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www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 114 No. 49 Two Sections

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

Ashley Comans vows to represent House District 34, announces campaign run Could join Reps. Powell, Mayes as Black women from region in state House

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

ASHLEY COMANS SAYS SHE’S READY TO BECOME THE HOUSE DISTRICT 34 REPRESENTATIVE. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)

ROYALTY COMES TO PITTSBURGH

Remember Pa. House District 34?

It’s the district of 60,000 residents that encompasses Wilkinsburg, Rankin, Swissvale, Braddock, Braddock Hills, North Braddock and East Pittsburgh, among others, and parts of the City of Pittsburgh.

It’s the district that, for years, was represented by a Black woman, Summer Lee. But as most people know, Lee is now in the U.S. Congress, representing Pa.’s 12th District.

A special election was held on Feb. 7, 2023, to see who would serve out the remainder of U.S. Rep. Lee’s term, and Democrat Abigail Salisbury prevailed.

But in five months, the seat will be up for grabs again in the state’s Primary Election, and another Black woman, Ashley Comans, vows to make it her seat.

“I spent a lot of my life living in Wilkinsburg,” said Jada Shirriel, who leads Healthy Start Pittsburgh. “I absolutely believe she (Comans) is the person that is need-

ed throughout this district. I see Ashley show up as a mother and a wife, that’s a full-time job, while also working full-time, while being in community, while being on the (Wilkinsburg) school board. Ashley is tenacious, small and mighty, I think she has friendly, thick skin, she can roll with the punches that can be needed, but still being focused on what’s important.”

Shirriel made the comments at Comans’ campaign announcement, Nov. 18, at Vickey’s Soul Grill, inside the Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg.

If Comans wins the Democratic Primary, she would be a virtual lock to become the Pittsburgh region’s latest African American woman to hold elected office in the state House. In addition to Congresswoman Lee, there’s newly-minted state Rep. Lindsay Powell (District 21) and Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (District 24).

Amanda Barber, a Wilkinsburg School Board Director (board members are referred SEE COMANS A4

ACLU files lawsuit against McKeesport, its police department, Allegheny County Black residents say police went way over the top during search for suspect

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

THE BAMILEKE PEOPLE residing in Pittsburgh hosted a grand reception to honor Foh Njitack Ngompe Pele, the esteemed king of the Bamileke kingdom of Bafoussam in Cameroon (left). Many area Black mayors were in attendance, including Aliquippa mayor Dwan Walker, right. For more photos, see Pages A6-7. (Photo by Gail Manker)

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The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that the ACLU of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas against the city of McKeesport, Allegheny County, and numerous named and unnamed police officers, regarding the violation of some McKeesport residents’ Fourth Amendment rights and the Pennsylvania Constitution during a police search for a shooting suspect in December of 2020, according to a statement from the ACLU. One of those residents is Courtney Thompkins, a Black woman who said during a news conference just steps from the McKeesport police station on Dec. 4 that officers bombarded her home, with her left to figure out why. She let them inside her home, but no one else was there.

She didn’t know that a suspect was on the loose, accused of shooting a police officer, but she said

it was still uncalled for— the police’s actions at her home, or stopping her partner’s vehicle before that.

“At no point did any police officer present Ms. Thompkins with a search warrant or an arrest warrant for Mr. Francis, nor did any officer articulate any basis for believing that Mr. Francis might be found in her home. In fact, (police officers) never said they were even looking for Mr. Francis,” read the lawsuit, obtained by the Courier.

Koby Francis was eventually arrested in West Virginia, nine days after he was accused of sliding down the handcuffs that were placed on him, accessing a gun, and shooting a McKeesport police officer just outside the police station on Dec. 20, 2020. Francis was in a police vehicle prior to the shooting, but apparently was not checked for any weapons. He then fled the scene and was on the run for nine days.

Some Black residents in

McKeesport then reported excessive harassment and a violation of their constitutional rights during the manhunt.

“The way the city of McKeesport and Allegheny County police officers treated Black residents in McKeesport in December of 2020 is unconscionable,” said Solomon Furious Worlds, staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, in a release. “Due process and the constitutional right to privacy were tossed aside by police during numerous unlawful searches, making many of McKeesport’s Black residents feel like they were being terrorized by a militarized police force. Police can’t use a shooting as an excuse to just pick and choose which elements of the Constitution they want to follow.”

Take Action Advocacy Group CEO Fawn Walker Montgomery told the Courier there were roughly 10 different police agencies scouring the small town SEE MCKEESPORT A3

NATIONAL

A2 DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

This Week In Black History

A Courier Staple • DECEMBER 6

Miss Black America Pageant returns to Atlantic City for 55th anniversary celebration

by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The Miss Black America Pageant is coming back to Atlantic City to celebrate its 55th anniversary. It will be held on the Boardwalk on Saturday, December 16th. The return to the city where the “Historic Protest Pageant of 1968” took place has generated considerable anticipation among many. As announced, a captivating parade and a series of exciting festivities are guaranteed as the prelude to the grand main event at the renowned Showboat Atlantic Hotel.

J. Morris Anderson, an individual who performed at the forefront of his time, established the Miss Black America Pageant, and made a lasting impact as the founder of the “American Institute of Positivity.” “The Seeds of Positivity,” the term “Positivity,” and the “Success Seekers Seminars” hosted by the institute are all works Anderson authored. His influence transcends the pageant, as does his vision, which surpasses the conventional.

Aleta Anderson, Morris’s daughter, stated that it’s critical to recognize the differences between the Miss Black America Pageant and a Black Miss America pageant.

“I’ve been working with this pageant since I was a little girl,” Anderson declared. “The thing that it originally was meant is still there, and it means so much more in that it provides an opportunity for the young women to participate.”

Established in 1968, the organization carved its path, boasting a syndicated television network to showcase Black women’s often-overlooked beauty, talent, and intelligence in mainstream pageants.

“Miss Black America was always a pageant of access,” Anderson told the Black Press. “It wasn’t a beauty pageant, but a story of Black beauty, and of confidence, and self-esteem. And it continues to be a part of our learning process as we now have all these platforms of exposure.”

Saundra Williams, a college student from Philadelphia, made history as the first Miss Black America. She used her platform to showcase an enchanting traditional African dance and to challenge the long-standing exclusion of Black women from the Miss America pageant. “Miss America does not represent us because there has never been a black girl in the pageant,” Williams once stated. In 1970, Cheryl Browne became the first Black Miss America contestant, and Vanessa Williams secured the historic title in 1983.

Over 50 distinguished women will compete for the Miss Black America title this year, joining the ranks of past champions such as Oprah Winfrey, Toni Braxton, Bern Nadette Stanis, and Nicole Hibbert. Anderson underscored the pageant’s lasting relevance as a symbol of hope for young women.

The pageant was originally created to celebrate Black beauty, confidence, and self-esteem. Now it has become a platform for challenging traditional

ideas of beauty and providing needed exposure.

Anderson emphasized the pageant’s diversity, which transcended social, economic, and educational limitations. She described the Miss Black America Pageant as a national and global event that has shaped American history since 1968.

“We have so many young women in the pageant and just because it’s the Miss Black America pageant doesn’t mean it isn’t diverse,” Anderson argued.

“The diversity exceeds socio-economic status, and our education because the way we are educated is different. Every woman who has participated is vested and becomes a lifelong participant and we have so many coming back to Atlantic City to pay homage.”

The first-ever senior Miss Black America will be crowned, Anderson believes, marking a historic event that will give the competition a new dimension. She promised to commemorate J. Morris Anderson’s devotion to Black women by keeping the pageant going forward as a legacy program.

“I want everyone to walk away with the feeling that anything is possible and that they have the support and a window of opportunity,” Anderson stated. “It doesn’t start in Atlantic City, it starts before. Getting there and showing up, being highly motivated, and having a feeling of going into this that they are now a part of something that provides an experience that elevates the rest of their lives.”

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1849—Harriet (Ross) Tubman escapes slavery in Maryland. But she becomes perhaps the greatest “conductor” on the Underground Rail Road returning to the South 19 times and helping an estimated 300 slaves escape. Despite a serious head injury received from an angry slave master when she refused to beat another slave, Tubman was one of Black America’s greatest examples of courage and determination. During the Civil War she also spied on the South and relayed the information to Northern generals.

1870—Joseph H. Rainey (1832-1887) is sworn in as the first Black to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He represented South Carolina—the state in which he was born a slave.

But his father—a barber—managed to raise the money to purchase his family’s freedom. Earlier this year, the portrait of Rainey was finally hung in the House of Representatives.

1949—Blues legend Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter dies. Ledbetter was born in 1885 near Mooringsport, La. But he had a quick temper and a violent streak. Thus, he stayed in trouble with the law. Indeed, his musical genius was discovered in jail by a visiting White folklorist. Upon release from prison, he moved north and became a sensation performing in the U.S. and Europe.

1961—Revolutionary psychiatrist and writer Frantz Fanon dies in Washington, D.C., where he had gone for medical treatment. In his writings, the Martinique-born Fanon explored the psychological aspects of racial oppression and Black liberation. His most famous works were “Black Skins, White Masks” and “Wretched of the Earth,” which was considered by many “the handbook for Black revolution.”

• DECEMBER 7

1931—Comer Cottrell is born. Cottrell founds the Pro-Line hair care products company. He also becomes the first Black to own part of a professional baseball team when he buys into the Texas Rangers in 1989.

1941—Dorie Miller shoots down three or four Japanese war planes during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Miller was a kitchen worker on the USS Arizona who had learned to operate the ship’s weapons. After his death he was awarded the Navy Cross.

• DECEMBER 8

1850—Lucy Ann Stanton graduates from Oberlin College in Ohio.

She is believed to be the first Black female college graduate in America.

1936—The Gibbs v. Board of Education in Montgomery County, Md., decision is rendered. It was the first of a series of court rulings, which eliminated the practice of paying White teachers more than Black teachers.

• DECEMBER 9

1872—P.B.S. Pinchback begins serving as the first Black governor of Louisiana. He served for a little more than a month. Pinchback, son of a White plantation owner and a former Macon, Ga., slave, was a major force in Louisiana politics after the civil war and during Reconstruction. He was also instrumental in the 1879 establishment of Southern University.

1875—Carter G. Woodson is born in New Canton, Va. In 1926, Woodson started the first Negro History Week which grew to become Black History Month.

• DECEMBER 10

1846—Norbert Rillieux invents the “multiple effect pan evaporator” which revolutionizes the sugar industry and makes the work much less hazardous for the workers. Rillieux was born “quadroon libre” in New Orleans, La. His father was a wealthy French plantation owner and his mother a former slave. He was sent to Paris, France, to be educated in engineering. He also researched Egyptian hieroglyphics.

There is no record that he ever returned to the U.S. after the 1850s.

He died in Paris in 1894.

1854—Edwin C. Berry is born in Oberlin, Ohio. In Athens, Ohio, he co-founds the City Restaurant and builds the Hotel Berry which was to become one of the most elegant hotels in the entire state. By the time he retired in 1921, he was one of the

most successful Black businessmen in America. He dies in 1931.

1950—Ralph Bunche becomes the first African American awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Bunch was born in Detroit, Mich. But his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then Los Angeles, Calif., where he showed academic genius and won a scholarship to Harvard.

His fame came when he worked out a temporary settlement between the Palestinians and the Jews after the state of Israel was established in 1948 on Palestinian lands. It was that work which won him the Nobel Peace Prize.

• DECEMBER 11

1917—Thirteen Black soldiers were hanged for their participation in the so-called Houston riot.

The “riot” had occurred in August of 1917 when Whites objected to the presence of Black soldiers in the city. Racist insults and mistreatment began. Then a Black soldier intervenes in the arrest of a Black woman. A Black corporal inquires with the police about the arrest of the soldier. A fight breaks out between the corporal and the police.

A rumor spreads that a White mob was marching on the Black camp.

Roughly 100 Black soldiers grabbed rifles and marched onto downtown Houston. Within two hours they had killed 15 Whites including four police officers. They returned to camp but military officials pressured seven soldiers to snitch on the others.

Their snitching resulted in the convictions and hangings of 13 Black soldiers.

1917—The Great Jazz Migration begins when noted musician Joe “King” Oliver leaves New Orleans, La., and settles in Chicago, Ill. He is soon joined by other early Jazz greats. Their presence in Chicago laid the foundation for the Southern Black music genre (with heavy sexual overtones) to become a national obsession. Actually, the “migration” may not have been quite so romantic. Instead of being forced by the closing of the New Orleans Storyville district, Jazz greats probably left New Orleans for Chicago for the same reason other Blacks left the South—failing crops forced the disappearance of jobs while Northern factories recruited Blacks for work to produce arms and other goods for World War I. Nevertheless, many historians view Oliver’s relocation to Chicago as the start of New Orleans Jazz migrating to the rest of the nation.

• DECEMBER 12

1911—Josh Gibson, legend of the Negro Baseball League, is born in Buena Vista, Ga. Standing 6’2” and weighing between 205 and 215, Gibson was a near perfect physical specimen who became the league’s home run king. He is credited with up to 932 home runs and a lifetime batting average of more than .350.

The only Negro League baseball player better known than Gibson was the great pitcher Satchel Paige.

The tremendous talent of the Negro League players was summed up by Washington Post sports writer Shirley Povich in a 1941 column, “The only thing keeping them out of the big leagues is the pigmentation of their skin.”

1941—Three-time Grammy winning singer Dionne Warwick is born on this day. She is a woman of many accomplishments including leading Hollywood’s anti-AIDS campaign and having her own skin care line.

Her career was tainted a bit by her latter day association with the socalled Psychic Friends Network.

1963—The east African nation of Kenya is proclaimed independent from colonial rule. The first president is the charismatic Jomo Kenyatta. Despite many of the same problems which beset most other African nations, Kenya has remained one of the most politically stable countries on the continent.

This is despite its beginnings which saw the brutal British repression of the Mau Mau movement–a secret insurgency of Kikuyu tribesmen, which had risen up to, drive out the White settlers.

METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 A3

ACLU files lawsuit against McKeesport, its police department, Allegheny County Black residents say police went way over the top during search for suspect MCKEESPORT FROM A1

of McKeesport agitating mostly Black residents during the manhunt with excessive searches, drawing guns, etc.

“This isn’t a separate event from what happens every day around here,” Montgomery told the Courier exclusively. “This is just another example of how White supremacy shows up in our small neighborhoods. I want people to understand that these are a pattern of events that have been going on for years in McKeesport. There’s a pattern of deep corruption, racism, sexism, all the isms you can think of going on in this city and I want people to wake the ___ up.”

The ACLU said the 44page lawsuit seeks to hold line officers and high ranking decision-makers within both the city of McKeesport and the Allegheny County police departments accountable for their unnecessary, unlawful, and unconstitutional actions by asking for compensatory damages and injunctive relief.

Montgomery’s organization, TAAG, has its own demands. It demands an independent investigation to be conducted into the officers’ behaviors; for McKeesport City Council to pass a data transparency ordinance, which would allow law enforcement data to be tracked by race, among other factors; for the McKeesport Police Department to voluntarily participate in the Allegheny County Police Review Board; and for a reduction of 10 percent or more in the McKeesport police budget. The funds can be reinvested into the community through a foundation grant program that is separate from the city of McKeesport. Montgomery said the foundation would

LAWSUIT FILED—SOLOMON FURIOUS WORLDS, STAFF ATTORNEY AT THE ACLU OF PENNSYLVANIA, TANISHA LONG WITH THE ABOLITIONIST LAW CENTER, MCKEESPORT RESIDENT COURTNEY THOMPKINS, TAKE ACTION ADVOCACY GROUP CEO FAWN WALKER MONTGOMERY.

be able to give out grants to community groups working on addressing violence, as well as provide scholarships to youth.

“An officer was shot, over 10 police departments show up in one community and they harass us for a week straight by just barging into people’s homes, searching people’s cars illegally, and Black people specifically,” voiced an angered Montgomery to the Courier after the press conference. “One cop was shot, and their response was to militarize an entire community for a week straight. There are families who would give their left arm to have that much assistance when one of their loved ones is shot.

We can’t get these cops to talk to each other when we (Black people) get shot, but one of them gets shot, it’s like hell has no fury. I feel like they were sending a message to us.”

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A4 DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Ashley Comans vows to represent House District 34, announces campaign run Could join Reps. Powell, Mayes as Black women from region in state House COMANS FROM A1

to as directors), told Comans’ supporters she has served on the board with Comans for about a year, and that “she’s an incredible advocate for everyone in this district.

From the teachers to the students, she has worked tirelessly to make sure that we are paying living wages in our districts to everybody that works with our children.

She builds coalitions with everybody on the board to make sure that the advocacy becomes policy.”

Comans is no stranger to the political game. In addition to her tenure on the Wilkinsburg School Board, she has expressed to the New Pittsburgh Courier numerous times about her intentions to run for state representative. She originally announced her desire to run for the House District 34 seat following Congresswoman Lee’s announcement that she would run for Congress nearly two years ago.

But as Lee was undergoing harsh attacks via television and radio ads to deter voters from voting for her in the 2022 Primary Election, Comans suspended her own campaign, as technically, Congresswoman Lee was still running to keep her 34th District House seat if she didn’t prevail in the congres-

ASHLEY COMANS, WITH SUPPORTERS. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO) chose Salisbury over Comans to be the Democratic candidate in the

the last Primary Election, they rejected her (Rep. Salisbury lost to

countable and having open communication with the constituents of this district.”

Comans has resided within the 34th District her entire life. She is a Woodland Hills High School graduate who said that “public service is a noble calling. When I decided to run for school board in 2017, I was motivated by my goal to send my daughter to the same school district where I began my early learning. Six years later, I am proud to say I am a parent of a Kelly Primary Pre-K student who is learning in a high-quali-

ty program.”

Comans said she’s dedicated to improving education for children in the community, and she’s particularly dedicated to improving Black maternal and infant health in the region.

“As a Black mom who works in my everyday job to strengthen maternal and child health, and working with elected officials to push legislation to sustain the longevity and other work that works to combat the trends, I know it’s possible that we can save the lives of our Black moms and birthing folks with

WILKINSBURG MAYOR DONTAE COMANS, WITH DAUGHTER, BELLAMY sional run. Ultimately, Congresswoman Lee prevailed over her Democratic challenger, Steve Irwin.

Thus, when it was time for Comans to slide into Congresswoman Lee’s House District 34 seat, a curve ball was thrown.

The Allegheny County Democratic Committee

Feb. 2023 special election.

But that was then, Comans said. This is now.

Representative Salisbury “was selected behind closed doors by a handful of committee voters,” Comans said at her Nov. 18 event. “When voters had a choice in

Congresswoman Lee in May 2022, but Congresswoman Lee resigned to join Congress). I’m running now to give people a choice, to give voters a chance to nominate a candidate chosen by the community. I am committed to being transparent, accessible, ac-

WOBBLELAND

ASHLEY COMANS

bold legislation that works for working families,” she said.

Comans’ husband is Dontae Comans, the mayor of Wilkinsburg.

“This is a special race for me and for her; this is basically Ashley’s homecoming,” Dontae Comans said to applause. “Raised in District 34...Woodland H i l l s. . . Wi l k i n s b u r g. . . this is her town, so it’s time for her to take over and move this district in the position it needs to be.”

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METRO

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Bamileke royalty welcomed with reverence and revelations

A GRAND CELEBRATION!

FOH NJITACK NGOMPE PELE, WITH MEMBERS OF SANKOFA VILLAGE FOR THE ARTS

In a resplendent celebration earlier this year, the Bamileke people residing in Pittsburgh hosted a grand reception Downtown to honor Foh Njitack Ngompe Péle, the esteemed king of the Bamileke kingdom of Bafoussam in Cameroon. The event, steeped in tradition and homage, embraced a momentous occasion where cultural heritage and unity took center stage. Amidst the vibrant festivities, the program proudly acknowledged not only the regal presence of King Péle but also two notable individuals: Noah

Schoen, hailed for his unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to the community, and Pittsburgher Gordon Manker, whose recent discovery of his Bamileke lineage through an AfricanAncestry.com DNA test stirred both curiosity and celebration.

The ceremony radiated with a palpable sense of reverence for the monarch and the rich heritage he embodies. King Péle’s presence became a conduit for unity, underscoring the significance of cultural ties and ancestral connections that

bind communities across continents. Additionally, the recognition bestowed upon Manker underscored the global resonance of the Bamileke culture, showcasing its ability to resonate deeply even among those who have recently discovered their roots. This jubilant affair not only honored royalty but also served as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of heritage and the unifying spirit it fosters within diverse communities worldwide.

DR. ELSA GAMWO, SECOND FROM RIGHT

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NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

GORDON MANKER, RIGHT, WITH FOH NJITACK NGOMPE PÉLE, FAR LEFT

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Pittsburgh Chapter of The Links Inc., celebrates 75 years of service to community

PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED, ALONG WITH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS.

Celebrating 75 years of service to the community, the Pittsburgh Chapter of The Links Incorporated, and The Links Foundation hosted a free Black Women’s Wellness Symposium on Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This free event featured local experts addressing the critical needs of Black women to promote physical, mental, and financial wellness.

Olympic medalist Jackie

Joyner-Kersee delivered the keynote address.

The event was held at the Foerster Student Service Center at CCAC. The symposium included breakout sessions, information tables, health screenings, and a panel on the State of Black Women’s Health in Pittsburgh.

As part of the symposium, 10 scholarships of $500 each were awarded to CCAC students.

“Service is a pillar of The Links Incorporated, and we understand that includes donating our time and resources to improve our communities. We are delighted to be able to give these scholarships to help deserving students continue their matriculation,” said Pittsburgh Chapter President Jamy Rankin, in a statement.

The Pittsburgh Links continued their diamond

anniversary celebration on Nov. 11, with a jazz brunch at the Rivers Club, Downtown, featuring the Tubby Daniels band.

Five additional scholarships of $1,000 each, named in honor of one the chapter’s founders, Daisy Lampkin, were also awarded.

“We are thrilled to celebrate 75 years of service in the Pittsburgh area.

Since 1948, our members

have enjoyed volunteering in community service projects, awarding scholarships to deserving students, and forging mentorships and partnerships with organizations like Dress for Success and Gwen’s Girls. We look forward to continuing to make a difference in our community,” Rankin said in a statement.

Sponsors of the symposium and brunch includ-

ed Highmark Health and First Steps, PNC, UPMC, The Irick Group, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

TRI-CHAIRS OF THE PITTSBURGH LINKS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION— LAILA BROCK, PEGGY HARRIS, STEFFANIE JASPER

AWARD RECIPIENT—ELIZABETH ANN HALEY, LEFT

RELIGION/METRO

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 A9

Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH 91 Crawford Street Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 11 AM

Rev. C. Matthew HawkinsAdministrator www.sbtmparishpgh.com

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Patrice Fowler-Searcy and Rev. Heather Schoenewolf Pastors 412-441-3800

Worship in person or Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church

PITTSBURGH CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED.

Summer Worship Sundays............10:00 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7:00 p.m.

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

AWARD RECIPIENT—MARGARET BURLEY, WITH PITTSBURGH CHAPTER PRESIDENT JAMY RANKIN.

AWARD RECIPIENT—DR. NANCY WASHINGTON, RIGHT

For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219 or email us: religion@newpittsburghcourier.com

1944 A GREAT MAN 2023 MR. JAMES ROBERT MORRIS NOVEMBER 16, 1944 - AUGUST 19, 2023

THE STATE OF BLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH IN PITTSBURGH WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. PICTURED ARE DR. RACHEL C. TONEY, DR. KATHRYN HARRIS AND FELICITY WILLIAMS.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST JACKIE-JOYNER KERSEE WITH LISA WASHINGTON

James Robert Morris, 78, of Homewood, passed away unexpectedly at Squirrel Hill Rehab, on Wightman Street, on August 19, 2023. Mr. Morris was born in Headland, Alabama, and was the son to the late Arthur Lee Jones and Bonnie Hollis. He attended Peabody High School, in East Liberty.

His uncle George Hollis taught him how to box and he became a golden gloves champion. After he met the love of his life, Irene Claytor-Morris (pictured far right), he became and independent contractor and gave back to the community by employing the youths from Homewood, East Liberty and Garfield to work for him so they could save for college or live a good life by learning a trade. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his wife Irene, son James “Jame Boy” Morris, His sister’s Betty Morris and Louise Morris.

He is survived by his children Lavel Claytor, Stormie Morris, Irene Marbury of Florida, John Morris of Maryland, Elijah Morris, Jerome Morris and Joshua Morris, thirty grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

His brother’s and sister’s Sergeant Donald Morris, Kenny Morris, Melvin Morris, Bernice Alfoxe, Barbara Pendleton.

Our take away is James and Irene Morris taught their children how to read from the Bible and that is a good start.

“And there appeared unto him (Zacharias) an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him (Angel Gabriel) he (Zacharias) was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, fear not Zacharias for your PRAYER IS HEARD, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John (John the Baptist). And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.”

REV. WALKER SAYS: KEEP PRAYING!!!

- Luke 1:11-14

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

'Honest Work' art exhibit showcases local Black artists

CHRISTINE BETHEA IN FRONT OF ONE OF HER PIECES. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)

Co-creators Amani Davis and Parus Nischal held their second “Honest Work” art exhibition, Nov. 4, Downtown. The orga-

nizers created the event because they felt not enough Black artists were getting the opportunity to be seen and sell their works.

