Kevin Mickens, Section 3 Coordinator through COR and ELDI

With so much business and development coming to the area, it is important that East Liberty residents benefit from the neighborhood’s improvements. The Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty, Inc. (COR) and East Liberty Development, Inc. (ELDI) are working together to link low-income, local residents with the economic opportunities that are being generated as a result of East Liberty’s revitalization. The result of this cooperation is the realization of a long-time dream of COR, which is the creation of a community-based Section 3 job training and referral initiative.

This initiative will provide a community-based hiring pool to ensure new businesses hire within the neighborhood, as well as job coaching and service coordination to potential employees.

Kevin Mickens was hired by COR and ELDI as the Section 3 Coordinator to facilitate this connection between East Liberty residents and local employment opportunities. Before beginning his work with COR and ELDI, Kevin was an employment consultant with Education Data Systems Inc. (EDSI). From his work with EDSI and Garfield Jubilee, he has a great deal of experience designing and coordinating employment and job readiness training programs. Kevin’s constant smile represents his positive, approachable nature.

If residents have any question or are interested in filling out an application, Kevin can be reached by calling 412.361.8061 ext. 27.

‘Tis the season for Unwrapped, the Union Project’s 6th Annual Fundraiser! Join them this Saturday, December 1 from 7 to 10 pm for unique entertainment, live and silent auctions, original local artwork, extravagant appetizers/desserts and spirited drinks!

Talented students from CAPA will entertain with excerpt from The Grinch, as well as DWG, a unique dance troupe performing an urban modern dance. The night will be emceed by Andrew Stockey, Morning Anchor for WTAE Channel 4 Action News. The live and silent auctions will allow you to bid on gift certificates from local businesses, entertainment packages, a celebrity hosted dinner, a custom-fitted bike and more.

Ticket are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. For more information call Hilary Brown at the Union Project at 412.363.4550 ext. 26.

The Union Project is offering a gift of festive entertainment, lavish food and drinks, good company and all for a worthy cause. Come Unwrap it!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy family and friends, and be thankful for what you have!

Thanksgiving happenings

East Liberty’s shopping District is hearing the patter of ballet and tap shoes! Visionary Performing Arts Academy recently moved from inside the Kingsley Center to the storefront of 6107 Penn Avenue. Classes are offered for students, ages 2 to 18, in ballet, tap, jazz and creative movement.

Nicole Carter, owner and instructor, has been dancing for 26 years and teaching dance for 12 years. She has performed at the Benedum Center, Carnegie Music Hall, NAACP Convention, The Peace Awards Banquet and several area schools and churches.
Nicole feels her dancing abilities are a blessing and she uses her gift to give back to the community, teaching her students self-confidence, pride and discipline. She is a mother of four and her upbeat, encouraging attitude is reflected in the positive affirmations decorating the studio walls.

Classes range from $45, for the younger students, to $55 a month. Private lessons are offered, as well as alternative payment plans. For more information, call 412.441.1907 or email at visionarydance@yahoo.com.

East Liberty is welcoming a new, healthy neighbor!
Children’s Community Pediatrics/GIL has relocated from Magee Women’s Hospital to the new office spaces above the Trader Joe’s in the Village of East Side. We would like to welcome all of the doctors; Keith Somers MD, Harold Glick MD, Leroy Indorato MD, Sheldon Levine MD, Sunita Chaudhari MD, Jamie McNanie MD, Kim Ogle MD, James Shaver MD and their staff to the area!

One unique features of this doctors’ office is the space offers green, healthy alternatives to most building norms. With high ceilings, skylights and innovative light-distributing glass tubes, this office allows more natural light which means less electricity use and a more appealing environment.

Children’s Community Pediatrics/GIL Pittsburgh takes mores insurance providers. For more information or to make an appointment, call 412.681.2200 or visit their website.

Community stakeholders discuss East Liberty’s problems at the Safe Neighborhoods Task Force Meeting.

We are right in the middle of our Solutions Task Force Meetings! Community stakeholders came together to discuss the problems and issues with East Liberty and now we are brainstorming potential solutions. This is the second step in a Community Planning process. We will begin working on action plans, ideally, before the new year!

Upcoming we have:
Parks and Recreation Solutions Meeting
Tuesday, November 13 from 6 to 8 pm in ELPC, Room 234

Housing Solutions Meeting
Thursday, November 15 from 6 to 8 pm in ELPC, Room 244

Small Business Solutions Meeting #2
Monday, November 19 from 8 to 9:30 in ELDI Office, 6101 Penn Ave.

Youth Engagement Solutions Meeting #2
Tuesday, November 27 from 6 to 8 at Union Project, Attrium

Please attend these meetings and share you vision for the future of East Liberty!

Also, posted on the Community Planning page are all of the notes we have to date, please feel free to take a look at those and catch up on our progress.
If you have any questions or would like to become involved, please contact Emily Nordquist at 412.361.8061 ext. 19 or emily.nordquist@eastliberty.org.

Thanks and hope to see you at the meetings!

Congratulations to Ya Momz House full-service recording studio!
Emmai Alaquiva, Owner/Director of Creative Services of Ya Momz House LLC, was awarded Top 40 under 40 by PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine. He is being recognized not only for his business success, but also his many contribution for the betterment of the neighborhood.

If you would like to support Emmai, as well as the other Top 40 under 40 in the city, there will be a celebration in their honor downtown in the Union Trust Building on Friday, November 9 from 6 to 9 pm. Tickets will be $40 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information or to get tickets, check out the PUMP site.

The city of Pittsburgh cannot help but notice East Liberty and all of its new development. An article in the City Paper entitled “Boom with a View” summarizes the long-time ups and downs of the neighborhood, as well as highlights the community’s thoughts of the changes.

We have rescheduled two of our Task Force Meetings, because we would like you to attend the Bakery Row Community Meeting on Thursday November 8 from 6 to 9 pm in Reizenstein School’s Cafeteria! This meeting will discuss progress of the development of the former Nabisco Factory and surrounding area.

For more information, please check out the flier or go to the bakery row forum page.