotten a chance to meet or get to know each other better, while also equipping them with vital information on how to survive and succeed in a violence driven society. Save A Life Today - Zone 6. Coordinated by Mary Williams. We have signed a year lease on an office space. We have signed up our 30 parents for the first classes. Our impact is showing in making families as whole as possible. Helping to relieve the stressors that cause depression as well helping with the trauma from violence so it isn't repeated. See the story in the April Stop the Violence Newsletter. South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace - Zone 3. Coordinated by Reverend Eileen Smith. The Stop the Violence Grant supports the SPCP street outreach team. Having a full street violence prevention team has enabled us to cover more territory and reach more at-risk individuals who are more likely to commit violence, thus being able to prevent violence. Trade Institute of Pittsburgh - City-wide. Coordinated by Kenya Alford and Donta Green (Executive Director). We hired a Community Engagement Coordinator. TIP staff recently de-escalated a potentially violent situation when a student reprimanded for violating TIP's attendance policy began to get confrontational. Staff diffused the situation and learned that he was in crisis because his sister had died. Instead of dismissal, staff created a resolution plan for students with unique situations/crises would be given a second chance utilizing individualized expectations based on program guidelines but customized to their situation when fitting. We also had a wonderful transformation with one of our students who was referred by Reach team. He excelled in our program, restored his driver's license, and is now working in the construction trades. Western Pennsylvania Youth Athletic Association – City-wide. Coordinated by Tonya Payne-Scott. These are the teams that received funds through the WPYAA: Zone 1: Northside Steelers – Coordinated by Audie ChapmanZone 2: Hill District Rebels - Coordinated by Tywone BrayZone 3: Southside Bears - Coordinated by Kevin AltonZone 4: Hazelwood Cobras – Coordinated by Saundra ColeZone 5: East End Raiders (East Liberty) – Coordinated by Antoine Lester Homewood Bulldawgs - Coordinated by Mubarik Ismaeli Lincoln Rams – Coordinated by Jamaul Sapp Pittsburgh Kings (Lincoln-Lemington) - Coordinated by Sheldon Moorehead Zone 6: Westside Mustangs - Coordinated by Martin Langford Children and families have been provided with safe events and programming. This has helped to keep more children out of the streets and interact in more productive activities. Parents are more at ease knowing their children are positive environments. Specifically, 9 programs have held community banquets to celebrate the children in each of their programs. 5 programs have trained their coaches in CPR/First Aide/Trauma/Conflict Resolution. 6 programs have functioning after school programming with mentoring services. Westinghouse Youth Wrestling - Zone 5. Coordinated by Justin Perkins. We have mandatory violence prevention and decision-making take homework for all mentees above the age of 12. YMCA-Homewood - Zone 5. Coordinated by Nedra Perkins. See the story in the March Stop the Violence Newsletter. Youth Enrichment Services - City-wide. Coordinated by Dennis Floyd Jones. Coalition building has been a strength of this grant. YouthPlaces - Zones 1-2-5. Coordinated by Cynthia James. Recently, at our downtown location, an 18 year old black male, involved in our job skills development program, received a text showing that his brother had been violently attacked in another part of town. Naturally, this young man wanted to begin retaliatory planning, however, our staff were able to intervene, coach him, and also give him a safe place to stay our site for hours longer than it was open. From that point, we reached out to our REACH staff member who came down to the site the next day and began proactive planning to reduce the risk to this young man and others. Za'kiyah House - Zone 5. Coordinated by Rona Davis-Moore. Most of our participants come from impacted backgrounds, where they have directly been involved or been a victim of the violence going on in our city. Our impact gives each participant different ways of using peace instead of violence. | | | | The entire list of 2022 grant recipients and funded programs has been posted on the Department of Public Safety's Violence Prevention website. To see it, just click HERE. If you would like contact information on any of the grantees, please contact the STOP the Violence Office. These grants are a component of the Pittsburgh Plan For Peace that will compliment the existing work being done by the City's Group Violence Intervention Support and Outreach efforts, including the REACH team. These violence prevention efforts are made possible by the City's STOP the Violence Trust Fund. | | | | | | Poll #4: Do you like seeing these grantee results in the Stop the Violence Newsletter? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Archive:Event Report & City Solutions:Violence Prevention Partner Press Conference | | | | Several of the City's youth serving Violence Prevention Partner grantees were highlighted at a March 31 press conference at the Ammon Recreation Center in the Hill District. Click on the picture below for the Tribune review story by Julia Felton on the Press Conference. | | | | | | | | The Mayor said: "A lot of us have friends and family who are still out here perpetrating the violence that they say they want to see stopped. We can't have it both ways. Its time for us to do everything we can to save our kids. Who's really selling out our community?" "We have a choice to make if we're going to protect our children. I'm calling on all of the men and women in the community to say No, it's enough. We need you. The children need you right now." "There are lots of programs out here for our children. But you have to get them to the programs. We will continue to fund programs. If you have a kid, contact one of these organizations and let us help you. We need the community. Let us help you. At the end of the day, we are one!" To see the entire press conference, click HERE. | | | | | | | LEFT: Representatives from partner organizations at the Press Conference. Click on the picture to see the entire Press Conference. | | | | | | Mayor Gainey and representatives from partner organizations at the Press Conference. Story from KDKA-TV. | | | | | Reverend Brenda Gregg at the Press Conference. Story from WTAE-TV. | | | | | | Poll #5: Do you think parents have a large role to play in preventing youth violence? