All along the path from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, the stories were the same—parents out of work and children suffering from failing school systems. LOCAL ACTIVISTS—From left: Randall Taylor, Rick Adams and Sam Thompson Jr. on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial. (Photo by J.L. Martello). “I haven’t worked in three years. People are losing their homes. If we don’t push the government, nothing is going to happen,” said Charles Towns, 62, of Gaithersburg, Md. “Too many of our liberties have been taken away. Just look at the past and what has been done to us. We’re all fighting over a little bit of what’s left. My family is struggling like hell.”
Homebuyers workshop OCT. 9—NeighborWorks of Western Pennsylvania will host a First Time Homebuyers Workshop from 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. at the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, 113 N. Pacific Ave., Garfield. This is a presentation on the right steps toward homeownership. For more information, call 412-281-1100, ext. 121 or 129.
A year and a half ago Bryan and Julie McCabe and their daughters Kyra and Sierra were living in Wexford looking to buy a home closer to his job in Pittsburgh—now he can walk to work. At that same time, demolition of the Garfield Heights Apartments forced Tiffany McGinnis, her son Germal McCray Jr. and daughter Tayshia McCray to search for a new home. Now they are neighbors—in Homewood. Though neither planned it, they are helping to rebuild the neighborhood, while they build their lives as homeowners on Susquehanna Street. NEW NEIGHBORS—Homeowners on Susquehanna Street in Homewood enjoy a beautiful fall day from their front porches. (Photo by J.L. Martello) They were among the first four families to buy in what will eventually be a 30-home complex within walking distance of Faison Elementary School. Of the 10 built to date, all are occupied.
by J.L. Martello The Pitt School of Dental Medicine held their white coat ceremony for their first year students at Scaife Hall Sept. 15. The emblematic white coat ceremony is held for incoming first year dental medicine and dental hygiene students. PROUD STUDENTS—Erika Andrews, Jocelyn Ball, Chijioke Eseonu, Barbara Anne Graham and Kendra Sims (Photo by J.L. Martello). Once a student receives their white coat they can then study to get their degree in dental medicine after completing their undergrad studies. Thirty-six dental hygiene and 80 dental students received their white coats. There were students from 18 states and six different countries. Four women and one man were African-American.
The fall TV series are about to begin so we asked Pittsburghers what were they looking forward to. Here’s what you said: “I have two for sure, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives.”Ashley ParelShadysidePitt grad student
In a recent New Pittsburgh Courier article, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper challenged Pittsburgh’s religious leaders to address violence in the Black community. He said the density of African-American churches in neighborhoods troubled by crime and violence should serve as a catalyst in deterring these problems. EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH—With “a church on every corner,” Chief Nate Harper challenged religious leaders to address the ongoing violence. (Photo by J.L. Martello.) In an effort to get a response from a variety of religious denominations, the Courier contacted approximately 15 religious institutions. It was difficult to get representatives from every denomination because Allegheny Alliance, Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, Pentecostal Temple COGIC, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Bishop Donald Clay of Petra International Ministries did not respond to several requests for comment. Those who did respond said their churches and religious organizations were engaged in preemptive measures geared toward youths in order to stem the tide of Black-on-Black crime.
In what Director Tim Stevens called a “groundbreaking” agreement, the Black Political Empowerment Project and its Coalition Against Violence have announced partnerships to combat neighborhood violence with the Pittsburgh police, the Shuman Juvenile Detention Center and the Allegheny County Jail. CHIEF NATE HARPER “The work to significantly decrease the violence in our communities must be an ongoing, consistent, coordinated and multi-front collaborative,” said Stevens. “Today we have some concrete commitments from these key community stakeholders, aimed at impacting the violence that continues to pervade our communities.”
Just hours after a press announcement on his department’s participation in a new anti-violence efforts Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper found himself announcing that two of his officers were involved in the fatal shooting of a Northview Heights teen. “Anytime a life is taken, it’s a tragedy,” he said. “It’s a shame the actor didn’t drop his weapon.” JEROME WILLIAMS According to police, Jerome Williams, 15, was one of three young gunmen involved in a home invasion in the 700 block of Mt. Pleasant Road, Sept. 27. He died following a shootout with officers a few blocks away after the homeowner called 911 around 2:45 p.m. and said there were three armed men in her house.
In a recent survey this summer conducted by the Blackstone Group, 18 percent of African-Americans in Pittsburgh indicated they were unemployed. This number more than doubles the national average of 8 percent. DRESS FOR SUCCESS—One of the many tutorials in the site’s video library shows users how to dress for an interview. The Job Placement Assistance Program launched this fall by Community College of Allegheny County aims to reverse these numbers. The free program available to all residents of southwestern Pennsylvania offers not only a job search engine, but also a number of services to make a person’s job search more successful.
Heroes breakfast SEPT. 30—The American Red Cross will host the Second Annual Heroes Breakfast from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St., Downtown. The breakfast is to celebrate the humble, everyday community heroes who have had an impact on their local communities. Tickets are $50. For more information, call 412-263-3129 or visit www.swpa.redcross.org.
