Pittsburgh Mayor's Race a Free-for-All from the New Pittsburgh Courier 
"When Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced last week he would not seek re-election, it seemed to set up a two-man race between declared candidates Councilman Bill Peduto and Controller Michael Lamb for the Democratic Primary. Then the floodgates opened. Yesterday, sources close to state Rep. Jake Wheatley, D- Hill District, said he would be circulating nominating petitions for the Mayor’s race.  Calls and emails to Wheatley and his office seeking confirmation have not been returned. If confirmed, Wheatley would be the first African-American mayoral candidate since Carmen Robinson ran as an independent in 2009."

Jake Wheatley

¡Hola, Pittsburgh!/¡Pittsburgh Te Invita! Campaign Introduces Pittsburghers to Latinos, Vice Versa from Imagine Pittsburgh Now
"The Latino population in the Pittsburgh region may be small, but it is growing steadily and many of its professionals are making a positive mark here. A few of them are highlighted in a series of videos as part of the new Latino outreach initiative by Vibrant Pittsburgh, an organization working to grow the regional economy by attracting diverse people to the workforce. The “¡Hola, Pittsburgh!” (Hello Pittsburgh!) portion of the campaign began last month, introducing the region to four Latinos who have opted to build their careers and lives here."

EVENT!!

NAACP Regional Convention Announced for April in Pittsburgh from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"NAACP Pittsburgh Unit President Connie Parker told the New Pittsburgh Courier today that the National Convention for Region II will be held in Pittsburgh at the Westin Convention Center Hotel April 25-27. “We’re going to have quite a few things going on across the city, and it’s coming right before our annual Human Rights Dinner May 2, so It’s really going to give us a nice boost,” she said."

 Connie Parker, head of the Pittsbugh branch of the NAACP

NAACP Seeks Young Adult Leaders from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"On Feb. 28 as part of a two-day Black History Month celebration, the Pittsburgh Unit of the NAACP hosted a networking mixer at the Savoy Restaurant in the Strip District. The event, which also featured an art auction, is part of the NAACP’s latest effort to increase membership and attract younger members. “It’s about bridging the gap. All the beautiful artwork here, the young people did that,” said NAACP President Connie Parker. “We intend to change the face of the NAACP, bring the young people in, so then we’re alive again. I think we’re moving in the right
direction.”"

LOCAL LEADERSHIP!

Champion Bush: The Urban League Chief Gets White House Attention from the Editorial Board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Esther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, has received awards before, but nothing like the Champion of Change title bestowed on her and nine others at the White House. Ms. Bush was honored Tuesday by President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan for her activism on behalf of education equity."

REPORT!!

Your Culture is Valued Here: Lessons from the DHS Immigrants and Internationals Advisory Council from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services via Vibrant Pittsburgh
"Over the past several years, the Pittsburgh area’s resurgent economy has enhanced its attractiveness as a place in which to live and work. As a result, Allegheny County, which had not experienced the growth in diversity of other major American cities in recent decades, is beginning to attract increasing numbers of immigrants and internationals who are making the region their home. While this growth is still modest when compared to that of other major metropolitan areas, it is significant enough to be reversing the downward trend of past years."

STUDY!!

African Americans in Pittsburgh: The Data in Black & White (Jeffery Fraser) from the Pittsburgh Quarterly
"It's heartening to report that what residents have in common outweighs what divides them, even when race is considered. Yet in several cases, the survey reveals sharp differences in both their circumstances and their perspectives."

OPINION!!

Pell Grants Are Gateway to Jobs and the New Economy (Linda Wallace) from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"Pell grants were put in place to ensure the gateway to higher education was open to low-income Americans. Times and attitudes have changed. In 1980, the maximum Pell grant covered 77 percent of the cost at a public university; today, officials estimate it covers 36 percent of a student's obligations. ... As a result of the changes, new students lacking a GED or high school diploma no longer are eligible for federal student aid. In addition, the maximum number of full-time semesters college students can receive Pell grant awards has dropped from 18 to 12. ... Approximately 46 percent of all African-American undergraduate students receive federal Pell grant awards. The future is at stake for these students, their communities and the workforces they support."

