Responding to Municipal Fiscal Pressures and Human Service Provider Capacity Two new projects seek to address challenges in the local government and human services sectors.
Creating a Nimble and Flexible Learning Environment for the Future The IOP’s Education Policy Committee examines K-12 eduction during the pandemic with a goal of advancing policy recommendations for a more equitable and resilient system.
Addressing Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System This new and vitally important research initiative will distinctively combine both qualitative and quantitative assessments and builds upon the IOP’s nearly six years of work in the area of criminal justice reform.
Governing in Crisis In recent months, our communities and country have been confronted by an array of daunting challenges. Highly respected leaders offer perspectives on meeting those challenges in interviews conducted by IOP Chair Mark Nordenberg.
Transcending Challenges in a Time of Crisis: PURSUING A UNIFIED RECOVERY THROUGH POLICY ADVANCEMENT
ANNUAL REPORT March 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 Message from the Chair
11 Advancing Equity in Career and College Readiness: Task Force on Equity in Dual Enrollment and Preapprenticeship Programs
17 The Morton “Moe” Coleman Award for Excellence in Community Service
5 Message from the Director
12 Criminal Justice Reform: Creating a Path Forward to Reduce Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
20 Learning from the Past to Inform the Future: The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy
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7 Governing in Crisis: Preserving Democracy, the Rule of Law, and American Values
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Working to Advance Resiliency, Equity, and Justice through Public Policy
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Responding to Crisis: At the Municipal Level
Board of Fellows
23 Preparing Students to Lead Lives of Active Citizenship in Challenging Times: Elsie Hillman Civic Forum
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR I first met Dick Thornburgh when he spoke at my sister’s law school graduation. Following the ceremony, I was introduced to him as someone who would soon be moving to Pittsburgh to join the faculty of Pitt’s School of Law, the school from which he had earned his own law degree. Dick was so gracious and warm that, even though he was not yet Governor, I have long considered our exchange to be my official welcome to Pennsylvania. Our relationship began to take on new meaning about a dozen years later, when I was serving as our law school’s dean and received a puzzling call from the late Evans Rose, a distinguished graduate and also a Pitt trustee. “Mark,” he said, “I need you to agree to a meeting at a time and place still to be determined, with people I cannot identify, about a subject I cannot yet disclose.” Being a trusting soul, I did agree, and, not long after that, hosted a weekend meeting with U.S. Attorney General Thornburgh and his wife Ginny. Their mission was to quietly examine options for the placement of Dick’s papers, with our law school being one possibility. Years later, during my service as Chancellor, the archives did come to Pitt. We also launched the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy, Dick became a trustee, and he and I became friends. A little over two years ago, the Thornburgh Forum became part of Pitt’s Institute of Politics, which I chair, and I became the Forum’s director. That experience has left me with an even deeper appreciation for Dick’s extraordinary legacy. It also has made me the natural target for a recurring
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question: “Where are the Dick Thornburgh’s of today, when we need them so badly?” In reflecting on that question, particularly since Dick’s recent passing, I have concluded that its answer has two parts. The first is that Dick Thornburgh was an exceptional leader whose gifts are rare and that we were blessed to have him working so effectively to advance the greater good from so many important positions over such an extended period of time. (See the tribute on pages 20-21.) The second is that today’s politics have both diminished what we expect from elected officials and constrained the ability of those leaders to demonstrate the qualities that once were widely admired. Among the many qualities that distinguished Dick, two that stand out are his competence and his character. His leadership abilities were publicly tested in the first months of his first term as Governor, when he confronted the nuclear crisis at Three Mile Island. If he had stumbled, that could have been his early undoing. Instead, he became a reassuring presence to millions of Americans, respectful of his scientific advisors but clearly and confidently in charge. He continued building an enviable record of performance by turning both his own talents and the efforts of his talented team to the successful pursuit of a long list of other important goals. continued
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Even more telling, in terms of the current condition of American politics, was Dick’s character. He restored tarnished reputations for integrity in both our Governor’s Office and the Department of Justice. A straight-arrow prosecutor, an essential ingredient of his leadership was respect for the facts and a determined quest for the truth, as is captured in the title of his autobiography, Where the Evidence Leads. Dick also was, without fail, courteous, compassionate, empathetic and respectful, not just to friends and allies but also to strangers and political foes. In the last American Experience program he attended, two of his prominent successors — Republican Governor Tom Ridge and Democratic Governor Ed Rendell — essentially issued a bipartisan declaration that political adversaries are not enemies and that compromise is an essential tool of effective governance. Those are sentiments with which Governor Thornburgh agreed, but they have been abandoned by many of today’s elected officials, as our politics have become unnecessarily divisive. Soon after that program, Dick attended his last Thornburgh Family Lecture on Disability Law & Policy. It featured Ted Kennedy, Jr., who lost a leg to cancer as a boy and now serves as the board chair of the American Association of People with Disabilities. An archival display prepared for that program included a transcript of the testimony offered by Attorney General Thornburgh in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The document revealed that the Senate committee before which Dick testified was chaired by Ted Kennedy, a liberal Democrat and our speaker’s father, and that the ranking Republican on the Committee was Orrin Hatch, a conservative Republican and, like Dick, a graduate of Pitt’s law school.
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These leaders and others had worked together to secure the bipartisan passage of what has been called one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in American history. Sadly, the consensus in the room that day was that such a law would have little chance of moving successfully through the current Congress. For those who believe that a strong country needs effectively functioning governments at every level, that was a discouraging assessment. Perhaps because regional leaders are closer to the people and their needs, we have not yet seen that kind of hyper-partisanship impede efforts to advance western Pennsylvania and improve the lives of its people. Hopefully, such political paralysis will not surface here. As we seek to forge further progress for the region that is our home, the Institute of Politics remains committed to its traditional mission of nurturing non-partisan efforts marked by civil discussion and evidencebased decision-making. The products of such efforts should help us build an even better region and also should be a source of satisfaction for all who contribute to them.