CO-CREATOR OF HONEST WORK ART EXHIBIT AND EXPERIENCE IS PARUS NISCHAL

The event was sponsored by Nischal Sports Group and the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Pittsburgh.

AMANI DAVIS, ARTIST AND CO-CREATOR, HONEST WORK ART EXHIBIT AND EXPERIENCE, STANDING IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS PIECES

SAKONY BERTON IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS PIECES

DOMINICK MCDUFFIE IN FRONT OF ONE OF HIS PIECES

JAMEELAH PLATT IN FRONT OF ONE OF HER PIECES

CYNTHIA MARIE KENDERSON AKA “CYNT” IN FRONT OF ONE OF HER PIECES

EVANGE LINE MENSAH-AGYEKUM IN FRONT OF ONE OF HER PIECES

SHARRELL RUSHIN IN FRONT OF ONE OF HER PIECES

The tyranny of the threatened J. Pharoah Doss Page B4

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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A guide to saving money on minimum wage

by Finances FYI

Presented by JP Morgan Chase Living on minimum wage can be challenging, especially when trying to save money.

Yet, putting money aside for emergencies and large expenses is one of the most critical pieces of creating financial well-being. A few thousand dollars in savings can protect you from going into debt or other consequences, such as eviction, if a significant expected or unexpected expense comes your way.

Here are practical tips on how to live frugally and save money if you’re making minimum wage.

Create a Budget Understanding where your money is going is the first step towards saving money, regardless of your income. List all your monthly income sources and categorize your expenses into necessities (rent, utilities, groceries) and discretionary spending (entertainment, dining out). Prioritize your needs and allocate a specific amount to each category, including savings.

Identify Areas for Reducing Spending on Necessities You need to eat, pay your bills, have transportation, and have a place to live. However, if your current income doesn’t cover these expenses or leaves you with little money left for saving, it may be necessary to make cuts here.

Some ideas include: • Rent. Can you find a less expensive place to live, move in with a relative, or share rent with a roommate while building up your savings?

• Bills. Take a look at your bills for cost-saving opportunities. Turning your A/C up or heat down a few degrees can save money on your utility bills. Switching wireless plans may also lower your bills.

• Groceries. This is often an area where we can cut spending costs. Some tips to save in this area include making a meal plan, only shopping from your list, shopping at lower-priced stores, buying generic brands, utilizing coupons and sales, and avoiding waste.

• Transportation. Consider using public transportation if available instead of owning a car. Car ownership has many expenses like gas, insurance, maintenance, and monthly payments. You can significantly reduce your transportation costs by using public transportation or carpooling.

Cut Unnecessary Expenses Look closely at your discretionary spending and identify areas to cut back. Try skipping that daily coffee shop visit, cooking at home more often, or canceling unused subscriptions. It is challenging to maintain a budget with no room for fun spending. Practice making wise and conscious choices that prioritize saving and the activities that mean the most to you.

Set Realistic Savings Goals Setting achievable savings goals is crucial, especially with a limited income. Start small by saving a fixed percentage of your income, say 5 percent, and gradually increase it as your financial situation improves. Having a visual tracker can keep you motivated to stay on track.

• Part-Time Jobs. Taking on a part-time job such as retail, food service, cleaning, or providing childcare or pet sitting in addition to your full-time job is a straightforward way to earn extra income.

• Freelancing. Use skills like writing, graphic design, web development, social media management, or consulting to provide services as a freelancer to people you know SEE SAVING MONEY B2

The IRS announces changes to taxes; here’s what you need to know

by Bria Overs

ets In addition to tax Tax brackets are the ranges of income The Internal Revenue Service anthat are subject to a specific tax rate. nounced the annual inflation adjustto Investopedia, this system they According ments for over 60 tax provisions earlier adjustments, is progressive and “increases as an inthis month, including changes to standividual’s income grows. Low incomes dard tax deductions, income tax brack- also announced in- fall into tax brackets with relativeets, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. ly low income tax rates, while higher In addition to tax adjustments, they creased earnings fall into brackets with higher contribualso announced increased contribution rates.” limits for most retirement plans. These The new rates for the 2024 are: changes will start in 2024 and apply to tion limits for most • 10 percent for income up to $11,600 the 2025 filing year. or less (or $23,200 for married couples The inflation adjustment prevents retirement plans. jointly filing) Americans from dealing with higher • 12 percent for payment over $11,600 taxes on their “inflation-adjusted in($23,200 for joint filers) These changes will comes” because “average real incomes • 22 percent for income over $47,150 aren’t rising, they’re falling,” according ($94,300 for joint filers) to Robert McClelland, senior fellow at start in 2024 and ap• 24 percent for income over $100,525 the Tax Policy Center. ($201,050 for joint filers) “The marginal tax rates, or the ply to the 2025 filing • 32 percent for income over $191,950 thresholds above which you move into ($383,900 for joint filers) the next marginal tax bracket, are • 35 percent for income over $243,725 pretty similar [to previous years,” John year. ($487,450 for joint filers)

Anderson, a certified financial planner with Equitable Advisors, tells Word In Black. “It’s not like when we had the larger changes from the Trump tax cuts and the Bush tax cuts in the early 2000s.”

Here is a breakdown of the shifts expected to start in the new year.

Changes to Standard Deductions For single filers and married couples filing separately, the standard deduction is rising to $14,600 for 2024, an increase of $750 from 2023. Similar-

ly, married joint filers are going up to $29,200, an increase of $1,500, and $21,900 for heads of households, an increase of $1,100.

Standard deductions are a portion of income that is not taxable and can be used to reduce tax bills during filing season. The amount is based on filing status, age, and other factors. The standard amount is adjusted each year for inflation.

Changes to the Income Tax Brack-

• 37 percent for income over $609,350 ($731,200 for joint filers) Here is what they were for this year: • 10 percent for income up to $11,000 or less (or $22,000 for married couples jointly filing) • 12 percent for income over $11,000 ($23,200 for joint filers) • 22 percent for income over $47,150 ($94,300 for joint filers) SEE IRS B2

They’re out to get YOU! There’s an expression spoken in Latin; “Caveat Emptor.” In English, it means “Let the Buyer Beware.” In other words, the buyer is responsible for ensuring the goods and services are of good quality and suitable before purchasing. We, the buyer, must reasonably examine property before we buy it. We, the buyer, are responsible for its condition. In the automotive industry, you’ll see cars being sold “as is.” Cars that are sold “as is” come with no warranty, no protection. We, the buyer, are responsible should the car be a piece of junk.

I want you, the potential buyer, to beware that “They’re out to get YOU!” Who are “they?” That’s an excellent question!

In this article, “they” are the marketing geniuses of the world. From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep, they will impress upon you and me millions upon millions of marketing messages with one goal in mind! Their goal is to EXTRACT MONEY from your pocket to theirs! They’re winning! Can you hear me now?

Those words “Can you hear me now” was just an expression we’d use in the past when someone was having trouble hearing us. It was a tagline created by Verizon in its advertising and marketing back in 2002. Those ads ran for 9 years. They ended in 2011. It is now 2021. It’s been 10 years since the last ad ran. Yet, when you hear those words today, you can’t help but think of Verizon. When marketing and ad-

vertising has the ability to etch something into our minds, make it a cultural thing or influence the narrative of the day—that’s freaking genius. When I was a kid, there was a popular commercial...“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun.” People my age or older are now signing that jingle after being reminded of it. Trust me.

They know the song word for word. For those of you who are too young to remember, that was a McDonald’s jingle back in the mid ‘70s and early ‘80s. We used to sing that jingle like it was a song. We scream to our parents that we wanted McDonald’s. We ate plenty of McDonald’s back then. This is why today, McDonald’s is sitting on piles of cash and “Loving it!”

I solicited the help of Tracy McDonough who is an adjunct professor at CCAC North. She teaches marketing and public relations. This is one of a couple of articles that we will collaborate on. On the subject of marketing, Tracy had this to say: “Marketers still have much in common with the snake oil salesmen of previous generations. Salespeople and promoters are still very willing to use tricks and gimmicks to get otherwise smart, savvy

consumers to part with their money— gleefully part with it even. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the rush of a new purchase?

Marketers grow this enjoyment by making us feel like not only did we just grab the newest and greatest hot item, but we got a deal in the process. WRONG! Consumers rarely (read, never) come out on top. Here’s why. Retail markups range from 100-2,500 percent depending on the product category.

Think about that. Lowest markups are in grocery stores and new cars. Highest markups are jewelry, prescriptions, and eyeglasses. I recommend the site wisebread.com to look up specific categories. For instance, a sweater at Macy’s is priced at $60. Clothing is marked up 100-350 percent.

High-end stores and brands have higher markups. So, if Macy’s marked up the sweater by 200 percent, then it started at $20. This means 50 percent off is still costing you $10 more than the actual worth.

But psychologically consumers leave the store joyfully because they “think” they got a DEAL. Deals are never gotten during peak shopping seasons like Christmas. Many retailers mark up even higher right after Halloween, so they can “offer” buyers even bigger so-called deals.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Um…. no!! Remember these are merely polished pieces of carbon that dinosaurs once pooped on. But because a few suppliers control inventory, and Zales has convinced us that diamonds are forever, they have become desirable items with extreme markups (250-1,000 percent). In reality, diamonds aren’t even rare. It’s just that DeBeers controls the supply.

Marketers also appeal to you with tricks like music, colors, and cute characters to stir you to buy emotionally. Malls are set up to sway your emotions from entry to exit. Music overhead, beckoning signs with words like hot, value, clearance, etc.

They offer lights and colors to heighten your excitement. Buyers are lured to make purchases to extend that feeling at home.

Marketers also appeal to other emotions like feeling safe and secure, your self-esteem and feelings of love and acceptance.”

Damon here: Thanks, Tracy, for chiming in! Like I said, buyer beware! They’re out to get you! Don’t take my word for it.

Tracy’s the marketing professor. As you can see from what she had to say, when it comes to crafting up marketing material, advertising campaigns and jingles—they have a plan to entice you to spend, spend, spend. Then spend some more. Capital SEE DAMON CARR B2

BUSINESS

B2 DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

Executive Leadership Council appoints Earl Granger III as Chief Development and Impact Officer The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) announced the appointment of Earl Granger III as Chief Development and Impact Officer, effective November 15, 2023. The ELC is the preeminent global membership organization for Black current and former CEOs, senior executives and board members of For-

EARL GRANGER III

tune 1000 and equivalent companies, top-tier entrepreneurs and global thought leaders.

The organization advocates for advancing Black leadership by increasing the number of Black corporate CEOs, C-Suite executives and board members, and building the pipeline of the next generation of Black corporate leaders.

Mr. Granger will report directly to the CEO and will lead the design and implementation of fundraising strategies, development communication, and community relations activities, to identify, cultivate, and steward new and existing funding sources and partnerships.

“We are pleased to welcome Earl as our first development and impact officer. His talent, energy and expertise will contribute greatly to The ELC’s future growth and continued positive influence in and

on corporate America,” said Michael C. Hyter, president and CEO of The ELC. Mr. Granger will serve as a member of the executive leadership team, working synergistically to review, revise, and implement The ELC’s development and external relations programs.

“I look forward to joining The ELC and forging new channels for funding and expanding the impact of this great organization. We have an impressive value proposition and I am excited about the possibilities to explore new horizons and expand our reach into and ultimately beyond the communities we currently serve,” said Mr. Granger.

Mr. Granger led fundraising efforts at the world’s largest living history museum in Williamsburg, VA. Within a three-year period, he led the organization to three record-breaking fundraising years, including the organization’s first $100 million year. At the museum, he secured transformational levels of funding for a variety of projects, including initiatives that support a more inclusive American story.

Prior to that leadership role, he served as the associate vice president of development for a decade at his alma mater, William & Mary, where he was part of the leadership team that successfully completed a $1 billion fundraising campaign, with the largest priority focused on scholarships.

Mr. Granger received both his bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in education from William & Mary.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The IRS announces changes to taxes IRS FROM B1

• 24 percent for income over $100,525 ($201,050 for joint filers) • 32 percent for income over $191,950 ($383,900 for joint filers) • 35 percent for income over $243,725 ($487,450 for joint filers) • 37 percent for income over $609,350 ($731,200 for joint filers) For example, the median household income for Black Americans in 2022 was $53,860. If used as taxable income, under the new rates, a single filer would be taxed at 10 percent for the first $11,600, and the remaining $42,260 would be taxed at 12 percent.

Changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit for low-income qualifying filers to lower the tax owed. Most who are eligible must file a tax return even if they do not owe any taxes or usually would not be required to file.

For 2023, the limits are: • $600 for filers with no dependents • $3,995 for one dependent • $6,604 for two dependents • $7,430 for three depen-

dents The new credit limits are: • $632 for filers with no dependents • $4,213 for one dependent • $6,960 for two dependents •$7,830 for three dependents Changes to Retirement Contributions Starting in 2024, Americans can contribute up to $23,000 a year into their 401(k) plans, which is

$500 more than in 2023.

This increase applies to 403(b), most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal government employees.

Catch-up contributions to retirement plans for workers 50 and older will not change in the new year and remain at $7,500 for 2024—retirement contributions for the age group max at $30,500.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have new increases as well. The lim-

it for 2024 will be $7,000, up from $6,500.

Anderson says people need to think about how they want to deal with retirement in the future.

“The problem is we don’t have a crystal ball to know what the tax code will look like in the future,” he adds. “When I look at the tax brackets right now, quite frankly, we’re in one of the lowest income tax environments, and that may not always be the case.”

At home or on the go: Social Security is online

by Josh Grant

For New Pittsburgh Courier When you retire, if you become disabled, or if someone you depend on dies—we are there when you need us. With your personal and secure my Social Security account, you can access your information, benefits, and important services from just about anywhere. Having a personal my Social Security account allows you to: • Compare future

benefit estimates for different dates or ages when you may want to begin receiving benefits.

• Check the status of your benefits application or appeal.

• Review your earnings history.

• Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states).

If you already receive benefits, you can also: • Get a benefit verification or proof of income letter.

• Set up or change

your direct deposit.

• Change your address.

• Get a Social Security 1099 form (SSA1099).

You can even use your personal my Social Security account to opt out of receiving certain notices by mail, including the annual costof-living adjustments notice and the income-related monthly adjustment amount notice. These notices are available in your Message Center when you sign into your account.

We will email you when you have a new message, so you never miss an important update.

It’s easy to sign up for a my Social Security account. Please let your friends and family know that they can create their own my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

(Josh Grant is Social Security District Manager in Pittsburgh.)

A guide to saving money on minimum wage SAVING MONEY FROM B1

or through platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.

• Gig Economy. Offer services like ridesharing (Uber, Lyft) or food delivery (Uber Eats, DoorDash).

• Sell Unused Items. Sell items you no longer need on platforms like eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or through garage sales.

• Rent Out Your Property, Car, or Assets. Consider renting a room in your home as a short or longterm rental. Platforms like Turo allow you to rent out your car, while others like Fat Llama let you rent out equipment, electronics, or other assets.

Saving money while making minimum wage can be challenging, but staying focused and patient is essential. With small, consistent efforts, you can build a safety net over time and create financial stability for the long term.

(Finances FYI is presented

by JP Morgan.)

They’re out to get YOU! DAMON CARR FROM B1

One is perhaps one of the more blunt advertising campaigns. They flat out ask you, “What’s in your wallet?”

There’s nothing inherently wrong with buying stuff. We simply have to be on the defense and protect our hard-earned dollars!

We have to beware that we have to make some of these hard-earned dollars work for us. We have to preserve some of our dollars by not spending it all —but saving some of it to build and create an asset base that we can be proud of. We don’t want to just be a collector of stuff that has no intrinsic value. Stuff

we purchased because we were influenced by marketing. Even if you bought the stuff because a friend or family member told you, it’s called word-of-mouth advertisement. They were sold first.

“Caveat Emptor:” When you, the buyer, ensures that you’re always putting your best interest forward —no marketing campaign can sell you short!

(Damon Carr, Money Coach can be reached @ 412-216-1013 or visit his website @ www.damonmoneycoach.com)

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Guest Editorial Start working toward your New Year’s resolutions before wrapping 2023 With a little more than a month left in 2023, you might already be thinking about how you’d like to improve your life in 2024.

Do you have health or weight management goals? Maybe you’re hoping to budget better in the new year? Or perhaps you’re working to learn a new skill.

Whatever your 2024 goals may be, it’s best to begin working toward them as you wrap 2023, for a number of reasons.

First, your 2024 resolutions might require items or events that you need to begin financially preparing for now.

For instance, are you trying to become more physically fit, but don’t have access to exercise equipment? If so, you might need to budget for joining a gym, and remember a lot of fitness facilities have holiday and year-end deals, so begin that research now. If you’re not comfortable working out around others, invest in home exercise equipment such as weights, dumbbells, a yoga mat, or machines like a stationary bike or treadmill.

Or, do you want to take that dream vacation next year? Start looking up prices for your trip now and determine how you’ll need to budget to take that vacation.

In addition, starting a new routine in hopes that it becomes a habit takes time. According to James Clear, an expert on forming habits, on average it takes a bit more than two months—or about 66 days—before a new behavior becomes automatic. Further, depending on individuals and their goals, adjusting to a new habit can take shorter or longer than the projected two months. For that reason, it’s important to give yourself time before 2024 begins to start working on your new routine.

Finally, starting your new year’s resolution a month in advance will allow you to truly evaluate your goals for 2024. You’ll be able to examine if your resolutions are realistic or if they need some fine-tuning before the official start of the new year.

Imagine being in full swing, or close to it, by the time January 2024 rolls around. While everyone else is just starting their goals, you would have had a month of hard work, determination and planning under your belt. So, don’t wait until New Year’s Eve or Jan 1 to consider how you want to improve in 2024. Begin the road to your resolutions today.

(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm Office Manager

Rob Taylor Jr. Managing Editor

John. H. Sengstacke

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

Ashley Johnson Sales Director

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

B3

The buoyancy of hope (TriceEdneyWire.com)—It’s a good thing in many ways that we Americans tend to believe in hope, but if you are truly listening to the Republican leader who is trying to get back into the White House, there is no doubt that he is getting more air time than the law should allow. As I talk with friends, many tell me they have to turn off their televisions during the day because of all the negative messages glaring at them.

The Hamas-Israel War is one event taking up so much time and is offering so much pain on all sides. It’s very concerning that so many people could die with the end of the tragedy being nowhere in sight. Nobody I know started this tragedy, but we’ve been forced to suffer from what we hear on the news in a play-by-play repeat that seems to force all of us to have a front-row seat at the tragedy where we are a part of the tragedy. You can’t help but feel the pain on all sides—yet feel helpless to do anything about it.

When it’s not Hamas and Israel, we’re fed the Republican clown show in Congress where its leaders seem to care nothing about those for whom they were elected to serve. They care more about the one-ups-man-ship game they’ve been playing for many months now. Their biggest concern seems to be how to hurt President Joe Biden and his family which leaves no time to do anything that

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary helps our people in need of basic help.

I’ve visited Israel and Gaza three times. I’ve had friends in both places. My heart bleeds for what happened in Israel on October 7th. Since that day, whatever blood I have left, also flows for the people of Gaza. At the risk of being criticized by one side of the tragedy or the other, it’s painful to see Progressive friends being called Antisemitic just because they can’t agree with Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to innocent Palestinians who had nothing to do with what happened October 7th. Jewish people and several of their organizations in America have been there for Black people during the Civil Rights Movement—and we’ve applauded and thanked them. As well, some have been there to hurt us—but we haven’t blamed all of them for their acts. My heart breaks to see so many Black candidates already being targeted for defeat just as I once was without cause.

I hear the concern about Antisemitism around the world. I am equally con-

cerned about Racism and other hatefilled treatment. When this Hamas-Israel War is over, we need to go to the table with the goal of ridding our country of Antisemitism, Racism, Islamophobia, and Anti-Arab Racism. All are troublesome. They make no sense. We’ve worked together before and we can do it again. We also can’t do it without friends who experience hatred, too.

Right now, we’re facing the potential of having to deal with authoritarianism in America, and our energy should be focused on resolving problems to protect our democracy.

There’s no joke about having rights our people have worked long and hard for being taken away. We’ve been warned if we elect someone who has already promised to come down hard on the media, to punish those who disagree with him and people who’ve not supported him in his hate-filled campaign.

In our community, no matter how we’ve been treated, we’ve always held onto that upward force of buoyancy.

That’s what we are holding onto now— HOPE that we can solve the problems dividing us. The buoyancy of hope is what brought my people through some very hard times.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is President Emerita of The National Congress of Black Women and current President of The Dick Gregory Society.)

Give a child a book for Christmas (TriceEdneyWire.com)—They don’t call it “Black Friday” because they love Black people; they call it Black Friday because many businesses are pushed into the black (from the red ink of losses to the black ink of profits) on that day or into the holiday season. In just the three days from Black Friday until Sunday, November 26, online sales jumped by more than seven percent, according to one of the credit card companies that tracks spending from credit receipts.

Even with economic anxiety, people are spending money.

If your email inbox is anything like mine, you are barraged with ads and promotions offering 25, 50, and even 75 percent off. These retailers aren’t giving anything away for free. A 75 percent offer means they had marked the product up by three times what it cost them to produce it to get their retail price. The original tag may have said $99.99. Trust and believe that the item didn’t cost more than $25 to produce unless it has been sitting on the shelf for so long that it is cheaper to mark the item down than to use shelf space for something else.

Books are the same way. Booksellers mark books down when they need to make room for new inventory. But there is a big difference between giving someone a jacket and giving them a book, especially if the book is a gift for a young person. Too many children don’t have books or access to them, and the gift of a book can transform a child’s life. You can open a world for a youngster with a book that shows her other countries and offers him different ways of thinking (thus the scientific fiction genre and Afrofuturism

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary many young Black folks are getting into). Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, founder of the African American Children’s Book Fair, which will be held in Philadelphia on February 3, 2024 (https://theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org/) ends her voicemail message with “buy a book” because she is passionate about the power that literacy has to enhance a young life. So, if you are playing Santa Claus laden with gifts, make sure at least one is a book. And if your funds aren’t challenged, bring at least one book to your cherished child and gift another child or two with a book.

COVID-19 and the ease and speed of online ordering have challenged the vitality of independent Black bookstores.

But Mahogany Books, founded in 2007 as an online platform (www.mahagonybooks.com), now has two brick-and-mortar locations and thrives. In Oakland, California, Marcus Books, the first Black bookstore west of the Mississippi River, continues to thrive despite challenges.

One recent list of independent Blackowned bookstores counts 89 (https:// www.cntraveler.com/story/black-ownedbookstores) suggests patronizing them in person or online.

Independent Black-owned bookstores are now more critical than ever. As of this April, twenty-eight states have

passed laws preventing teaching “critical race theory” (https://www.statista. com/chart/29757/anti-critical-race-theory-measures/), which can sometimes be broadly construed to include the simple teaching of African American history.

Several initiatives have been introduced, with some implementing and regulating teaching, library content, and more. One disgruntled racist parent can cause a book to be removed from a library or banned from a syllabus. The American Library Association keeps track of the more than 1600 books that were challenged in 2022, with the thirteen most frequently challenged including Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye (https:// www.statista.com/chart/29757/anti-critical-race-theory-measures/). Rabid parents want to keep these books out of the curriculum and ban them from libraries. That’s why every home needs a library, and every child needs to have their own books.

The culture wars are here, and with the 2024 election, they will likely start sizzling. There’s a big battle that groups like the American Library Association, the National Education Association, and other organizations, including civil rights organizations like the National Urban League, are taking on through the Freedom to Learn Campaign (www. freedomtolearn.net). This cause is good trouble! At the same time, we can provide education child by child. Buy a child a book for Christmas! Talk to her about it. Give a book to a child you don’t know.

Give a book, give a book, give a book.

(Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and educator.)

Former GOP rep calls Trump ‘The most dangerous’ president ever Donald Trump is “the most dangerous man ever to inhabit the Oval Office,” and a large swath of Republicans have proven that they’re nothing more than enablers and collaborators willing to “violate their oath to the Constitution out of political expediency and loyalty” to the twice-impeached former president. That scathing assessment, first reported by CNN, came from former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, who has penned “Oath and Honor,” a detailed exposé about Trump’s four years in the White House and how many of her colleagues cowered to the whims of an out-of-control wannabe dictator.

Cheney appeared to have left no stone unturned in the memoir that hits shelves on Dec. 5, including her takedown of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his successor, Mike Johnson. Of McCarthy, Cheney said he knew Trump lost the 2020 election to President Biden but went along with Trump’s lies. She referred to Johnson as a fanboy who “appeared especially susceptible to flattery from Trump and aspired to being anywhere in Trump’s orbit.” Trump currently faces 91 felony counts in four jurisdictions; much of the charges stem from his alleged attempt to steal the 2020 election. Earlier this year, a civil jury found him responsible for sexually assaulting the writer, E. Jean Carroll. Trump was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million in damages.

Despite four indictments, his loss in the sexual assault civil trial, and his promise of retribution against his political enemies, Trump is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Several polls also show him leading Biden in the general election.

“As a nation, we can endure damaging policies for a four-year term,” Cheney declared. “But we cannot survive a president willing to terminate our Constitution.” Cheney’s 384-page “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning” is already the top-selling book on Amazon. com. In one passage, Trump is referred

Stacy M. Brown

Commentary to as “Orange Jesus,” a term regularly used by Black Press journalist Barrington Salmon to deride the former president. Using text messages, emails, calls, and meetings, as well as personal conversations, Cheney rails against her GOP colleagues and reams them for being complicit in threats against democracy.

