Community Outreach & Engagement Update
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Volunteers will spread cheer, presents and thousands of meals for Christmas Day at Pitt
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The University’s annual Christmas Day at Pitt returns for its 19th year on Dec. 25
Location: The Eatery at Towers, 3990 Fifth Ave.
Date and Time: Wednesday, Dec. 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Meals will be to-go only 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; guests must arrive before 1:30 p.m. to be seated.
No registration or advance tickets required.
The event brings together the University of Pittsburgh community to serve a holiday meal to members of the city and region who may not have other opportunities to celebrate this season. Pitt volunteers also help distribute winter gear and presents for neighbors during the festivities.
This year, 156 people will volunteer on Christmas Day — helping to serve meals and distribute gifts for children and winter accessories for adults.
In advance of Christmas Day, 2,800 meals will be distributed by The Salvation Army and other community partners in Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments communities in Homewood, the Hill District and Greater Hazelwood. Another 83 volunteers will help package those meals, provided through Pitt EATS by Compass Chartwells, ahead of distribution.
The Christmas Day at Pitt Gift Drive has been extended through Thursday, December 19!
How to Donate:
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Purchase a gift from our Amazon gift list and have it automatically ship to the ECA office to be distributed!
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Drop off an unwrapped gift in person to 1723 Cathedral of Learning by Thursday, December 19.
Learn more about Christmas Day at Pitt in Pittwire.
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Pitt’s third Community Engagement Center has found its home in Greater Hazelwood
The University of Pittsburgh announced that its Community Engagement Center (CEC) in Greater Hazelwood will be among the organizations housed in local nonprofit Center of Life's forthcoming, expansive neighborhood hub. Learn more about this new CEC in Pittwire.
Pitt's 2024 Community Impact Report
As a community-engaged, anchor institution, Pitt is uniquely situated to help make a difference in the well-being of our neighbors. The 2024 Community Impact Report exemplifies just some of the hundreds of extraordinary partnerships and programs that are happening across Pitt and within our region. Explore the 2024 Community Impact Report.
CESF 2025: Call for Nominations and Proposals
Applications are open for the 2025 Community Engaged Scholarship Forum awards, posters and workshops. Learn more and apply today!
Awards:
2025 Workshop Proposals and Poster Presentations:
Questions? Reach out to Jamelle Price at jap260@pitt.edu.
Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation Announces 2025 Funding Program
The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) is pleased to share its 2025 grant initiatives. Each of these programs aims to help faculty and students engage in sustainability research, education and outreach.
MCSI Research Seed Grants in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt faculty)
Application Deadline: Monday, February, 17, 2025
Full RFP and Application
MCSI is requesting faculty seed grant proposals for interdisciplinary sustainability research initiatives. MCSI aims to catalyze and expand Pitt’s research capacity to accelerate equitable solutions to pressing sustainability challenges.
The John C. Mascaro Faculty Programs in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt faculty)
Application Deadline: Monday, February, 17, 2025
Full RFP and Application
MCSI is pleased to announce the continued support of Faculty Awards in Sustainability. The John C. Mascaro Faculty Awards are designed to enhance the university’s mission of interdisciplinary excellence in sustainability research and education.
MCSI Undergraduate Summer Research in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt undergraduate students)
Student applications open January 13, 2025
Application link will be available on this page.
Deadline for students to apply is Monday, February 17, 2025
The goal of the URP program is to provide students with unique opportunities to go beyond classroom curriculum and develop their own ideas on hands-on research while working under the guidance and mentorship of Pitt faculty.
Questions? Reach out to Gena Kovalcik at gmk9@pitt.edu.
Applications open soon for next round of EDIA mini-grants
Starting in January 2025, the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion will be accepting another round of proposals for EDIA Mini Grants, aimed at advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives on campus.
The program encourages faculty, staff, and students to submit requests for grants of up to $2,000 to fund projects that align with the University's mission to build a more inclusive community.
Proposals should focus on enriching multicultural experiences, creating a welcoming environment, and improving recruitment and retention of under-represented groups. The next cycle will open on Jan. 2nd and run through Jan. 27th. More information can be found online.