Mark A. Nordenberg Chancellor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh Chair of the Institute of Politics Director of the Dick Thornburgh Forum
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR When we left our offices nearly twelve months ago, it seemed a minor inconvenience that would last only a few weeks. As I look back on that day and the enormity of all that has transpired since, I wonder if we will ever truly grasp the magnitude of human loss and suffering that the COVID-19 pandemic created in our world. In our country, the pandemic raged alongside a punishing drumbeat of political dissonance, racism, and civil unrest. 2020 has thankfully taken its place in history, and I know that I am fortunate to be writing to you from the safety and warmth of my own home. Yet, as we all know quite clearly, the public health, racial, and political crises continue and the psychological toll has become heavy across our country. Rampant disinformation continues to take aim at us, intent on dulling the most critical of minds and further exacerbating ill will and distrust among people. As a champion for public policy that is based on evidence and civil, nonpartisan convening, I believe it is vital for us to consider empathetically how to bring people together in today’s complicated and emotionally charged environment. Policy has become so deeply personal and division more intense by the day. When I took this position two years ago, a local civic leader for whom I have deep respect asked me this hard question: “Sam, what relevancy does a nonpartisan institute have in a hyper partisan world?” This is a thought-provoking question– one that is confounding yet imperative for us all to consider. Are we committed to solving problems in a manner that promotes a civil society? Is seeking
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common ground a valuable proposition or an act of conciliatory futility? Having thought about these issues, I have concluded that there has never been a time that the IOP, a nonpartisan policy institute, is more relevant and essential. The Institute of Politics was founded on the principles of finding common ground, looking beyond our political brands and providing a place that allows for focus on solving problems together. A common refrain at the Institute is, “nonpartisan does not mean neutral.” The IOP draws lines based on fundamental American values: facts matter; there is no space for beliefs that devalue and dehumanize a fellow person; democracy will be upheld by truth and a system of robust checks and balances. At the Institute, we remain committed to strive for policy that is sourced from the respect for the common good to positively impact the quality of life of all people in our region. Policy will continue to be delivered with an intent to unify, and to inform and advance meaningful change for a more just society. Over the course of this very difficult year, the dedication of our small IOP team and our committee members amazed me, reflecting grit, intelligence, and passion for the work that needs to be done in our region. We have launched a major research initiative that will examine the
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A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
drivers of racial disparities in the Allegheny County criminal justice system. This work is grounded in a distinctive approach that will emphasize data, community engagement, and diversity and cultural competence. Our bipartisan Education Policy Committee has closely examined the impacts of COVID-19 on our schools. It soon will be releasing a paper that presents actionable state policy recommendations that will promote a more equitable and flexible public education system focused on personalized learning. Our Fiscal Policy & Governance Committee is working to address what could be an impending municipal revenue crisis with fiscal and structural solutions that can benefit all municipalities in times of hardship and as matter of good practice. The Workforce Development Policy Committee has launched a bipartisan Equity in Dual Enrollment and PreApprenticeship Task Force aimed at providing all high school students with inspiring experiences and more positive economic outlooks. Developing the next generation of leaders and policymakers is another critical mission of the IOP. Despite the challenges of 2020, the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum and its staff worked with over 150 students by offering enriching experiences with community-based nonprofits, local and state elected officials, and philanthropic leaders committed to place-based, community development. The Elsie students are an inspiring source of powerful talent and creative ideas. In November 2020, our National Advisory Council discussed Elsie Hillman’s legacy within the context of today’s challenges and how to provide students with tangible examples of career goals that
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complement their passion for social issues. The Elsie Forum is also building out its alumni network, and we are especially proud to report that many of our students have entered important careers in public service. Public service and good governance have been major focuses of the IOP this past year. Combining resources with the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy, we developed important public education and awareness programming on major governance issues that arose over the past year through an interview series entitled, Governing in Crisis. Throughout this report, you will read about the line-up of distinguished speakers and critical issues that were discussed, many of which rest at the heart of the political turmoil in our country. As I mentioned earlier, a functioning democracy is a key tenet of the IOP and the foundation by which we believe public policy can be developed to benefit all people. Please take your time to review the report, and always feel welcome to contact us with thoughts and ideas.
Samantha Balbier Director, Institute of Politics Elsie Hillman Civic Forum
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Governing in Crisis: PRESERVING DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW, AND AMERICAN VALUES
CLICK TO WATCH INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS ON YOUTUBE
This new digital series responds to the clear need for helpful insights regarding the critical issues that continue to confront our communities and our country. It has been produced in partnership by the Institute of Politics and the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and is hosted by Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg. The series is designed for elected officials, other policymakers, teachers, students and members of the public. The wide-ranging issues already addressed include the priority that should be attached to the rule of law, the role of science and the search for truth; our commitment to free and fair elections, racial justice and effective government oversight; and our shared obligation to help our neighbors in need. This series has been continuing under the title “Preserving Democracy” in the early months of 2021.
Learn more about the series from Mark Nordenberg.
Battling Hunger in our Home Region — Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank President and CEO — Lisa Scales
The Role of Oversight in our Democracy — U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel Susanne Sachsman Grooms
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Helping our Neighbors in Need —United Way of SWPA President and CEO Bobbi Watt Geer
Maintaining Law and Order While Preserving our Democracy — Former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General and LA Times legal affairs columnist Harry Litman
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TOOLS FOR EDUCATORS Each video session features the following: Did you know? LEARN AND DO MORE GUIDES Provide a way for viewers to further explore the issues discussed in the interview and identify potential pathways for those who are interested in becoming more engaged.
TEACHING GUIDES Provide both college professors and secondary school teachers with a framework for integrating the material presented in the interviews into classrooms and coursework through guided discussion questions and additional learning resources.
Ensuring that our Elections are Fair and Safe — Committee of Seventy President and CEO David Thornburgh
The Rule of Law and the United State Department of Justice — Former Senior DOJ, FBI and DEA Official and NBC Legal Affairs Analyst Chuck Rosenberg
Yes, the Truth Still Matters — Pulitzer Prize-winning Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive Editor Emeritus David Shribman
COVID, Classrooms and Community-Planning for a New School Year — AIU Executive Director Robert Scherrer
Fostering a Fairer and Less Costly Criminal Justice System — President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark
The Challenges Facing America’s Most Respected Agency — Former U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe
Police Reform and Broader Issues of Systemic Racism — PA State Representative Jake Wheatley
Battling COVID-19 with the Power of Science — Former Senior Vice Chancellor and Pitt Medical School Dean Arthur Levine
Perspectives from the Front Lines — Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald
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The Governing in Crisis series is also available as a podcast on your favorite streaming service.