“So strong is the lure of power that men and women who had once seemed reasonable and responsible were suddenly willing to violate their oath to the Constitution out of political expediency and loyalty to Donald Trump,” Cheney writes in the book, which hits shelves on Dec. 5. Cheney unveils a hitherto undisclosed conversation with McCarthy, happening a mere 48 hours after the ballots were cast, where McCarthy spilled the beans that he had a tête-àtête with Trump. According to the book, McCarthy spilled, “He knows it’s over…

He needs to go through all the stages of grief.” Cheney dryly muses that, in Trump’s world, those stages appear to involve “tweeting in all caps.” When McCarthy declared on Fox News that “President Trump won this election,” Cheney notes, “McCarthy knew that what he was saying was not true.” The book further uncovers how other Republicans, like House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, brushed aside legal processes in a GOP conference call, with Jordan underscoring, “The only thing that matters is winning.”

Cheney also took shots at Johnson, narrating how he pressed Republicans to back an amicus brief challenging the election result. Despite highlighting

flaws in the legal arguments, Johnson reportedly insisted, “We just need to do this one last thing for Trump.” Before Trump’s followers stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Cheney described a scene in the GOP cloakroom where members signed electoral vote objection sheets, acknowledging that most were aware it was a “farce” and merely a symbolic gesture of allegiance to Trump.

Republican Congressman Mark Green reportedly quipped, “The things we do for the Orange Jesus.” Cheney accuses McCarthy of repeated falsehoods and a “craven” embrace of Trump, detailing his post-Jan. 6 visit to Mar-a-Lago. McCarthy claimed Trump’s staff summoned him, citing concerns about Trump’s well-being. Cheney incredulously responded, “You went to Mar-aLago because Trump’s not eating?

Cheney revealed her unintentional inclusion in a White House surrogate call on Jan. 4, where Trump allies mapped out plans to overturn the election through Pence. She left with a “terrible feeling,” unsure if Pence would withstand the pressure, disclosing that Paul Ryan also harbored doubts. Despite warnings from her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, about her safety on Jan. 6, Cheney remained unwavering. She voted for impeachment on Jan. 13, receiving private support from former President George W. Bush, who hailed her courage. Cheney’s critique extends to Senate Republicans and right-wing media, detailing conversations with McConnell. Initially supportive of impeachment, McConnell made a U-turn, mistakenly believing Trump would fade away. Cheney criticized right-wing media and mentioned her unsuccessful effort to convince Ryan to support a debunking show on Fox News addressing election lies. Instead, she claims Fox allowed Tucker Carlson to disseminate “intentional disinformation” about Jan. 6.

(Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)

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Overcoming the oil and gas industry’s influence at COP28 (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

Those of us with history in the civil rights movement know that taking on entrenched power and changing the status quo requires dogged tenacity and seizing key moments to break down barriers.

The United Nations COP28 summit going on right now in Dubai could be one of those key moments for tackling the climate crisis. To ensure we truly create a better world for us all, we must include the participation of every country.

The biggest obstacle we face is the entrenched power and stubborn influence of the fossil fuel industry—the very cause of the greenhouse gas emissions which are driving global warming.

The industry has had a stranglehold on international climate talks and, this year, is showing up to the conference in greater force than perhaps ever before.

Hundreds of oil and gas industry lobbyists usually descend on the COP conferences. This year, by some unofficial estimates from reporters and watchdog groups, it looks like the number of lobbyists and industry representatives could be more than double what it was at last year’s COP27 in Egypt.

The purpose of the UN climate summit is to assess and improve global efforts to curb global warming. The only way to do that is by drastically reducing emissions—far more than we’re already doing—and that means completely phasing out all fossil fuels.

Two reports released late last month, one by the UN and one by the Rhodium Group consulting firm, reached the same conclusion: the most likely projected temperature increase by the end of this century will be about 3 degrees Celsius based on current trends. Scientists say that any increase over 2 degrees would be catastrophic. And the current trajectory puts us well above the 1.5-degree Celsius target established by the landmark Paris Agreement from COP21 in 2015.

Added to the backdrop of these international negotiations is that this is the hottest year on record, with resulting floods, fires, superstorms, and other extreme weather events impacting humanity in increasingly undeniable ways.

Ben Jealous

Commentary With the urgency so crystal clear, there’s no way that the industry driving the climate crisis should be empowered to the degree it is to protect its own profits at the expense of our planet. By allowing oil and gas companies to have so much power and influence in climate talks, we’re pulling our punches against the greatest existential threat faced by humanity, all to spare those companies a threat to their bottom line.

Of course, plenty of controversy has swirled around the leadup to this year’s COP summit.

There’s been no shortage of newspaper ink, and website pixels, dedicated to commentary about the host country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), being a nation built on oil. UAE is part of OPEC—which has played a significant role in obstructing progress in past climate negotiations—and has an oil and gas company which is one of the largest in the world, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC. And the CEO of ADNOC, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, is serving as president of this year’s summit.

Having an oil baron at the helm of the world’s most important event focused on curtailing greenhouse gas emissions is an irony that’s been hard to swallow for many. At the organization I lead, Sierra Club, we decided to send a delegation to COP28 anyway, in the spirit of hope and determination, as this is a cause too great and too important to be deterred from our efforts—no matter how many foxes are let into the henhouse.

A larger concern of mine has been the voting rules. UN climate talks require all parties involved (in this case, 197 countries plus the European Union) to be unanimous on the adoption of any agreement. On its face, the requirement for consensus agreement is a way to add greater legitimacy to the conference’s outcomes and ensure that Global South countries, and those most drastically impacted by the climate crisis, have an equal say. However, it also means that a single oil- and gas-rich country, or a small group of them, has veto power over any agreement. It’s a structural weakness of these summits that has been exploited for decades by oil- and gas-rich nations (including the United States) to impede progress.

Just think about how much power that gives an industry that spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year in lobbying? Even if every government on the planet was in basic agreement on some new framework or commitment, fossil fuel companies would only need to convince— or co-opt—the leaders of a single nation to have a game-ending proxy vote.

It’s no surprise that the fossil fuel industry is focused on securing its own future and increasing its wealth. However, that focus is completely at odds with the entire purpose of climate talks like COP28, which is supposed to be the health and wellbeing of humanity, and protecting our fragile planet. To have oil and gas interests influencing global climate talks undermines the whole endeavor.

For now, we maintain hope that the gravity of the crisis drives the 197 participating countries to agree on robust, meaningful action. If that doesn’t happen, we need to turn our focus to overhauling the rules for future climate talks so fossil fuel companies, or the countries they influence, can’t continue to sabotage the global effort.

(Ben Jealous is executive director of the Sierra Club.)

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The tyranny of the threatened Monnica T. Williams, a University of Ottawa professor, published an article in Psychology Today titled Colorblind Ideology Is a Form of Racism in 2012.

Williams argued that colorblindness tries to put into practice MLK’s famous dictum that we should judge individuals by their character rather than their skin color. This sounds good, but colorblindness is not sufficient to heal racial wounds. Colorblindness allows White people to disregard racism. It also ignores people of color’s negative experiences, rejects their racial heritage, and invalidates their individuality by refusing to see their color.

In 2014, Mellody Hobson, an investment specialist, gave a TED Talk titled Colorblind or Color Brave. (TED Talks are brief lectures on a variety of topics.)

According to Hobson, Americans need to have a serious discourse about racial inequality. To do so, Americans can’t be colorblind; they have to be color brave.

The problem here is that Williams and Hobson condemned a literal version of colorblindness, which supporters of the true “colorblind principle” have never advocated.

The “colorblind principle” was first articulated by Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan in his 1896 dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson, which legalized racial segregation. Harlan contended that the United States Constitution is “colorblind.” Skin color or race are not legitimate grounds to make political or legal distinctions among citizens because that violates the principle of equal protection under the law.

Clearly, Harlan employs the phrase “colorblind” metaphorically, implying that the law or social policy should regard persons as citizens rather than members of racial groups. MLK’s famous dictum echoes Harlan because MLK was dealing with the consequences of the Plessy decision.

The “colorblind principle” never imagined a society where racial or ethnic heritage would be disregarded or erased.

However, another Supreme Court Justice’s argument led to the rejection of the “colorblind principle.” In the 1976 Bakke v. California ruling, which upheld

J. Pharoah Doss

Check It Out affirmative action, Justice Harry A. Blackmun stated, “In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. And in order to treat some persons equally, we must first treat some people differently.”

Affirmative action supporters recognized that the “Blackmun principle” rejected Harlan’s idea that the constitution should be colorblind and allowed for social policy that offers preferential treatment to victims of past and present discrimination. Therefore, affirmative action supporters sought to delegitimize “colorblindness” because the “colorblind principle” threatened the constitutionality of affirmative action, as preferential treatment relied on considering “race.”

This was accomplished by using the term “colorblind” literally, asserting that the “colorblind principle” failed to see diverse cultural backgrounds and was ineffective in addressing the consequences of historical discrimination.

For more than a quarter century, literal “colorblindness” has been the dominant perspective. That is why it was mentioned in a TED talk in 2014. In April 2023, two months before the Supreme Court repealed affirmative action, Coleman Hughes, a podcaster and writer whose future book is about colorblindness, delivered a TED Talk. Hughes decided to defend the “colorblind principle,” or, in his words, the idea that we should treat people without regard to race, both in our personal lives and in public policy.

Hughes stated, “The majority of Americans believe that color-blind policies are the right approach to governing a racially diverse society. We live in a strange moment in which many of our elite believe

color blindness is a Trojan horse for White supremacy. Taking that viewpoint seriously—while ultimately refuting it— was the express purpose of my talk.”

This was perfect timing. The public expected the conservative Supreme Court to overturn affirmative action soon, and since TED had already presented the dangers of literal “colorblindness,” it was time for TED to have a speaker defend the actual “colorblind principle” that affirmative action proponents had discredited for decades.

Hughes stated that the talk went well, but the next day the head of TED notified him that an employee resource group named Black@TED—described on TED’s website as an “employee resource group that exists to provide a safe space for TED staff who identify as Black”—was upset by his talk.

When TED scheduled a meeting with audience members to express input, they instantly condemned Hughes’s talk as racist, harmful, and irresponsible. Afterwards, the head of TED informed Hughes that “some internally” were arguing against the release of his TED Talk, and a “well-known” social scientist claimed that Hughes delivered an incorrect message because research showed that color-conscious methods reduce prejudice and discrimination, while color-blind approaches fail to help and often have negative consequences.

The problem here is that the social scientist compared color-conscious methods with literal colorblindness, which is not the actual “colorblind principle.” More importantly, the “colorblind principle” was not originally conceived to heal racial wounds; it coincided with the principle of equal protection under the law to prevent the creation of second-class citizens.

Hughes had to agree to participate in a debate so that an expert could respond to his controversial colorblind beliefs, and TED would then release Hughes’ TED talk alongside the debate.

Later, Hughes realized that none of this was done to amplify his message; it was done to dilute it. TED Talks are touted as “ideas worth spreading,” but the ideas must not be too threatening.

America is no longer the ‘Land of Opportunity’ (TriceEdneyWire.com)—When the governors of Texas, Arizona and Florida took advantage of the welcoming traditions provided by sanctuary cities, it was meant to get rid of an unwanted problem.

More than 23,000 asylum seekers have been bused to Chicago from Texas since the beginning of the year. As the cold weather sets in, people in the nation’s third-largest city are sheltering on sidewalks, at police station foyers and at the city’s airport.

A sanctuary city is a community with a policy that discourages local law enforcement from reporting the immigration status of individuals unless it involves investigation of a serious crime. Chicago has been considered a sanctuary city since 1985 when then-Mayor Harold Washington issued an order prohibiting local officials from withholding city services and investigating or prosecuting people solely based on their immigration status. The Welcoming City Ordinance banned police officers from arresting anyone just because they were suspected of being undocumented.

Now, several Chicago alderpersons are having a change of heart. They are calling for the sanctuary status to be reconsidered in response to the number of migrants who recently arrived to the city. The heated debate over the issue has divided the city council where some members are seeking to put Chicago’s sanctuary city status up for a referendum vote next year.

“When Harold Washington did this, times were different. We didn’t have people coming into this city by the thousands,” one alderman said during a contentious council meeting. While the debate in Chicago highlights the frustration of overwhelmed city officials, the sanctuary rules were intended to apply to undocumented residents rather than

David W. Marshall

Commentary the wave of new arrivals seeking asylum.

If the referendum were to be approved by voters, the state’s Trust Act signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner would still prohibit the Chicago Police Department from cooperating with immigration authorities.

Chicago is not alone in struggling to cope with the influx of asylum-seekers.

Other Democratic-led cities including Denver, Houston, Los Angles and New York have received more than 120,000 asylum-seekers. The mayors of those cities have formed a coalition, led by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, to press President Joe Biden for more federal aid as their resources are dwindling and migrants are arriving to their cities with little coordination. In New York where a cruise ship terminal was turned into a shelter, Mayor Eric Adams has called the city’s migrant influx a crisis and has begun to warn that shelters are so full that migrants will soon be forced onto the streets despite the cold weather. Sanctuary cities are willing to help, but are not able to do so for the increasing number of families asking for asylum where it becomes a long and difficult process in a badly clogged immigration court system.

Biden has requested $1.4 billion from Congress to help state and local governments provide shelter and services for migrants. Johnston and the other mayors say in a joint letter that $5 billion is needed. “While we are greatly appreciative of the additional federal funding proposed, our city budgets and local taxpayers

continue to bear the brunt of this ongoing federal crisis,” the letter says. Denver is spending $2 million a week on sheltering migrants.

New York has surpassed a total of $1.7 billion and Chicago has spent $320 million, according to the letter. “Our cities need additional resources that far exceed the amount proposed in order to properly care for the asylum seekers entering our communities,” the mayors’ letter says. “Relying on municipal budgets is not sustainable and has forced us to cut essential city services.” The mayors also want an accelerated work authorization approval process so migrants can find work. The humanitarian crisis is proving that America as a nation can no longer be seen as the “land of opportunity” for asylum seekers who have no reliable family support or sponsors in the U.S. already in place to help them transition.

As cities are already overburden with the issues of homelessness and the lack of affordable housing, can they realistically take on the extra burden of migrants and continue essential services for the longterm future? This is an issue which is not going away in the foreseeable future. The coalition of mayors are presenting a commonsense path moving forward by asking for the administration to create a regional migrate coordinator who would work with the federal government, nonprofits and state and local officials. Their goal is to better coordinate and place asylum seekers in areas of the nation where there is capacity to receive and help them. Sending planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard just to make a political point does not work.

(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America. He can be reached at www.davidwmarshallauthor.com.)

It takes more to ‘Stop the Hate’ than saying the words

by Dr. John E. Warren

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper “Stop The Hate, Spread The Love” are powerful words that convey the idea that we all should be able to get along. But the reality is that it takes more than just words to bring about the desired change in so much of our national attitudes and consciousness. We know that hate is rooted in the idea that the person or persons or groups hating are “better” than the objects of their hate and that those who are the objects of such hate, must first be dehumanized to justify the less than human feelings and attitudes against them.

Perhaps the answer has always been just in the mirror as we look at ourselves.

One of the two golden rules that Jesus taught carries the answer. Simply that “We should love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” Another way of stating this is that we should treat others as we would

have them treat us. How many people do we know who actually hate themselves?

We know that some do and that those have been diagnosed with mental problems.

While many people argue against religion even being mentioned outside of calls for a National Day of Prayer when disaster strikes, because of false assumptions about the Separation of Church and State, the reality is that prayer and prayer gatherings where people pray one for another, offset violent responses to acts of hate and harm from others engaged in such conduct. The Civil Rights demonstrations in which we saw peaceful gatherings met with dogs and high pressure water hoses as well as violence, revealed that the failure to meet hatred and violence with hatred and violence, won out in the end.

Those being beaten were not loving the people beating them, but they were not giving the desired response to justify the

continuation of the inhumane treatment they were receiving.

We spread the love by doing what Jesus did when he said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing” Sometimes, “forgiving” is harder than fighting.

The solution is encouraging the development of personal reflections on the harm and inhumanity that is inflicted on others when we respond in hatred to that which either we do not understand, dislike or have a fear of because of the difference we see in someone else.

Yes, it takes more to “Stop The Hate and Spread The Love” than just saying it. It takes self examination as to how we want others to treat us and realizing we must give that same treatment and respect because the objects of our thoughts are just as human as we are.

(Dr. John E. Warren is Publisher, The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper)

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Public Notice

Public Notice

Bids/Proposals

LEGAL NOTICE BOROUGH OF AVALON The Council of the Borough of Avalon will consider the adoption of Ordinance #1401, Ordinance #1402, and Ordinance #1403 at their public Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Borough Building, 640 California Avenue, Avalon, PA 15202.

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Borough of Ben Avon will hold a public hearing on December 19, 2023, at 7:00 PM, prevailing time, at the Borough of Ben Avon Municipal Building, 7101 Church Avenue, Ben Avon, PA 15202, to consider adoption of three amendments to the AvalonBellevue-Ben Avon Joint Zoning Ordinance, the titles and a brief summary of which are set forth below:

PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY D.B.A. PRT Electronic Proposals will be received online at PRT’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 AM on January 5, 2024 and will be read at 11:15 AM., the same day, through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, for the following:

The titles and summaries of the Ordinances follow: BOROUGH OF AVALON ORDINANCE NO. 1401 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE IV, SECTION 409 OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR FENCES, WALLS, AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS BOROUGH OF AVALON ORDINANCE NO. 1402 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE VII OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS BOROUGH OF AVALON ORDINANCE NO. 1403 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE VII OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO UPDATE PERMITTED CONDITIONAL USE PROVISIONS SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Borough of Avalon Ordinance No. 1401 would revise and amend portions of Section 409 (“Accessory Buildings, Structures, Uses and Events”) of Article IV (“District Regulations”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to correct errors and provide for revised regulations related to height, location, and appearance of fences, walls, screening in all Zoning Districts of Avalon, Bellevue, and Ben Avon.

Borough of Avalon Ordinance No. 1402 would revise and amend portions of Section 420 (“Signage”) Article IV (“Accessory Buildings, Structures, Uses and Events”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to provide for revised regulations of temporary signs, including with respect to the area, height, number, and temporal limitations, and to further provide for specific regulations related to political signs in all Zoning Districts of Avalon, Bellevue, and Ben Avon.

Borough of Avalon Ordinance No. 1403 would revise and amend Section 721 (“Tavern/Bar”) of Article VII (“Conditional Uses”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to eliminate the prohibition of taverns and bars in the Borough of Bellevue.

A copy of each proposed ordinance is available for inspection at the Borough of Avalon Administration Building, 640 California Ave., Avalon, PA 15202, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, prevailing time, Mondays through Fridays. The proposed Ordinances may also be viewed online at http://www.boroughofavalon. org/ordinances-resolutions/ ordinances/.

Lorraine Makatura Avalon Borough Secretary LEGAL ADVERTISING

BOROUGH OF BEN AVON ORDINANCE NO. 796 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE IV, SECTION 409 OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR FENCES, WALLS AND SCREENING REQUIREMENTS BOROUGH OF BEN AVON ORDINANCE NO. 797 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE VII OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS BOROUGH OF BEN AVON ORDINANCE NO. 798 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE VII OF THE AVALON-BELLEVUE-BEN AVON JOINT ZONING ORDINANCE TO UPDATE PERMITTED CONDITIONAL USE PROVISIONS SUMMARY OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Borough of Ben Avon Ordinance No. 796 would revise and amend portions of Section 409 (“Accessory Buildings, Structures, Uses and Events”) of Article IV (“District Regulations”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to correct errors and provide for revised regulations related to height, location, and appearance of fences, walls, screening in all Zoning Districts of Avalon, Bellevue, and Ben Avon.

Borough of Ben Avon Ordinance No. 797 would revise and amend portions of Section 420 (“Signage”) Article IV (“Accessory Buildings, Structures, Uses and Events”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to provide for revised regulations of temporary signs, including with respect to the area, height, number, and temporal limitations, and to further provide for specific regulations related to political signs in all Zoning Districts of Avalon, Bellevue, and Ben Avon.

Borough of Ben Avon Ordinance No. 798 would revise and amend Section 721 (“Tavern/Bar”) of Article VII (“Conditional Uses”) of the Joint Zoning Ordinance to eliminate the prohibition of taverns and bars in the Borough of Bellevue.

A copy of each proposed ordinance is available for inspection at each the Borough of Avalon Municipal Building, 640 California Ave., Avalon, PA 15202, the Borough of Bellevue Municipal Building, 537 Bayne Ave., Bellevue, PA 15202, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Mondays through Fridays, and the Borough of Ben Avon Municipal Building, 7101 Church Ave., Ben Avon, PA 15202, Monday and Wednesday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and Tuesday between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM, prevailing time.

Terrie Patsch Borough Secretary

Bids/Proposals

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on December 12, 2023, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Perry High School Replace EM Generator Plumbing and Electrical Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on November 20, 2023, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.

Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

OFFICIAL BID NOTICE TOWNSHIP OF UPPER ST. CLAIR Sealed and separate bids will be received by the Township of Upper St. Clair, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania until 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024, and the BIDS will be publicly opened and read thereafter in the Township Building at the same address for the following: 2024 SANITARY SEWER VIDEO INSPECTION Please refer to https://www.twpusc. org/business/bid_information.php, for details regarding specifications and Bidding requirements.

Matthew R. Serakowski Township Manager

LEGAL ADVERTISING Bids/Proposals

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield En tra n c e L o b b y, 3 41 S outh Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on January 09, 2023, until 2:00 P.M., local prevailing time for: Pgh. Conroy Finish Floor Replacement and Miscellaneous Work General and Asbestos Abatement Primes Pgh. Fulton, Spring Hill, Banksville, and Crescent ECC Replace EM Generator General, Electrical, and Asbestos Abatement Primes Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on December 06, 2023, at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable.

Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

SONNY BOY 6 1 9

2 4 6

3 8 6

Bid Number Bid Name 1 B23-12-77A Remanufactured-Exchange Fuel Filters 2 B23-12-78A ERG Coolers – Cummins Engines 3 B23-12-81A LRV Primary Suspension Springs 4 B23-12-82A Refrigerants 5 B23-12-83A Janitorial Supplies Cleaning Products 6 B23-12-85 Tie Extractor Machine To join the bid opening through Microsoft Teams meeting on your computer, mobile app or room device Meeting ID: 235 943 158 471 Passcode: RUupKs Or call in (audio only) 412-927-0245 Phone Conference ID: 886 887 334# No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on each of the above items at 10:00 AM on December 14, 2023 through your web browser via Microsoft Teams video conferencing.

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Meeting ID: 295 175 437 070 Passcode: wsdvLC Or call in (audio only) 412-927-0245 Phone Conference ID: 517 876 410# Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the PRT within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT and the United States Department of Transportation.

The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County d.b.a. PRT hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of PRT reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

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Bids/Proposals

Bids/Proposals

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS BOROUGH OF SWISSVALE NEW SWISSVALE MUNICIPAL BUILDING 7560 ROSLYN STREET, SWISSVALE, PA 15218 The project consists of construction for the new Swissvale Municipal Building including administrative offices, police station, multipurpose room, and site improvements including a public plaza.

Bids shall be submitted for the Following Prime Contracts: 7900-22-01-GC General Construction 7900-22-01-MC Mechanical Construction 7900-22-01-EC Electrical Construction 7900-22-01-PC Plumbing Construction A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will take place at 1:00 p.m. prevailing time, Wednesday, December, 20th, 2023, at the building site, 7560 Roslyn Street, Swissvale, PA 15218 ; at which time questions may be expressed.

The Borough of Swissvale is requesting bids to be made and will award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder(s) all as more thoroughly described in the Contract Documents.

Bids will be received at the Borough Administrative Offices; 7600 Evans Street (Temporarily located within the vacated Woodland Hills Intermediate School), Swissvale, PA 15218, until 3:30 p.m. prevailing time, on Thursday, January, 11, 2024; at which time all Bid submissions will be publicly opened and read aloud. Please report to Door #1 and call 412271-7101, x6 for admittance to the building and to drop off bids.

Plans, Specifications and Bid forms are on file for review at the Borough Administrative Offices at the above address and may be secured by prospective bidders from: Accu-Copy, Inc.: 302 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Telephone: (724) 935-7055 Contact: Production Dept.

Bidding Documents may be obtained through prior arrangement with the Printer; and upon payment of the non-refundable cost of reproduction. A separate non-refundable cost will be required for shipping and handling charges if mailing is requested. All bidders are advised that they use these documents at their own risk and are expected to check periodically for any addenda or revisions that may be posted.

A certified check, bid bond or a combination of both totaling an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the Base Bid PLUS any Add Alternates and made payable to the Borough of Swissvale, must accompany each bid.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and/or to waive any informality, infirmity, omission, defect, irregularity and/or disqualifying error in any bid.

The Borough anticipates awarding Contracts within forty-five (45) days of the bid opening. No bona fide bids shall be altered or withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening.

All bids shall be clearly marked with contractor’s name and Prime Contract number and name.

Please email requests for information to: CORE Architects, Attn: Conor Magee at cmagee@corepgh.com Core Architects, 360 Lincoln Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202.