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Solutions: Jobs-Summer Learn & Earn Last Chance To Sign Up-Ages 14 to 21 | | | | | | | | Solutions: Call 211 for YOUth Diversion Services To Divert Youth From the Criminal Justice System | | | | Caring Connections for YOUth is a community-led initiative developed by the Black Girls Equity Alliance (BGEA) that provides access to supports and services to ANY YOUTH, up to age 18, living in Allegheny County as a diversion from the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. | | | | The goal for Caring Connections for YOUth is to reduce youth violence and arrests by reducing the interactions that children have with police. Caring Connections for YOUth works with 211, so if a kid or a family in Allegheny County needs help for things like a conflict between a parent and child, truancy, fighting or even minor drug possession, all they have to do is call 211, press 3 and be connected with an operator instead of the cops. The program was developed based on data collected by Gwen's Girls. They looked at the numbers of juveniles who are arrested, cited or referred to juvenile court for minor offenses. They found that not knowing who to call for resources and support was one reason young people ended up in the system, when really they needed help. For a December 2022 story from KDKA-TV on Caring Connections for YOUth, please click on the picture of Dr. Kathi Elliott below. | | | | | | | | | | Poll #6: Have you or anyone you know ever called 211 for youth diversion services? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Something You Can Do: Participate in Wear Orange Weekend June 2 and 3, 2023 Come On Out! Wear Orange events remember lives lost to gun violence and raise awareness about this public health crisis. This year, there are two events. They are Friday June 2 on the Northside, and Saturday June 3 in the Hill District. More information on each event is below. Please join one or both events! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Poll #7: Are you available for any of the Wear Orange Weekend events? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Violence Prevention Partner Activity-Zone 2+:Ozanam Basketball League | | | | | | | | Fr information on the Ozanam League, please contact President Darelle Porter at Dap2kk(a)gmail.com or click HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Something You Can Do: Join Greater Pittsburgh Area MAD DADS Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder | | | | The street patrol teams of MAD DADS are looking for more men! Over the years, MAD DADS have found that the presence of committed, alert men who are identifiable with the green MAD DADS shirt and/or vest and who are friendly and consistent can improve safety in those streets. | | | | | The MAD DADS Downtown Street Patrol Team with Pittsburgh Police in April 2023 | | | | If you want to be part of the solution to violence, please consider becoming a member and joining the teams in Downtown Pittsburgh, Homewood, Wilkinsburg, or Turtle Creek, or help to form a new team in your neighborhood. A stipend may be available to members who participate in enough street patrols. For membership requirements and additional information, please see the Facebook page or website: www.pittsburghmaddads.org. You may also contact President George Spencer at: greaterpittsburghmaddads(a)gmail.com OR just come to the next monthly meeting Saturday April 29, 2023 at the 1111 Wood Street, Wilkinsburg 15221 (not the usual location). IF NOT US, THEN WHO?IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN?PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING!! | | | | | | | | | | | | | Some members of the REACH street outreach team, with Public Safety Department officials. | | | | City Solutions: To Prevent or Interrupt ViolenceContact REACH | | | | Direct pro-active outreach to the highest-risk individuals and families is a key component of Pittsburgh's violence prevention strategy. The Pittsburgh street outreach team is known as REACH. REACH workers are knowledgeable community members who interact with individuals of any age who have been impacted by violence or are at risk due to their circumstances or acquaintances. They are selected based on their individual experience, relationships and historical knowledge and are now embedded in communities across the City of Pittsburgh. REACH workers also have access to resources that might be needed by individuals or families to help prevent violence, so don't hesitate to contact REACH if you know someone or are someone at-risk and in need. | | | | | | | | | | 1-833-44REACHorreach(a)centerthatcares.org | | | | REACH is funded by the City of Pittsburgh through a contract with the Hill District's Center That Cares. REACH General Manager is The Reverend Glenn Grayson. Program Manager is Antoine Bailey and Supervisors are Vaughn Rivers (Zones 1 and 2), Terri Minor Spencer (Zones 3 and 6) and Ayo Young (Zones 4 and 5). If you become aware of a situation which could benefit from the presence of REACH workers OR if you know an individual who needs support, mentoring or resources to avoid trouble, please contact REACH at 1-833-44REACH. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Solutions Archive:Cure Violence-Part 1 Another Nationally Known Evidence Based Violence Prevention StrategyCure Violence is a violence interruption strategy working to interrupt violence at the source and treats violence as a disease that spreads from person to person. Three core components of this strategy include interrupting the transmission of violence, reducing the risk of violence acts by those at the highest risk and changing community norms. The model relies on the efforts of community outreach workers who have deep and sustained relationships in the neighborhoods where they operate, enabling them to effectively engage with youth and community. | | | | The Cure Violence strategy has been adopted by Allegheny County's Health Department and Department of Human Services. Cure Violence was researched and launched by Dr. Gary Slutkin. More from Dr. Slutkin is below: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City Solutions: Let Us Know UsingStopTheViolence(a)PittsburghPA.Gov Are you aware of a NON-EMERGENCY situation that has the potential to turn violent but doesn’t yet need police attention? This could include a dispute, feud, insult, social media post, party, sporting event, fight being planned or even a rumor. It could involve school students or adults of any age, men or women. If you are, please contact the City of Pittsburgh's STOP the Violence Office using email address: StopTheViolence(a)PittsburghPA.Gov. When you send the email, please leave a few details and the neighborhood you are writing from. You will receive an initial response within 2 business days. | | | | "I think our expert outreach team has the ability to intervene in and mediate almost any situation if we have some notice. I encourage school personnel, sports team coaches, pastors, neighbors, and concerned community members to look out for the people they care about and report anything or anyone that could