Who says officials from rival AFC North Division teams of the National Football League cities cannot work together? Evidence of their unity and similarities were displayed as representatives from organizations located in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland and other cities recently gathered in Pittsburgh to participate in the Community Development Summit. This year’s theme was: Reaching Across Boundaries.
“The goal of the summit was for participants to walk away rejuvenated and prepared to move their communities forward,” said Ernie Hogan.
As executive director of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, the host organization of the Fourth Annual Summit he said, “All of the participants reach across boundaries on a daily basis working together across industry sectors and across neighborhood, city and state lines to increase community stability and economic opportunity in our regions. This was a way to share and learn what is working in neighboring cities as well as places like Boston and Chicago.”
With more than 600 attendees, the highest in the Summit’s history, organizers are reverencing it as a tremendous success. “The caliber of our keynote speakers, 14 breakout sessions, and the roundtable moderated by Mayor Bill Peduto, and the fun, interactive mobile workshops made for an enriching, well-rounded, and entertaining two day event,” describes Katie Hale, PCRG Neighborhood Policy Manager.
For more than 26 years PCRG has been bringing community groups, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies together to collaborate in the revitalization of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods. As a Pennsylvania nonprofit consortium of community-based organizations that represents low- and moderate- income neighborhoods the groups’ mission as a coalition of community leaders is to work for equitable investment practices and sufficient financial resources to revitalize communities throughout Allegheny County. Starting out in Pittsburgh, the organization according to Hogan now extends throughout Allegheny County and into Washington County.
“It is timely that PCRG has chosen the subject Reaching Across Boundaries as the theme of the Summit,” Mayor Peduto said that the ability to reach across boundaries, bring communities together and creating ladders of opportunity for everyone is one of the core themes that he has sought to address in the first year of his administration.
Activities of the two day event included the PCRGs annual meeting inclusive of an awards ceremony and the announcing of the 2014/15 Board of Directors, a networking reception and an array of keynote speakers and breakout sessions addressing topics built around the policies, programs, and practices that help make vibrant, healthy and complete communities. Also mobile workshops highlighting revitalization efforts throughout Greater Pittsburgh occurred.
A special highlight concluding the event was a roundtable discussion called; Shaping the Cities of Tomorrow, moderated by Mayor Peduto. The focus of discussion centered on the importance of neighborhood, government and private sector collaboration to plan for changing demographics and trends within cities. The types of innovative, cutting edge practices and programs that exist for city officials to utilize and ways to embrace new trends when planning on investments for both the built environment and quality of life measures within communities. Christopher Shea, president and Chief Executive Officer for the East Baltimore Development, Inc., Ozie Davis III, executive director of the Avondale Comprehensive Development Corporation and Shelly Poticha, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Urban Solutions program served as panelists.
Once involved in re-building mixed income residential communities in public and assisted housing in Pittsburgh, Shea currently manages a $1.8 billion redevelopment of an 88-acre East Baltimore neighborhood that is considered one of America’s biggest stories in positive urban redevelopment. The non-profit group was established by community, government, institutional and philanthropic partners to revitalize, re-energize and rebuild the East Baltimore neighborhood located near the John Hopkins medical campus.
To serve the Avondale Community, defined as anchor institutions, businesses, faith-based institutions, and residents, to improve the quality of life of the Community by bringing and sustaining renaissance in Avondale is the pledge of the Avondale Comprehensive Development Corporation. Headed by Davis, the Cincinnati neighborhood group addresses arts and culture, economic development, health and wellness, housing development, safety and workforce development.
During the discussion, with Mayor Peduto concurring, Davis stressed that focusing on youth is important. “We need a back to the future type of approach as a way to grow,” he stated.
Keynote speakers for the Summit were Poticha, and David Rusk a consultant on urban policy and former federal Labor Department official, New Mexico legislator and mayor of Albuquerque. Anika Gross-Foster, Program Vice President for Local Initiatives Support Corporation gave reception remarks.
More than 60 local and national workshop presenters shared their expertise and knowledge throughout the Summit. “During the two days we came together to learn, network, and share best practices,” said Hogan. “We came together to address challenges and explore opportunities for economic growth. We came together to learn from revered experts, as well as from one another, and to make new connections with colleagues from across the street and from across the country.” The PCRG board members and staff attest that the mission was accomplished.