Questions will be accepted until end of day, Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Responses to questions will be answered in issued Addenda. All addenda, except addenda extending the bid deadline, will be issued no later than Friday, January 5, 2024 Gregory J. Bachy Borough Manager

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412-481-8302 Ext. 134 Deadline/Closing/Cancellation Schedule for copy, corrections, and cancellations: Friday noon preceding Wednesday publication

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

SAFETY OFFICER – BUS OPERATIONS Pittsburgh Regional Transit is seeking a Safety Officer – Bus Operations to assist division directors for Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in identification and resolution of employee and operations safety issues. Assists the Director of System Safety with regulatory compliance issues; developing and implementing accident and injury prevention policy, procedures and programs; and training. Plays a role in investigating employee and vehicle accidents, incidents, and injuries, identifying potential hazards for resolution.

The University of Pittsburgh’s Aging Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Research Scientist to work as part of a collaborative team focused on the phenotypic characterization of aging marmosets relative to marmoset models of Alzheimer’s disease. Will also work with non-human primate models, behavioral and cognitive phenotyping, and in vivo pharmacology. Apply at https://www.join.pitt.edu, #23008642.

Applicants should upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, writing sample, and at least three letters of recommendation. The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity.

EOE, including disability/vets.

Essential Functions: · Assists Division Directors in identification and resolution of employe and operations safety issues: · Provide safety support during all construction projects including design/ specification review, site inspections and regulatory reviews. · Conduct periodic reviews of work zones along the Bus-ways to ensure compliance with Bus SOP’s. · Work with Bus Operations and Maintenance groups to address safety issues concerning equipment and facilities. · Conduct periodic reviews at various bus locations to determine operational and maintenance rule compliance. · Assist Bus Operations with periodic reviews and updates of bus SOP’s.

Job requirements include: · Bachelor ’s degree in safety management, industrial safety or related field from an accredited college or university. · Minimum of one (1) year experience in occupational safety or related field. · Valid PA driver’s license. · Effective and professional communication skills. · Demonstrated ability in the use of Microsoft Windows and Word.

Preferred attributes: · Qualified accident and injury prevention provider as defined by Pennsylvania Worker’s Compensation Regulations. · Certified safety professional or associate safety professional designation. · Mass Transit or Fleet safety experience.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Interested candidates should forward a cover letter (with salary requirements) and resume.

Glenn Huetter Employment Department 345 Sixth Avenue, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2527 GHuetter@RidePRT.org EOE MEDICAL PHYSICIST (MULTIPLE OPENINGS) UPCI Cancer Services seeks Medical Physicists to work in Greensburg, PA (Westmoreland County); Johnstown, PA (Cambria County); Indiana, PA (Indiana County); Altoona, PA (Blair County); and Monroeville, PA (Allegheny County). Conduct and assist in all aspects of Radiation Oncology physics including commissioning of all radiotherapy equipment and providing clinical support; and responsible for performing regular quality assurance (QA) testing and dosimetry calibration of all radiation therapy equipment. Master ’s degree, or equivalent, in Physics, Medical Physics, Radiological Physics, Medical Imaging, Biomedical Imaging/Engineering, or a closely related discipline, plus two (2) years of experience as a Medical Physicist.

Must be nationally or internationally certified in Therapeutic Medical Physics, Radiation Oncology Medical Physics, or a closely related field.

Apply by following these steps; visit http://careers.upmc.com and enter 230003PB in the “Search Keyword/ Job ID” field and click Go. EOE/Disability/Veteran.

SOUTH FAYETTE TWP. SCHOOL DISTRICT is seeking a HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Deadline 4:00 PM, December 8, 2023 Complete job description available at: www.southfayette.org EOE ProMiles Software Development Corporation has work-at-home Structural Software Developer position in Moon Township, PA (w/ ability to telecommute w/approp. telecommuting sys.; remote worksite must be w/in commuting distance of Moon Township, PA for wkly trips to office). Responsible for dvlpng bridge load rating sftwr (AASHTOWare Bridge Design and Rating) for American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials to ensure bridge infrastructure is prprly load rated & designed.

Apply online at https://www.promiles.com/.

Carnegie Mellon University seeks Sr. Robotics Engineer at t h e N R E C i n P i t t s b u r g h , PA responsible for developing robotic systems and simulation tools to facilitate the validation and testing of robotic applications. Apply at https://www.cmu.edu/jobs/ Innovative Systems, Inc. seeks a Sr. Product Marketing Manager in Pittsburgh, PA for driving the product marketing function of our compliance line of business, including by developing and executing marketing programs that generate sales using analytics to examine the effectiveness of existing marketing strategies.

Apply at https://innovativesystems.com/ careers.

LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices

Estate of ELIZABETH J. SMITH, 124 Elm Street, Edgewood, PA 15218, Estate No. 02-23-06763, Administrator Gary G. Smith, 11 Harborview Road, Scituate, MA 02066 or to William C. Price, Jr., Price & Associates, P.C. 2005 Noble Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 Estate of NICKEL GEORGE A, deceased of Shaler Township, No. 07574 of 2023, Adele Rutherford, 115 Westwood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15209, Executor, or to MICHAEL J. SALDAMARCO, ESQ., STE.100, 908 PERRY HWY., PITTSBURGH, PA 15229 Estate of KEVAN CORDELL LOVE JR., A/K/A KEVAN C. LOVE, JR., deceased of ­Bridgeville, Pa., Estate No. 022307412, Mamie Love,Executor or to Morant Law Offices PO Box 10946 Pittsburgh, PA 15236 Estate of NANCY A. BOWLAND deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-23-07689, Michael E. Uriah, Executor, 817 West Grant Street, Houston, PA 15342 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017 Estate of ANNE M. BATTAGLIA, deceased of ­Sewickley, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No. 02-23-07552, Joanne B. McDaniel, Executor, 102 William Penn Circle, Sewickley, PA 15143 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017

ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings

SR. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I Federated Hermes, headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is seeking an Sr. Administrative Assistant I. The Sr. Administrative Assistant I will provide administrative support to our Corporate Sales team by collecting, compiling, and entering information, maintain our CRM database, while working in a highly collaborative team environment.

Apply at https://www.federatedinvestors. com/corporate/careers.do using keyword 8933.

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OFFICIAL NOTICE BOROUGH OF THORNBURG 2024 MEETING SCHEDULE Notice is hereby given that the regular meetings of the Council of the Borough of Thornburg during the year 2024 will be held on the first Monday of each month, with the exception of the January and September meetings. Due to the Federal holidays of New Year’s Day and Labor Day falling on the first Monday of the month, the regular meeting of January 2024 and September 2024 will be held on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024 and Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024.

Meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the Community Building, 545 Hamilton Road, Thornburg, Pennsylvania 15205.

Dorothy Falk Secretary/Treasurer Borough of Thornburg CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS!

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SONNY BOY WILKINS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Commissioners of Wilkins Township shall meet in special session on Monday, December 18, 2023 beginning at 6:00 o’clock PM in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania 15145. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the award of a contract for the collection of refuse and recycling for the years 2024 – 2028 and any other business that may come before the Board. Interested parties may attend in person or via Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/83836677691 TOWNSHIP OF WILKINS PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 1119 The Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners will consider adoption of the following ordinance at a public meeting to be held on the 2nd day of January 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 110 Peffer Road, Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania. The complete text of the Ordinance is on file and may be inspected in the Office of the Township Secretary at the aforesaid Municipal Building during normal business hours.

The title and a summary of the ordinance is as follows.

PROPOSED ORDINANCE #1119 TITLE AN ORDINANCE OF WILKINS TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION OF THE TOWNSHIP MANAGER, ASSISTANT TOWNSHIP MANAGER, CHIEF OF POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS SUPERINTENDENT, BUILDING AND FIRE INSPECTOR AND OFFICE PERSONNEL SUMMARY The Ordinance establishes the salaries of employees who are not parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement for the year 2024

Estate of MS. ELEANOR MAY WILSON, Deceased of 19 Scott Drive, Apt. F, Dravosburg, PA 15034. Esate No.02-23-05848, Ms. Candice K. Wooster, Executrix, c/o Robert A. Banks, Esquire, 345 Commerce Street, Second Floor, Beaver, PA 15009

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS Public Notice

PROFESSIONAL Historic preservation and Economic development organization is requesting qualifications from: Environmental Engineering Firmsenvironmental site characterization and remediation, and closure of industrial sites through the PA Land Recycling Program, and reporting under public funding programs. Qualifications should include personnel available for this assignment, working in a team environment, meeting goals for minority and women owned businesses, and method and hourly rates of compensation.

Economic Development/Grant Management Firms- Qualifications relative to the following should be discussed: redevelopment planning, managing reporting for public programs, managing consultant teams, packaging other economic incentive programs, working in a team environment, personnel available for this assignment, assistance in securing women and minority participation, and the method and hourly rates of compensation.

Both RFQ’s are due December 8, 2023 and should be mailed to: Young Preservationists Association, 700 River Avenue, Suite 318, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 COURIER CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Public Notice

Public Notice

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE CASE NO.: GD-23-010484 FIRST COMMONWEALTH BANK, Plaintiff, vs.

MARK OLSAVICKY, SR., DEE OLSAVICKY, NADINE KNIGHT, solely as the known heirs of George J. Olsavicky, deceased, and ALL THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF GEORGE J. OLSAVICKY, Defendants.

TO: MARK OLSAVICKY, SR., and ALL THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF GEORGE J. OLSAVICKY On September 8, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in Mortgage Foreclosure against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA, docketed at Case No. GD-23-010484 to foreclose Plaintiff’s mortgage and sheriff’s sale the property located at 1042 Hays Ln, Homestead, PA 15120, which you inherited from George J. Olsavicky, deceased, by intestate succession.

NOTICE If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or by attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court.

You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. Lawyer Referral Service Allegheny County Bar Association 400 Koppers Building 436 Seventh Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Telephone: (412) 261-5555 https://www.getapittsburghlawyer.com/ IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE CASE NO.: GD-23-011539 FIRST COMMONWEALTH BANK, Plaintiff, vs.

ALL THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SALLY L. McFADDEN, deceased, Defendants.

TO: ALL THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SALLY L. McFADDEN, deceased, On October 3, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in Mortgage Foreclosure against you in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, PA docketed at Case No. GD-23-011539 to foreclose Plaintiff’s mortgage and sheriff’s sale the property located at 153 Waddell Avenue, Clairton, PA 15025, which you inherited from Sally L. McFadden, deceased, by intestate succession.

NOTICE If you wish to defend, you must enter a written appearance personally or by attorney and file your defenses or objections in writing with the court.

You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you without further notice for the relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE. Lawyer Referral Service Allegheny County Bar Association 400 Koppers Building 436 Seventh Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Telephone: (412) 261-5555 https://www.getapittsburghlawyer.com/ PUBLIC NOTICE BOROUGH OF AVALON 2024 BUDGET Notice is hereby given that the Borough of Avalon proposed 2024 Budget is currently available for public inspection in the Administration Office of the Avalon Borough Building, 640 California Ave, Avalon, PA 15202, during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The proposed budget will also be available at the Avalon Public Library and on the Borough website, www.boroughofavalon.org.

Council intends to adopt the 2024 Budget on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at the regular Council meeting.

NOTICE On December 18, 2023, at 7 p.m., at 10 Community Park Dr., Baldwin Twp’s. Bd. of Commissioners will consider Ordinances and Resolutions adopting its 2024 General Fund & Sewer Fund Budgets, levying 2024 Real Estate Tax ‘Millage’ Rate (unchanged), and setting 2024 Sewer Rates, Garbage Rates, and due dates. The proposed Budget, Ordinances, and Resolutions are on Public Display at the Municipal Building during normal business hours.

Lorraine Makatura Avalon Borough Secretary

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Charla Pfeil, Interim Township Manager

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SPORTS

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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SOUL STEALERS

Let’s be honest — college football is a business, with money everywhere I must begin this column by putting all the readers on high alert because this is not, nor do I intend it to be, a Black History moment. This piece is strictly dedicated to Black sports reality. On June 11, 2023, author Debra Bell posted an article on usnews.com titled: “George Wallace Stood in a Doorway at the University of Alabama 50 Years Ago Today.” The following quote is an excerpt from the article.

“In January of 1963, following his election as Governor of Alabama, George Wallace famously stated in his inaugural address: ‘segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.’

The staunch conservative demonstrated his loyalty to the cause on June 11, 1963, when black students Vivian Malone and James A. Hood showed up at the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa to attend class.

In what historians often refer to as the ‘Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,’ the governor literally stood in the doorway as federal authorities tried to allow the students to enter.”

On September 12, 1970,

USC fullback Sam Cunningham and the USC Trojans routed the University of Alabama at Legion Field in Birmingham by the score of 42-21. The following year Alabama Head Coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, featured two Black players, junior college transfer John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson.

According to Mike Puma’s biography of Bryant on ESPN.com “By 1973, onethird of Alabama’s starters were Black. That same year, Alabama went 9-0-1 and won its third national championship.”

Segregation forever, yeah right. Alabama admitted Black players under “diluted” scholarships knowing that educating these athletes was at the very bottom of their list of priorities. It would take decades before the University of Alabama would tailor their student body admission policies for racial inclusion.

Since the Emancipation Proclamation was signed

by President Abe Lincoln, young men of color and their families could no longer “legally” be expected to provide free labor in the cotton fields, the new

modus operandi shifted to obtaining cost-free labor from the football fields.

The NCAA became the new “overseer” making and supervising laws to penalize young athletes for receiving such pet-

ty allowances as a free meal, a plane ticket, or a lousy T-shirt. However, the NCAA refused to acknowledge and address the “unsportsmanlike conduct” of many of the “ethnically insensitive” and even blatantly racist policies that have at times and in many cases continued to govern college football. On October 15, 2018, the college portal transfer program was officially launched, ending the decades-old tradition of a college athlete being forced to sit out a year before being permitted to transfer to another school. However, coaches

were allowed to resign and accept higher-paid and more lucrative positions at other colleges and universities without even the blink of an eye.

On June 30, 2021, ESPN staff writer Dan Murphy posted the following on espn.com. “The doors to a new era of college sports officially opened Thursday. For the first time, all NCAA athletes are now able to make money from a wide variety of business ventures without losing their eligibility. A mixture of state laws and NCAA rule changes have removed prohibitions that prevented athletes from selling the rights to their names, images and likenesses (NIL). The transformative shift comes after more than a decade of legal, political, and public pressure to give athletes access to a bigger piece of the billions of dollars generated by college sports each year.”

What about a piece of the “Vegas Pie?” Ya know, “FanDuel” and the remainder of the numbers runners.

That means less than five years ago, if a college athlete accepted a plane

ticket to go home for the holidays, that athlete could be punished or even expelled from that university. That policy was and has always been a crock.

Please allow me to explain why.

Recently, Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher was awarded a $77 million buyout for his “lack of performance” as the head coach. It was also reported on cnn.com that: “When Fisher was first named head football coach at Texas A&M in 2017, the university said he had agreed to a 10-year contract worth $75 million, adding no ‘state-appropriated funds’ would be used toward his salary. The finances behind the decision to fire the coach are ‘monumental,’ Ross Bjork, Texas A&M director of athletics, said during a news conference. ‘As the contract states, there is a buyout provision in coach Fisher’s contract and those details will be worked out,’ Bjork continued on saying: ‘We will use unrestricted contributions within the 12th Man Foundation for the first one-time payments and the athletic department

will fund the annual payments for the remaining portion by growing our revenues and adjusting our annual operating budget accordingly.’ 12th Man Foundation may appear to be a not-for-profit organization. This is not the case.”

This next scenario is not a fantasy but a stark reality. Jimbo Fisher is being paid for not doing his job, whereas walk-on players must earn their scholarships. This man is being paid to sit in the back of his mansion by the pool, sipping on mint juleps, while checking his bank account and watching the interest grow on that $77 million. A lot of folks are screaming at the top of their lungs about welfare reform. How about corporate welfare reform? Who is going to emancipate our children from this indentured servant athletic system? Well, I guess we are going to have to wait and see.

Pitt basketball features promising new players Pitt men’s basketball fans, have you seen Carlton “Bub” Carrington (No. 7) in person? The Baltimore native already has two ACC Rookie of the Week honors and became the first Pitt player to earn conference Rookie of the Week honors in consecutive weeks since former Schenley High School hoop star DeJuan Blair did so in the Big East in the 2007-08 season.

Meanwhile, Ishmael Leggett (No. 5) is a junior playing for Pitt, an integral part of Pittsburgh’s high-scoring offense. Leggett averages 15 points per game.

Pitt’s next games are

Dec. 6 at West Virginia, and Saturday, Dec. 9, at home against Canisius. On Saturday, Dec. 16, the Panthers play host to HBCU South Carolina State.

Overall, Pitt looks to go to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament, but that’s months away. First things first, the year 2024 will bring a fierce ACC schedule Pitt’s way.

- Rob Taylor Jr.

PITT GUARD ISHMAEL LEGGETT (PHOTOS BY VINCE BUTTS)

PITT’S STAR GUARD BUB CARRINGTON, IN A GAME EARLIER THIS 2023-24 SEASON.

PITT’S GUARD ISHMAEL LEGGETT

SHERATON PITTSBURGH HOTEL AT STATION SQUARE

300 W. Station Square Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Legacy Award Honoree Justice Cynthia A. Baldwin

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Celebrity Host SHELDON INGRAM

Reception Sponsor

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SHELDON INGRAM

Benefactor Sponsors

Patron Sponsors

Sheldon Ingram decided at age 15 that he would devote his life to being a storyteller.

He is well-known in Southwestern Pennsylvania as a veteran television reporter for WTAE-TV, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. He came to Pittsburgh in 1992 and immediately took on some of the most high-profile stories to hit the region. Since then, Ingram was named the talk show host of “Inside Pittsburgh” during the late ‘90s, freelanced for BET News as the Pittsburgh correspondent, and received numerous awards for his work as a journalist, including multiple Emmys.

He is also a host for “WTAE Listens,” which airs Sunday mornings.

Ingram was born and raised in Atlantic City, N.J. After high school, he attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where he studied broadcast journalism and later worked at CNN as an intern reporter before launching his career at WRCB-TV in Chattanooga and WVEC-TV in Norfolk.

Immersing himself in the

Pittsburgh community continues to be a priority for Ingram, serving on numerous boards, volunteering, and embracing the region’s unique character.

Ingram is an avid disciple of wellness, certified as a holistic wellness coach. He also enjoys playing tennis, cycling, scuba diving, and being in the gym.

Ingram has expanded his role as a storyteller by becoming a professional actor. He appeared as a guest star on “Law & Order—SVU” for its season premiere and was cast in two movies to debut this year; “The Deliverance,” directed by Lee Daniels, and “A Rose for her Grave,” directed by Maritte Lee Go. Ingram was also part of the cast for the theater Broadway production, “Chicken and Biscuits” presented by New Horizon Theater, in May 2023.

Ingram is honored to serve as celebrity host for the New Pittsburgh Courier’s 2023 “Women of Excellence” celebration.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

Romodore Abdullah, MSW

Executive Director, Crestas Terrace Revitalization Project Therapist, Gateway Rehabilitation Center

Kenya Alford

Community Engagement Coordinator, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh Parent/Team Coordinator, Westinghouse Football Team

Stacie Allen

CEO, Jazz Bean Entertainment Director, Soul Food Murder Mystery Show

Tanya J. Ashby

School Social Worker at Martin Luther King PreK-8 Pittsburgh Public Schools

Jeneen Asque-Wilson

CEO, Abundant Life Community & Home Supports Program Manager of Community Engagement, DHS/OBH/ Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Services

Denise H. Baker, MSN, CRNP Chief Operating Officer Primary Care Health Services

Gloria J. Besley

President, Regency Crest Realty, Inc. Owner, Gloria J. Besley, LPA Accounting & Tax Services

Angela Blanton

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Carnegie Mellon University

Sherene Brantley

Associate Athletic Director Duquesne University

Qiana Buckner

Associate Director of Programming, Alliance for Police Accountability Founder & CEO, Lady “Q” Network & A Diamond in the Rough Productions

Tracy Lynn Calhoun

Legacy Award Honoree

Hon. Cynthia A. Baldwin Retired Justice Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Director, Educational Outreach Center University of Pittsburgh, Office of the Provost

Brandi Fisher

Founder & CEO Alliance for Police Accountability

Esther M. Franklin Chief Executive Officer ALROWS, LLC

Michelle Gainey

First Lady, City of Pittsburgh Co-Founder, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Project

L’Tesha J. Gamble-Pettis

Manager of PA Treatment Family Foster Care & Foster Parent Recruitment and Licensing Cayuga Centers

Sheila Glover

Supervisor, Meter Shops and Testing Duquesne Light Company

Tanika S. Harris

Director of Communications & Community Relations Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

Dr. Virginia R. Hill

Chief Academic Officer Environmental Charter School

Tiffany T. Huff-Strothers

CEO & Founder, When She Thrives Executive Development & Storytelling Coach, The Tiffany Huff Experience

Robin Marshall Kelly

Vice President of Research, Quality & Compliance Wesley Family Services

Dr. Melody Carter-Frye

Tracee Kirkland-Rivers

Workforce Development Manager Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Chief Clinical Officer & Director of Nursing East Liberty Family Health Care Center

Imogene L. Cathey, Esq.

Sandra K. Lewis

Vice President and General Counsel Seton Hill University

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Delta Service and Education Foundation

Valarie Dallis Coleman

Nicole D. Logan

Program Director, Naomi’s Place Transitional Housing Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, The Salvation Army

Chief Financial Officer Keller Williams Realty, Pittsburgh North

Tracey Conti, MD

Kenya Sheppard Matthews

Chair, Department of Family Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC

Program Manager Google

Leontyne T. Daffin, MSN, RN

Jessica Merritt, PhD

Tamika Simpson Darwin

Natasha N. Mitchell-Jones

Program Manager Auberle-Ward Home

Dr. Shallegra Moye

Associate Director, Office of Child Development, University of Pittsburgh Founder & Executive Director, Brilliantly Blessed Community Health & Wellness

Stephanie Moye Dr. Daren A. Ellerbee

District Mathematics Academic Coach Pittsburgh Public Schools

President, Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action Faculty, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

President The Care Based Leadership Collaborative CEO, 1st Prestige Home Care Agency Founder & Owner, Prestigious Notary Boutique

Fashion Designer S. Moye Fashions

Sharise Nance

Owner, Hand in Hand Counseling Services, LLC Co-Founder, Vitamin C Healing, LLC

Lingaire Njie

Director of Operations Catapult Greater Pittsburgh

Jacquelyn Omotalade

Climate Investments National Director Dream.Org

Pamela Johnson Powell Executive Assistant II UPMC

Pastor Ella Rawlings

Pastor, Covenant Church Chaplain, National Church Residency

Kendra Janelle Ross, PhD Head of Social Impact Duolingo

Tenecia M. Ross

Director of Human Resources Mt. Lebanon School District

Jacqueline Smith

Executive Director Greater Valley Community Services, Inc.

Dr. Margaret J. Starkes

Principal, Pittsburgh Miller PreK-5, An African-Centered Academy Pittsburgh Public Schools

Lechelle M. Stringa

Business Development and Compliance Specialist Parkview Community Federal Credit Union

Marisol Wandiga Valentin Executive Director McAuley Ministries Foundation

Cynthia VanHolten-Dixon

Senior Vice President, Product Management, Engineering Transformation Office BNY Mellon

Dr. Diamonte Walker Chief Executive Officer Pittsburgh Scholar House

Ericka D. Wingfield

Reintegration Specialist Allegheny County Juvenile Probation

Fantasy Zellars

Founder/CEO Bounce Marketing & Events

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

The Legacy Honoree

HON. CYNTHIA A. BALDWIN

Retired Justice, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Cynthia A. Baldwin has indeed enjoyed a prestigious career.

She dedicated 18 years of her life to the Pennsylvania judiciary where she served with distinction. She was nominated by then-Gov. Ed Rendell to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve an interim term in December 2005 and was confirmed by the state Senate on Feb. 15, 2006. She became only the third African American and the second African American woman to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in its over-300 year history. She retired from the Court in January 2008. On March 3, 2008, she became a partner at Duane Morris LLP in the trial practice group.

Justice Baldwin was the first African American woman elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, where she served for over 16 years in the Civil, Family and Juvenile divisions. In 2010, she became the first Vice President and General Counsel for Pennsylvania State University and its 20 campuses throughout the state. Justice Baldwin served as the university’s first in-house legal counsel, where she launched and developed a legal counsel’s office at Penn State before retiring in July 2012.

Justice Baldwin received her B.A. and M.A. from Penn State in English and American Literature, respectively.

Receiving her J.D. from Duquesne University where she was a member of its Law Review, Justice Baldwin again maintained a relationship with the institution. She has served in both visiting and adjunct law professorships. She is a member-emerita of the Duquesne University Board of Directors and past president of its Law Alumni board as well as serving on its search committee for the Law School Dean. She is active on the Law School’s Law Advisory Committee which she formerly co-chaired. Justice Baldwin also taught at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, and the Widener School of Law Intensive Trial Advocacy Program.

She has lectured widely, both nationally and internationally, in constitutional law and jurisprudence.

Justice Baldwin is extremely active

THE HON. CYNTHIA A. BALDWIN in the community, serving or having served on the following boards: Fulbright Association, Vibrant Pittsburgh, the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Advisory

Boards of Penn State-Greater Allegheny and Animal Friends. Currently, Justice Baldwin chairs the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Association, in which capacity she awarded

Bono of the band U2 and Drs. Anthony Fauci and Kizzmekia Corbett the Fulbright Prizes in 2022 and 2023.