turn violent" said Jay Gilmer, the Department of Public Safety's STOP the Violence Coordinator. "Our goal is to resolve situations before violence occurs and police are necessary". | | | | | Jay GilmerStop the Violence Coordinator | | | | | | | | | | If you know someone who needs a bit of help to avoid getting involved in activities that could lead to violence and someone becoming a statistic, please let us know. Help might include advice, family assistance, recovery, support from peers, or even a place to go. The City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Office has access to many resources and partner organizations who would be pleased to help you or your friend. The STOP the Violence Office is part of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety but is not the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. | | | | THIS EMAIL ADDRESS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY HOTLINE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CALLIING 911 OR 311 IF VIOLENCE IS READY TO BREAK OUT, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Training: Community Violence Intervention | | | | Across the country, cities are utilizing violence prevention strategies that are similar to Pittsburgh's and use a combination of Group Violence Intervention, Cure Violence, community partnerships and other elements. Now known as Community Violence Intervention (or CVI), these approaches attempt o coordinate efforts for maximum results. Key to all efforts is continuous community education about the available resources and interventions and the results. You can see Baltimore's strategy here: | | | | | | | | | | | | Mayor Gainey's Pittsburgh Plan for Peace is a CVI strategy. You can find it here: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Group Violence Intervention + Pittsburgh's Group Violence Intervention initiative (GVI) is a proven strategy to reduce shootings and homicides in urban neighborhoods by using a multi-aspect strategy: - informed street outreach and social services to prevent violence, - involved community members reinforcing community norms rejecting violence; and - law enforcement in partnership with the community when other means are not effective. For additional information on GVI, including its history and rationale, see this hour-long webinar from Mayors Against Illegal Guns entitled Re-imagining Public Safety: Group Violence Intervention and Intimate Partner Intervention: Webinar. The password is: MAIGUn1versity! Pittsburgh’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) violence prevention strategy, including the complete logic model, was featured in the October 2021 STOP the Violence Newsletter which can be accessed HERE. Support and outreach for GVI are coordinated by Rev. Cornell Jones, Director of Outreach who can be contacted at cornell.jones@pittsburghpa.gov. Street Outreach for the City of Pittsburgh is contracted to The Center that Cares' Reach team. Their General Manager is The Reverend Glenn Grayson, Program Manager is Antoine Bailey and Supervisors are Vaughn Rivers (Zones 1 and 2), Terri Minor Spencer (Zones 3 and 6) and Ayo Young (Zones 4 and 5). They can be reached at 1-833-44REACH. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GVI Support & Outreach: Pittsburgh’s Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention-Part 1 was featured in the August 2021 STOP the Violence Newsletter which can be accessed HERE. Part 2, including GVI and its complete logic model, was featured in the October 2021 Newsletter and can be accessed HERE. How does support and outreach work? Recent research on GVI’s support and outreach component was released this month by the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC). The report explains that in GVI, traditional “social services'' are replaced with a structure “tailored to members of the special core street population, their situation, and their needs.” This is done because “many GVI clients are not ready for traditional social services like remedial education and employment training … these clients instead receive ‘support and outreach.’ Support is defined as ‘providing centralized and accessible services for people at high risk of violence.’” Outreach is defined as ‘’making deliberate, persistent, and consistent connections to people involved in violence to foster new relationships and build community.” Support and Outreach Best PracticesNNSC’s research from around the country has shown that effective outreach and support includes these best practices: - The Goal: Staying alive and out of prison. - Actually reach out. - Protect from risk. - Address trauma. - Provide critical resources. - Support the whole family. - Connect to traditional services. For the entire report on Support and Outreach, click HERE. How you can helpCommunity efforts to compliment the GVI strategy are encouraged. Rev. Jones states: “Other community members, businesses and ministries can help too, even if they don’t have the skills to be an outreach worker, they can help us by sharing resources that can be directed towards the vulnerable population. We need everything that community members need in order to be successful from food to employment to fatherhood and motherhood support.” To get involved, please send an email to the STOP the Violence Office by clicking HERE. | | | | | | | | Webinar Series: Gun Violence and Public Health | | | | Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and Seattle Council President Lorena Gonzalez headed the list of speakers in a ten hour webinar on August 18 and 19, 2021 organized by the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College to help journalists and the public gain greater understanding on efforts to address the rising levels of gun violence in at-risk communities. | | | | | | | The series focused on prevention and intervention strategies. Leaders of community intervention strategies and programs in Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Sacramento discussed what is and isn’t working in their cities. Pittsburgh’s efforts compare quite favorably with these efforts. The webinar consists of seven sessions, each lasting from 30 to 90 minutes. A table of contents is available so you can watch a particular session. Please take a look HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Conflict Resolution Training If you would like more information on violence prevention and some suggestions on ways to be involved with anti-violence activities, please click on and watch the two-hour training video to the right. This training was conducted in January 2021. Our outreach teams include violence interrupters, but there are lots of other roles to play. After viewing the training video, please let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to be involved! | | | | | | | | | | | | Webinar: How to Heal After a Homicide For an insightful discussion