The Global Switchboard to hold Launch Party

The Global Switchboard is holding a Launch Party to help introduce The Global Switchboard to the wider public – our neighbors in Lawrenceville, international and immigrant communities, other nonprofits and globally-minded organizations, and to the Pittsburgh community as a whole.

The Launch Party, Aug. 23, includes a ticketed Private Reception starting at 4 p.m. followed by a Free Outdoor event at 6 p.m. The ticketed event will help raise funds for The Global Switchboard, located at 305 34th St. in Pittsburgh, PA. The private reception will feature refreshments, a meet and greet with members of The Global Switchboard, and an international art exhibition featuring local artists. The free outdoor event will feature live performances, food, music and a global marketplace.

Participating in the private reception’s international art exhibit will be the photographic portrait and stories exhibit, “Meet your Neighbors: Refugee Portraits and Stories.” “Meet your Neighbors” features members of Whitehall’s refugee population. The Borough of Whitehall is home to a significant population of resettled refugees, and the Whitefall Library has a long successful history of providing special programs and services for our refugee patrons.

Last year the Whitehall Public Library received an award from the Allegheny County Library Association (underwritten by the Jack Buncher Foundation) for its outstanding work in community engagement around our resettled refugees. A portion of which went to create the photographic portrait exhibit. This was done in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, South Hills Interfaith Ministries and local portrait photographer Rich Waters.

The music entertainment for the free outdoor event will be provided by Global Beats Pittsburgh. Global Beats is a, “leading producer of global music events in Pittsburgh.” Created to encourage multicultural exchanges, Global Beats is an advocate for social change through world music. They feature lounge and dance music from all around the world. Global Beats believes, “quality music comes in all shapes, languages, colors, and sounds.” Party goers can expect to hear traditional and underground blends of world dance and lounge rhythms.

The free outdoor event will include a Global Marketplace featuring local vendors. One of the local vendors is the Ujamaa Collective. The Ujamaa Collective is is an organization founded with a social mission to create spaces, opportunities, networks, education and support for Africana women to grow as entrepreneurs, artisans, and servant-leaders.

As well as live performances, food, music and a global marketplace, beer will be available for purchase from Bar Marco.