Justice Baldwin was the first woman and the first African American to be elected to the Board of Directors of Koppers Inc. Koppers is an integrated global producer of carbon compounds, chemicals and treated wood products for the aluminum, railroad, specialty chemical, utility, rubber, steel, residential lumber and agriculture industries. She served on the board from 2008 through 2019.

In the summer of 1994, Justice Baldwin was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar and lectured at the University of Zimbabwe Law Faculty in Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence. She also assisted in researching the constitutional issues coming before the Zimbabwe Supreme Court. In 1995, Justice Baldwin was on a team sponsored by the American Bar Association, National Judicial Conference and D.C. Superior Court, which conducted judicial education programs in Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania. In 1998, Justice Baldwin was chosen as part of a national team of five judges to go to Mainland China to do seminars for their judges, law professors and students. The group was sponsored by the National Committee for U.S.-China Relations and the United States Information Agency. Justice Baldwin was the only non-federal judge chosen.

Justice Baldwin is a member of the New Pittsburgh Courier’s “Women of Excellence” Class of 2011. She has honorary doctorates from Duquesne University and Chatham University, among others. She was named the “Pittsburgher of the Century” in the African American division by Pittsburgh Magazine in 1999. She’s listed in “Who’s Who in America,” “Who’s Who Among African Americans” and “Who’s Who in American Law.” Active in her local community, Justice Baldwin is a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport where she tutors youth and is active in other educational projects. She is the wife of Arthur L. Baldwin, the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of two.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

Message from the Editor and Publisher The New Pittsburgh Courier salutes The Class of 2023 ‘Women of Excellence’ Honorees The New Pittsburgh Courier’s “Women of Excellence” awards recognizes local African American women who inspire others through their vision, leadership, exceptional achievements and participation in community service. They are women who exemplify extraordinary stature, poise and integrity. These women influence those around them to go beyond the norm and strive

for greatness. They are champions of our economic empowerment and diversity, the backbone of our business, religious and educational organizations, and driving forces in politics and service.

Together, let’s welcome our “Women of Excellence,” the Class of 2023!

Rod Doss Editor and Publisher

ROD DOSS

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Class of 2022 Honorees

Class of 2021 Honorees

ESTHER L. BUSH LEGACY HONOREE MAYA ADAMS MICHELLE L. BERRYMAN DANIELLE BLACKBURN, PHD ANGELA BLAIR LATANYA J. BROWN REV. DR. LAWANA L. BUTLER DR. PAULINE CALLAWAY-LONG, D.SC. MARCIA CARTER TEAIRA COLLINS KENYOKEE C. CROWELL CARMELLA ANTOINETTE DEARMON KEIHA R. DRUMMOND ROXANNE EASLEY LATRICE EBO, BSN ANNE GERMANY, BSN, RN, CCM CYNTHIA A. GILMER VICTORIA L. GOINS DAWN GORDON, M.ED., MSW, LSW TERESA M. HAWTHORNE MIKEY HOOD GAIL E. JACKSON ARDANA “AJ” JEFFERSON REV. JUNE JEFFRIES DR. MALEEA JOHNSON INIKA JONES JAEL JONES LATARA J. JONES DR. TOYA JONES AYANNA LEE-DAVIS EBONY LUNSFORD-EVANS DENISE S. MEYERS TAMIA MITCHELL YOLANDA J. MURPHY TYRA OLIVER THERESA POINDEXTER REV. NIKKI PORTER KELLY PROTHO STACEY E. RANDOLPH ANGELA REYNOLDS, PHD ALICIA L. SCOTT, MSN, RN RONNIECE SHEALEY-SIRMONS ANDREA CLARK SMITH MONICA TILLMAN SMITH DEBORAH STARLING ALEXIS JAMES STEALS MICHELLE MARIE STEWART REV. AISHA I. TATE, M.DIV. DR. TAMMY WASHINGTON NICOLE R. WEBSTER MELISSA K. WHARTON

LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND LEGACY HONOREE DR. AMY ALEXANDER DR. TAMARA ALLEN-THOMAS OLIVIA BENNETT CHRISTINE BETHEA KENYA BOSWELL DANNIELLE N. BROWN DR. ELIZABETH A. CARTER LESLIE CARTER CHANDI CHAPMAN DR. LISA COFFEY DR. CHARLENE HILL- COLEMAN DAYNA DELGADO JOI EDMONDS TONYA EDMONDS LAJUANA FULLER CORINNE GIBSON PAMELA GOLDEN DR. TERRIE GRIFFIN DR. LORA HUBBARD TINISHA HUNT REV. HELEN JACKSON GLADYS JELKS ELAINE B. JENKINS JA-NEEN JONES DOROTHEA LEFTWICH DEBORAH MARSHALL DR. TAMMI MCMILLAN MARSHALL LOIS TONI MCCLENDON ERICA MCDILL BILITA MCINTOSH MUFFY MENDOZA SHATARA MURPHY MARY NESBY REV. CARRIE PUGH SHARON L. ROBINSON SHEMARIA SCHARMANN JERVONNE SINGLETARY DENISE SINKLER REV. EILEEN SMITH

What is a ‘Woman of Excellence?’

“Women of Excellence” are those who exemplify the stature, poise and grace that characterize the essence of womanhood, all while maintaining the delicate balance of filling the roles of helpmate, mother, teacher and professional.

In character, in manner, and in style, the New Pittsburgh Courier believes you embody virtues of not only excellence, but self-confidence and dignity as well. We celebrate you for your personal code of ethics, exceptional courage, unwavering conviction, and extraordinary grace.

It is truly an honor to induct you into our society of ‘“Women of Excellence.”

Congratulations on being named a 2023 New Pittsburgh Courier “Women of Excellence” honoree!

CHERYL SMITH CAROL SPEAKS-HADDOCK JAMILA SYKES NGOZI D. TIBBS KIYA TOMLIN JERIMAINE WARD ERNESTINE WATTS-TAYLOR JANICE WHITE TERAYA WHITE TERRI WILLIAMS DR. BONNIE YOUNG

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

ROMODORE ABDULLAH, MSW

Executive Director, Crestas Terrace Revitalization Project Therapist, Gateway Rehabilitation Center Romodore Y. Abdullah is a grateful delivered recovered addict (31 years) who became aware of the direction of where God was leading her. Working with women who are struggling with the disease of addiction led her to be invested in assisting them in getting well.

She spent over 10 years as a therapist at Sojourner House, then decided to return to school at Penn State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree. At Pitt’s School of Social Work, she earned a master’s degree.

Abdullah is employed at Gateway Rehabilitation, Squirrel Hill office, for the past 14 years. It’s allowed her to minister to a diverse population of people of all professions.

Abdullah took the position as Clinical Manager at a women’s halfway house in Braddock (Cece’s Place) and worked daily to set the tone for success for the women. Her passion for studying the Bible at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, North Versailles, under the direction of Pastor Barbara Gunn, has put her in the position as servant leader as Assistant Supervisor for over six years.

She is an active community leader and Executive Director of the Crestas Terrace Revitalization Project, President of the Lawrence R. Abdullah Scholarship Fund, Treasurer of the Crestas Terrace

Volunteer Fire Department along with sitting on the North Versailles Sanitary Authority.

Her family is most important to her as she gets pleasure out of taking her 92-year-old mother to Sunday morning service and just to hear her sing in her soprano voice is a blessing. Abdullah’s favorite Bible scripture is Proverbs 3:5 and believes “God does all things well.”

KENYA ALFORD

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

Community Engagement Coordinator, Trade Institute of Pittsburgh Parent/Team Coordinator, Westinghouse Football Team Kenya Alford is a passionate, strong, spiritual woman. She was raised in Lincoln-Lemington. She has one son and two grandchildren that she adores deeply.

Alford knew at a young age that she was good at bringing others together and was gifted at being organized. Alford enrolled at Duff’s Business Institute in the two-year Associate’s Degree program to become a Legal Administrative Secretary to fulfill her skills as a people person and multitasker. She has been working for various law firms for 20 years. Over the years she discovered her purpose in life, helping others. She has always been the go-to person for her friends and family and would find solutions to problems.

She also used her secretarial skills in community work. She has volunteered at church events and as a team mom for her son’s sporting teams. She is passionately known to the young men as “momma Kenya.”

She attended Johnson C. Smith University, studying social work. Alford has been with the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh since 2021 and while utilizing her skills as a legal secretary and people person, she feels that this was the perfect opportunity to help those at the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh to find their NEXT.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

Class of 2019 Honorees VALERIE MCDONALD ROBERTS LEGACY HONOREE DONNA ALLEN-ROSEMOND SONITA BELL JOANNE BOYD SIMQUITA BRIDGES REV. TALEETA CANADY AURELIA CARTER ELAINE COLE INEZ COLON DR. RANDI CONGLETON BETH CRAWFORD BETHANY CRISSWELL SUSAN DOPICO DR. WILLA DOSWELL LISA EPPS KATHRYN FITZGERALD KIMBERLY FRANCETTE DR. TRISHA GADSON DR. TYRA GOOD DR. ALICIA B. HARVEY-SMITH DR. SHARON HIGGINBOTHAN MAISHA HOWZE PHYLLISS JOHNSON LATOYA JOHNSO-RAINEY DR. DAWNDRA JONES JACQUELINE JONES-MITCHELL FRANCES JORDAN CARLEEN KING, MBA DENA LAMAR NICOLE NARVAEZ MANNS SHARON MCINTOSH JUDITH WOODSON MCNEIL ANGELA MIKE TERRI MINOR-SPENCER TONI MURPHY AMANDA NEATROUR EVELYN NEWSOME DR. JOYLETTE PORTLOCK DR. RUTHIE REA CAMILA RIVERA-TINSLEY TIMIRA RUSH TRICIA SHELTON AMBER SLOAN CHARLISE SMITH LISA SYLVESTER FLO TAYLOR JUEL THOMAS-SMITH TAMMY THOMPSON NATALIE S. TYLER RAMONA RUTH WILKES JUDY WRIGHT

STACIE ALLEN CEO, Jazz Bean Entertainment Director, Soul Food Murder Mystery Show Stacie Allen is a true creative. She is the founder and CEO of Jazz Bean, LLC, which produces various live entertainment events.

Allen is the writer/director of the Soul Food Murder Mystery Comedy Show. The event is in its fifth year and so far, every show has sold out.

Allen is also a co-owner of a pop-up ladies accessory boutique in Penn Hills.

Allen has roots in the fashion and beauty industry. She attended Duff’s Business Institute for fashion merchandising and the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy and is the former owner of New Image Beauty Salon.

Allen is an active member of the women’s business network east division. She has always been a giver, and for this, she credits her mother, Dolores Allen, resting with God. She is also a proud mother of three extraordinary adults, Gregory, Jeremie and Ashley.

Allen hosts a Sunday flea market at the Festivity Event Center located in Penn Hills in which she organized a table of giving. The table of giving is set aside for donations of household goods or clothing. All are welcome to either donate an item to the table or take an item.

Allen loves to encourage others to connect to their passions or by helping them start their own business.

She starts each morning by first thanking God for leading her. She then relaxes in her den sipping her favorite

black tea and making beaded bracelets for her family and friends.

She stays active by walking on her treadmill that she has lovingly named Travis. Her motto is, “always stay true to yourself, live each day like it’s your birthday and never stop creating.”

Allen is truly grateful to be recognized by the New Pittsburgh Courier as a 2023 “Women of Excellence” honoree.

Class of 2018 Honorees CECILE M. SPRINGER LEGACY HONOREE TIA BAKER SALOAM BEY BETTY BRAXTER LAKEISHA “KI KI” BROWN BRITTEE CLAY LORI CRISWELL LARAE CULLENS LATIKA DAVIS-JONES, PHD, MPH, MSW DEBRA DENNISON MALESIA DUNN CHRISTIN DURHAM MAMAR GELAYE VICTORIA A. GARNER MARITA GARRETT JUDITH K. GINYARD ARAINA GRAHAM MARSHA GRAYSON LASHAUNDRA HAMMONDS

TANYA J. ASHBY

SHERDINA HARPER ALETA HEARD

Social Worker at Martin Luther King PreK-8 Pittsburgh Public Schools Tanya J. Ashby is a native of Middletown, Ohio, which is just north of Cincinnati. She graduated from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, near Dayton, with an Associate in Child Development, and a Bachelor’s in Social Welfare. She continued her education and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s in Social Work.

She is a licensed and certified social worker at Pittsburgh Martin Luther King Jr. School, on the North Side.

Some of Ashby’s prior employment experiences include the Pressley Ridge P.R.Y.D.E. Program as a PSCL (Parent Supervisor Community Liaison), a prevention specialist with Pittsburgh Mercy, and a mental/behavioral health assistance with Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Ashby resides in the West End. She and her husband, Kelvin, have two young adult children, Tyrell and Arianna. Ashby is an active

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

REV. CARMEN D. HOLT NIKKIA INGRAM

member of Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, in East Liberty, where she co-facilitates the Sister to Sister Women’s Bible Class.

She is a proud member of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and a Board Member of H.O.P.E. for Tomorrow Inc. (Helping Ourselves Produce Excellence). Ashby received the S.W.A.G. Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

She is grateful to God for this recognition as a Courier “Woman of Excellence” and appreciative to be included in such prestigious company.

MINIKA JENKINS DIANE JOHNSON CHERYL JOHNSON SHEILA L. JOHNSON, PHD, DMIN. NICHOLE KINDRED VALERIE KINLOCH CLAUDIA M. KREGG-BYERS, PHD REV. SHANEA D. LEONARD JANET K. MANUEL NICKEIA MASON GRACE WANKIIRI ORSATTI, ESQ. DIANE POWELL SIMONE QUINERLY ALETA RICHARDS BONITA L. RICHARDSON DIONNA ROJAS YASMIN SHAHEED M. SHERNELL SMITH SHAWNA SOLOMON KARLA STALLWORTH DEVON TALIAFERRO IRIS TOWNSEND RUTH WALKER FAWN WALKER-MONTGOMERY LENORE WILLIAMS LINDA WILLIAMS-MOORE ROWINEA WOOTEN

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

JENEEN ASQUE-WILSON

DENISE H. BAKER, MSN, CRNP

CEO, Abundant Life Community & Home Supports Program Manager of Community Engagement, DHS/OBH/ Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Services

Chief Operating Officer Primary Care Health Services

Jeneen Asque-Wilson’s journey through life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to helping others, a loving family, and a thriving career. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she imbibed the values of compassion and service from an early age. From her educational achievements to her extensive work in the field of social services, to her entrepreneurial ventures that emphasize health and well-being.

Asque-Wilson is currently employed with the Department of Human Services/Office of Behavioral Health/Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services as a Program Manager of Community Engagement. There she engages with the community and collaborates with various organi-

Denise H. Baker is the COO of Primary Care Health Services. Her 10 years of experience as a Certified Registered Family Nurse Practitioner provides her with a unique vantage point when serving the community through health care.

She practices family medicine and manages the operations and quality department for nine federally qualified health centers in Allegheny County. Baker has experience in the hospital setting, skilled nursing, sleep medicine, pulmonology, and community health.

She is currently working with the executive team at PCHS and funders to help build a new health center in Homewood.

She has a passion to help bring healing to the disenfranchised.

Baker has served overseas in Nigeria and Venezuela on medical mission trips. She has served Somali refugees at Northview Heights and provided community health at an Osage Indian Reservation in Tulsa. Her husband, William A. Baker IV, is a pastor, public speaker, and Ph.D. student at Duquesne University in the School of Rhetoric. Mrs. Baker is the proud mother of four vibrant boys: Uriah (12), Noah (10), William (8) and Simeon (2).

zations to address public health concerns, enhance access to resources, and contribute to the overall well-being and recovery of individuals in our community.

In her commitment to community service, she is also an active member of the Urban League Guild of Greater Pittsburgh.

Asque-Wilson graduated from Chatham College, where she earned a master’s degree in Psychology. In her personal life, she is a loving wife to an amazing and supportive husband, Wendell Wilson. Her mother Roberta, her brother Gene, family members, and her two sons, Dorian and Luther “aka” Marcus, hold a special place in her heart.

They provide her with the love and encouragement that fuel her tireless dedication to helping others.

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

J. BESLEY Class of 2016 GLORIA President, Regency Crest Realty Inc. Honorees Owner, Gloria J. Besley, LPA Accounting & Tax Services DIANE NEELY BATES TYIAN BATTLE MARIA LEWIS BETHEL TAMMY SPENCER BEY DINA ‘FREE’ BLACKWELL REV. MAUREEN F. CROSS BOLDEN SONYA R. CHAMBERS LORRAINE CROSS DIANE I. DANIELS TAMMY L. DAVIS TENEL DORSEY AMY LYN ELLIOTT KATHI R. ELLIOTT JACQUE FIELDER RHONDA L. FLEMING RENEE GALLOWAY, PhD CAROL LYNN GREER RONELL GUY ERICA COCHRAN HAMEEN, PhD NICOLA HENRY-TAYLOR, ESQ. KIM HOOTS LINDA J. IVERSON, PhD CHARMELLE JACKSON LORIE JOHNSON-OSHO, EdD MARCELLA L. LEE BISHOP CYNTHIA MOORE- KOIKOI REV. NICHELLE NELSON TORY N. PARRISH ERIN PERRY TAMARE P. PIERSAINT, PhD ERIN E. POTTER DARLENE L. POWELL LUCILLE PRATER-HOLLIDAY REV. DR. JOAN PRENTICE THERAINE A. RANSOME YOLANDA ROBERTS RENA A.S. ROBINSON REV. APRIL D. ROEBUCK JESSICA RUFFIN TAMARA SANDERS-WOODS, EdD ROXANNE NORMAN SEWELL DANIELLE M. SMITH MATHILDA SPENCER, PhD ARZELLA STEWARTMCCAULEY, PhD CHRISTEL N. TEMPLE, PhD RENEE D. THOMAS TE’ONA M. WILLIAMS BOFTA YIMAM

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Class of 2014 Honorees

Gloria J. Besley is a Pittsburgh native, a proud product of the Hill District. Besley attended Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Upon graduation, she attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and worked in the medical field for seven years, before changing careers to pursue an interest in business. She successfully replaced her full-time job working parttime in real estate. In transitioning into a business career, Besley realized she had perfected a profitable and recurring real estate referral system. Today, Besley is a published author, journalist, real estate broker, Pennsylvania public accountant, IRS Enrolled Agent, and General Contractor. Her company, Regency Crest Realty, is a full-service real estate corporation.

MURIEL FOX ALIM ANGELA ALLIE CARMEN ANDERSON TERRI L. BALTIMORE CHARLENE FOGGIE BARNETT RASHALL M. BRACKNEY ANDREA D. BROWN TERRY L. BURDEN LASHAWN BURTON-FAULK BRIDGETTE N. COFIELD, JD, SPHR KAREN COLBERT ALIYA D. DURHAM MAXINE ENGRAM SHARON FLAKE ALMA SPEED FOX—

ANGELA BLANTON

LEGACY HONOREE

Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Carnegie Mellon University Angela Blanton was appointed Carnegie Mellon University’s vice president for finance and chief financial officer in 2017 after serving as interim vice president and CFO in 2016.

As CFO, Blanton provides strategic leadership for the university’s business and finance functions, as well as for the management of its financial and capital resources.

She oversees Budget and Financial Planning, Business Applications Development and Support, the Controller’s Office, Procurement Services, the Treasurer’s Office, Finance Training and Communications, and University Audit Services. Within those units lie critical business functions including (but not limited to) payroll, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, sponsored projects accounting, international operations, and financial systems. Blanton is highly collaborative across all functions to support the university’s vision of transformative impact on society through continual innovation in education, research, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Blanton has over two decades of experience in finance, project management and engineering disciplines within the higher education, financial services and manufacturing industries. Prior to joining Carnegie Mellon, she was CFO for PNC Investments.

Blanton serves on the board of the global asset management firm GCM Grosvenor, which became a public company in 2020. She is chair of Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Board of Trustees, and volunteers on sever-

al other non-profit boards, including the Black Economic Advancement Mobility (BEAM) Collaborative and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). Additionally, Blanton serves on the Inclusive & Equitable Economy Committee for the Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh (PELGP).

LISA B. FREELAND MINISTER DEBRA GERMANY

Blanton received her bachelor of science in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, and her MBA from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.

VALIDIA M. GIDDENS AMERA GILCHRIST MICHELE GOODMAN-JONES DEANNE HAMILTON VERA HEFFLIN-EDWARDS BIBIANA HILL REGINA B. HOLLEY, PHD FRANCES TAGGERT HOLLY ELIZABETH L. HUGHES, ESQ. ERIN ISSAC, DMD KIMBERLY M. JACKSON NATALIE D. JACKSON DIANA JAMES LORETTA JETER KATIE EVERETTE JOHNSON— LEGACY HONOREE PAMELA JOHNSON REV. MARIE KELLY CHARLESE MCKINNEY VELVET V. MICKENS SHAUNDA MILES MARIMBA MILLIONES CAROL W. MOHAMED REV. DR. JUDITH C. MOORE CHRISTINA PRESTON SHEILA L. RAWLINGS LA DAWN ROBINSON CHERYL RUFFIN, MDIV CARYL J. SHEFFIELD DIANNE BILLIE SWAN SONYA M. TOLER ERICA L. UPSHAW-GIVNER LISA STROTHER UPSHER, MS TISHEKIA E. WILLIAMS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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SHERENE BRANTLEY

Associate Athletic Director for Academic and Student Services, Senior Woman Administrator, and Deputy Title IX Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Coordinator Duquesne University Meet Sherene Brantley, a highly accomplished individual who holds several essential roles at Duquesne University.

As the Associate Athletic Director for Academic and Student Services, Senior Woman Administrator, and Deputy Title IX Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Coordinator, Brantley has been an integral part of the university for over two decades. She is responsible for overseeing the academic and support services of more than 450 student-athletes daily, ensuring their academic success and mitigating any risks to their graduation outcomes.

Brantley is particularly dedicated to promoting the mental health, well-being, and welfare of student-athletes at Duquesne. She creates a positive academic environment that values enrolled athletes and promotes their academic success. Brantley is also committed to ensuring a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus, serving as the Chair of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion. In this capacity, she collaborates with the Chief Diversity Officer and other stakeholders to develop strategies and tactics that foster an inclusive environment.

Brantley is a former women’s volleyball all-conference student-athlete and now resides in Mt. Lebanon with her husband Yardon and their two children, Aven and Reign.

QIANA BUCKNER

Associate Director of Programming, Alliance for Police Accountability Founder & CEO, Lady ‘Q’ Network & A Diamond in the Rough Productions “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain” —Vivian Green Qiana Buckner chooses to dance.

Survivor. Believer. Strong. Loving. Inspiring. Impactful. Buckner is a living testimony of God’s mercy and grace. Having endured many hardships as a child from growing up in the foster care system, experiencing homelessness, suffering from physical, verbal, mental, and emotional abuse, she believes wholeheartedly in the power of God’s redemption. Buckner learned to lean on God’s promises and that has kept her strong and resilient throughout her life.

Buckner is inspired by her wonderful children, Kevin and Korey.

She calls them her heartbeats, her lifelines, and loves to be their biggest cheerleader whether they are on or off the

field.

As an entrepreneur, Buckner implements passion projects such as Girl P.O.W.E.R (a mentoring program) Gifts for Grads (a scholarship program), Camp of Champions (a sports/mentor camp), expositions for education, health and wellness, and so much more. Her company has hosted numerous women’s empowerment conferences throughout the years which has and continues to impact lives across the globe.

Lady “Q” is a published author having written and published three books, including, “My Journey. My Peace” which tells of her life’s journey.

In early 2023, making history, she became the first African American to run for mayor of Penn Hills. She placed second in the primary election.

Buckner says: “I am Lady ‘Q’ and I am empowered to inspire.”

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

Class of 2013 TRACY LYNN CALHOUN District Mathematics Academic Coach Honorees Pittsburgh Public Schools CAROL L. ADAMS MARLA D. BRADFORD CHARLOTTE BROWN, PhD VICTORIA E. BRYANT FRANCINE B. CAMERON MESSENGER ANNETTE CARSWELL RENEE SMITH CLARK, PhD TRACY L. CLARK LUTITIA A. CLIPPER PhD MARY L. COFFEY PAMELA COLLIER DR. ESA MATIUS DAVIS, MPH STEPHANIE DURRETT MONICA EARLY KIM EL ROBYN E. FRANCIS OLGA T. GEORGE RONITA S. GILES ROBYN GREER TERINA JETT HICKS IMOGENE MILES HINES RUTH J. HOWZE SHANICKA L. KENNEDY, ESQ. MONICA D. LAMAR DESIREE S. LEE KILOLO LUCKETT A. KELLY MCCORMICK MONIQUE MCINTOSH, MEd DONNA MICHEAUX, PhD CYNTHIA MOORE TRACEY NASH CAROL AWKARD NEYLAND CONSTANCE PARKER STAYCEE R. PEARL EBONY RENEE PUGH MINETTE SEATE BEV SMITH––2013 LEGACY HONOREE DEBRA VALENTINE-GRAY ALLEGRA WAKEFIELD ANITA B. WALKER CAROL A. WASHINGTON CHRISTINE B. WHITE-TAYLOR EdD GAIL L. WHITEHEAD TAMARA L. WHITING LISA A. WILDS ARLETTA SCOTT WILLIAMS DETECTIVE CHRISTINE WILLIAMS DENISE L. WILLIAMS ERROLINE WILLIAMS EdD GAYLE M. YOUNG

Tracy Lynn (Holmes) Calhoun is a proud graduate of Monessen High School who began an exciting career as a Transplant Financial Coordinator for Children’s Hospital. She continued her education at the University of Pittsburgh where she was on the Dean’s List, was a member of the International Honor Society, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2003, which included teaching specialty coursework. She was a 2004 recipient of the African American Teacher Fellowship from the University of Pittsburgh that led her to earning a Master of Arts degree in Teaching in 2005, also from the University of Pittsburgh.