on healing from trauma and access to resources necessary to heal after a loss, experts Dr. Toya Jones (Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work) and Valerie Dixon (Director of Family and Community Support for the Center for Victims) see the recorded video: How to Heal After a Homicide. This 37 minute video was recorded in January 2022. Just click below to see the video: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Facts & Stats: >From April 2023 Below are selected crime statistics from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. These statistics are from the period April 1 to April 30, 2023. These only cover the City, not any areas of Allegheny County which are outside of the City. A few notes can be found after the charts. | | | | IMPORTANT NOTES: Note 1: The Non-fatal shooting incidents reported below includes only incidents, it is not a count of victims. Note 2: One person who was a victim of a non-fatal shooting incident in 2022 but died in April 2023. This is included in the April statistics for Zone 2 but not in the overall count for April 2023.___________________________________ A few statistics of note: - The total number of homicides and non-fatal shooting incidents through April 2023 are both lower than in 2022. - The total number of homicides in April decreased from 6 in 2022 to 2 in 2023. - The total number of non-fatal shooting incidents in April decreased from 16 in 2022 to 10 in 2023. - Unfortunately, the 10 non-fatal shooting incidents in April was the most in any month in 2023. - There were no homicides in police zones 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 in April. Due to a person wounded in 2022 who died in 2023, the official statistics will show one homicide victim in zone 2 in April. - Unfortunately, there was at least 1 non-fatal shooting incidents in each police zone in April. Using a public health approach to violence prevention means attempting to understand the proximate and secondary causes of violence and tailoring solutions to fit the impacted population. There is no one answer. The combined work of all community institutions will be necessary to permanently change the culture of violence. If you are interested in working to change these statistics and increase the peace in the City of Pittsburgh, please click HERE to contact the STOP the Violence Office. What will you do to help? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City of Pittsburgh Police Zones: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | IMPORTANT NOTE: The Non-fatal shooting incidents reported above includes only incidents, it is not a count of victims. Any incident with more than one victim counts as just one incident. | | | | | | Poll #8: Would additional gun violence statistics be helpful to see? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coming Events If you want to receive periodic event announcements or are aware of an anti-violence event that is open to the public, please click HERE to send us a notice or announcement. Thank you. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Start making your plans for National Night Out 2023. To obtain the NNO Coordinator Toolkit or for further information, contact John Tokarski, SaferTogether Coordinator for zones 4 and 6 at 412-255-2117. | | | | | | Poll #9: Are you considering planning or attending a National Night Out event? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | Solutions:Hotlines They're ready to serve YOU! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Don't hesitate to call. For more information on the Lifeline, including statistics on effectiveness and how YOU can become a trained responder, please click HERE. | | | | | | | | | | Tips for You: Tip #1:Keep Up It Locked Up! Even though it's been said before, we still see cars, bikes and other valuable items stolen because they're left unattended and unlocked. It only takes a few seconds to steal something, so don't make it too tempting for someone. Lock it up! Tip #2:Be Careful When Posting Your Whereabouts On Social Media It may be fun to keep your fans updated by livestreaming your locations and posting your schedule online. But be careful! People have been killed when their rivals have followed those posts. Property has been stolen when thieves know from your social media posts that you're now away from home. Be careful! Tip #3:Parents: It's Not Too Late To Find the Right Summer Activities for Your Kids Summer is days away, so parents should be finalizing their children's summer plans. Jobs remain plentiful for teens as young as 14 -- have you considered Learn & Earn (the flyer is above). In addition, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County have hundreds, perhaps thousands of good summer programs for kids of all ages. With just a bit of work, any child with an interest in sports, academics, arts, technology, nature, animals, science, faith, or anything else can have a great, productive and safe summer. Here are a few places to look: - For summer camps - For summer jobs - For summer school If you still can't find the right programs, please click HERE to send am email to the Pittsburgh Office of Community Services and Violence Prevention. | | | | | | | | Your Public Safety CouncilNeeds YOU! Your zone's Public Safety Council is a place to go to stay aware of important developments relating to public safety in your police zone. It's also a great place to get to know your local police on a personal basis. Public Safety Councils are run by residents and are open to all. The usual meeting schedule is: Zone 1: First Thursday at 5:30 pm Zone 2: Third Wednesday at 5:30 pm Zone 3: Fourth Thursday at 6:00 pm Zone 4: Third Thursday at 6:30 pm Zone 5: Second Tuesday at 7:00 pm Zone 6: Fourth Thursday at 6:30 pm For connecting or other information about your Public Safety Council, click on the zone to send an email to the appropriate SaferTogether Coordinator: Zones 1 & 5: Emily Embrey Zones 2 & 3: Ian ReynoldsZones 3 & 6: John Tokarski | | | | | | | | Call Us If You Become Aware of a Dispute If you hear of a school, social media or community dispute that needs to be defused before it leads to violence, please let us know. We would like to take positive steps to resolve such disputes before law enforcement must be called. Please report any such disputes or issues to: STOP the Violence Office or text to 412-522-7286. | | | | | | | | Domestic Violence Help: Violence is not an acceptable method to resolve issues between friends or partners. If there are threats, please seek help! When in danger, call 911 immediately. Some other resources are in the Domestic Violence Resource Guide is reproduced below and can be accessed HERE. | | | | | April Poll Responses Poll #1: Did you read the story about The Parent Place? - Yes 91% - No 9% Poll #2:Do you agree with Mayor Gainey's remarks at the Press Conference? - Yes 82% - No 