[I'm sending this message on behalf of Heather Kropf, Administrative Director of the Mennonite Urban Corps-Pittsburgh...] Mennonite Urban Corps, a nonprofit located in Highland Park on Stanton Avenue, is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Dec. 10, for our neighborhood and program partners, 7-9 p.m. Briefly, some info about MennoCorps: We're a 10-year-old nonprofit that attracts college and university graduates to Pittsburgh. We offer participants vocational and leadership development opportunities through a year of service to a broad array of institutions, organizations, and businesses. This year our partners include: Rachel Carson Homestead, Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Mom's House/Angel's Place, Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, Heinz History Center, 9 Mile Run Watershed Association, Mildred's Daughters Urban Farm, The Allegheny Front, United Steelworkers of America, and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Our program is competitive, accepting only 8 participants each year. They live communally in our Highland Park boarding house. In addition to placing them in uniquely appropriate worksites, we also provide a weekly educational seminar. Topics and activities range from Pittsburgh history, theology, racial & urban issues, conflict resolution, book discussions, field trips, cultural activities, and lectures. The goal is to create engaged, holistic and civic-minded urban citizens. About 1/3 of all alumni have chosen Pittsburgh as their new home (that's roughly 35 folks), and about 7-10 of those people have purchased homes in Highland Park, E. Liberty or Morningside. In addition, MennoCorps has attracted dozens and dozens of other college graduates to Pittsburgh (they often relocate to the East End). Alumni of this program formed the Union Project. Please stop by if you have some time. Sincerely, Heather Kropf Administrative Director Mennonite Urban Corps -Pittsburgh 5615 Stanton Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 412-362-2268 <http://www.mennocorps.org/>