She began her distinguished career in Pittsburgh Public Schools that same year and has taught third through sixth grade students in the content areas of English Language Arts, Science, and Math. Her current position in PPS is a District Mathematics Academic Coach serving seven schools. Additionally in the summer, Calhoun dedicates herself to serving as a camp director for Summer BOOST for the past 13 years.

Calhoun was also selected and currently serves as a cohort member of Teach Plus in their Equity Leadership Institute, which partners with Pittsburgh Public Schools to use an evidence-based approach to improve diversity within the district.

Calhoun has also held unique positions such as an assistant football coach for the Monessen Tiny Mite Midg-

DR. MELODY CARTER-FRYE

Workforce Development Manager Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Economic justice and community empowerment have always been areas that have been a focal point for Dr. Melody Carter-Frye and over the past 11 years she has found ways to put that passion to work in the arena of workforce and economic development. Currently, she serves as the Workforce Development Manager with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority where she partners with regional employers and educational entities beginning with K-12 through university-level to create solutions around the workforce.

As Workforce Development Manager, Dr. Carter-Frye is responsible for forming, progressing, and solidifying partnerships with regional leadership to provide training and career development opportunities to those in the community who are unemployed or underemployed, as well as by creating opportunities for employees within PWSA considering ways to upskill and advance their career objectives without having to leave the authority. Through this important work, she aims to generate more employment opportunities for those in the community that have barriers to employment and those who experience occupational frustration by exposing them to numerous professional corridors within the workforce.

Specific programming has been conceived and implemented by Dr. Carter-Frye including: The Job Shadowing Initiative in collaboration with LandForce Pittsburgh, and the “Explore & Tour a Career in Water” program aimed at providing exposure to young people to essential

et League Division in 1998, a guest DJ at WAMO in 1999 with Sly Jock, and a co-author of the featured article, “Coverage Maximums: Can Intestine Transplant recipients afford to Survive in 2002.”

Calhoun currently resides in Monessen with her husband, William, and has a blended family including her four children, Cathy, Saquya, William III, and her son, Kevin.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Class of 2012 Honorees DARA WARE ALLEN, PhD JERRY ANN ALLEN ELAYNE ARRINGTON, PhD JARENE BARNES TiANDA BLOUNT NANCY TRAVIS BOLDEN JEAN BRYANT JEANNE V. CRICHLOW JUDITH M. DAVENPORT, DMD LYNETTE DRAWNWILLIAMSON BARBARA EVANS, EdD CHERYL SQUIRE FLINT KAREN FLORENCE LISA M. FORD, MSW, LSW LOVETTA FORD, MSW LISA MICHELLE GARLAND, MBA CHERYL HALL-RUSSELL ELAINE HARRIS-FULTON GINA R. HICKMAN

careers in the water sector. She is a mentor through the YCLA program mentoring experiential learning interns.

Embedded in her work are principles supporting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Dr. Carter-Frye has been the lead for and is responsible for launching internal Employee Resource Groups, providing data and analysis of workforce in the areas of where employees live, how much they are paid, demographics related to race, occupation, gender/sex, and years of service.

Dr. Carter-Frye is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the University of Phoenix with a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training. She also holds a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) with a focus in Organizational Leadership and is also a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Business Honor Society. She is a cohort grad of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative (LDI XXX), and Coro Pittsburgh’s Women in Leadership Civic Leadership program. She had served on the Board of Directors for Ward Home for over six years.

Aside from her day job, Dr. Carter-Frye does consulting with The Workforce Innovation Zone. Dr. Carter-Frye is an author of a book: “SPICES: Six Essential Ingredients for Financial Prosperity” and is releasing a forthcoming children’s book: “I Want to Build Things.”

When Dr. Carter-Frye isn’t working or writing, she enjoys spending time traveling with friends and family and investing in real estate and index funds.

Dr. Carter-Frye is a mother of three: Malachi, Malcolm, and Maliah, and she is married for over 13 years to her wonderful, devoted husband, Quentin.

DIANE R. HUGHLEY MICHELLE JACKSON SHIRLEY A. JOHNSON OLIVIA JONES TONI S. KENDRICK MARGARET L. LANIER LISA M. MCBRIDE, PhD ROBIN M. MUNGO DENISE L. NORRIS ROCHELLE OAKS, PhD CASSANDRA ODEN JOELYNN H. PARHAM GEORGETTE D. POWELL CHARLEEDA REDMAN, RN, MSN, ACM MELISSA RICE MICHELE RICE FELICIA LANE SAVAGE MARY L. SHIELDS MARCIA M. STURDIVANT, PhD SARAH L. SUMPTER LYNNETTE TAYLOR-CRIEGO LENALL THOMAS, PhD, MSW DR. CATHERINE UDEKWU CHLOE VELASQUEZ DEBORAH L. WALKER LARA WASHINGTON GWENDOLYN L. WATKINS REV. LAURAN B. WEBB BRENDA B. WELLS REV. ELEANOR WILLIAMS LATASHA WILSON-BATCH

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

IMOGENE L. CATHEY, ESQ. Vice President and General Counsel Seton Hill University Imogene L. Cathey is a higher education professional with nearly 14 years of executive-level leadership experience with institutions of higher education. Since 2015, Cathey has served as the inaugural Vice President and General Counsel for Seton Hill University in Greensburg.

In this role, Cathey oversees the General Counsel department which consists of the Office of General Counsel, Human Resources and Payroll Office, and the Title IX Compliance Office.

In addition to her daily responsibilities, Cathey provides leadership at Seton Hill through various committees and groups.

Building on prior teaching experience, Cathey has also contributed to Seton Hill University as an adjunct professor in Business Law courses.

As an extension of her role at Seton Hill, Cathey has contributed to her local and regional community through service on numerous boards: Laurel Legal Services, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, the Westmoreland Diversity Coalition, and The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Cathey has expanded the scope of service to her community as a charter member of the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc., Pittsburgh Steel City Chapter, where she chairs the Scholarship Committee.

Cathey’s professional affiliations in-

clude: The National Association of College and University Attorneys, Association of College and University Policy Administrators, Black Conference on Higher Education, Pennsylvania Bar Association (currently Chair, In-House Counsel Committee), African American Chamber of Commerce of SW Pennsylvania, Vibrant Pittsburgh, and the Westmoreland and Allegheny County Bar Associations.

Cathey holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from Florida A&M University and a J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Cathey has been a practicing attorney since 1999 and is licensed in Florida, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Cathey is a native of Chicago and currently resides in Greensburg with her dog, Pepper.

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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VALARIE DALLIS COLEMAN

Program Director, Naomi’s Place Transitional Housing Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, The Salvation Army Valarie Dallis Coleman has been intertwined within the field of human services for 15 years, working with individuals with a history of probation/parole, substance abuse, mental health, homelessness, and domestic violence. For years, her volunteer and professional roles consistently overlapped, which proved that her passion was simply, people.

She has matriculated through the higher education system in the fields of Business Administration, Corporate Communications, Public Administration and Social Work with a concentration in Drug and Alcohol/Mental Health.

In 2010, she initially reached out to Naomi’s Place to serve/volunteer and unbeknownst to her, that was the beginning to the expansion of her career in human services. She transitioned from being a Volunteer Coordinator, Drug and Alcohol Case Manager to ultimately being asked to become the Program Director.

Recently, Coleman was hired to build a housing program for The Salvation Army’s Anti-Human Trafficking Department from the ground up to help survivors, (men, women, teens) attain a chance for a better life. In addition to her work with this vulnerable population, she had the opportunity to oversee and teach graduate student interns how to navigate the waters of working in a trauma-informed

manner.

Her parents raised her to put herself first, but to always “save a seat” for someone else. She believes, “If you have the capability to give, do it. If you have the capacity to give, do it. If you have the desire to give, do it.”

That’s why she annually distributes gift cards to families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

In addition to her work with human trafficking survivors, she is a mentor to many battling with severe mental health disorders, a champion to those struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, and a consistent support network for those coming out of incarceration.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

Class of 2011 Honorees

TRACEY CONTI, M.D.

ATIYA ABDELMALIK-JOHNSON, RN, BSN RENEE P. ALDRICH MARIA D. ANDERSON THE HON. CYNTHIA A. BALDWIN ROBIN D. BECKHAM JACKIE BLAKEY-TATE CYNTHIA BRADLEY-KING, PHD TAMMY MILES BROWN, PHD CARLOTTA K. BURGESS KARLA THREADGILL BYRD PAULA B. CASTLEBERRY VALIRE CARR COPELAND, PHD, MPH MAGALI CURIEL SHARON DANIELS KAREN EADY-LOCKETT GLADYS E. EDMUNDS REV. BRENDA J. GREGG LINDA CAWTHON GRIFFIN MELANIE HARRINGTON LYNNE HAYES-FREELAND ANNA E. HOLLIS LAVERNE BAKER HOTEP KIM L. JEFFERSON CECELIA JENKINS PATRICIA PRATTIS JENNINGS LEGACY HONOREE RHONDA JONES-FITCH KIM LAMPKINS CARMEN J. LEE DEBRA L. MASON SHARON L. MCDANIEL, PHD COLLEEN MCMULLEN LISA E. MINOR KIMBERLY MOSES, ESQ. DARLENE GAMBILL MOTLEY, PHD MAELENE J. MYERS CHARLENE NEWKIRK, JD CONNIE PORTIS GRACE ROBINSON, LUTC, MBA LATONYA SALLEY-SHARIF MARY HAITH SAVAGE JENNIFER BRUCE SCOTT, RN, BSN ROBIN HORSTON SPENCER, MHS, MS, MBA EVANGELIST LOLA M. THORPE SHELLEY FANT UKU CRYSTAL MCCORMICK WARE CHRISTINA L. WILDS, PHD ANDREA M. WILLIAMS JACQUELINE WILSON SYLVIA WILSON KIMBERLY L. WOOD

Dr. Tracey Conti serves as the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC. She previously served in several roles in the department including Vice Chair for education and practice integration, Program Director for the UPMC McKeesport Family Medicine Residency Program, and most recently, Executive Vice Chair. Dr. Conti is a native of Pittsburgh and graduated from Woodland Hills High School.

Her journey to become a physician led her to attend the Benjamin Banneker Honors College at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, where she received a B.S. in Biology. She is a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Maryland where she served as chief resident. Dr. Conti is fellowship-trained in women’s health and faculty development.

After training, Dr. Conti returned home and has been serving the communities in Pittsburgh since 2001. She was the Medical Director of the Matilda Theiss Health Center in the Hill District and was the lead investigator to seek funding as a Federally

Chair, Department of Family Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine/UPMC

LEONTYNE T. DAFFIN, MSN, RN

President, Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action Faculty, UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing Leontyne T. Daffin has been a faculty member at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing since 2017, after transitioning from a management position at UPMC Montefiore Hospital where she worked since 2008. She is the co-chair of the foundational level nursing course, where she collaborates to create meaningful learning experiences for entry-level nursing students. She serves on various committees on a local and system-wide level, which includes the Faculty Development Committee, Professional Practice Development Committee, Student Services Committee, Nursing Inclusion Council, and Employees of Color and Allies Employee Resource Group. She is a part of the inaugural UPMC Diversity Mentorship Program and has started the development of a student Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging group at UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing.

In 2023 and 2019, her students nominated her for the nationally recognized award for nurses, the DAISY Extraordinary Faculty Award, because of her positive impact, influence and service to the nursing

Qualified Health Center status for that site.

The majority of Dr. Conti’s clinical care has been in the McKeesport area where she continues to practice at the Latterman Family Health Center and UPMC McKeesport hospital. She has participated in many youth and community educational outreach programs and was a founding board member for the 9th Street free clinic where she also continues to provide care.

She is a founding member of the Black Equity Coalition. This Pittsburgh-based coalition is a group of public health researchers, business people and elected officials working to address health equity as a way to secure better health and economic outcomes for the Black community. She is a member of the Board of Directors for UPMC Health Plan and was also selected to lead the primary care subgroup of the UPMC Board of Directors Health Equity Committee. Her clinical and advocacy interests include health disparities and healthcare delivery to underserved communities, medical education, and women’s health.

Dr. Conti enjoys singing, reading, crafts and watching sports and loves being a soccer and dance mom. She is married to Rev. Dr. Christopher T. Conti, who is an emergency medicine physician and pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rankin. They are the proud parents of seven children: Christopher Jr., Nicholas, Matthew, Zachary, Jacob, Benjamin and Sarah.

profession’s role in patient care.

In 2022, she obtained her Master of Science in Nursing, with a concentration in nursing education from Capella University. She also holds a BSN from Waynesburg University, ADN from CCAC, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from South Carolina State University.

She is the President of the Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action (PBNIA), and a lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association.

Her community work continues as a member of the Pittsburgh Historically Black Colleges and Universities Collaborative. The PGH HBCU Collaborative is where HBCU alumni in the Pittsburgh region promote the importance of academic success and college completion through community engagement activities. She also serves on the Career and Technical Education’s Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) for her alma mater, Westinghouse High School.

Daffin is active in her church, Mount Ararat Baptist Church, where she serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Daffin spends her time in service to others, uplifting those with whom she encounters. She dedicates this prestigious honor to her mother, and thanks her sisters and extended family, who are her biggest supporters.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Class of 2010 Honorees MIYOSHI ANDERSON GAYLE LIGHTFOOT BALL KIMBERLY WADDELL BARR LINDA IMANI BARRETT SHEILA BEASLEY DR. WILMA SMITH BEAUFORD JEANETTE BLACKSTON, EdD GLORIA MCGHEE BROWN PATRICE KING BROWN JOANNE COBB BURLEY, PhD OPHELIA COLEMAN TENE CROOM AMARGIE DAVIS DR. CAROLYN GEE DAVIS ELIZABETH NIECY DENNIS ORLANA DARKINS-DREWERY JOYCE ELLIS ALMA SPEED FOX ALBERTHA GRAHAM-ELLISON, PhD REV. BARBARA GUNN HOLLY HATCHER-FRAZIER PASTOR CHARLAYNE HENRY MARLENE GARY HOGAN DEBORAH HOLLAND LISA HALEY HUFF MARGUERITA V. JOHNSON PATRICE WADE JOHNSON AMELIA MICHELE JOINER, ESQ. GERALDINE M. JONES, PROVOST MARSHA ELLIS JONES LINDA S. LANE, EdD ALLISON LEE-MANN DR. EMMA LUCAS-DARBY DARCEL MADKINS TARA MARKS LA’TASHA D. MAYES LAUREL RAGLAND DR. BEVERLY ROBERTS-ATWATER FLORENCE ROUZIER CECILE SHELLMAN JOY STARZL BRENDA TATE EMMA THORNTON KATHY MAYLE TOWNS CHATON T. TURNER, ESQ. MARGARETSMITH WASHINGTON SHEILA A. WASHINGTON REV. B. De NEICE WELCH VALERIE WHEATLEY ELISE ROBY YANDERS

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

TAMIKA SIMPSON DARWIN Program Manager Auberle-Ward Home Tamika Darwin (Simpson) possesses a passion for youth and huge commitment to improve the quality of life, achievement, and success of young people, particularly for the at-risk population. Darwin serves as Program Manager for Auberle’s Supervised Independent Living Program Ward Home Inc. In this role, she orchestrates, seeks, develops and implements programming for youth ages 16-20 through care and life skills to ensure that they have the knowledge, resources, and (most importantly) the skills, mindset, and capability necessary to provide the highest quality care and support to the youth she serves.

Prior to working in her leadership role, Darwin worked front line for 13 years starting with Three Rivers Center for Independent Living. She has also served as a Direct Support Specialist, Life Skills Teacher, and Supervisor. A Slippery Rock University graduate, Darwin plans to return to school in 2026, (yes, at age 50), to pursue a master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Management. Her work is grounded in trauma informed care and mental health first aid. Darwin was formally trained by the Traumatic Stress Institute, located in New Britain, Conn., and certified as a trainer in 2013 as a Trauma Informed Trainer.

She is confident that while many at-risk youth are dealing with trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), they still

have the capacity and the will to result in a greater quality of life by way of health, wellness, education, employment, family and community with proper supports and resources.

Darwin is a devoted wife to her husband, Nathaniel D. She is a loving mother to her son and three daughters, Najier D., Talawn D, Taniah D, and Tamiya D. She is a native of Pittsburgh and the proud daughter of Robert Sapp Jr. and the late Debra Sapp.

A spiritual, not religious woman, Darwin became a member of Bethel AME Church, 17 years ago, then under the leadership of the late, great Rev. Dr. James L. McLemore and now Rev. Dale B. Snyder.

Darwin is also one of the founding members of EarCandi Ent. and Distinguished 412. Darwin and her family are also entrepreneurs, owners of a locally Black-owned, Painting With A Twist franchise for over 11 years.

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

15

DR. DAREN A. ELLERBEE Director, Educational Outreach Center University of Pittsburgh, Office of the Provost Dr. Daren A. Ellerbee is a dedicated bridge builder with a diverse career spanning non-profit, government, and higher education sectors. In her current role as the inaugural director of the University of Pittsburgh’s University Educational Outreach Center (EOC), Dr. Ellerbee leads initiatives within the Office of the Provost to create equitable pathways to college for underserved and historically underrepresented students, particularly Black and brown youth. Prior to this, she served as the founding director of the Pitt Community Engagement Center (CEC) in Homewood, the institution’s first place-based CEC. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in designing and leading Pitt’s hyperlocal, place-based engagements in the East End. Dr. Ellerbee’s commitment to fostering thriving communities extends both professionally and through her volunteer efforts.

Currently, Dr. Ellerbee serves on The Advisory Commission for African American Affairs for Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, where she champions educational excellence for Black communities throughout Allegheny County. Additionally, she holds positions on the Board of Directors for the Empowerment, Assistance and Training (EAT) Initiative, PublicSource, the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute Higher

Education Subcommittee, and the Association for Resilient Campus Design and Innovation. She is also a founding member and former president of Robert Morris University’s Black Alumni Council and a member of the University of Pittsburgh African American Alumni Council.

Dr. Ellerbee holds a Doctor of Education degree from Pitt in Urban Education, a Master of Science in Communications & Information Systems from Robert Morris, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Rhetoric and Africana Studies from Pitt.

Seton Hill University congratulates

Vice President and General Counsel Imogene L. Cathey, Esq. and all of the recipients of

The New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Awards.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

FISHER Class of 2009 BRANDI Founder & CEO Honorees Alliance for Police Accountability CLAUDIA L. ALLEN TIMYKA ARTIST MARILYN BARNETT JO-ANNE BATES DEMEATRIA GIBSON BOCCELLA YVONNE BURNS KATHY BYNUM SHEILA CARTER-JONES DINA CLARK MICHELE RONE-COOPER PHYLLIS COMER ETTA COX ROSEMARY C. CRAWFORD DARIA CRAWLEY LUCILLE DABNEY HELEN DAVIS TOI DERRICOTTE VALERIE DIXON TRACY L. EDMUNDS GAIL D. EDWARDS YVONNE ENGLISHROEBUCK KIVA FISHER-GREEN DARRYL FORD-WILLIAMS MONA GENERETT KAREN HALL MARVA H. HARRIS GERRI HOLDEN KARRIS JACKSON OLA R. JACKSON DENISE JONES RHONDA CARSON LEACH CLAUDETTE R. LEWIS EVANGELIST BARBARA MANN LYZONA MARSHALL MARCIA A. MARTIN INEZ K. MILES ARLINDA MORIARTY AUDREY J. MURRELL JANE PRESSLEY NICHOLSON CARMELLE NICKENS PHILLIPS GREER REED-JONES DIANE RICHARD ELISA SANDERS CHARENA SWANN DAWN R. WEBB TURNER CURTISTINE WALKER OLGA WELCH KAREN FARMER WHITE CAMEIL D. WILLIAMS MARY A. WINSTON

Brandi Fisher is the Founder and CEO of Alliance for Police Accountability (APA). APA is a collective of voices fighting for change. APA exists to dismantle harmful systems of oppression, to mobilize community members as active agents of change, and to affirm the humanity of Black and other marginalized communities.

As a grassroots organization dedicated to criminal justice reconstruction, APA has been the catalyst for systemic change in policing in Allegheny County. Under Fisher’s leadership, APA has co-authored and passed several pieces of legislation including two referendums, ensured policing and public safety are a priority of local politics, and the advocacy has resulted in over $13 million being awarded to individuals and families subjected to injustice in Allegheny County.

Fisher has successfully convened numerous leaders and stakeholders to collaborate on human rights issues in Allegheny County and surrounding areas and is an expert on bridging the gaps that exist between political officials, organizations, community members and institutions. After the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, she convened a group of leaders from the Jewish and Black communities, as well as the mayor’s administration, to address the disparity in response to tragedies which has resulted in those communities now actively working closely together. Fisher also convened a diverse coalition of over 30 organizations to focus on systemic change within the criminal legal system. Additionally, Fisher convened the Coalition to Reimagine Public Safety, which is working with the city and county to implement a community-led public safety model that embodies a public health, trauma-informed approach to issues such as homelessness, drug use/abuse, mental health, and violence.

Fisher previously served as the Director of Organizing

ESTHER M. FRANKLIN Chief Executive Officer ALROWS, LLC

Esther M. Franklin, an author and serial entrepreneur with more than a decade of experience in the real estate sector, was born and raised in the City of Bridges.

One of her areas of expertise is centered in a niche market, namely highway infrastructure. Franklin specializes in right of way acquisition work. She is the CEO of ALROWS, LLC, which works with both the private and public sectors to assist in the process of roadway improvements, engineering and construction of bridges, highway design and road maintenance. She is passionate about developing a succession plan for right of way professionals in her industry. She believes that highway infrastructure contributes to economic growth through increased mobility. H Franklin has an MBA in Finance, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and she holds a real estate title agent license in multiple states.

Franklin formed TriState Paralegal Service, LLC, in June 2011 and ALROWS, LLC, in May of

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Class of 2008 Honorees

at Pittsburgh United where she facilitated a coalition of unions and grassroots organizations focused on economic justice and campaign strategy. She takes pride in assisting organizations in the understanding and use of evidence-based program development, evaluation, and communication.

Fisher owned and operated a learning center for children for 15 years and has over 18 years of experience in designing curriculum and programming for youth.

She is a foster mom and an advocate for children in the foster care system. Fisher serves on the board of YouthPlaces, City of Bridges Land Trust and the NAACP Pittsburgh Chapter.

Fisher has received multiple awards over the past decade and continues to be a resounding voice and advocate for humanity and equity.

2018. She is a highly effective Chief Executive Officer with over 19 years of experience. Offering an array of skills in business development, legal project management, real estate, paralegal support, marketing and corporate communications.

Franklin has served as a legal project manager for a highly regarded law firm. Her skills include supporting new associates to increase influence with key internal and external stakeholders, served as a coach to the paralegal team of a mid-sized law firm, resulting in higher quality in workflow processes, increased efficiency and repeat contract awards, managed team projects to maximize the portfolio including leasing/selling excess land, site abandonments, negative margin towers, tower relocations and obtaining blanket consents, formulated financial information from projects impacting financials, ground leases and customer license agreements, resolved all other real estate matters including condemnations, encroachment claims, easement relocations, tax liens, etc.

Her unique approach has been shaped by leading training and development teams, consulting with clients.

CHERYL ALLEN DONNA BAXTER TINA WILLIAMS BREWER MARILYN BROOKS JEAN BRYANT ESTHER BUSH RUTH BYRD-SMITH CANDI CASTLEBERRY SINGLETON DARIETH CHISOLM KIM BERKELY CLARK YVONNE COOK VERNA CRICHLOW PAULA DAVIS JACKIE DIXON ELAINE EFFORT HELEN FAISON LILLIA MICHELLE FERGUSON SYLVIA HILL FIELDS KAREN GARLAND JUDITH GRIGGS ERNESTINE HARRIS PEGGY HARRIS ELSIE HENDERSON KATHY HUMPHREY RHONDA MOORE JOHNSON PHYLLIS JONES MARGARET LARKINSPETTIGREW VERNELL LILLIE LOIS MUFUKA MARTIN JOYCE MEGGERSON-MOORE VELMA MONTEIRO-TRIBBLE M. GAYLE MOSS SHIRLEY MUHAMMAD MARY SMITH PETERS VALERIE MCDONALD ROBERTS ALICE SCALES TONI Y. SILVA BEV SMITH JEANNETTE SOUTH-PAUL CECILE SPRINGER CELESTE TAYLOR WINIFRED TORBERT NANCY WASHINGTON BRENDA WATERS DORIS CARSON WILLIAMS LEAH WILLIAMS-DUNCAN JANIS BURLEY WILSON JOY MAXBERRY WOODRUFF JULIE ZEIGLER

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

17

L’TESHA J. GAMBLE-PETTIS

MICHELLE GAINEY First Lady, City of Pittsburgh Co-Founder, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Project Michelle Gainey, a Pittsburgh native, has devoted over 20 years to workforce development, demonstrating an unwavering and remarkable dedication. She proudly hails as an alumna of Westinghouse High School, furthering her education with a Master’s Degree from Point Park University. In addition, she possesses dual undergraduate degrees acquired from Johnson & Wales University in Providence.

