Celebrating the leaders who strengthen Pittsburgh’s communities through service, advocacy and care.
Publisher’s Letter
Rod Doss
Editor and Publisher
New Pittsburgh Courier
Greetings,
Welcome to the inaugural edition of APPLAUSE! Salute to 25 Standout Non-Profit Leaders in Pittsburgh. On behalf of the New Pittsburgh Courier, I am proud to honor leaders whose dedication and service strengthen our neighborhoods and expand opportunities for the people who call this region home.
Across Pittsburgh, Black nonprofit leaders are responding to needs that cannot wait. They are helping families put food on the table, connecting people with safe housing, guiding young people, advancing education, and opening pathways to economic opportunity. Often working with limited resources and growing demand, they make difficult decisions every day to sustain services that people depend on.
The 25 leaders recognized in these pages represent the commitment, resourcefulness, and resolve this work requires. Their contributions reach beyond the organizations they lead. They build trust, bring people together, and advocate for communities whose needs too often go unheard. Their leadership reminds us that a city’s strength must also be measured by the opportunities available to its residents and the care extended to those facing hardship.
At the New Pittsburgh Courier, telling the stories of Black achievement and community impact is central to our mission. With APPLAUSE!, we continue that commitment by shining a light on individuals whose work deserves greater recognition, and greater support.
Presented by Real Times Media and the New Pittsburgh Courier, this special edition is both a celebration and an invitation to act. Read these leaders’ stories. Learn about the organizations they serve. Consider how your time, resources, or partnership could help advance their work. Recognition matters, and the support it inspires can help these organizations serve more people and sustain their impact.
To our honorees: Thank you for your leadership, your perseverance, and your belief in the possibilities of Pittsburgh. We are proud to share your stories and give your contributions the applause they deserve.
With deep respect and gratitude,
The Honorees
25 Leaders
Salute to Black Nonprofit Leaders in Pittsburgh
For Carmen Anderson, advancing equity means changing both how a foundation works and how it serves its communities. As Vice…
Godfrey Bethea, Jr., makes equity an organizational practice, connecting how people are recruited, supported and retained with…
Barāta A. Bey connects financial expertise with a clear economic purpose: expanding opportunity for entrepreneurs and communities…
Samuel W. Black preserves African American history through exhibitions, scholarship and museum leadership that connect individual…
Kenya T. Boswell connects philanthropy with community health across four states. As President of the Highmark Foundation and…
Fred Brown strengthens the organizations communities depend on. As President and CEO of The Forbes Funds, he leads efforts to…
Dr. Kathi Elliott brings clinical expertise to a community mission: ensuring young people receive support before crisis becomes…
Peggy B. Harris has guided Three Rivers Youth through nearly 26 years of change, bringing strategy, conviction and compassion to…
Rochelle L. Jackson builds power by placing Black women and girls at the center of decisions affecting their lives. As Founding…
AJ Jefferson has turned personal experience with homelessness into leadership that expands educational opportunity for students…
William "Bill" Generett Jr. has built a career connecting underserved communities with economic opportunity. That experience now…
Mark Lewis brings financial discipline and a commitment to collective action to his leadership of the POISE Foundation. A…
Roderick "Rick" Mason, Jr., knows The Pittsburgh Project from the classroom to the executive office. Hired as an after-school…
Growing up in poverty taught Charlese McKinney the importance of resourcefulness, resilience and community support. Today, those…
Sabrina Saunders Mosby is helping Southwestern Pennsylvania compete for talent by connecting employers, institutions and…
Maelene J. Myers began East Liberty's transformation by listening. Hundreds of community meetings helped shape neighborhood plans…
Leon D. Pamphile has turned a commitment to education, healthcare and faith into decades of service in Haiti. Since founding…
Dr. Andre Samuel wants young people to experience science as something they can do. With a Ph.D. in Biology from Duquesne…
Charlise Smith works to help families secure stable housing before instability becomes a crisis. As Executive Director of…
Terry Smith helps students connect emerging technology with careers they can envision and pursue. As President and CEO of…
Tammy T. Thompson brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the challenge of poverty. As President and CEO of…
Cheyenne Tyler believes young people deserve opportunities that reach beyond the systems and circumstances they encounter. As…
Shemariah Waggoner brings operational rigor to the work of advancing racial equity. As Managing Director of the Black Equity…
LaToya Warren oversees more than $50 million in organizational resources with a focus on strengthening the systems and people…
Janis Burley Wilson has built enduring platforms for Black artistry, from intimate jazz performances to an international…
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