The Constitutional Framework for Decisionmaking — Duquesne University President and Constitutional Law Scholar Ken Gormley
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WORKING TO ADVANCE RESILIENCY, EQUITY, AND JUSTICE THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY Learning from Crisis: Creating Nimble, High-Performing Learning Environments that Provide Continuity and Equity in Education During and After Crisis The COVID-19 crisis presented an unprecedented challenge for school districts across the region, across Pennsylvania, and nationwide. In the early stages of the crisis, however, it appeared that some school districts were more prepared than others to weather the storm, transition quickly to remote learning, and provide students, staff, and families with the supports they needed to continue education. Common challenges that surfaced included access to technology (devices, high-speed internet, and digital literacy), the provision of special education, concerns about child well-being and nutrition, and the process of assessment. Together, this cascade of issues served to exacerbate already existing and persistent inequities in public education. Seeking to learn from districts that have done well, and also through the examination of promising policies from elsewhere, the Institute of Politics Education Policy Committee is preparing a white paper that will make recommendations for policy changes in order to improve educational outcomes and advance equity in times of crisis and beyond. Specifically, the committee will examine policies that offer additional flexibility and allow school districts the ability to respond more effectively to future crises and current needs. In pursuing this project, the committee has evaluated potential policy options through the lens of six guiding principles, which include:
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• Aim for equity and innovation • Make it actionable • Ground recommendations in evidence • Identify high-value opportunities • Learn from this crisis to prepare for the future • Adopt a whole-child focus
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Through this examination, the Institute of Politics will provide state legislators and state officials an opportunity to make actionable policy changes by:
•
At its October 2020 meeting, the Education Policy Committee approved the selection of personalized learning as the policy focus
Understanding the disruption caused by policy across
for the white paper, in accordance with the
three periods of time at the state, district, and school level,
results of a survey that pointed to the topic as
• Identifying barriers in state policy that diminish equity in education and undermine operational flexibility in the K-12 system,
• Examining achievements made in other states that use best practices to promote flexibility and equity through supportive public policy, and
• Gathering information from local school districts that
one that had the best opportunity to advance flexibility through policy change as well as contribute towards improving equity and whole child educational needs. Research will continue throughout the early part of 2021 in cooperation with other regional partners. The committee expects to release the paper in early spring of 2021 and continue to work
have made progress on personalized learning and
with legislators and other groups on this
transitioned well during the crisis.
issue throughout the remainder of the year.
On October 6, 2020, three members of the Institute’s Education Policy Committee participated in a panel discussion on equity in education during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond as part of the University of Pittsburgh’s Civic Engagement Week.
PANELISTS INCLUDED:
Dr. Stanley W. Thompson, Senior Program Director, Education and Executive Director, Pittsburgh Readiness Institute, The Heinz Endowments
Dr. Valerie Kinloch, Renée and Richard Goldman Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Education
The Honorable Ed Gainey, Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (District 24)
The panelists spoke passionately about the challenges in providing equitable educational opportunities for students within and across districts before, during, and after the COVID-19 crisis and offered suggestions for getting involved in issues facing the education system today.
VIEW THE FULL PANEL DISCUSSION
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ADVANCING EQUITY IN CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS: Task Force on Equity in Dual Enrollment and Pre-apprenticeship Programs
In May 2020, the IOP Workforce Development Policy Committee released a report detailing the status of dual enrollment, early college high school, and pre-apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania. The report analyzed data on existing programs and discovered racial and socioeconomic inequities in program participation and developed policy recommendations to address these disparities. With COVID-19, the IOP has examined the recommendations in that report and convened a task force to identify specific policy actions that are feasible in the current environment. For example, the committee will examine the opportunity to enhance or develop statewide equity and access targets for dual enrollment participation statewide. The Institute will rely on examples from other states and research from state and national groups such as the Keystone Development Partnership and College in High School Alliance. The Task Force comprises practitioners and subject-matter experts in the fields of dual enrollment and pre-apprenticeship, as well as key government leaders and staff. Advocacy groups will also be involved as needed to ensure that the work moves forward. The task force will begin meeting in 2021 to examine these questions:
Prepared
for the
ons to ommendati Polic y rec to students ac cess for inc rease lment, rol ia’s dual en d Pennsylvan school, an h hig ge early colle programs nticeship pre-appre By: ok, Briana Mih ski Kelly Tarnov Kruger and Olivia
1
How is Pennsylvania documenting compliance with guidelines of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) regarding equity in postsecondary educational attainment and access?
2
What opportunities are there to add to Pennsylvania’s ESSA plan to include equity targets in postsecondary attainment through college in high school programming?
3
What types of support do schools missing the college readiness goals receive from the commonwealth in compliance with ESSA guidelines?
4
Which schools in Pennsylvania are already achieving high and equitable levels of student completion of dual enrollment coursework?
T
E REPOR
READ TH
The goal is to develop action items that can be put into place at the state level by the end of 2021.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: Creating a Path Forward to Reduce Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System
Following the killing of George Floyd, as well as the deaths of other Black citizens at the hands of police, the failures of our criminal justice system once again were brought to the fore and sparked nationwide protests. These most recent tragedies underscore the importance of the IOP’s initiative to examine the disparate impact and treatment of people of color by the criminal justice system. Although making up just 13% of the population of Allegheny County, Black people account for 66% of the jail population. Similarly, the criminal justice system is costly for Allegheny County taxpayers, accounting for 42% of the county’s general funds, including nearly $90 million annually for the jail.
For more than five years, the IOP — in partnership with Allegheny County and the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania and with
Fostering a Fairer and Less Costly Criminal Justice System — President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark
generous foundation support, particularly from the Heinz Endowments — has worked to advance criminal justice reform in Allegheny County. The overarching goal of these ongoing initiatives is to find ways to improve Allegheny County’s criminal justice system so that it is “fairer and less costly, without compromising public safety.”
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Reducing racially disparate impact and treatment in the Allegheny County criminal justice system
Over the course of several months and in partnership with experts and input from community members, the IOP developed a research approach to examine racial disparities in the Allegheny County criminal justice system that is grounded on the principles of evidence-based data, community engagement, diversity and cultural competence, and the development of actionable policy
Police Reform and Broader Issues of Systemic Racism — PA State Representative Jake Wheatley
recommendations. Following an intensive review process conducted by a team of criminologists, legal experts, community members, and internal system stakeholders, the RAND Corporation was selected to conduct the quantitative analysis of disparate impact and treatment and RTI International was selected to conduct qualitative research that will include a thorough review of programs, policies, and services in the system. The project design includes a holistic and mixedmethods approach to understanding the policies, practices, and outcomes at key decision-making points within the system that may drive racial disparities. It begins with an assessment of policies, practices, and services within the Allegheny County criminal justice system to determine their potential impact on increasing racial disparities. Following this assessment, researchers will quantitatively analyze a broad data set focusing on decisions made during
system including formerly incarcerated individuals, family members, and victims along with the perspectives and norms of those people who work within it. Going even further, intersectional data will be collected to understand key factors contributing to involvement in the system such as education level, socioeconomic status, employment status, neighborhood of origin, gender, and age. The project will take place throughout 2021 and culminate in the full release of data in May of 2022. Along that time, the IOP will address quarterly findings with our partners to make improvements throughout the system. Jurisdictions across the country have continued to struggle to make progress toward reducing racial disparities in county criminal justice systems and jails.