Gainey currently assumes the position of Lending Team Administrative Assistant at Bridgeway Capital. Simultaneously, she is a consultant with Catapult Greater Pittsburgh and the Day One Project. In these pivotal roles, she plays a central role in assisting young mothers in assessing their situations and devising plans for higher education or pursuing meaningful employment opportunities.

In February 2022, Gainey launched the “Pittsburgh Paints” initiative, a heartfelt response to Mayor Ed Gainey’s vision of fostering inclusivity and unity within the city. This initiative, conducted every month, serves as a platform for local artists to showcase their creative works in both the mayor’s office suite and the lobby of the City-County Building. These exhibitions offer an opportunity to celebrate personal artistic themes and na-

tionally significant events.

Her cherished moments are spent with family, friends, and her beloved Black Lab, GG. Michelle and her husband, Ed, proudly call Lincoln-Larimer home, where they are dedicated to raising their two youngest children, Alexa and Darius.

Their oldest daughter, Mariah, is married and lives in Pittsburgh, actively contributing to the local community.

Baldwin Investment Management Group, LLC CONGRATULATES

Justice Cynthia A. Baldwin on receiving the “New Pittsburgh Courier Women of Excellence Legacy Award”

Manager of PA Treatment Family Foster Care & Foster Parent Recruitment and Licensing Cayuga Centers When reflecting on L’Tesha J. Gamble-Pettis, the words that resonate are community, family, faith, and service.

Gamble-Pettis is a dedicated woman who on a daily basis is empowering and advocating for all those that she encounters in multiple arenas of her life.

Gamble-Pettis is the Manager of Recruitment and Licensing for Treatment Family Foster Care at Cayuga Centers.

She has a passion for making sure that systems and processes are in place to allow children to grow, learn, and overcome obstacles.

Gamble-Pettis was married to the late Simeon D. Pettis, and is a mother of two, Marcellus and Jonathan Pettis.

Gamble-Pettis is a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics.

She furthered her education at Geneva College receiving a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership.

She serves on the board of the Family Life Center in Aliquippa. r development opportunities for youth.

Gamble-Pettis serves on the board of the Hopewell Youth Football League where her sons play football. She’s the concessions manager responsible for coordinating volunteers and selling food to

provide financial support for the league.

Gamble-Pettis is a lifelong member of the Church in the Round, First Church of God in Christ, where Bishop Melvin E. Clark Sr. is her pastor. She works in mentorship of professional women through the Business and Professional Women’s Auxiliary of the church.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

SHEILA GLOVER

Supervisor, Meter Shops and Testing Duquesne Light Company Sheila Glover is supervisor, meter shops and testing, with Duquesne Light Company (DLC), where she has worked since 1983. In her current role, she leads a team focused on ensuring utility meters work properly and are deployed safely and efficiently to DLC’s 600,000 customers. Prior to this role, she worked at one of DLC’s former generation facilities in various capacities. She’s actively involved in volunteering with colleagues through the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and other local nonprofits and is a member of DLC’s business employee resource groups, BRIDGE and EmpowerHer. Glover earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business

TANIKA S. HARRIS

Director of Communications & Community Relations Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh Tanika S. Harris is a passionate “servant leader” with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. She is sensitive to the needs of all people and utilizes her administrative, public speaking, critical thinking, and conflict resolution skills to provide quality service. Harris is the Director of Communication & Community Relations at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and a founding partner of ACT3 Consulting Partners, LLC (ACT3), with Denele D. Biggs and Kendra Ross, Ph.D. ACT3 is a consulting group focusing on the intersection between arts and culture, community and technology.

Harris has a plethora of skill sets

she cultivated for 12 1⁄2 years as an executive-level leader for a global, faith-based organization. She has continued to build upon and broaden those skills in the years since with other community and faith-based non-profits. Her role required extensive domestic travel to develop relationships among diverse groups. She developed strong cultural competencies, community organizing, and communication skills through this work.

Harris has created and delivered presentations on race relations, congregation revitalization, community development, proposal writing, board development/ governance, and gender equity/ empowerment. She has present-

DR. VIRGINIA R. HILL

Chief Academic Officer Environmental Charter School Dr. Virginia Rae Hill is a dedicated educator with a career spanning over the last 30 years in public education. Her journey through education has seen her evolve from a classroom teacher to an influential administrative leader, profoundly impacting the lives of students and teachers throughout the Pittsburgh region.

Dr. Hill began her career as a General Science and Biology teacher in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Her commitment to education extended beyond the classroom as she assumed leadership roles in school improvement initiatives, faculty professional development, and served as a Train the Trainer participant for the implementation of the Comer School Development Model by the Yale Institutes.

Dr. Hill held a variety of teaching and leadership positions within the Pittsburgh Public Schools district. In these roles, she worked closely with teachers to enhance their instructional delivery, providing them

ed to audiences such as Carnegie Mellon University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Penn State

with professional development opportunities aimed at engaging students and improving academic achievement. Her visionary leadership also extended to partnering with EL Education to revamp the educational experience at schools like Pittsburgh Lincoln PreK-5 STEAM Academy and briefly at Milliones 6-12.

As she pursued her doctorate, Dr. Hill discovered her true passion – championing equity and confronting systemic racism that hinders the learning experiences of children of color. She underwent specialized training as an equity affiliate with the Pacific Education Group. This expertise allowed her to support various districts in Western Pennsylvania with equity and diversity professional development.

In 2017, Dr. Hill extended her influence by becoming a part-time consultant for the Danielson Group. She delivered professional development to administrators and teachers, focusing on the Danielson Evaluation Framework across multiple states.

In April 2020, Dr. Hill became the founding principal of Environmental Charter High School. In this role, she played a pivotal role in shaping curriculum and profession-

from Point Park University, Magna Cum Laude and attended business school.

Outside of work, she is an advocate for helping the community, especially children who she believes are the future.

She is a member of the Christian Mother’s Ladies Guild and participates in a variety of activities at her local church where she has been a member for 53 years. In her spare time, Glover enjoys reading, history, geology, traveling and binge-watching Perry Mason. As a proud Pittsburgher, Glover resides in the City of Pittsburgh, living on the same street she grew up on.

University (Greater Allegheny), Greensburg District United Methodist Church (UMC), Communities of Shalom Youth Conference (Drew University/UMC), National Harambee Youth Conference, and Philander Smith College (Little Rock), ranging from small to large gatherings of participants.

Harris believes, “We all have a responsibility to be change agents in our communities, and to do so, we must broaden our worldview to understand others, specifically those in need fully.”

Harris is a proud single mother of three children, a son-in-law, and a grandmother of five. She grew up in the Garfield Heights housing projects and attended the Pittsburgh Public Schools system from Kindergarten through high school.

She holds degrees from Point Park University in Organizational Leadership and from Community College of Allegheny County in

al learning opportunities for both students and teachers within the Ninth Grade Academy. Her dedication and expertise resulted in three successive promotions within the Environmental Charter School; first as the Executive Director of K-5 Academics, then as the interim Chief Operations Officer, and finally as the Chief Academic Officer.

Dr. Hill’s commitment to improving the community extends beyond the school walls. She has actively engaged in the fight against poverty and violence, fostering stronger connections between the school and local churches. Her efforts have led to her students organizing two peace marches in 2016.

In 2022, Dr. Hill’s dedication to education and community service was further recognized as she was elected Vice President of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education Alumni Society and joined the board of the Neighborhood Learning Alliance.

Dr. Hill’s educational journey is underpinned by a strong academic foundation, with a Bachelor of Science degree from Geneva College, K-12 Principal’s Certification from Indiana University of Pa., and a Doc-

Entrepreneurship and Business Management. These organizations helped to authenticate the work Harris was doing in the community and economic development sectors for most of her life.

Harris’ passion for creative arts and humanity combined to create the ideal storm for her to fearlessly question systems and ask, “why?”

Despite her professional experience advocating for “the least of these,” she began her work as a young child needing the support systems she subsequently contributes to developing and cultivating.

Harris’ experience is not unique, but her transparency and authentic candor are.

torate of Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Her unwavering commitment to equity, community development and education have made her a true pillar of the educational landscape. Dr. Hill’s career exemplifies the profound impact a dedicated educator can have on students, teachers, and the broader community.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

TIFFANY T. HUFF-STROTHERS

CEO & Founder, When She Thrives Executive Development & Storytelling Coach, The Tiffany Huff Experience Passionate about transforming lives, Tiffany T. Huff-Strothers is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and visionary founder and CEO of When She Thrives, an organization with a mission to empower single mothers through education, advocacy, and personal development. When She Thrives serves more than 500 women and children per year through the holistic and multigenerational approach to its programs and services which include, but are not limited to; Growing Through Grants rapid response crisis prevention grants purposed to prevent hunger, homelessness and unemployment; S.O.A.R. (Successfully Overcoming Adversity with Resilience); The Scenes From a Single Mom book project (through which more than 50 single mothers have become authors and entrepreneurs); and EmployHer Pittsburgh, a collaborative effort with Dress for Success Pittsburgh to disrupt and reimagine the training and hiring process for women in the region by removing all barriers on the front end.

In 2022, October 12 was designated “When She Thrives Day” in The City of Pittsburgh by Mayor Ed Gainey.

At The Tiffany Huff Experience, she merges leadership and narrative as an executive development and storytelling expert. Huff-Strothers’ influence extends beyond coaching to guiding over 75 women in their journey to become published authors. Additionally, she successfully spearheaded a dynamic group coaching program, Coffee + Clarity, that impacted the lives of 100-plus women. This year, she will host the inaugural Audacious Woman Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Empowering women, collaborating with organizations, and partnering with corporations are Huff-Strothers’ cornerstones, reflecting her unwavering commitment to personal and professional development. With her transformative storytelling prowess, she enhances team dynamics and cohesion, ensuring lasting positive change.

Huff-Strothers’ literary achievements include impactful books such as the award-winning “30 Day Stay: One Woman’s Story of Escaping Death, Healing from Heartbreak, and Finding Hope in Homelessness” and “EmpowerMoments,” showcasing her dedication to empowering others through relatable narratives and practical wisdom.

Her trailblazing journey as an entrepreneur, author, and advocate fuels positive change, inspiring individuals from diverse backgrounds, and as a woman of faith, she believes she is called by God to do this work. She has been honored as Professional Strong Woman of the Year by Strong Women, Strong Girls, Mamapreneur of

ROBIN MARSHALL KELLY

Vice President of Research, Quality & Compliance Wesley Family Services Robin Marshall Kelly has over 40 years of experience in quality engineering across various industries including manufacturing, construction, and currently in healthcare. She presently is the Vice President of Research, Quality and Compliance with Wesley Family Services (WFS), an area non-profit organization that provides high quality healthcare and support services to children, adults, and families over the course of their lives.

Her area of oversight and responsibility with WFS also includes enterprise risk management, document control, and she serves as the agency HIPAA Privacy Officer. Kelly is also an entrepreneur. She founded Younity Ministries Outreach, a nonprofit ministry with a focus on teens and young adults building essential life skills. She is an independent organizational leadership consultant and trainer certified with the Pennsylvania Unified Certification Program (PA UCP) through

Allegheny County, Department of Equity and Inclusion that oversees the Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program.

Kelly was the first African American voted into office on the McKeesport Area School District Board of Directors, serving for 10 years (1983-1994) as member and Vice President. She served annually during her tenure as district representative with the National School Board Association, advocating for excellence and equity in education on Capitol Hill. Kelly is an associate ordained minister with the Bethlehem Baptist Church in McKeesport. Other professional and volunteer affiliations include; serving on First Step Recovery Homes Inc., Sister’s Place, and Heuer House Board of Directors. She is an active member of American Society of Quality (ASQ) and certified by ASQ as a Manager of Quality, a member of the McKeesport Branch NAACP, and is a Vol-

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the Year by Pittsburgh Brown Mamas, Motivational Leader of the Year, Transformative Leader by the Equity Impact Center, Ladies Who Lead by Professional Women’s Network, and Woman of the Year by Women’s Interactive Network. you can catch In her spare time, Huff-Strothers curled up with the sidelines a book or on cheering for her two sons, Dion and Ziggy, who are both collegiate student athletes.

unteer Peer Reviewer for the Council on Accreditation (COA) where she conducts site visits reviewing best practices in behavioral healthcare agencies across the country.

Kelly received her undergraduate degree from Point Park University and graduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University. She also attended the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she obtained credits toward a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership.

She mentions that her best life accomplishments focus on family. She is very family-oriented and loves the times when family come together.

Kelly is the very proud mother of four beautiful, talented daughters; Kia Stone, Michelle Thomas, Starr Harper, and Whitney Kelly, her sons-in-love and has 10 grandchildren. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 3:13-14… “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

TRACEE KIRKLAND-RIVERS

Chief Clinical Officer & Director of Nursing East Liberty Family Health Care Center Tracee Kirkland-Rivers is the Chief Clinical Officer, Interim Director of Nursing, and a Family Nurse Practitioner at East Liberty Family Health Care Center.

Kirkland-Rivers has worked in healthcare for over 25 years and has devoted her career to providing whole-person quality healthcare to persons and families in urban impoverished communities regardless of their ability to pay. Her passion is focusing on transitions of care from adolescent to adult health.

She is also an Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner. Kirkland-Rivers previously worked for many years as the Nurse Manager for the Pittsburgh Child Advocacy Center

(CAC) at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She has completed research and provided professional training on decreasing the incidents of child abuse and lowering the incidents of low birth weights in Allegheny County. This work has been directly related to other community programs such as Jeremiah’s Place, Moms and Cops, and the Birth Circle, where she was one of the first birth doulas. Kirkland-Rivers often avails herself as a preceptor for aspiring RN and CRNP students.

Kirkland-Rivers takes pride in community engagement and social justice. This Lincoln-Larimer-Belmar native has been a Judge of Elections and 12th Ward Democratic Committee recording secretary for many

years. She is the CEO of Nabhi Christian Ministries (NCM), where she assists in obtaining basic needs for community residents through her Helping Hands Ministry and Emergency Energy Relief Assistance Programs.

Kirkland-Rivers has been recognized for establishing the first African American Male Urban 4H Program Curriculum for the City of Pittsburgh through Penn State Extension. She is a UPMC Daisy Award Recipient for nursing excellence and a UPMC Healing and Hope Awardee recognized for bridging the gap of trust and communication between CYF, law enforcement, and families. She is a Jefferson Award recipient for her commitment to community service. Her career journey has been advertised by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) and used as a testament to supporting ac-

SANDRA K. LEWIS

Compassionate, dedicated, dependable and committed are all adjectives that describe Sandra Kay Lewis. While she takes pride in her professional successes and accomplishments, Lewis always goes the extra mile to assist others. Her diligent commitment has been exhibited in her active participation in community committees and projects. She has the reputation for assisting others, even if it results in personal sacrifice. Her commitment to service is a driving force in the success in her endeavors.

The passions of professional advancement and community involvement were demonstrated by

cess to affordable high-quality healthcare in the region.

Kirkland-Rivers recently received a proclamation from the City of Pittsburgh for 25 years of excellence in healthcare naming May 13, 2023, “Tracee Kirkland-Rivers Day” in the city.

Kirkland-Rivers is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. Her professional memberships include the American Nurses Credentialing Center, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Gateway Medical Society, Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, International Association of Forensic Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She aspires to complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice next year.

Kirkland-Rivers would like to thank her husband, children, family, and friends for their years of love and unwavering support.

her life today.

Lewis’ professional career began at Westinghouse Electric after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science and a Teachers Certification. She began as a staff accountant, and held a number of jobs, including several management positions. After moving to PNC, her hard work resulted in a promotion to the level of Vice President. One of Lewis’ personal goals was to obtain an advanced degree with a focus on with community collaboration. This desire resulted in her returning to school at Carlow University, obtaining a Master of Science in Professional Leadership. Since leaving the corporate arena, Lewis has transitioned to the non-profit sector.

As Chief Executive Officer and President of the Delta Service

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Delta Service and Education Foundation her parents, Oliver and Shirley Lewis Jr. They instilled these positive values in both Lewis and her brother, while demonstrating strong work ethics and entrepreneurship. Both Sandra and Oliver III had jobs in the family businesses as children. These part-time jobs were a training ground for hard work, pride, and included community involvement. As a result of her father’s career success, the family moved to Lexington, Ky., during Lewis’ teenage years. The Lewis children grew up in an environment where love of God, family, and community were the focuses of life. These continue to be vital in

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and Education foundation, Lewis actively works to support initiatives within Western Pennsylvania that provide assistance to disadvantaged young people and organizations.

Over the years, Lewis has been actively involved in numerous organizations. Currently her board affiliations include Residential Care Services and Wesley Family Services Foundation. She is an active member of Community of Grace African Methodist Zion Church, and serves as a conference officer for the Women’s Overseas and Home Missions Society.

Lewis is a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Servant leadership and community involvement will always be part of her life.

NICOLE D. LOGAN

Chief Financial Officer Keller Williams Realty, Pittsburgh North Nicole D. Logan is employed with Keller Williams Realty’s Pittsburgh North location and has served as the Chief Financial Officer since 2016. In this position, she is responsible for managing the daily financial operations, developing the annual budget, and providing guidance with the financial planning for the franchise’s future. In this leadership position, she manages the day-to-day activity of the organization’s operations team over eight locations. Also, she educates over 300 real estate

agents on creating and achieving their financial goals and how to develop financial freedom within real estate.

Before working in finance within the real estate field, Logan worked in retail banking for seven years with PNC Bank inside multiple departments.

Logan is passionate about giving back to youth and has been doing it for over a decade. She has recently developed a Social Equity Real Estate Mentor and Career Development program in the Pittsburgh and Erie areas to

assist young people in attaining their real estate license, paying all dues, and offering a mentoring program at no cost to the student. She volunteers actively with the Best of the Batch Foundation and Greater Valley Community Services. Logan has a strong love for track and field and has coached kids ages 7-17 every summer since 2014, giving young athletes opportunities for higher education and possible scholarships.

Logan holds a bachelor’s in finance from West Virginia Uni-

versity and plans to return to school in 2024 to complete her master’s degree. She volunteers in several additional capacities: VP of Three Rivers Association, Board Member of Greater Valley Community Services, and Board Member of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion-KW. Logan resides in Wexford and is a proud mother of three children: two sons, Michael and Mikhi, and one daughter, Mikayla. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

KENYA SHEPPARD MATTHEWS

President The Care Based Leadership Collaborative tee, and volunteers her time in a multitude of regional efforts. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, developing relationships, connecting resources to the community, engaging in communication that leaves everyone motivated, inspired and ready to show up for the goals they seek.

Matthews received her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Change Management from Robert Morris University, and her Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Network Security from Point Park University, and her Associate’s Degree of Information Technology Support from CCAC.

NATASHA N. MITCHELL-JONES

CEO, 1st Prestige Home Care Agency Founder & Owner, Prestigious Notary Boutique Natasha Mitchell-Jones’ journey is truly inspirational. Growing up in Homewood and a Bulldog graduate, she discovered her passion for entrepreneurship through the PRE-entrepreneur program at the University of Pittsburgh while still in high school.

In 2015, Mitchell-Jones became a Certified Advanced Cardio Life Support instructor and started working as a

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JESSICA MERRITT, Ph.D.

Program Manager Google

Kenya Sheppard Matthews is currently a Product Solutions Manager at Google.

In this role she manages new partner on-boarding integrations for the Reserve With Google platform, that includes, but is not limited to, food ordering, reservations, and appointments. If you have ever Googled “food near me,” her work enables bringing to life the reservations and ordering experiences for merchants and millions of consumers globally. Within Google she is also the lead for the Black Googler Network ERG, and a co-lead on the K-12 Pitt Education ERG that focuses on engaging, exposing, and teaching K-12 students in the Pittsburgh region about computational thinking and technology. She recently co-hosted Google Pittsburgh’s inaugural Community Tech Days, opening the doors to the families and expanding the teachings of technology.

Before her role at Google, she was an Assistant Vice President Sr. Product Manager of Retail Lending Customer Experiences, and President of the African American EBRG at PNC Financial Services.

Matthews’ passion for giving back to the community led her to join the Board of Directors for Gwen’s Girls, The Pittsburgh Project, and The Professional Women’s Network. Additionally, she served on Mayor Ed Gainey’s transition team, currently serves as a Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Pittsburgh, member of the Black In Tech City of Pittsburgh commit-

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subcontractor for the Allegheny Health Network pre-hospital education services.

She founded her own education training program called Regarding Hearts CPR Services. Witnessing an incident involving Damar Hamlin on the football field and hearing people express their lack of knowledge in similar situations, Mitchell-Jones took the initiative to organize free CPR seminars.

Mitchell-Jones has also been actively involved in her church. For the past seven years, she has served as the servant leader of the Nurses Ministry at Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, under the guidance of Pastor Darryl T. Canady.

In 2017, Natasha opened the 1st Prestige Home Care Agency. In 2019, she received the Pittsburgh Young Gifted & Black award for publishing a children’s animated book titled, “Excuse me, can you help me meet Jesus?”

In 2022, Mitchell-Jones founded the Prestigious Notary Boutique and Messenger Service, known for providing free services to community members aged 70 and above.

She is also committed to the Spring Her Forward committee at the Ellis School, where her daughter, J’daMarie, attends.

Dr. Jessica Merritt is the president and co-founder of Care Based Leadership, LLC. Dr. Merritt has almost two decades of experience in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Her earned degrees include a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education with a specialty in Research and Measurement.

In addition to her role at Care Based Leadership, LLC, Dr. Merritt has a demonstrated commitment to issues increasing the capacity for diversity, equity and inclusion in for-profit and non-profit organizations, K-12 districts, and higher education institutions through research, teaching, and curriculum design. Additionally, she believes in investing in the success of Black and brown women through mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship.

Dr. Merritt serves as a board member with the East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM), the Three Rivers Community Foundation, the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, the Region III Head Start Association, and the

National Head Start Association. She is a commissioner on the PACE board, a volunteer for Pittsburgh Public Schools, and a fierce sports mom.

Dr. Merritt has recently been recognized by Vibrant Pittsburgh by receiving their inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.

She is a proud parent to Hannah and Nia Spradley, a fur mom to rocky, and a shell mom to Lilly.

Her drive is fueled by the desire to create a world where equity and inclusion is intentionally fostered for women and girls so her Black daughters can be successful in any space their path takes them.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

DR. SHALLEGRA MOYE Associate Director, Office of Child Development, University of Pittsburgh Founder & Executive Director, Brilliantly Blessed Community Health & Wellness Shallegra Moye is a dedicated and passionate community champion with over 20 years of public service. Moye’s community engagement includes serving on several educational and youth development advisory boards, the White Lily Baptist Church, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Moye’s commitment to service has earned her the A-Plus Schools Ella Baker Leadership, When She Thrives Community Cultivator, and State of Black Learning Black Excellence in Education awards.

She is a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, where she earned an Education Doctorate in Administration and Policy Studies in Urban Education. Through her role in the Office of Child Development, Moye is able to integrate service to children, families, and community through socially just and equitable university partnerships. Moye is also the founder and Executive Director of Brilliantly Blessed Community Health and Wellness, where she provides capacity-building to adults

STEPHANIE MOYE Fashion Designer S. Moye Fashions Stephanie Moye is an award-winning, multi-talented trendsetter in the fashion and hair industry. She’s detail-oriented and delivers the whole package. However, her greatest passion is creating fashion that complements a woman’s personal style, leaving women feeling empowered, confident, and beautiful wearing S. Moye’ Fashion.

Moye began sewing at 6 years old when her mom asked her what she wanted for Christmas. The first thing she replied was a Barbie Doll sewing machine. Her mom often took her to purchase fabrics for her designs. At 12 years of age, Moye began sewing her own clothes. She was asked to be the teacher’s assistant for sewing in Home Economics class in high school. Moye knew fashion was the career she wanted to pursue. However, her parents wouldn’t allow her to move to New York and discouraged her from pursuing fashion design because they weren’t sure it was a solid career. So Moye pursued a nursing career since she enjoyed taking care of others. During the nursing career, she felt stifled knowing deep down her happiness was built on her

who serve students and families, as well as mentorship to young people.

Moye can be found reading to students in schools across Allegheny County, facilitating professional learning for adults, and capturing the power of moments through “ussies.”

Three things you can anticipate receiving when in Moye’s presence are laugher, lessons, and love!

creativity. Moye became a hair stylist and opened her salon, Moye’ Hair Etc! A few years later she purchased a building where she worked part-time in the salon while building S. Moye’ Fashion. While on a shopping trip in New York, Moye walked near Fashion Institute of Technology, the college she dreamed of attending as a child. This was an epiphany mo-

ment and sparked a flame for her to go back to school. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and graduated in 2016 at 56 years of age. This was the beginning of pure joy to create fashion for women.

Moye has won numerous awards in hair and fashion. Her fashion has graced the runways of New York Fashion Week, D.C. Fashion Week, Pittsburgh Fashion Week and a host of other shows. Moye was invited and attended Essence Fashion House in New York City for several years. Moye also was chosen from thousands of designers throughout the country to audition for Project Runway. Although she didn’t place, she was honored to participate.

In 2022, Moye graced the billboard in Times Square. Her work can be seen in Vogue, Essence, TIME, Radar, JET, Voyage ATL, Sheen, and a host of magazines.