18% Poll #3:Can you share this information about Cops & Kids Camp with someone? - Yes 65% - No 35% Poll #4:Do you think that the work of the programs listed above helps prevent violence? - Yes 83% - No 17% Poll #5: Have you attended a community-police engagement event within the last two years? - Yes 21% - No 79% Poll #6:Have you ever considered joining Greater Pittsburgh Area MAD DADS? - Yes 0% - No 100% Poll #7:Do you usually read these REACH team success stories in the Newsletter? - Yes 87% - No 13% Poll #8:Are these crime statistics easy to understand? - Yes 89% - No 11% Poll #9:Do you like seeing the Choose Peace-Stop Violence logo on brochures or in advertising? - Yes 100% - No 0% Thank you for responding. What can you do to help? | | | | | | | | Previous Newsletters Click on the dates below to find past issues of the City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Newsletter: APRIL 2023MARCH 2023FEBRUARY 2023JANUARY 2023 DECEMBER 2022NOVEMBER 2022OCTOBER 2022SEPTEMBER 2022AUGUST 2022JULY 2022JUNE 2022MAY 2022APRIL 2022MARCH 2022FEBRUARY 2022JANUARY 2022 DECEMBER 2021NOVEMBER 2021OCTOBER 2021SEPTEMBER 2021AUGUST 2021JULY 2021JUNE 2021MAY 2021APRIL 2021MARCH 2021FEBRUARY 2021JANUARY 2021 DECEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 OCTOBER 2020 | | | | | | | | Do You Have Any Ideas? The Stop the Violence Newsletter is produced monthly by Jay Gilmer, Coordinator of the STOP the Violence Office of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety. Please send any ideas, notices or suggestions to: STOP the Violence Office. | | | | | | | | | | Solutions:Community Resources:Who Needs Help? There Are PLENTY of Outstanding Services Available for YOU in the City of Pittsburgh | | | | A key part of the City’s violence prevention strategy is increasing the awareness of residents of those services that can help people form positive identities. All research indicates that the most important predictor of successful personal choices is a positive purpose. When someone is on their way to something that is attainable and surrounded by people pursuing positive goals, then they are less likely to become involved with negative behaviors. | | | | | | | The STOP the Violence Newsletter is committed to making residents aware of services that can assist community members of all ages in forming those positive identities. | | | | These listings do not contain ALL available services -- there are dozens of services in each police zone. Additional services will be added frequently. These listings are not advertisements or endorsements. They are to make you aware of opportunities for you and the people you know and care about. | | | | If you are aware of a service that should be mentioned in a future STOP the Violence Newsletter, please send the necessary information HERE.If your organization wants to be listed or update its information, please send the necessary information HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zones 3 & 6:Youth & Family Mentoring & Support 1 Nation Mentoring412-389-7555 1 Nation provides in-school based mentoring at Brashear High School, out-of-school time structured activities, including academic support, personal accountability and empowerment workshops, and summer camp for youth ranging from 5th grade through High school. Kevin McNair is Executive Director. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Citywide:Youth Mentoring 2 Tenths Foundation(2 Tenths Speed and Agility)412-728-7251 Founded by DeWayne Brown, and now assisted by Executive Director Rick "Biggs" Bigelow, 2 Tenths focuses on athletic training, mentoring, restorative justice, mental wellness and youth advocacy. Athletic training takes place at the Steelers practice facility on the Southside. Other activities are at Warrington Recreation Center and other locations in the South Hills. "I have been volunteering with them for the past few years and the amount of kids (a few hundred monthly) that we try to keep off of the street is impactful. These kids will tell you that if they weren’t training with us, that they may have entertained some unhealthy behaviors." said Nicole White of Manchester. Athletic training is available for athletes of all ages, from midget league to adults, men and women. For further information, see their website HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 3:Youth Mentoring & Support-STEM Education 25 Carrick Avenue Project412-885-4327 25 Carrick Avenue Project provides youth development and skills training from its location in Carrick. Program areas include entertainment and event technology, education, workforce development. Key staff members include Pete Spynda, Executive Director, Jordan Gilliam, Director of Education, and Trevaun Hairston, Outreach Coordinator. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 3:Youth Lifeskills Development A's VisionPhone #: 412-326-8014 | | | | A’s Vision teaches lifeskills to teens including how to become responsible drivers and banking and money management. For further information or to sign up for the next money management courses or for driving instruction, contact Aaron Wade ’s Vision at avision5300(a)yahoo.com or click HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Citywide:Youth Mentoring Aaron Donald 99 Solutions Foundation Founded by NFL star Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams, the AD 99 Solutions Foundation provides mentoring, academic support, and lifeskills training for selected high school athletes; a summer sports skills camp; and periodic clinics to youth sports coaches. For further information, see their website HERE, or contact Akita Donald, Executive Director or Rita Gillcrease, Program Coordinator. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents 1-412-330-4328 Offering world-renowned expertise in evaluating and treating children who have experienced traumatic life events or live with post-traumatic stress disorder. A program of Allegheny Health Network. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Youth Mentoring & Support - Academics Bible Center Church-The Maker's Clubhouse 1-412-242-4920 Offers afterschool STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math) and socio-economic learning programming in Faison and Lincoln Schools. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 3:Youth Development & Family Support The Brashear Association412-431-2236 The Brashear Association serves community members in South Pittsburgh neighborhoods and works with them to solve challenges they may be facing. The Executive Director is Beltzhoover native Andrea Matthews. Programs include: - Food, utility and rental assistance - Employment services - After-school youth programming for anyone in grades K-12 For further information, see their website HERE or send an email HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5: Youth Mentoring & Support - Athletics & Academics Brothers & Sisters Emerging 5315 Hillcrest Street - Garfield 1-412-404-2250 Serving boys and girls ages 7 through 17. Offering mentoring, tutoring, cultural and educational activities, recreation and parent information. Operating after-school and summer camp programs. Also home of the Garfield Gators. