East Liberty Development received an honorable mention at Friday’s (January 25th) Seventeenth Maxwell Awards of Excellence luncheon sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Partnership to End Long Term Homelessness. East Liberty Development was also awarded a $10,000 grant from the Fannie Mae Foundation to continue its work in the field of supportive housing for homeless families.

“We are pleased and honored to have the Sojourner House MOMS project acknowledged as one of the best community-supported housing programs for homeless families in the country,” said Maelene Myers, executive director of East Liberty Development, Inc. “Sojourner MOMS offers a home and neighborhood connections to mothers recovering from addiction, as well as their children. These facilities are so important in combating homelessness in Pittsburgh’s East End and we plan to expand this project.”

“The Fannie Mae Foundation commends East Liberty Development for their outstanding efforts to prevent and end homelessness. We are pleased to award East Liberty Development a grant to continue its efforts to provide supportive housing to homeless families,” said Peter Beard, executive director of the Fannie Mae Foundation.

“East Liberty Development has greatly improved the lives of homeless families through its ability to provide appropriate supportive services and permanent housing for its tenants. They are a wonderful example of an organization committed to ending homelessness in their communities,” said Bob Hohler, executive director of the Melville Charitable Trust and executive committee chairman of the Partnership to End Long Term Homelessness.

Winners were selected by an independent advisory committee for having produced the best examples of supportive housing in four categories: Housing for Homeless Veterans; Housing for Chronically Homeless Individuals; Housing for Homeless Youth; and Housing for Homeless Families. Maxwell Award winners’ case studies are posted on the Partnership to End Long Term Homelessness website at www.endlongtermhomlessness.org.

Last Thursday, January 24, the community came together for the East Liberty Community Plan meeting at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Thanks so much to everyone who has participated in the Community Plan Task Forces and planning process. The Community Plan meeting was a total success with over 150 residents and stakeholders in attendance to present, hear and discuss the Action Plans create over the past several months.

Support for the Community Plan has come from the R.A. Hunt Foundation. More information on the Community Plan document to come, stay posted!

Photo courtesy of PHLF.

Last Thursday, January 24, a press conference was held to announce the $1.135 Million investment in East Liberty’s Downtown. The former YMCA building, located on Whitfield Street behind East Liberty Presbyterian Church, will become market-rate condominium lofts which will, ideally, continue to boost East Liberty’s market.

The Landmark Community Capital Corporation (LCCC), a new non-profit subsidiary dedicated to local capital investment while preserving the historical integrity of the building, awarded the project a $885,000 loan. This project has been in partnership between LCCC, the URA, MEIZ Development Corporation, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Senator Jim Ferlo, Congressman Mike Doyle, State Representative Joe Preston and Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr.

“This is the first project really in the core of East Liberty that’s really going to bring life back to the neighborhood,” Maelene Myers, executive director of East Liberty Development, Inc., said at a news conference. “I cannot say enough about partnership.”

Read more about the project:
Tribune Review

Post Gazette

Pittsburgh Business Times

There will be a VERY IMPORTANT Community Plan Meeting TOMORROW, Thursday, January 24 from 6 to 8 pm in the Social Hall of East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

For the past several months, East Liberty residents and stakeholders have been meeting in Task Forces to discuss the neighborhood’s issues, solutions and next steps. Join them as they present Action Plans for East Liberty’s updated Community Plan.

Learn about our community’s future in…
Small Business, Youth Engagement, Workforce,
Commercial Core Planning, Healthy Community Members,
Parks and Recreation, Safe Neighborhoods and Housing.

Support your community, find out what is to come and give your feedback. If you have any questions, contact Emily at ELDI, 412.361.8061 ext. 19.

Our city is something to sing about!

Squonk Opera presents a returning performance of “Pittsburgh: The Opera” at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. Last Night, Thursday January 17 was the opening night of the show, which will run until this Sunday, January 20. The show will be at 8 pm Friday and Saturday and 3 pm on Sunday.

Tickets are $12 in advance; $15 at door general admission; $8 students, seniors, $10 groups of 10 or more (all group sales must be in advance.) Get you tickets fast because last year’s show of “Pittsburgh: The Opera” was SOLD OUT!

There will be a Community Meeting on Thursday, January 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 at Reizenstein School to discuss the Pedestrian Bridge which will span from Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside to the Eastside Development in East Liberty.

The public is welcome and encourages to attend, view bridge sketches and share their opinions. The artist, Sheila Klein, will be at the meeting to answer any questions and hear design input.

Be the first to know what will connect our neighboring communities and share you feedback!

Is you New Years resolution to get your money in order? Even if it isn’t you should still hear this important information about predatory lending!

Dollar Bank, in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services, NeighborWorks and ELDI, will hold a FREE Predatory Lending Seminar on Thursday, January 17 at 6 pm in the Social Hall of East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Learn ways to identify and avoid unfair lending agents, such as payday lenders, instant tax refund services, pawnshops and car title loans. To R.S.V.P. or for more details, call 1.800.345.DOLLAR.

Catherine Zajko-Batcho’s Cut and Sew Studio, a sewing and design workshop studio as well as the newest tenant of the Werner Building, celebrated its Grand Opening on December 8, 2007.

Cut and Sew offers personalized-attention sewing instruction for every skill level, as well as open studio space. The classes, ranging from making a pillow as a newbie to commercial-pattern clothing in the advanced class, have no more than six people to ensure specialized assistance.

“Sewing is not just what your Grandmother does anymore. People want to be able to make something unique, that really expresses their personality and fits them right,” says Batcho.

Catherine is a Pittsburgh native, growing up in Point Breeze before going to Philadelphia for design school. She has a great deal of design experience, working for a Bridal Boutique in Philadelphia after graduating and later for Liz Claiborne in New York City. After getting married, Catherine could not stay away from the ‘Burgh and decided if she was going to come back she wanted to teach what she loves. She says, “sewing is a truly rewarding experience and I hope to share this…”

Cut and Sew also offers gift cards, as well as rental for private parties. Learn a trendy, useful hobby or have a creative children’s birthday party! For more information call 412.865.6565 or email to catherine@cutandsewstudio.com.

Natural Stitches is a cozy storefront business located at The Village of Eastside offering nearly anything you could want or need to knit or crochet. Along with selling an array of different colors, textures and brands of yarn, Natural Stitches has classes or groups to fit anyone’s abilities and interests.

Learn to knit or crochet your own socks, sweater, hats and so much more. The welcoming, comfortable nature of the staff and store brings opportunity for a relaxing, creative hobby and good company.

Natural Stitches is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10 am to 9 pm, Wednesday and Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 412.441.4410.

East Liberty residents working construction on the Fairfield Apartments site.

The East Liberty Section 3 Job Training & Referral Initiative will host a Career Fair on January 31, 2008 at The Kingsley Association, located at 6435 Frankstown Avenue. This initiative will create a community job bank and link neighborhood residents with the new opportunities created by the development of East Liberty.

This Initiative is a partnership between the Coalition of Organized Residents of East Liberty (COR) and East Liberty Development, Inc (ELDI). Other partners in this Job Fair include the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center (ENEC), where resume development and other services may be utilized.

For more information about the Career Fair contact Kevin at (412) 361-8061. If you are interested in the Section 3 Job Training and Referral Initiative, print a copy of this application and mail it to:
Kevin Mickens
6101 Penn Ave, Suite 201
Pittsburgh Pa 15206

or Fax to 412.362.3231 with attention to Kevin Mickens.