2018 Squirrel Hill Treasure Awards
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even years ago, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition began a new tradition, honoring some of its finest community Treasures. People and places make Squirrel Hill a great place to live, play, work and do business, and so on November 1st, we are putting the spotlight on some of our most extraordinary people and places. We are pleased
to announce this year’s Squirrel Hill Treasures, who have eached served our community for decades. Natalie Kaplan — Founder of Carriage House and a champion of high quality early childhood education and family programming in Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh Chinese School — 41 years of connecting communities through Chinese language, heritage, and culture National Council of Jewish Women Pittsburgh — celebrating 125 years as the first Jewish Women’s organization advocating on behalf of women, children, and families here in the US and in Israel though progressive ideals and advocacy Littles Shoes — The 2018 Place Treasure — three-generations, locally-owned enterprise offering full service footwear expertise and experience, a fixture and anchor in the commercial
Natalie Kaplan At 83 years old, Natalie Kaplan loves to walk through the halls of her former elementary school, now part of the Carriage House Children’s Center (CHCC)which she founded. “I started it because I felt there was a need to provide quality care for young children and at the time, there wasn’t a whole lot around for families,” she said. “I’ve always felt the need for children to meet with other children and for families to get together. Having grown up in Squirrel Hill and always loving young children felt like the right thing to do.” Kaplan has a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Penn State and a Master’s degree in Kindergarten Primary Education from the University of Pittsburgh. In 1974, Kaplan served as the executive director of the CHCC, which originally opened on Chatham College’s campus to serve children ages 3 to 5. In 1981, Kaplan established the Infant-Toddler Center of Squirrel Hill at the Wightman School building, in conjunction with the Carnegie-Mellon Child Care Center. In 1986, when the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition 18 | shuc.org
Natalie Kaplan (Left) poses with Mr. McFeely along with a collegue during the days when the Carriage House was at Chatham College. (Photo provided by Carriage House Children’s Center)
did not have the capacity or resources to update Wightman School Building to code, Kaplan and the CHCC board came to the rescue and restored the interior of Wightman School Community Building to what it is