“The Lighthouse media arts program was already run out of Westinghouse High School, so that wasn’t a problem. We had to move the food bank to the parking lot, but it worked out,” said Diaz. “What we really lost was the Wellness Center (gym). So it was nice when I was leaving yesterday to see people in there working out at 7 p.m.”
Diaz agreed that as great as the physical reopening is, given the violence that occurs in the neighborhood, its symbolic nature might be equally important.
“Oh it’s a huge deal. When you talk about the violence in the community, I don’t know if its one group’s role. It requires multiple stake holders, government, schools, etc.,” he said.
“I think the Y has a vested interest because we serve in a community where crime happens. So we have an obligation to be at the table. There has been a YMCA in Homewood for 100 years, and when you think about the Y, people sometimes forget it has an onus to address social responsibility. Our facility is more than a gym.”
As such, Diaz said the Halloween celebration afforded the opportunity for more collaboration along those lines.
“We used our opening to reengage with people who are, essentially, right across the street,” he said. “We hope to build and rebuild relationships with Community Empowerment Association and Operation Better Block and others, and I think that was a good way to bring people back to the table. So, we are interested in reaching out.”
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
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