In 1975 Aggie was living a quiet life in Garfield raising her three children, witnessing the decay of the beloved neighborhood where she spent her childhood. Plagued by drugs, gangs and spiraling into a physical and economic decline, Garfield was sinking into the abyss of a forgotten, dilapidated ghetto. In November of 1975 the Reverend Leo Henry of St. Lawrence O’Toole parish felt compelled to do something about it, and gathered members of the Bloomfield and Garfield neighborhoods for a community meeting. There the idea for the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation was born. An active member of the church and Democratic committeewoman, Aggie was immediately on board.
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NOT YOUR TYPICAL PITTSBURGH GREAT-GRANDMOTHER Written by Aleita Hermanowski Photographed by Julie Kahlbaugh
Aggie Brose has been a community activist and Deputy Director of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation for 40 years. 42
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The BGC’s mission is to improve quality of life for all in Garfield and surrounding neighborhoods through active community engagement. Along with Executive Director Rick Swartz, Aggie has worked to improve the community by ridding it of blight, developing affordable housing, supporting commerce, education and more. A woman with a powerful sense of justice, community and integrity, Aggie has a unique and solid understanding of the need for stable, diverse and connected communities. “I’m in charge of public safety and acquiring land for development, but we all multitask here,” says Aggie. “Our organization is unique in that we take a comprehensive approach to improving our neighborhoods. From the beginning we knew that focusing only on brick and mortar would not build or sustain the community. Our human development office is where the rubber hits the road.” The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation is one of Pittsburgh’s most active community groups that focuses on the education, employment, health care, and social development of children. In 2014, over 80 students at Obama Academy and several other high schools
received help from volunteers to recover lost classroom credits. The BGC also offers an Out-of-School Youth Employment Program for youth ages 17-21, which provides assistance with finding a job, career guidance and temporary job placements.
Our organization is unique in that we take a comprehensive approach to improving our neighborhoods. After 40 years of perseverance, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’s efforts continue to show. Over 100 units of affordable housing have been constructed in the western portion of Garfield, and work is set to begin tearing down blight and rebuilding housing in the eastern part of Garfield this year. The section of Penn Avenue that runs through Garfield is finally being improved, with new streets, sidewalks and trees. The Penn Avenue Arts Initiative has breathed new life into the neighborhood with studios and galleries, bringing it closer to the vibrant community it once was. “There is great value in having a safe, stable neighborhood,” says Aggie. “There is always more work to do, but I think we’re winning.”