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Center for Victims Hotline: 1-866-644-2882 Caring, professional staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, answer questions, and provide support. You can also call: Valerie Dixon at the Center for Victims at 1-412-403-0194 or vdixon(a)venterforvictims.org. Darnell Drewery at the Center for Victims at 1-412-758-9237 or ddrewery(a)centerforvictims.org. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 4:Youth & Family Mentoring & Support Center Of Life412-521-3468Center of Life, based in Hazelwood, provides families and youth with the lifeskills, education, training and resources necessary to be strong and to make their communities strong. They have a variety of programs including after-school activities for youth in grades K-12, plus family services and resources. Key staff include Reverend Tim Smith, Kiyomi Knox, DaVonne Fuller, Sarah Crawshaw, and Meg Mszyco. For more information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 2:Youth Mentoring & Support Center That Cares1-412-26-CARES CARES offers programs for pre-k through grade 12 – and beyond. They are committed to uplifting and transforming the lives of people of all ages through education, recreation, cultural enrichment, and thoughtful guidance. For youth in pre-k through 5th grade, Cares offers nurturing, academic tutoring, recreational activities, and enrichment seminars. For grades 6 to 12, Cares offers academic tutoring, career counseling, college and vocational school admissions assistance, and enrichment seminars. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5: Youth Mentoring, Family Support & Workforce Development CEA-Community Empowerment Association 7120 Kelly Street - Homewood 1-412-371-3689 Offering a variety of youth development programs for youth, including Asante Nation Safe Passage After-School, Kamp Kuumba, Saturday University Out-of-School Programming and African-American Leadership Institute. Also offers workforce development for all ages. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City-wide:Reentry Divine Intervention Ministries412-621-0622 Founded by Debra Germany after the murder of her son, Divine Intervention Ministries provides employment services and wraparound supportive services necessary for successful re-entry. the IMPACT Program, an 8-week faith-based program that provides a forum for intensive self-reflection and redirection, practical resources, after care/reentry services and mentoring support to the individuals incarcerated at Renewal, Inc. For further information, see their website HERE or send an email to Debra Germany, Executive Director HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Youth Mentoring & Support East End Cooperative Ministry -EECM412-345-7172 EECM offers a variety of in-school and after-school programs for youth of all ages. Programs include elementary educational support, media and musical outreach, girls enrichment and empowerment, sport (including hockey, volleyball, basketball cycling and more. They are work inside Obama and Westinghouse high Schools as well as many Zone 5 middle and elementary schools. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5: East Liberty Family Health Care Center412-661-2802 A Federally Qualified Health Care Center providing a full range of medical, dental, pediatric, prenatal, and behavioral health services including staff therapists and a chaplain. Locations in East Liberty, Lincoln-Lemington and Wilkinsburg. Even if you don’t have insurance, please come. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Western Pennsylvania:Parenting Resources Fathers Collaborative Council of Western PA The role of active parents to community and individual safety cannot be overemphasized. Many resources exist to help for both fathers and mothers. One such resource is the Fathers Collaborative Council of Western PA. The FCCWPA is made up of over over 20 organizations with resources for fathers and families. Their first monthly newsletter can be found HERE. | | | | | | | | | | For information on the Fathers Collaborative Council of Western PA, including membership and resources, click HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Foundation of HOPE 540 Suismon StreetPittsburgh, PA 15212 Offering a variety of programs to prevent incarceration, chaplaincy and pre-release to serve individuals in Allegheny County Jail and aftercare to prevent recidivism. For information on their support community for reentering citizens, their families and community members, send an email HERE. Please call if you need help or want to help: Adult or Youth Diversion: 412-321-3343Allegheny County Jail Chaplaincy: 412-350-2057Allegheny County Jail Pre-Release: 412-350-1322Jail or Prison Aftercare: 412-321-3343 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | GriefShare Numerous Locationsin Allegheny County GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. GriefShare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements: a video lesson, in-person group discussion, and personal reflection. This weekly group is free (just purchase the workbook online), open to anyone, and is offered in numerous locations in western Pennsylvania. The 13 week series features a video and optional discussion. To be part of the next series, just find a location and sign up on the website at www.griefshare.org. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Downtown: Highmark Caring Place 620 Stanwix Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 888-224-4673 As a peer support program, the Caring Place provides an environment where children, teens and adults can receive support from others their own ages who are going through very similar experiences, such as the loss of a parent or other loved one. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Youth Mentoring & Support - Academics Homewood Children's Village1-412-727-7605 Offering holistic support to students at Lincoln PreK-5, Faison K-5 and Westinghouse High School. They use an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 1: Youth Development & Violence Prevention Infinite Lifestyle Solutions412-345-1366 Infinite Lifestyle Solutions provides a variety of services to Northside school students and their parents. Programs include: - Restorative Safe Passages, to reduce violence and provide safety before and after school - Saving Our Sons & Daughters, to help youth who have suffered from trauma through violence - Teen Dating Violence Prevention, to help young participants to navigate healthy relationships To get involved or for further information, please contact Cecilia Ware, Founder and Executive Director by clicking HERE or see their website HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Jeremiah’s Place 6435 Frankstown Avenue 15206 (Larimer) 412-924-0726 Pittsburgh’s only crisis nursery. It provides emergency child care services for children ages 0-6 for a few hours or days based on the needs of each individual family. All services provided are free, available for 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City-wide:Street Outreach and Violence Intervention MAD DADSGreaterPittsburghMadDads(a)gmail.com MAD DADS are concerned men from the community who want to be a positive presence on the streets. Over the years, they have learned that presence matters. They can regularly be seen in communities including downtown, Homewood, Hill District, Turtle Creek, Wilkinsburg and East Hills. A stipend may be availalble to members who participate in enough street patrols. | | | | | | | | | | All interested drug-free men who care are invited to join. With more men, MAD DADS can be present in more communities. There's even a Moms Division for interested women. To get started, please see the Greater Pittsburgh Area MAD DADS Facebook page or contact MAD DADS at GreaterPittsbrughMADDADS(a)gmail.com. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Melanin Mommies Latrice “Phoenix” Rose started Melanin Mommies out of a concern for family members of victims who are affected by grief and trauma. After doing a survey of families who lost someone, she realized that mental health services weren’t always offered to them. Even for those few families that received some counseling resources, they needed more for their families and children because the grief didn’t stop. Do you need help coping with your loss? Is your child struggling to cope with the loss of a parent or sibling? Please sign up for the next Melanin Mommies Mental Healing Cohort. It will meet for 12 weeks every Saturday at 10:30 am. For more information, see the Melanin Mommies Facebook page or contact Latrice Rose at at Info(a)melaninmommiespgh.org. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Men’s Huddle Group Paul B. Jones, Sr. experienced the death of his 19 year old son Jeremiah in 2017. He formed The Men’s Huddle Group as a support group for fathers who have lost children to gun violence and otherwise. The Men’s Huddle Group meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Liberty (250 Highland Avenue, 15206 – across from Home Depot). For additional information, contact Paul Jones via email at jonzboyz(a)aol.com or call anytime (24/7) at 412-613-1912. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The MOMS GroupSupport For Mothers Tina Ford of Clairton formed Mothers of Murdered Sons (The MOMS Group) after the loss of her son in 2019. The MOMS Group meets in Clairton on the third Saturday of each month. All are welcome, just call Tina in advance for the location. If transportation is a problem, just call Tina – MOMS sometimes arranges transportation or makes home visits to provide support. For more information, see the MOMS Group Facebook page HERE or contact Tina Ford at 412-219-7157 or Momsgroup2020(a)gmail.com.. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Citywide:Youth Mentoring Mount Ararat Community Activity Center (MACAC) Mentoring Program412-441-5405 MACAC Mentoring provides one to one and group mentoring for youth age 11-18 years old (grades 6-12) and enrichment activities including career readiness; life skills and spiritual development activities, field trips, academic enrichment and fun. All activities are based at the Mt. Ararat Community Activity Center, 745 North Negley Avenue Pgh, PA 15206. | | | | | | | | | | Mentoring for 6th-8th grade is offered Thursday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (dinner served). Mentoring for grades 9-12 is offered Monday-Friday 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm (a monthly stipend for attendance may be available). They are also recruiting adult mentors to join their team. Please contact Program Director Jeffrey Nash if you're interested. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Citywide:Neighborhood Resilience Project412-261-1234 The Trauma Response Team cares for the acute needs of family and friends of homicide victims of gun violence across all of Allegheny County. Dan Emerick, MDiv, MSW – Trauma Response Team Manager | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 4: Youth Development & Mentoring, Workforce Development P.O.O.R.L.A.W.1-412-670-8421 Based in Hazelwood, POORLAW offers mentoring for youth from ages 5 and up, intergenerational sharing and workforce development. For further information, please see their website by clicking HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 1:Youth & Family Mentoring & Support Project Destiny412-231-1258Project Destiny operates from 5 locations on the Northside and provides a variety of services to youth and families. Services include after-school programs from 3 to 6 pm daily, counseling, pre-school programs, and mentoring. The Reverend Dr. Brenda Gregg is Executive Director. Key staff include Jamella Hamlin, Daphne Curges, Gary Nolan and Darryl Goodwine. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 3:Youth Development and Mentoring Shadow Student Athlete Development Services412-708-4008 Shadow Student Athletes provides culturally responsive mentoring for student athletes using character coaches at public schools. These character coaches act as conflict specialists to support students, families and school staff by assisting in a variety of ways. The Executive Director is Von Madden. For further information, see their website HERE or send an email HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 3:Street Outreach, Youth Development and Mentoring South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace | | | | | | | South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace is home of the South Pittsburgh Peacemakers, a street outreach team which is available to prevent violence and intervene in situations which could lead to violence. They also offer educational workshops on violence prevention and community responses to violence. Two of their initiatives are described below. "Our primary focus in the community is to interrupt violence from occurring in Pittsburgh neighborhoods; however, if violence cannot be prevented, our mission is to provide a voice in the community, especially for children," said Rev. Eileen Smith, Executive Director. For further information, please contact Reverend Eileen Smith, Executive Director at 412-481-2777 or see their Facebook page. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City-wide:Adult Workforce Development Trade Institute of Pittsburgh412-243-2970 Trade Institute of Pittsburgh provides skill training and wrap-around services for individuals interested in construction trades. Their primary location is in Homewood, but they accept students from across the region. Key staff include Donta Green, Executive Director, Kirk Gilbert, Case Manager and Chett Williams, Life Coach. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 1:Youth Mentoring & Support Urban Impact Foundation1-412-321-3811 Urban Impact provides a safe place for in and out-of-school programming opportunities for children from preschool through high school in various locations on the NorthSide. They offer 60+ unique programs, including: - Education/Academics - Athletics - Performing Arts - Options Workforce Readiness Learn more by visiting their website: ULIPgh.org. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5: Life Skills & Family Support-Housing WAVE-Willisae's Agency for Vision & Empowerment134 South Highland Avenue #6 - East Liberty1-412-573-9217 Offers trauma and life skills individual, group and family workshops and a variety of educational opportunities for entrepreneurship and job readiness. Also offers specialized counseling to prepare individuals and families to be emotionally, physically and financially fit to purchase a home. Also offers renters eviction coaching, credit and budget counseling. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5: Youth Mentoring & Support - Athletics Westinghouse Youth Wrestling1-412-709-0775 "Wrestling is one of the greatest sports for helping young kids build their character, develop self-confidence, improve discipline, and strengthen their will to succeed." For community youth from any school who are between ages 5 and 17. Participants also participate in outdoor experiences, goal setting and mentorship. For additional information, contact Justin Perkins, Director at the above telephone number or click HERE to send an email. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Youth Mentoring & Support YES - Youth Enrichment Services1-412-661-7834 YES provides socially and economically at risk youth the opportunity to achieve success through participation in mentorship, education, and enrichment programs. Mentorship is available to students who are ages 14-21, attending Pittsburgh Public Schools or schools in surrounding districts. Education programs include academics, employment preparation, leadership development and empowerment. To get involved as a mentor, volunteer or to enroll a student, just click HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | City-wide:Youth Development Youthplaces412-434-0851 Youthplaces offers out-of-school time activities for teens in safe places to learn, grow, play and succeed. It currently has locations on the Northside, Downtown, East Liberty, McKeesport and McKees Rocks. For further information, see their website HERE. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zone 5:Reentry Support Za'kiyah House412-353-9365412-595-6666 Za'Kiyah House provides housing, life skills and reentry support for men and women from several locations, including one in Homewood. Ronna Davis-Moore is the Executive Director. Key staff include Joseph Moore and Regina Pearson. For further information, click HERE for their website. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Teen Dating Violence Since one in three teens is a victim of teen dating violence, you probably know someone who has been a victim. Click HERE for resources on teen dating violence. Click on the picture for a Teen Dating Violence Action Action Guide. | | | | | | | | | | | | Other: - Alma Illery Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Services Office: 412-244-4700 - City of Pittsburgh Dept. of Public Safety’s Victims of Crime Office: 412-707-2988 - Dr. Staci Ford, Trauma Recovery and Violence Intervention Specialist: 412-277-4616 - Jessica Gurley, LCSW: (412) 204-6934 - RESOLVE Crisis Center - 24 hours: 1-888-796-8226 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Poll #10: Have you ever utilized anything mentioned in a Stop the Violence Newsletter?? | | | Yes | | Select | | | | | | | | No | | Select | | | | | | | | | | | Sign up here to receive the monthly City of Pittsburgh STOP The Violence Newsletter | | | | | | | | | | | | City of Pittsburgh | 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 STOP the Violence Office | | | Unsubscribe jaygilmer(a)verizon.net | | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice | | Sent by stoptheviolence(a)pittsburghpa.gov powered by | | | Try email marketing for free today! | | |

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Senior Online Services (SOS) available for free home tech assistance
by Highland Park Community Council 31 May '23

31 May '23

[image: image.png] Exciting News for Highland Park Residents, Especially those 55+!!! Technology is moving at a rapidly continuous pace. Are you feeling overwhelmed, left behind? - Is your Smart Phone/ TV just a little too smart? - Did you receive a Kindle or Nook Book for Mother's Day and don't know how it works? - Need help downloading apps to your phone? - Have a Fire Stick but are uncertain how it connects to your TV? - Need to install a webcam? - Want to see your family and friends, who live in another state, but more often than not are having Zoom issues? - .....And the list goes on and on. Well, the good news is here! Help is on the way! The Highland Park Community Council received a City of Pittsburgh Community First Grant to help bridge the gap, both technologically and intergenerationally The name of our new grant funded program is the Senor Online Service, aka SOS, program. It is designed to connect the seniors and young people in the community through technology assistance. The recently formed SOS Team consists of several exceptional, well qualified younger adults - "youth techs" - 18 - 25 years of age and two HPCC Board members serve as SOS coordinators. Our youth techs will provide in-home technology assistance to Highland Park residents 55+. All youth techs have been personally interviewed by the SOS coordinators, possess great technical skills, and passed a state background check. - *SOS recipients must reside in Highland Park and be age 55 or up. * - *All SOS services provided are totally free of charge. * We are ready to go and eager to help our neighbors in Highland Park! All you need to do is: *CONTACT US BY EMAIL AT:* hpccpghservices(a)gmail.com or: *CALL US BY PHONE AT: 412 368-6475* The SOS Team does not perform emergency interventions. You can expect to receive a response within 24 hours of your initial contact to us. Please contact us with any questions regarding the Program. If you are reading this and are not a Highland Park resident, please feel free to forward to any friends or family living in Highland Park. *The SOS Team is looking forward to hearing from you soon!* -- Click here to visit our website <https://hpccpgh.org/>

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