stops and arrests, charging, pretrial, sentencing, and probation and parole. Each area will be examined
Through this partnership, the Institute hopes
to better elucidate decision-making within them
to identify actionable recommendations to
and to identify opportunities within each phase to
identify what could become national best
alleviate disparities. In addition to a quantitative
practices in combatting racial disparities in
examination, the IOP embedded a robust qualitative
county criminal justice systems and jails.
aspect into the project to better understand the lived experiences of those who have been impacted by the
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Responding to Crisis AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL
municipalities regarding budgeting and municipal shared
As Southwestern Pennsylvania has grappled
for the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Pennsylvania
with the public health and economic challenges caused by the spread of COVID-19, strains in our governmental systems have
services, as well as legislative and/or rulemaking changes Department of Community and Economic Development. The reforms will look to improve the long-term sustainability of Pennsylvania’s municipalities.
become increasingly visible.
The issues to be addressed in this initiative are both timely
The statewide closure of nonessential businesses has sent
of essential public services, municipal governments give us a
economic shockwaves through the region, especially among
unique sense of place and community. Through this initiative and
our most vulnerable communities. Across Pennsylvania, people,
the work of our partners, we hope to preserve the vitality and
businesses, and communities are facing significant economic
sustainability of Pennsylvania’s municipal governments.
and critically important to our region. Through the delivery
stresses and, in many cases, long-term economic impacts. The personal hardships of our region’s residents are also causing a significant decrease in revenue for many local governments. In 2020, the University of Pittsburgh Center for Metropolitan Studies estimated that Southwestern Pennsylvania municipal revenue losses for 2020 are expected to range from approximately $123 million to $485 million.
ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS DURING A PANDEMIC Hear from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food
Many local governments believe that these revenue declines
Bank President and CEO Lisa Scales and United Way of
will result in employee furloughs and layoffs. For our region’s
Southwestern Pennsylvania President and CEO Bobbi
local governments, these revenue losses will have a profound
Watt Geer about their agencies’ response to critical
effect on their financial health and ability to deliver effective
regional needs.
municipal services. Fortunately, many municipalities, which depend mainly on earned income and property taxes, have not yet felt the brunt of revenue losses thanks to stimulus measures from the federal and state government. This delay in lost revenue provides the region with an opportunity to act before municipalities are significantly impacted. In response to this crisis, the IOP convened its Fiscal Policy
Lisa Scales Bobbi Watt Geer
and Governance Committee to formulate a coordinated multi-pronged, collaborative response to the loss of critical tax revenue. The Institute envisions taking on a project that will provide local governments with guidance and resources to help inform their financial decision-making in the wake of the
As the COVID-19 pandemic escalated through the early
COVID-19 pandemic. The committee plans to examine ways to:
part of 2020, many individuals who had never sought help
• increase municipal revenue flexibility,
before faced job loss and food insecurity. Their needs were
• foster intergovernmental cooperation, • and increase local government administrative and budgeting capacity. Within these areas the Institute will work with its community partners to coordinate technical assistance and educational opportunities. Additionally, the committee will work to create a set of policy reforms to present best practices for
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met by an overwhelming response from the human services providers in our region, even while provider capacity was stretched thin by the demand. Looking ahead to 2021, new needs will emerge, as the moratorium on evictions expires and as utility bills climb through the winter. This year, the Institute of Politics Health and Human Services Policy Committee will take a closer look at the human services crisis and examine policy options for response.
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BOARD OF FELLOWS IOP Board of Fellows Meeting Facilitates Dynamic Discussion of Regional Policy Issues in the COVID-19 Era
In the spirit of adaptation and innovation, this year’s IOP Board of Fellows meeting was held virtually on July 30, 2020, via Zoom, granting the event a new and dynamic format in which attendees could share real-time comments, questions, research, and updates regarding developments in their respective fields and communities. As a continued cornerstone of the event, the Board of Fellows provided valuable feedback on the current slate of IOP regional policy initiatives. The Board of Fellows outlined major emerging policy priorities for our region and offered insights on priority topics that they feel require the Institute’s convening, analysis, and policy development value.
The Honorable Chip Abramovic Commissioner Venango County
Mr. Marc Cherna Director Allegheny County Department of Human Services
The Honorable Mike Doyle Member U.S. House of Representatives
The Honorable Camera Bartolotta Member PA Senate
Mr. G. Reynolds Clark Former Chief of Staff to the Chancellor University of Pittsburgh
The Honorable George Dunbar Majority Caucus Chair PA House of Representatives
Dr. Debra Bogen Director Allegheny County Health Department
The Honorable Jake Corman President Pro Tempore PA Senate
Ms. Laura Ellsworth Partner-in-Charge Global Community Service Initiatives Jones Day
Dr. Kenyon Bonner Vice Provost and Dean of Students University of Pittsburgh
The Honorable Jay Costa Democratic Leader PA Senate
Mr. Grant Ervin Chief Resilience Officer and Assistant Director Department of City Planning Office of Mayor William Peduto
Ms. Kenya Boswell President BNY Mellon Foundation of SWPA
The Honorable Austin Davis Member PA House of Representatives
Dean Elizabeth Farmer Dean, School of Social Work University of Pittsburgh
Ms. Diana Bucco President The Buhl Foundation
Dr. James Denova Vice President Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
The Honorable Rich Fitzgerald County Executive Allegheny County
Professor William Carter Professor School of Law University of Pittsburgh
The Honorable Frank Dermody Democratic Leader PA House of Representatives
The Honorable Dan Frankel Member PA House of Representatives
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BOARD OF FELLOWS Ms. Ami Gatts President Washington Greene County Job Training Agency
Ms. Aradhna Oliphant President & CEO Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc.
