Maelene J. Myers began East Liberty's transformation by listening. Hundreds of community meetings helped shape neighborhood plans that continue to guide East Liberty Development, Inc., where she has served as Executive Director since 1996.

Those plans became the foundation for partnerships translating residents' priorities into investment. By 2023, projects influenced by the plans represented more than $1.2 billion in commercial, residential and infrastructure investment. ELDI's work also produced more than 1,139 new affordable rental units, 320 acquired and rehabilitated houses and 2,800 jobs.

Myers has kept affordability central to revitalization, with approximately 38% of East Liberty's rental units safeguarded as permanently affordable.

Her influence extends across Pittsburgh through ELDI's Plan, Advocate, Facilitate and Invest model and organizations it helped incubate, including Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, Rising Tide Partners and Main + Elm Development Company.

Myers demonstrates how sustained community engagement can guide neighborhood change, pairing major investment with a commitment to helping longtime residents remain and benefit from their community's revitalization.