Pittsburgh

From booms and busts to bridges and bikes, Pittsburgh has seen some serious stuff in its day. Ignore what you’ve heard, the smog is long gone and robots now run the town, creating wealth for some and hardship for others.

Pittsburgh has been listed as the country’s most livable city. But for who? Each one of our partners is – in some way – set up to build a city that works for everyone (not just the select few). Participants will have a number of service opportunities relating to food security, public health, and urban renewal.

Pittsburgh has undergone a radical change in the past few decades. Long known for its manufacturing and steel production, the city was forced to pivot once all of the factories began to close. Now, Pittsburgh is known for its Educational and Medical institutions. The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are both national leaders in robotics engineering. Uber is using the city to test out its self-driving cars and tech giants like Google are setting up shop. Pittsburgh is also home to world-class museums and arts institutions.

However, while the influx of new companies has been great for the city, there are still many residents who don’t have the same access to opportunities as the rest.

RESOURCES

Readings

New Pittsburgh Courier

In desperate 1983, there was nowhere for Pittsburgh’s economy to go but up

Part I: The life and slow death of a former Pennsylvania steel town by Nicole Crowder

Gentrification in Pittsburgh: A Tale of Two Cities

Food Security Partnership: Boosting access to food stamps, school breakfasts, summer food, and WIC by Chris West