Ms. Julie Strickland-Gilliard Western Pennsylvania Regional Director Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Mr. Dan Gilman Mayor’s Chief of Staff City of Pittsburgh
The Honorable Leslie Osche Commissioner Butler County
Mr. Richard Taylor Chief Executive Officer Imbue Technology Solutions, Inc. (“ImbuTec”)
Ms. Caren Glotfelty Executive Director Allegheny County Parks Foundation
The Honorable Dave Reed President First Commonwealth Bank
Mr. Frederick Thieman Henry Buhl Jr. Chair for Civic Leadership The Buhl Foundation
Mr. Tyler Gourley Vice President Hillman Family Foundations
Mr. A. Samuel Reiman President Richard King Mellon Foundation
Dr. Stanley Thompson Senior Program Director, Education, and Executive Director, Pittsburgh Readiness Institute The Heinz Endowments
Ms. Debra Gross Council Member City of Pittsburgh
The Honorable Joseph Scarnati Member PA Senate
Ms. Jessica Walls-Lavelle Director Governor’s Southwest Office
The Honorable Sherene Hess Commissioner Indiana County
Ms. Lisa Schroeder President and CEO The Pittsburgh Foundation
The Honorable Jake Wheatley Member PA House of Representatives
Mr. Kevin Jenkins President & CEO Manchester Bidwell Corporation
Dr. Edith Shapira Chair, Board of Directors The Pittsburgh Foundation
Sister Linda Yankoski President/CEO Holy Family Institute
Ms. Kathy Lachenauer Executive Director The Fine Foundation
The Honorable Pam Snyder Member PA House of Representatives
Mr. Morgan O’Brien President & CEO Peoples Natural Gas
Dr. Jem Spectar President University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
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THE MORTON “MOE” COLEMAN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
For nearly 15 years, the IOP Coleman Award has recognized the selfless contributions of regional leaders in various domains who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to community service in the spirit of “finding common ground” for the betterment of Western Pennsylvania and its citizens. In consideration of our regional partners, and in conjunction with the theme of this year’s annual report, the IOP has produced three videos capturing the storied history of the Coleman Award and unique interviews with past award recipients, IOP leadership, and this year’s Coleman Award nominators and recipients. We offer these videos hoping they provide a comprehensive and entertaining demonstration of the core values that inspired the original Coleman Award.
The Morton “Moe” Coleman Award for Excellence in Community Service: Origins and Development Over 30 years ago, one dynamic leader had the vision to create a center where elected officials could get timely, unbiased information about pressing issues facing southwestern Pennsylvania. That individual — Morton Coleman — founded the Institute of Politics at the University of Pittsburgh to encourage fact-based discussions among diverse groups of elected officials, community leaders, and academics. In 2006, the Institute of Politics, wishing to pair honoring Moe’s contributions to its development and to the region with an opportunity to recognize others doing similar work, created the Morton “Moe” Coleman Award for Excellence in Community Service and presented it to Coleman at that year’s Elected Officials Retreat. Since that time, the Coleman Award has been awarded to 27 outstanding individuals, well known in the Pittsburgh community for their ability and willingness to build bridges and find common ground; their commitment to going above, beyond, and around problems; and their selfless dedication to the improvement of lives in the region.
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History of the Morton “Moe” Coleman Award for Excellence in Community Service
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2020 Award Winners:
LINDA DICKERSON AND LARRY SWANSON
LINDA DICKERSON
Hear from former Coleman Award winner and Carnegie Mellon professor Rick Stafford, Leech Tishman partner Steve Irwin, and Hope in Homewood project consultant Dan Paul in this tribute to Linda Dickerson.
We honor Moe by honoring Linda. – Rick Stafford
WATCH THE FULL AWARD CEREMONY
Former Coleman Award winner Rick Stafford notes there are many similarities between Moe and Linda. Linda was involved in everything. Although she was well-known for her involvement in the advocacy work behind the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, her reach into the business and nonprofit community extended far beyond those organizations that addressed disability rights. Among her many notable roles in the Pittsburgh community, she served as the first chair of the Allegheny Regional Asset District. At one point, she filled the role of CEO of the National Aviary. In addition, she served on countless other boards and committees, never relinquishing her passion for making the region a better place. Dickerson was also known for her mentorship skills, something that Moe excelled at as well. She didn’t just serve on boards to provide technical assistance; she used that time to “give people the tools they needed to be successful,” all the while building an extensive network of friends and colleagues whom she could call on in return. Like Moe, she took great pride in connecting people, organizations, and causes across issues and boundaries, and, when working with others, always started from an asset-based perspective, a view that likely helped her to find common ground in one of her last projects, the Hope in Homewood project. On September 26, 2020, Linda Dickerson passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 59, having accomplished more than most people in just half the time, and while having a disability that impaired her movement, and, in later years, her ability to speak. Nominator Max King noted that “[l]ate in her life, her disability — Werdnig-Hoffman disease — made it necessary for her to use cutting-edge computer technology that could read her eye movements. And yet, just hours before she died, she was still busy sending emails and setting up appointments to advance her latest project.” Hers is the first Coleman Award to be granted posthumously. Steve Irwin, who spoke at the ceremony on behalf of her family, said that “in doing the work together, we create community, and nobody did that better than Linda.”
CRITERIA FOR THE COLEMAN AWARD Over a sustained period of time, leaders must:
• Give freely and unselfishly of his or her time to community activities; • Inspire others to serve and acts as a role model;
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS OPEN
• Create connections in the community that enhance coordination and collaboration in solving our region’s challenges; • Have a positive impact upon the direction and success of community projects, programs, or individuals; and • Improve the lives of others.
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LARRY SWANSON
As the director of ACTION-Housing, Allegheny County’s largest housing development agency, 2020 Coleman Award winner Larry Swanson is well-known throughout communities as a “really good guy.” Similar to the Coleman Award’s namesake, his colleagues and friends say, “Everyone knows Larry.” During Swanson’s tenure, ACTION-Housing has witnessed significant growth, and now features a staff of over 100 and a budget of $22 million. Even with the demands that running such an agency brings, Swanson still finds time to provide technical assistance and guidance to other organizations. Diana Bucco says, “He takes on projects that others might shy away from,” including focusing on single-room occupancy housing, housing for youth aging out of foster care, and for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Hear from Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Allegheny County DHS Director Marc Cherna, and Buhl Foundation President Diana Bucco in a video tribute to Larry Swanson.