Minority Contracting Department Approved by City Council from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"After the New Pittsburgh Courier reported in June that Pittsburgh’s Equal Opportunity Review Commission was failing to report accurate minority contracting levels, city Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess sponsored legislation to create a city department that would remedy the problem."

Rev. Ricky Burgess, city Councilman.  

From the New Pittsburgh Courier.

Pittsburgh Public Schools OKs Equity Plan from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
"The city board tonight unanimously approved an equity plan that focuses on improving initiatives already under way. ... The latest version of the equity plan has two substantive changes, one dealing with non-discrimination in employment and the other on school stability."

African Americans' Quality of Life in Pittsburgh from WESA's Essential Pittsburgh program.
"We’ll get the African American perspective on life in the steel city. Dr. Larry Davis from the University of Pittsburgh school of social work offers his views, journalist Ben Schmitt goes in search of the black middle class and we hear from newcomers, and people coming back, to the city."

PROFILE!!

Constance Parker is Next NAACP Leader in Region from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"She knows the issues important to the Hill District-headquartered organization, such as eradicating violence in communities and providing access to education, health care and jobs, to name a few. Starting next month, she'll have the chance to address those issues as president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP."

Healthy Heart: In Wilkinsburg, Kathy Homrok Provides Care to Those Who Struggle to Find it Anywhere Else (Abby Mendelson) from the Pittsburgh City Paper
"Homrok and her colleagues treat some 5,000 patients each year. Their clients are racially diverse, typically uninsured, and often members of the LGBT community. "We treat people like human beings," says Homrok with a shrug. "A lot of our patients have had experiences elsewhere with homophobia.""

REPORT!!

Urban League Works to Improve ‘State of Black Pgh’ from the New Pittsburgh Courier 
"On Nov. 10, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh presented their annual State of Black Pittsburgh report at Carnegie Mellon University as part of a daylong event. While previous reports focused on devastating statistics showing dire conditions for African-Americans, this year’s report focused on their positive efforts to address issues in the Black community." 

Homewood Residents Work to Take Back Their Neighborhood from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
"After a double homicide near Fluker’s house, enough became enough four years ago for him and his neighbors who reside on a four-block stretch between Bruston and North Lang avenues. They decided to clean and beautify Race Street and formed a committee to do it."

Pittsburgh Group Hoping to Bridge Community-Police from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"A 40-member team has launched a crisis team and announced a six-month process for improving relations between law enforcement and residents."

Anti-Violence Coalition formed from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"Over the last few months, Love and members of a number of community groups have been meeting to find a new model to combat Black-on-Black violence. The first step in that effort came this week when they announced the formation of a new coalition to do just that on a county-wide basis."

PROGRAM!!

Afterschool Programs Join Forces from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"A 2008 Northeastern University study found a sharp increase in homicides involving African-American youth, both as victims and perpetrators, between 2000 and 2007. The study found that risk spiked during the afterschool hours, indicating that afterschool hours are a peak time for juvenile crime for youth who do not have access to afterschool programs. For the past three years the Greater Pittsburgh Afterschool Consortium has been coming together to provide a safe haven for area youth. On Oct. 18 they hosted the 3rd Annual “Playing for Unity” event at Manchester Youth Development Center, which brought together children in afterschool programs across Allegheny and Beaver Counties."

New Pittsburgh Courier Honors 50 Men of Excellence from the New Pittsburgh Courier
"The New Pittsburgh Courier will host its 2012 Men of Excellence Awards Reception Oct. 25 in the Main Ballroom of the Fairmont Pittsburgh Hotel. This year, the New Pittsburgh Courier is also pleased to be honoring Aaron Walton as the 2012 Legacy Award Honoree. The Legacy Award is reserved for individuals who have reached achievements above and beyond others, while also dedicating themselves to giving back to those less fortunate."

Blurring the Lines: Pa. Redistricting Wreaks Havoc on City's Black Neighborhoods (Charlie Deitch) from the Pittsburgh City Paper
"If your vote doesn't matter, why are they trying to steal it?"