Moye is also a freelance fashion writer. Moye believes in giving back through charitable organizations, volunteering and mentoring young ladies regarding etiquette and womanhood.

When asked what one of her attributes are, Moye said: “I enjoy enhancing others beauty. Style makes a statement without saying a word.”

SHARISE NANCE

Owner, Hand in Hand Counseling Services, LLC Co-Founder, Vitamin C Healing, LLC A target of bullies as a child, Sharise Nance knew the pain of feeling as if she did not have a voice or a way to manage the many emotions that she felt.

As she grew older, it became clear to her that her career path would include helping others find strategies to speak up for themselves. Once she discovered her life’s mission, she forged full steam ahead.

Nance is a highly educated and deeply experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Trauma Specialist, Workshop Facilitator, Global Speaker, Award Winning and Serial Author and Entrepreneur. She is the co-owner and founder of HandinHand Counseling Services, LLC. Nance and her partner started the private practice due to the mental health disparities for Black people, as well as their own experiences with pay disparities as mental health therapists and social workers. With over 20 years of experience assisting individuals, couples

and families to see beyond energy depletion, hopelessness, panic, guilt and feeling overwhelmed, Nance assists them in making a shift to a place of peace, joy, clarity and satisfaction.

Having dealt with her own compassion fatigue and burnout, Nance also dedicates her efforts to running Vitamin C Healing, LLC, an organization that helps companies prevent Leadership Burnout and Compassion Fatigue using a trauma-sensitive and systems approach to create a supportive work culture that prioritizes work/life balance and integration. Known as the Compassion Fatigue Lady and Compassion Stress Coach, Nance has become one of the pioneers of Compassion Fatigue in Western Pa. She has considerable experience speaking at keynotes, workshops and seminars for helping professionals, mental health leaders and entrepreneurs across the globe. She strives to equip individuals with tools to tolerate the high demands

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of work and life, imposter syndrome, as well as managing and preventing compassion fatigue and burnout in order to live happy, fulfilled lives and careers.

Nance is the founder and creator of the “S.W.A.G. Awards:” Social Worker Appreciation of Greatness Awards, to honor the “heart work” of local social workers in the Greater Pittsburgh area who are often unappreciated and unrecognized.

She is the proud wife of William Nance, and during her spare time she enjoys running half marathons, reading, watching sports, traveling, and trying new foods.

More information on Nance can be found by visiting www.sharisenance.com.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

LINGAIRE NJIE

JACQUELYN OMOTALADE

Director of Operations Catapult Greater Pittsburgh

Climate Investments National Director Dream.Org

Lingaire Njie, MSW, is the proud daughter of Valerie Thomas-Njie and Saihou Njie. Born in The Gambia, West Africa, she grew up in Pittsburgh with her sister, Njaimeh, and is a proud graduate of Schenley High School, Class of 1996.

She has a diverse professional background in the areas of community advocacy and engagement, adult learning, project management, and non-profit operations.

Prior to returning to Pittsburgh in 2014, Njie worked as a family advocate at East Baltimore Development Inc., which, at the time, was the largest urban redevelopment project in the country.

She also served as the Social Work Director at the Caroline Friess Center in East Baltimore.

During her time at Pittsburgh Public Schools, Njie managed the process that allows community organizations and entities to establish formal partnerships with the district. She was also the district’s first Community Schools Site Manager, responsible for implementing the community schools model at Pittsburgh Langley K-8.

In her current capacity as Director of Operations at Catapult Greater Pittsburgh, she oversees a dynamic staff and manages the day-to-day logistics of a thriving non-profit that is unapologetically dedicated to economic justice for the Black community.

Njie is also the creator of Duality (www.

ourduality.com), an online collection of narratives that tell the stories of Black women raised by African parents in the U.S. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, and she credits any success she has had to being raised by a strong village of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and community elders.

Njie is an active member of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she serves as Co-Chairperson of Educational Development. Her most important role is that of mother to her exceptional 12-year-old son, Jibril.

PAMELA JOHNSON POWELL

assistants who support the general and specialty cardiologists of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

In addition to her role as Executive Assistant II, Powell is the volunteer coordinator and event coordinator for the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute’s community outreach program which serves the Pittsburgh region. Through this program’s events and community initiatives, Powell collaborates with the University of Pittsburgh’s Physician Fellowship program, University of Pittsburgh Pharmacy program, University of Pittsburgh medical school program and CCAC’s School of Nursing, providing a platform for these program participants to have the exposure to community outreach initiatives and firsthand experience in resolving health care disparities.

Through her compassion and strong work ethic, Powell has also been recognized as a recipient of the UPMC Dignity and Respect Champion Award, which recognizes exceptional staff members that exemplify the values of dignity and respect in their work and life.

In her spare time, Powell loves spending time with family and the opportunity to travel, exploring different cuisines, cultures, and shopping.

She is honored that the prestigious and iconic New Pittsburgh Courier selected her as a recipient of the 2023 “Women of Excellence” Award.

Executive Assistant II UPMC Pamela Powell has been an employee at UPMC for the past 32 years where she has performed in a few different roles.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Media Communications. In her current role, she has thrived as an Executive Assistant II in which she supports the VP of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute Service Line, playing a vital role in maintaining collaboration between executives, physician leaders and the Vice President.

In addition to these responsibilities, she also manages a team of administrative

Jacquelyn Omosunbo Omotalade is a dynamic force in the field of government affairs, public policy, and equitable investments. Currently serving as the Climate Investments National Director for Dream.Org, she is dedicated to advancing the transformative Justice40 agenda which requires at least 40 percent of the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 funds, the most significant climate bill in the United States, benefits the communities most affected by poverty and pollution.

Omotalade’s leadership is marked by her strategic acumen and unwavering commitment to environmental justice. Her primary focus is on directing these crucial investments through minority-owned businesses, creating quality job opportunities, enhancing health outcomes, and expanding opportunities for marginalized communities.

With extensive international experience in countries including the United States, Indonesia, Guatemala, Germany, Spain, France, Kenya, and Nigeria, Omotalade has become

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an expert in programs, policy, and equity work. Her impressive background as a climate policy expert, technologist, Afro-futurist, and trusted strategist demonstrates her capacity to excel in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Educationally, Omotalade boasts a BA from Spelman College, a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and is poised to attain a Doctor of Education from Point Park College.

Omotalade’s commitment to social and environmental justice extends beyond her professional life. She actively contributes to organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the PA Association of Environmental Educators, and the NEED organization, amplifying her impact beyond the workplace.

When she’s not driving efforts for climate investments and equitable solutions, Omotalade resides in Pittsburgh with her daughter, Ruth, and her Rottweiler, Lozen. Her passion for environmental advocacy is matched by her love for fitness, having completed over 30 marathons and ultra marathons. She also immerses herself annually in the artistic and innovative expressions of Burning Man in Nevada, reflecting her diverse interests.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

PASTOR ELLA RAWLINGS

Pastor, Covenant Church Chaplain, National Church Residency Pastor Ella Rawlings was born and raised in the vibrant Hill District, a place that would later serve as the foundation for her inspiring journey. With a deep commitment to education, a thriving family, and a pioneering spirit, Pastor Rawlings’ life story is a testament to her unwavering dedication to both her neighborhood and her faith.

She is a mother to three daughters, a grandmother to nine wonderful grandchildren, and even a great-granddaughter.

Her educational journey led her to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Educa-

tion degree, complemented by a valuable Letter of Eligibility.

Her academic pursuits ignited a lifelong passion for education that would come to define her career.

Pastor Rawlings was a business education and special education teacher at Wilkinsburg High School. She later became assistant principal and principal, the first female principal at the school.

Beyond her career in education, Pastor Rawlings’ passion for lifelong learning continues to shine. She has taken the initiative to conduct educational seminars, provide mentorship

KENDRA JANELLE ROSS, Ph.D. Head of Social Impact Duolingo

Dr. Kendra Janelle Ross is Head of Social Impact at ed-tech company Duolingo, overseeing philanthropic giving, community and civic engagement, and employee giving and volunteerism. However, she boasts an impressive career spanning various domains and disciplines.

Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor of Sports, Arts, and Entertainment Management at Point Park University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Community Engagement.

Her doctoral research was pivotal, focusing on Black women

cultural workers’ contributions to Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District. In addition to her academic role, Dr. Ross co-chaired #ArtsInHD, a collective of Hill District creatives.

A product of Pittsburgh Public Schools, Dr. Ross holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Business and Technology from New York University. She furthered her education with master’s degrees from Brooklyn College and The New School for Social Research, the latter in Anthropology.

Dr. Ross spent two decades in New York City, accumulating

TENECIA M. ROSS

Director of Human Resources Mt. Lebanon School District Tenecia Ross is an experienced human resources professional with an extensive background in law, labor relations, and human resources compliance. Currently, Ross is the Director of Human Resources for the Mt. Lebanon School District (MTLSD). In this role, Ross assists employees and managers with performance concerns and other workplace matters, provides guidance on personnel policies and procedures, legal compliance, and administers the provisions of various collective bargaining agreements.

Prior to her work at MTLSD, Ross was the Director of Employee & Labor Relations at the University of Pittsburgh.

Ross worked in the Washington, D.C. area in human resources roles for Prince George’s Community College and Marriott International. She also worked as an attorney with the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority.

to teachers and administrators, and actively advocate for parents and students.

In 2007, Pastor Rawlings faced a personal loss when her beloved husband of 30 years

passed away. In the face of this hardship, she chose to rise to the occasion and took on the role of Senior Pastor at Covenant Church. Her unwavering commitment to her faith is evident through her dedication to Sunday worship services, hospital visitations, and organizing special outings for families and seniors in the Hill District.

Pastor Rawlings, along with her two daughters, co-owned “Living Juicy Organic Raw Cafe.” This business was established in memory of her husband and aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle by offering nourishing organic juices and a variety of organic options.

She serves as the President of the Moms Division of MADDADS, and instituted the Vanessa Spencer Scholarship at MAD DADS, reflecting her dedication

valuable experiences on stage and behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. For over 15 years, she managed label operations at Universal Music Group. Dr. Ross is also a seasoned songwriter, vocalist, and producer, with collaborations alongside renowned artists.

Returning to Pittsburgh in 2014, Dr. Ross immersed herself in the local arts scene, contributing as a cultural organizer and consultant through her firm, ACT3 Consulting Partners. Notably, she was elected to the Board of Governors of the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter representing Southwestern Pa. and appointed to the Allegheny County Regional Asset District Board by

Mayor Ed Gainey.

Dr. Ross’s dedication and achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scouts of Western Pa., the Culture Builder of the Year recognition from Technical.ly, Pittsburgh, and the Aggie Brose Award for Excellence in Community Activism by the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation.

Dr. Kendra Janelle Ross’ remarkable journey continues to inspire, serving as a testament to her unwavering commitment to positively impacting her community through arts and culture, education, and technology.

Hailing from the great state of Maryland, Ross is a graduate of The Ohio State University. She received her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law. Ross holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, and a master’s in Human Resources and Labor Relations from Michigan State.

She is also a graduate of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) 2022 Executive Leadership Academy. Currently, Ross participates in Leadership Pittsburgh XL. Ross is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., active in the Delta Phi Sigma Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter.

Through her sorority involvement, Ross supports the National Panhellenic Council Pittsburgh Chapter as the Co-Chair for both the fundraising and community service committees. Ross is an engaged board member with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, serving on the fundraising, executive search, and strategic planning committees.

Ross’ commitment to philanthropy extends to many other volunteer activities

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to providing educational opportunities and support for the youth in her vicinity. This scholarship program is a testament to her unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation and ensuring they have the resources they need for a brighter future.

Pastor Rawlings’ spiritual journey is deeply intertwined with her membership at CCOP (Covenant Church of Pittsburgh), dating back to 1985, under the guidance of its founder, Bishop Joseph Garlington.

Pastor Rawlings serves on the Board of Elders and holds the esteemed position of Chaplain, providing oversight to several senior citizen high rises under the National Church Residences.

that include community clean-ups, supporting non-profit fundraising events, and giving donations to important causes. Of particular focus, Ross dedicates her time with support to and involvement in organizations and/or initiatives aimed at mentoring, coaching, professional development, leadership development, and empowerment for women. This is evidenced by membership in the United Way of Southwestern Pa. Women’s Leadership Council, participation in the Dress for Success Monthly Giving Club, and involvement as an EmployHER Pittsburgh, Volunteer/Success Partner.

Ross is the proud “Aunt Mimi” to her four amazing nieces, Kayla, Brianna, Lizzy, and Janae.

Ross’ personal interests include reading, travel, movies, and volunteerism.

Ross is a Class of 2019 Honoree of the New Pittsburgh Courier Fab 40.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

JACQUELINE SMITH

DR. MARGARET J. STARKES

Executive Director Greater Valley Community Services Inc.

Principal, Pittsburgh Miller PreK-5, An African-Centered Academy Pittsburgh Public Schools

Jackie Smith is the Executive Director of Greater Valley Community Services (GVCS) Inc., in Braddock. She has served in this capacity since 2009 and is dedicated to educating and rebuilding the lives of families and children in Mon Valley communities. Smith’s goals are to offer opportunities to a community that has gone through workforce and life upheavals by providing the necessary tools for youth and families to conquer life transitions.

Smith also established a for-profit organization, Greater Valley Home Health Services Inc., that coordinates care and support for clients and families enabling individuals to remain in the safety of their own home environment for as long as possible.

Prior to her leadership at Greater Valley Community Services, Smith served as an Adjunct Faculty for University of Phoenix, worked as an Account Executive at FedEx Services, and served as a Coordinator of Minority Student Programs at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business and Coordinator of Minority Student Programs at Carlow University.

Smith is also a track coach and has coached for Gateway High School and Next Level athletics for more than 15 years. She was also a USA track & field certified official.

Smith received her BA in Communications from Robert Morris University, where she was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. She also holds a Master of Business Administration with a Human Resource and Leadership concentration from Waynesburg University; and is currently enrolled in the Doctoral program at Point Park University.

She is a devoted wife to Don (Coach) Smith, proud daughter of the late (Rev.) James (Gray) and Rita, loving mom of Montae, Macey, and Mikey and best grandmother to Titan.

LECHELLE M. STRINGA

Business Development and Compliance Specialist Parkview Community Federal Credit Union Lechelle Stringa is the Business Development and Compliance Specialist at Parkview Community Federal Credit Union located in McKeesport and North Huntingdon. In this role, she provides valuable information about the benefits of credit union membership to anyone that lives, works, or worships in the

majority of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Stringa facilitates free financial literacy presentations to area schools, churches and other organizations on various topics such as proper banking etiquette, budgeting and using credit wisely just to name a few. She has also organized and facilitated Financial Reality Fairs at McKeesport Area High School and East Allegheny High School which provide students with experiential learning and a hands-on budgeting experience in a real-world exercise to help them gain practical knowledge about personal financial management.

Stringa graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She also graduated from the Harty Bible School of Pittsburgh in 2000 and in 2015 received her accreditation as a Credit Union Compliance Expert from the Credit Union National Association.

She currently resides in West Mifflin with her loving husband, Johnny. They have a blended family of three daughters; Jayla, Brianna and Angela; and two grandchildren; Noriauna and Elijah.

Dr. Margaret J. Starkes was born and raised in the East End. She is a proud graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools, having attended Rogers Elementary School, which later became Rogers School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and Peabody High School. Dr. Starkes always knew that she wanted to become a teacher to educate young minds one child at a time. In 1993, she graduated from California University of Pennsylvania, with her Bachelor of Science in Education degree with a dual major in Early Childhood/Elementary Education. Upon graduation, she returned to Pittsburgh to teach first grade for five years before obtaining her Master and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, along with her Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility. While studying at Pitt, Dr. Starkes served as a UCLID (University and Community Leaders and Individuals with Disabilities) Fellow, learning how to best support and advocate for children with special education needs. Her dissertation focus was: Social Capital: The Link That Bridges Risk to Resilience In Primary Grade African-American Males. This work launched Dr. Starkes’ passion for providing equitable learning opportunities for all children and for showcasing their gifts and assets, rather than their deficits.

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In 1987, she wrote and released a record entitled, “The Real Queen of Rap,” at age 15, making her the first female to release a rap album from Pittsburgh. Now, in her 13th year as Miller’s Principal and her 30th year as an educator, Dr. Starkes has been recognized locally and nationally for her back-to-school videos as “The Rapping Principal.”

She is the proud parent to three amazing young adults, Isaiah, Nile and Zion.

Dr. Starkes leads a social media platform entitled, “Storytime with Starkes” and is an award-winning children’s author.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

MARISOL WANDIGA VALENTIN Executive Director McAuley Ministries Foundation Marisol Valentin is the Executive Director for McAuley Ministries, the grantmaking arm of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. McAuley Ministries serves as a catalyst for change, committing resources and working collaboratively to promote healthy, safe, and vibrant communities.

Grant-making priorities include capacity building, education, empowerment, environmental care, essential needs and social services, peacemaking, and whole-person health initiatives for nonprofit organizations which fo-

cus on the Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland, the three Pittsburgh communities historically served by the Sisters of Mercy. McAuley Ministries also provides support to organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania that are sponsored by the Sisters.

Prior to her role as Executive Director of McAuley Ministries, Valentin served as the Compliance, Integrity and Risk Officer for Pittsburgh Mercy Health System for four years. Her passion is developing innovative ways to improve organizations

through empowerment initiatives that create positive changes for all stakeholders.

Valentin holds a B.S. in International Business from Duquesne University and a Certificate from La Roche University and RedR on Global Development and Humanitarian Aid. She has 27 years of experience in marketing, international communications, and project management. Valentin also holds a strong background in database management, event planning, workforce development, community leadership and non-profit management. In addition to her role at Pittsburgh Mercy, Valentin serves on the board of The Provider Alliance, an organization that supports agencies that serve people with in-

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tellectual disability and autism across Pennsylvania, the Human Services Center Mon Valley, which improves the quality of life for children, adults, and families in the Mon Valley area, and Grantmakers of Southwestern PA, a network of organizations and individuals that practice and promote excellence in philanthropy.

Valentin is humbled by the belief her colleagues have in her work and for the New Pittsburgh Courier selecting her for this honor.

Valentin said: “The Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed… and when I see my work, it is only for the faith of our ancestors that I stand.’”

CYNTHIA VANHOLTEN-DIXON Senior Vice President, Product Management, Engineering Transformation Office BNY Mellon Cynthia Vanholten-Dixon is Senior Vice President, Product Manager for Engineering Transformation Office at BNY Mellon.

This team provides innovative direction and strategy for Global Operation and Technology and supports a wide array of business management activities. Partnered with a team of technologists, she manages and oversees delivery of transformative programs designed to “make it easier to do the right thing” for our business management teams across Global Operations and Technology. Vanholten-Dixon possesses strong leadership skills with a proven ability to train and mentor new and existing employees.

Prior to joining BNY Mellon,

DR. DIAMONTE WALKER Chief Executive Officer Pittsburgh Scholar House Dr. Diamonte Walker currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pittsburgh Scholar House. This innovative non-profit organization strives to offer equal access to higher education, enhance social capital, and provide the support necessary for parenting students to begin building a cycle of generational prosperity. Dr. Walker is the architect of the Pittsburgh

Scholar House’s Wayfinders Program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at increasing college access for adult learners and providing meaningful support for parenting students on college campuses to enable degree completion.

Prior to her tenure at the Pittsburgh Scholar House, Dr. Walker held the position of Deputy Executive Director at the

Vanholten-Dixon served in leadership roles within PNC Consumer Lending. She holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Point Park University. Vanhlten-Dixon is also a graduate of the BNY Mellon-sponsored Information Technology Senior Management Forum Emerge Academy, The Retain and Advance Black Leaders Forum and the Advancing Women Executives Forum. She is co-chair of DiverseTech and an active member of IMPACT and Women-In-Engineering Enterprise Business Resource Groups.

As a co-chair of DiverseTech, Vanholten-Dixon champions diversity and inclusion efforts to cultivate a vibrant technology workforce that highly values the representation and contributions

of an ethnically diverse population. Vanholten-Dixon enjoys uplifting and giving back to others.

Outside of work, Vanhoten-Dixon serves on the board of the Pittsburgh Urban Christian School, volunteers with various non-profit agencies, mentors emerging college technologists on the cusp of entering the corporate work, and teaches Sunday School at her church.

Vanholten-Dixon also enjoys traveling; she has visited 36 of the 50 states, gone camel riding in Morocco, walked the 1665 steps down the Eiffel Tower, and swum in the Greece Blue Caverns, just to name a few.

Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Walker holds a Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Administration from Point Park University, an MBA, and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. She is an active board member for several organizations, including Neighborhood Allies and the Moonshot Museum.

Recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Women of Influence honoree and one of Talk Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women in the State

of Pennsylvania, Dr. Walker’s accomplishments have been recognized and celebrated in the region. She is an alumna of The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI) and serves as an adjunct professor at Point Park University with an emphasis on teaching cultural competence in the classroom. She is a 2023 Aspen Institute Rising President Fellow.

Dr. Walker is a wife, mother and woman of faith with a firm belief in the power of service and community.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

ERICKA D. WINGFIELD

Reintegration Specialist Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Ericka D. Wingfield, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Business Administration, wanted to get involved with youth during the 1990s because of the gun violence that was occurring in and around Pittsburgh. Since then, Wingfield has volunteered and worked with many youth serving agencies and organizations in and around the area. She has 25-plus years of experience in developing, managing, and implementing youth and family programs. In 2006, she earned a master’s degree from Duquesne University in Community Leadership.

In her current role as a Reintegration Specialist at the Allegheny County Court’s Family Division with Juvenile Probation’s Community Intensive Supervision Program

FANTASY ZELLARS

Founder/CEO Bounce Marketing & Events Fantasy Zellars, a marketing and event production expert, has dedicated 27 years to partnering with corporations, non-profits and high-profile individuals to enhance their brands and create dynamic market experiences.

She firmly believes in the significance of meticulous planning, asserting that “failing to plan is planning to fail” when it comes to crafting marketing strategies and executing flawless events.

Her journey commenced in 1997 when she established her company, Bounce Marketing & Events, in New York City, originally focusing on street team services for major record labels.

The company experienced rapid and remarkable growth, ex-

(CISP), Wingfield works directly with youth committed to the CISP program to successfully reintegrate them into their communities through educational and vocational advancement, youth competency development and family engagement. She helps create and work closely with community partners and resources ensuring youth receive quality education and vocational services. Wingfield consistently demonstrates exceptional leadership skills and a deep commitment to fostering positive relationships within the community. She possesses excellent communication abilities and the unique talent to connect with a diverse range of individuals.

Furthermore, Wingfield’s ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, including parents, teachers and local organizations, is evident in her efforts working with youth.

Her drive to create an inclusive and supportive educational and vocational environment aligns perfectly with the goals of the youth, family, and juvenile probation.

Wingfield is the Vice President of the

panding into 33 markets across the country. Subsequently, Zellars’ agency transitioned into artist promotional tours and record release parties, ultimately evolving to create groundbreaking experimental brand activations. Bounce Marketing & Events currently operates globally orchestrating red carpet events, tours, concerts, festivals and business conferences in various international destinations including Canada, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She has had the privilege of collaborating with many prominent music artists, like Diddy, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Robin Thicke and world-renowned brands, including, Walmart, Twitter (X), JBL, Walgreens, Pepsi, and many others. Her company’s objective is to elevate connections with customers.

Relocating to Pittsburgh in 2012, Zellars extended her

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Rob Taylor Jr. Managing Editor

Ashley Johnson Sales Director

Warren King Graphic Designer

Allison Palm Office Manager

Charles Street Area Council, an active member of the Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, and the African American Leadership Association. She participated in the Coro Center

impact to numerous local establishments, such as August Wilson House, the University of Pittsburgh, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Sarah Heinz House, City of Pittsburgh, and the Gainey inauguration. She is not only a marketing maven but also a creative force and a fearless serial entrepreneur, always ready to seize opportunities.

In addition to developing products and contributing to startups, Zellars currently serves as a partner in a construction company, where she passionately designs residential interiors and landscapes.

Zellars pursued her education at the University of Wisconsin and continues to give back to her community as a board member of the North Side Chamber of Commerce and CCAC.

DECEMBER 6-12, 2023

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for Civic Engagements Women in Leadership program and the City of Pittsburgh’s Civic Leadership Academy.

She is the past co-chair of the Board of Directors at the Hazelwood YMCA, the Hazelwood Initiative and past member of the Urban League Young Professionals. She was honored through the Cornell Work Bridge Program in 2006, the North Side Leadership Conference as Volunteer of the Year in 2007 and the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 under 40 in 2011. She was most recently recognized by Allegheny County’s Juvenile Probation receiving the Chief’s Award and was voted by her co-workers and peers for the Extra Mile Award for going above and beyond her role and duties.

In her spare time, Wingfield likes to travel, read a good book, and watch sports. She also enjoys cooking, swimming and spending quality time with her family and friends.

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DECEMBER 6-12, 2023 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE 2023

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Angela Blanton 2 0 2 3 W OM E N O F E X C E L L E N C E

Congratulations Angela on being named as one of the 2023 Women of Excellence.

As a pillar of the Carnegie Mellon University community, a proud alumna and community champion, Angela Blanton’s heart is in her work at CMU and in Pittsburgh, where she gives back through community service and by mentoring others.

We thank you for your commitment to CMU and your strong dedication to our region.

cmu.edu