As a result of “a decades-long focus on affordable housing,” Swanson holds an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and serves as a trusted advisor to many individuals, including State Senator Jay Costa. Costa is quick to point out that Swanson’s ability to connect individuals and build bridges between disparate groups — from different communities and between different levels of government — is just as critical as his advice on housing policy. Perhaps most importantly, Swanson brings ‘a philosophy of generosity’ the extends beyond himself. It permeates throughout the staff and the culture of ACTION-Housing, and it is reflected in the many people who consider Swanson a mentor. Bucco remarks, “He never says no — yes to interns, yes to meeting someone for coffee, yes to going out of his way to provide assistance for anyone in need.” In nominating Coleman Award winner Larry Swanson, Marc Cherna says, “I don’t nominate very many people for this award… because the standards are so high.” Like the award winners before him, Larry Swanson meets these high criteria, and in the words of Bucco, he “has been a real gift to Pittsburgh.”
SUPPORTING EXISTING LEADERS AND BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
While the Institute continues to develop and deliver information about pressing policy issues to elected officials and other community leaders throughout the region, its student-based programming, serving over 150 students per year, has grown in recent years through the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum. Elsie Honor Scholar, Isabel Weir, is currently placed at ACTION Housing with 2020 Coleman Award winner Larry Swanson. There she is learning critical leadership skills, connecting with the greater Pittsburgh community, and gaining an understanding about the complexities in housing policy.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FULL ARRAY OF PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE THROUGH THE ELSIE HILLMAN CIVIC FORUM
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LEARNING FROM THE PAST TO INFORM THE FUTURE: The Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy The Dick Thornburgh Forum was established at the University of Pittsburgh to offer programming that makes use of the Governor’s extensive archives, housed at the University, and that encourages the values that formed the basis of his lifelong career in public service, including the preservation of democracy and adherence to the rule of law. In light of Governor Thornburgh’s recent passing on December 31, 2020, Mark Nordenberg, director of the Dick Thornburgh Forum, offered the following reflection.
A Tribute to an Extraordinary Leader and Good Friend Richard L. Thornburgh |
July 16, 1932 – December 31, 2020
By Mark Nordenberg What already had been a cruel and challenging year brought further sadness on its final day with the death of Dick Thornburgh on December 31, 2020. His passing is mourned by everyone associated with the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy, the Thornburgh Archives and Institute of Politics of the University of Pittsburgh. Building on his belief that “serving on behalf of others is the highest calling possible,” Dick Thornburgh crafted an extraordinary leadership record over the course of his long and distinguished career. Among the many important positions he held were: United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Assistant United States Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; two-term Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; United States Attorney General under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush; and Under-Secretary-General for Administration of the United Nations. What really sets Dick Thornburgh’s record apart, though, is that he not only served in all of these important roles but that he did so much good in each and every one of them.
Mr. Thornburgh was especially proud of the role he played as U.S. Attorney General in serving as the point-person for the administration of President Bush in advocating for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has been viewed as one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in our nation’s history. On the occasion of its becoming law, Mr. Thornburgh called the day “one of emancipation, not just for the millions of Americans with disabilities who will directly benefit from this Act, but even more so for the rest of us now free to benefit from the contributions which those with disability can make to our economy, our communities and our own well-being.”
Just ten weeks into his first term as Governor, he was confronted with the nuclear crisis at Three Mile Island, a challenge that he met with disciplined decision-making and regular communications with an anxious public. In describing his role, he said, “You have to reassure people. You have to go before the cameras and microphones and tell them what you know and what you don’t. You have to stop the rumors, and, of course, you have to make decisions. There isn’t any Republican way or Democratic way to deal with a nuclear crisis. Nobody has ever had to deal with this kind of accident before.” Jimmy Carter, the sitting Democratic President and a nuclear engineer, said, “Governor Thornburgh has done a superlative job,” and The Washington Star described him as “one of the few authentic heroes of that episode as a calm voice against panic.”
Integrity was a hallmark of Mr. Thornburgh’s service in every position that he held. He prosecuted public corruption cases as a young United States Attorney, a pattern that he continued and expanded to include savings and loan officials. defense contractors and whitecollar criminals as U.S. Attorney General. He also made combatting racial, religious and ethnic “hate crimes” a priority and has been credited, more generally, with enhancing the morale and reputation of the Department of Justice, after his predecessor as Attorney General resigned in the face of ethics and misconduct charges. As Governor, he had successfully confronted the similar challenge of restoring confidence in Pennsylvania’s state government, which had been plagued by scandals and financial crises under his predecessor.
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When not serving in public office, Mr. Thornburgh maintained a career-long relationship with the firm that he joined as a young lawyer, then a major Pittsburgh law firm known as Kirkpatrick & Lockhart and now known as K&L Gates, an international law firm that is one of the largest in the world. Not surprisingly, as a lawyer in private practice, he was called to serve in special roles in high-profile matters involving ethics issues. These included service as Examiner in the WorldCom bankruptcy proceedings, then the largest ever filed, where he was charged with reporting on any wrongdoing that may have contributed to the company’s downfall. He also was retained by CBS to lead an investigation into charges aired on “60 Minutes” relating to the service of President George W. Bush in the Texas Air National Guard.
In 1998, Mr. Thornburgh donated the magnificent and massive archival collection of his personal papers to the University of Pittsburgh. The collection provides a comprehensive record of his life, from his community engagement in the early 1960’s through his service in significant government positions at the local, state, national and international levels. Since he was known as a “saver,” the collection also includes such unanticipated items as his personal scorecard from the 1960 World Series, when his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the New York Yankees, and his law school textbooks. The collection is held in the Archives & Special Collections of the University Library System. It is digitized, unrestricted and available for use by students, scholars and others who may be interested.
Neither the high positions that he held nor the important work that he did ever changed Mr. Thornburgh’s approachable personality, which some have attributed to his Western Pennsylvania roots. Instead, he remained keenly interested in people and was unfailingly kind, respectful, empathetic and unpretentious in his dealings with others. In that key sense, he provided an inspiring example of leadership not only through what he did but also by how he did it.
In 2007, the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy was established at the University. The Forum, now a part of Pitt’s Institute of Politics, provides “a unique opportunity to foster public education and civic action on important public policy issues, building on Mr. Thornburgh’s legacy by creating a framework for advancing his vision of creating effective and principled governance.” The Forum presents a variety of programming, much of it focused on governance, as well as the annual Thornburgh Family Lecture on Disability Law & Policy; partners with the University Honors College in sponsoring the American Experience Lecture, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary and is the longestrunning lecture series at Pitt; supports work by students and faculty in the Thornburgh archives; and presents student awards designed to promote careers in public service and work making a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.
