OPPORTUNITIES FOR POSITIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT IN GREATER HAZELWOOD
LIFE SCIENCES
GREATER HAZELWOOD:
A RICH HISTORY AND A VIBRANT FUTURE
Greater Hazelwood is a diverse and dynamic neighborhood, with a rich history and a vibrant future.
Hazelwood Green will be at the forefront of Pittsburgh’s growth as a regional hub for robotics, advanced manufacturing, and the emergence of a life sciences corridor.
As the neighborhood continues to evolve, the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan has a clear objective: develop without displacement.
To ensure development is in alignment with community goals, the University of Pittsburgh has committed to join existing community organizations to establish its next
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITMENT IN GREATER HAZELWOOD.
Learn more about the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan: https://pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/ghnp
1980s TODAY
HAZELWOOD:
PITT’S GREATER HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITMENT
Pitt’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs leads Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments, an initiative that combines community agendas and wisdom with University assets and resources.
Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments are represented by a physical Community Engagement Center (CEC) that creates space for neighborhood partners, community-based organizations, and University students and faculty to collaborate and make big things happen, together.
The University currently has two CECs—one in Homewood and one in the Hill District. The third CEC will be in Greater Hazelwood.
Interested in visiting an existing Community Engagement Center? Visit cec.pitt.edu to discover more.
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PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY & LIFE SCIENCES OPPORTUNITIES
Pitt is developing BioForge, a biomanufacturing facility with a focus on cell and gene therapy, on Hazelwood Green. Through meaningful connections with community leaders and residents, Pitt is working to identify how the field of life sciences can positively impact the Greater Hazelwood community.
Initiatives will be connected to both University projects: BioForge (expected to open in 2026) and the future CEC (expected to open in 2027).
What can the life sciences industry, Greater Hazelwood, and Pitt do together?
• Advance goals within the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Plan
• Develop educational opportunities in life sciences for all ages
• Build new paths of employment and innovative workforce development programs
What are the life sciences?
The life sciences are the fields of study that focus on living things. They help us better understand how the natural world works, how our bodies function, keys to good health, and much more.
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EVOLVING, TOGETHER
Since the start of Pitt’s commitment in Greater Hazelwood, Pitt developed and has been working with coalition teams of community, university, and systems thought partners and leaders.
This impactful group has engaged and will continue to connect with community leaders and residents to shape Pitt’s neighborhood commitment, focusing on advancing education, workforce development pathways, and inclusive community growth.
Planning Team
• Kinsey Casey, AVC for Economic Development, Health Sciences, Pitt
• Danielle Chaykowsky, Director of Programs, Center of Life
• Dr. Danielle Davis, President, Davis Consulting Solutions
• Deborah Gallagher, Director, Early Head Start/COTRAIC
• Abby Horn, Public Service Leader, Housing and Community Services
• Dr. Debra Killmeyer, Workforce Development, Postsecondary Education
• Dr. Cassie Quigley, Department Chair, School of Education, Pitt
• Trupti Sarode, Director of Strategic Initiatives, GSPIA, Pitt
• Sonya Tilghman, Executive Director, Hazelwood Initiative
Project Team
Engagement and Community Affairs, University of Pittsburgh
• Heidi Ward, Director of Planning, Community and Life Sciences Integration
• Sierra Mason, Project Manager
• Branden Ballard, Director, Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program
• Keith Caldwell, Executive Director of Place Based Initiatives
• Lina Dostilio, Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Community Affairs
• Gregory Kienzl, Director of Data & Impact Measurement
• Juliana Zipay, Communications Manager
ABOUT THE GREATER HAZELWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITMENT
Pitt has been a collaborator in the Greater Hazelwood community for 25 years. Pitt is also a powerhouse in the life sciences, leveraging cuttingedge biomedical research.
Notable outcomes from our community-university partnerships include an enduring relationship with Center of Life, through which the KRUNK Movement public health rap initiative was created; capacity building with the Hazelwood Initiative; medication consultations; senior programming; air quality monitors; and much more. Explore Pitt’s history in Greater Hazelwood: community.pitt.edu/hazelwood/history
To align with community-led efforts, we are identifying educational and economic benefits in the emerging life sciences industry, such as educational support, intergenerational programming, innovative health assessments, and more.
Learn more about Pitt’s Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment at community.pitt.edu/hazelwood
CONNECT WITH US
Get in contact with our project team as we collaborate with our partners to integrate Greater Hazelwood into this transformative industry.
Heidi Ward, Director of Planning haw221@pitt.edu, 412-624-6311
Sierra Mason, Project Manager snm78@pitt.edu, 412-383-0576
/PittGreaterHazelwood
@Pitt_GreaterHazelwood
community.pitt.edu/hazelwood
Questions? Feedback? Share it with us.
Image credits:
Cover: Edith Abeyta, Al Ferguson, Sandy Kessler Kaminski, Marce Nixon Washington, and Hazelwood residents, Time Travelers, 2019. (Photo by Heidi Ward)
Pages 2-3 (left to right, top to bottom):
(1) Mark Dudas, (2) Heidi Ward
(1) Emily O’Donnell, (2) Johnathan Wright, (3) Tom Altany
Page 4 (left to right, top to bottom):
(1) Melanie Wieland, (1) Heidi Ward, (1) Melanie Wieland
Page 5: Melanie Wieland
Page 7: (1) Arts Excursions Unlimited staff/volunteers, (2) Melanie Wieland, (3) Melanie Wieland
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