Mr. Thornburgh was the recipient of many high honors, including 32 honorary degrees. One of those honorary degrees was awarded by the University of Pittsburgh, where years earlier he had begun laying the foundation for his remarkable career in law by earning a degree from Pitt’s School of Law. He also served as a Trustee of the University and was an Emeritus Trustee at the time of his death. Mr. Thornburgh was a recipient of the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Medal, which has been described as “the most prestigious of all medals and medallions awarded by the University.” Rarely bestowed, its recipients are to be persons “who have left an indelible mark on the proud traditions, values, and character inherent in the University of Pittsburgh.” He also was awarded the University’s Bicentennial Medallion, its 220 Medallion, and its Trustee Medallion and was an honored speaker at both its annual Commencement Ceremony and its annual Honors Convocation. More recently, Mr. Thornburgh received the Pitt Institute of Politics’ Elsie Hilliard Hillman Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Public Service. That presentation was made during a special American Experience program featuring his fellow former two-term Pennsylvania Governors —Tom Ridge, a Republican, and Ed Rendell, a Democrat. That program focused on leadership, politics and governance, topics of great importance to all Americans, particularly as we move through these highly polarized times.
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Everyone connected with the Dick Thornburgh Forum, the Thornburgh Archives, and the University’s Institute of Politics mourns the passing of this extraordinary leader, someone we also had the very good fortune to work with and come to know as a kind, caring and highly principled person who always was driven by his commitment to advancing the greater good. It is our goal, through our ongoing efforts, to nurture and spotlight the power of his inspiring example. In lieu of flowers, the Thornburgh family has indicated that contributions to either the Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh or the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy would be welcome. An obituary prepared by key members of Mr. Thornburgh’s gubernatorial team, in cooperation with his family, can be found on the Thornburgh Forum website. Other informative obituaries can be found in numerous local and national publications.
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The Dick Thornburgh Forum
2020 PROGRAMMING AND AWARDS The American Experience Distinguished Lecture Series September 22, 2020
“Will Race Always Matter?” Presented by Larry E. Davis, dean emeritus of the School of Social Work, Donald M. Henderson Professor Emeritus, and founding director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh Davis is a widely acclaimed author and speaker who has addressed audiences throughout the country. In his most recent book, Why Are They Angry With Us? Essays on Race, he says, “Race is what I always have thought most about. In fact, I have been thinking about race as long as I can remember thinking about anything.” This live-streamed lecture included introductory remarks by Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg. A question-and-answer session moderated by Audrey Murrell, acting dean of the University Honors College, followed the lecture by Davis. This lecture was sponsored by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and the University Honors College and co-sponsored by the Institute of Politics, the School of Social Work, and the Center on Race and Social Problems. The American Experience Distinguished Lecture Series was created more than 50 years ago to offer Pittsburgh’s mid- to high-level managers the opportunity to gain insight into political and economic thought to enlighten the public’s political discourse.
Discussions on Governance Lecture Series January 30, 2020
“Drawing the Lines: How Redistricting Reform Will Improve Pennsylvania and Restore Citizens’ Trust in Government” Presented by David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy and chair of the Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform Commission. View David Thornburgh’s Governing in Crisis interview ”Ensuring that our Elections are Fair and Safe.” Over the past four years, the once-arcane topic of redistricting reform—drawing election maps in a transparent, accessible, and accountable process—has improbably captured the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians. Because future election maps will be drawn from the 2021 Census numbers, time is short for legislative leaders to take action. But citizen energy regarding this issue is at an all-time high, dozens of legislators from both parties have called for reform, and several proposals are now circulating in the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Why does redistricting reform matter, what can we do about it, and what’s likely to happen? This lecture was sponsored by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and co-sponsored by the University Honors College.
February 25, 2020
Dick Thornburgh Forum Student Award Recipients The Dick Thornburgh Forum Disability Service Award: TIMOTHY GREBECK, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences (Psychology) and School of Education The J. Evans Rose Jr. Prize for Government Service: KRISTA GOBELNY EBBERT, School of Law The Dick Thornburgh Prize for Legal Service: DOLLY PRABHU, School of Law The Dick Thornburgh Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Award: RYAN STEINLY, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences
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“Can Democracy Survive the Internet?” Presented by David Hickton, founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania The rise of the use of the internet has co-occurred with the rise of populist movements and authoritarian leaders the world over, including in the United States. The fundamental question we face today is whether the internet will unleash freedom or become a tool of oppression for despots. We must craft and implement policy responses before it is too late to make sure that democracy can survive the internet. This lecture was sponsored by the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy and co-sponsored by the University Honors College. The Discussions on Governance Lecture Series was established in 2013 and brings an array of speakers to the University of Pittsburgh community to share their expertise on a variety of governance, public service, and disability-related matters.
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PREPARING STUDENTS TO LEAD LIVES OF ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP IN CHALLENGING TIMES: Elsie Hillman Civic Forum Community engagement has never been more important than it is now, although how we engage has changed drastically. No longer can we physically gather to collaborate or learn; but we interact virtually, still deeply connected through our important work of improving the quality of life for the region and preparing future leaders. As with any change, there have been both challenges and opportunities, and the IOP and Elsie Hillman Civic Forum embraced these as valuable lessons to foster creativity, flexibility, and focus on sustainable solutions for positive change.
In the 2019-2020 academic year: Activating Future Leaders 43 students practiced their leadership skills, active citizenship, and creativity in one of the Elsie Forum’s long-term programs
Introducing Active Citizenship Over 100 students were introduced to community leaders and elected officials to discuss making a difference in the community at the Never a Spectator Civic Engagement Forum
Adding Capacity to Organizations
Remembering Elsie Hillman
Elsie Forum provided added capacity and over $60,000 in-kind support to 24 community partner organizations and elected officials district offices
Successful Transition to Remote Programs Successful transition to remote learning with the IOP internship program, Elsie Scholars, and ACE Fellowship after the global pandemic in March of 2020
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Elsie Forum Community Partners Leveraging the IOP’s longtime partnerships with various organizations and elected officials, the Elsie Forum connects Pitt students to opportunities with these partners, so they too can learn more about and participate in the work of policy, philanthropy, and community organizing and activism. Elected Officials The 2019-20 partners included:
Jay Costa PA State Senator District 43
Anita Kulik PA State Representative District 45
Dan Deasy PA State Representative District 27
Conor Lamb U.S. Representative PA District 17
Mike Doyle U.S. Representative PA District 18
Daniel Lavelle Pittsburgh City Councilman District 6
• The Buhl Foundation (ACE)
• Allies for Children (Scholars)
• Center for Victims (Scholars)
• Healthy Start, Inc. (Scholars)
• Literacy Pittsburgh Dan Frankel PA State Representative District 23
(Scholars)
Summer Lee PA State Representative District 34
• PA Environmental Council (Scholars)
• Steel Smiling (Scholars)
Ed Gainey PA State Representative District 24
Dan Miller PA State Representative District 42
Valerie Gaydos PA State Representative District 44
Corey O’Connor Pittsburgh City Councilman District 5
Sara Innamorato PA State Representative District 21
Guy Reschenthaler U.S. Representative PA District 14
Pam Iovino PA State Senator District 37
Erika Strassburger Pittsburgh City Councilperson District 8
Bruce Kraus Pittsburgh City Councilman District 3
Jake Wheatley PA State Representative District 19
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• Women for a Healthy Environment (Scholars)
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THE INTERN, THE SCHOLAR, & THE FELLOW: Elsie Forum Long-term Programs Eager to start or continue their civic engagement paths, students get involved with their communities and the issues they are passionate about through one of the Elsie Forum’s long-term experiential programs: the IOP internship with an elected official, the Elsie Honors Scholars program, or the Ambassadors for Civic Engagement (ACE) Fellowship. In the 2019-2020 academic year, the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum engaged 43 students in our long-term programs, all from diverse backgrounds and different academic disciplines, but grounded in their shared passion to contribute to positive change in our region.
IOP INTERNS Engaging in Policy Through Work with Elected Officials
Hannah Reiling
Ethan McPeak
Preena Patel
Intern with Councilman Corey O’Connor
Intern with Rep. Dan Miller
Intern with Councilperson Erika Strassburger
This program gave me an inside look into what it’s like to work for elected officials and helped me gain a better idea of what I want to do in the future.
To me the most valuable aspect of the program was hearing from instructors who actually know and interact with local politicians. It makes it all seem much more real, and they have insights that most people wouldn’t.
This internship allowed someone like me who did not believe they had a role in politics to learn that as long as you’re a resident of this city, this country, and this world, then you have a role in politics. This experience was empowering and engaging.
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ELSIE SCHOLARS Impacting Our Region Through Community Work Wendeline Frederic, Healthy Start, Inc.
Mareen Hartwell, Women for a Healthy Environment
While at Healthy Start, I observed the impact of collaborative team efforts. Healthy Start works to reduce poor birth outcomes for black infants. This collaborative effort allowed me to broaden my horizon and understand that addressing issues in MCH effectively requires looking at multiple sectors outside of immediate health because several external factors play a role with several community organizations in multiple sectors to help achieve a common.
The Elsie Hillman Honors Scholars Program allowed me to dive into an issue which particularly impacts the City of Pittsburgh. Through this experience, I was able to gain expertise on environmental health, on how lead and radon impact public health, and how to create policy to mitigate these hazards. Beyond this, WHE has also offered to keep me on part-time this summer, which is a huge honor and relief in the current economic crisis. I am incredibly thankful that the Elsie program allowed me to gain this knowledge and this network.
Rachel Hopkins, Steel Smiling Through my work with Steel Smiling, I gained a lot of experience interviewing people about mental health, which will be useful for me as a clinical research assistant during my gap year. Being a part of an eight month program was very meaningful to me as I watched the Beams to Bridges Program unfold and was able to interview our participants in the first and last months of the program to see how their perspectives changed.
Samuel Ressin, Pennsylvania Environmental Council I liked having the opportunity to hear the behind the scenes discussions among stakeholders in environmental and energy policy. My mentor shared updates on what types of legislation various groups were trying to secure. I found those insights most useful as a rising change maker in energy and environmental policy.
ACE FELLOWS Engaging in Policy Change Through Philanthropy An interdisciplinary team of graduate students passionate about making a difference worked with the Buhl Foundation in 2019-20. Throughout the experience, the team worked to learn more about policy, systems change, community engagement, and how they intersect with philanthropy. The team hailing from Pitt’s Graduate School of International and Public Affairs, the Graduate School of Public Health, the Katz School of Business, and the Swanson School of Engineering, began their work in October gathering important context of Buhl’s One Northside initiative. The team toured all 18 neighborhoods of the Northside, interviewed the community members, conducted independent research of place-based philanthropy, interviewed Buhl staff members, spoke with other regional philanthropic institutions, and talked with other various stakeholders and organizational partners of
For the past five years, Pittsburgh has given me a home, an outstanding education, and great connections. I want to give back to the city by going out in the community and giving my all to help whichever way I can.
the initiative to create the Internal Analysis of the One Northside Initiative. This report will help the Buhl Foundation better understand its methods and processes in order to evaluate its impact and produce a model for other philanthropic institutions wishing to employ an effective place-based strategy.
Arturo Amadeo MHA/MBA ‘21, Health Policy & Management and Business Administration
Meet the team and their hopes for the future.
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NEVER A SPECTATOR A civic engagement forum Fortunately, just two weeks before the Elsie programs had to transition to virtual experiences, we engaged more than 100 students and 21 community mentors to discuss making a difference through active citizenship at the Never a Spectator Civic Engagement Forum. Wasi Mohamed, the Pittsburgh Foundation’s senior policy director and formerly the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, added a particularly relatable dimension to the 2020 forum, allowing students to witness a relatively recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh showcase his experiences, leadership, and contributions (after graduation) as a humble but valued member of Pittsburgh’s civic leadership community. The evening’s conversations, roundtables, and presentations all commemorated the legacy of Elsie Hillman while demonstrating that her spirited belief in civic engagement remains intact and energetic by the programming provided by the Elsie Hillman Civic Forum. View the excitement:
Hear from Wasi Mohamed, the
The Elsie Hillman Civic Forum National Advisory Council met
NAS 2020 Keynote speaker
November 13, 2020, to continue the work of guiding and developing the forum’s student programming for the coming year. A focus of the 2020-21 academic year will be the development of an urban/rural program.
Learn more about the Never a Spectator event
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Samantha Balbier Director Briana Mihok Senior Policy Strategist Aaron Lauer Senior Policy Analyst Meredith Mavero Manager of Student Programs and Community Outreach Kimberly Carson Program Administrator, Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy David Ruvolo Office Manager Rebecca Lerman Graduate Intern Wendeline Frederic Graduate Intern Olivia Kruger Undergraduate Intern Mark Nordenberg Chair and Chancellor Emeritus
Keightley Amen, Amen Editorial, LLC Editor
FOLLOW THE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
Susan Hernishin, SJH Design Graphic Design
710 Alumni Hall 4227 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 Tel 412-624-1837 Fax 412-624-1141 iop.pitt.edu