Social Justice Symposium, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025
Pitt's Division of Student Affairs will be hosting the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Symposium on Jan. 15th. The theme for this year’s symposium is “Bridging the Divide: Dialogue, Discourse, and Peacebuilding.”
This event is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and graduate students to engage in meaningful discussions, share insights, and explore ways to take actionable steps towards social justice in our community. If you have questions, please contact Linda Williams-Moore, executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Student Affairs, at lwmoore@pitt.edu. Register by Monday, January 6, 2025.
The Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) in the School of Social Work proudly launched the Black Pittsburgh Satisfaction and Retention Survey
This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment to advancing racial equity and addressing critical issues impacting Black and African American residents in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. The survey aims to capture the lived experiences, opportunities, and challenges of Black and African American individuals and families, helping us build a stronger, more inclusive Pittsburgh.
Check out an event recording and recent media coverage:
Participants are encouraged to complete the survey and share the link with others. For more information or to participate, please visit https://www.blackpittsburghsurvey.org/.
Dr. James Huguley is now an entrepreneur with a new company called Parent Heart Inc.
Parenting is hard no matter who you are. But it can be especially difficult for people in marginalized communities. Dr. James Huguley has transformed his scholarly work on race and human development into Parent Heart Inc., an evidence-based company supporting African American parents. One of its programs, Parenting While Black: Growing and Healing Together, (PWB) provides a research-backed curriculum that addresses crucial aspects of Black parenting often overlooked in parenting resources. Learn more about his startup in Pittwire.
Congratulations to Pitt's Sara Selva and Lucy Klug on being named Educators of the Year by BikePGH!
Sarah Sleva, Assistant Director of Outdoor and Adventure Pursuits, and Lucy Klug, Mobility Specialist, have been named BikePGH’s Educators of the Year! Newly certified as League Cycling Instructors, they’ve hosted 23 bike education events at Pitt since spring, including Confident City Cycling classes, maintenance workshops, and group rides. Their work is inspiring cycling communities on campus and beyond!
Pitt’s United Way Campaign is back
Pitt’s United Way Campaign has returned for another year of giving and impact. Pitt will continue this partnership guided by the leadership and vision of the 2024-25 campaign chair, Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Community Affairs Lina Dostilio. She will work in tandem with the campaign director, Kelly Gilliam, to meet the goals outlined for the year.
Find a list of volunteer opportunities, workshops and events on the campaign website. Staff and faculty can record up to 7.5 hours per month on their timecard for volunteer service, with supervisor approval. Questions can be directed to PittUnitedWay@pitt.edu or by calling 412-624-5800.
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Spring 2025 Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion-Civic and Community Engagement Institute
Register for the Transform Mid-Atlantic's upcoming institute: Linking Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion with Civic and Community Engagement in the Post-Affirmative Action Era.
This day-long institute is designed to bring together campus teams to co-create and engage with colleagues from other institutions around assessing particular challenges and opportunities to create a campus culture of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) through civic and community engagement (CCE) partnerships and initiatives. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from their colleagues who have used TMA's JEDI-CCE Institutionalization Rubric - designed to to align with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Standards for Accreditation and the components of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement - to understand challenges and opportunities for their own campus, and implement solutions.
Special Guest Speaker & Facilitator:
Dr. Nyeema Watson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategy, Diversity and Community Engagement, Rutgers University-Camden
This event takes place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland College Park, 3972 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
Registration closes on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Register online. Cost is $85. Please e-mail Gavin Luter, luter@transformmidatlantic.org, for more information.
Campus Compact Engaged Scholars Initiative Information Sessions
Attend an informational session to learn more about the Engaged Scholars Initiative program and application process. ESI is a one-year leadership and professional development program designed to develop a diverse group of early career faculty and staff in the civic and community engagement field. This year we are running two cohorts. The first is for individuals and the second is for teams from institutions who want to go through the process together. We will accept up to three individuals from each institution. It is a members-only program. Your organization must be a member of Campus Compact to participate.
Informational Session dates/times:
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Tuesday, January 21, 2025 4 to 5 p.m. (ET)
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 10 to 11 a.m. (ET)
Register for the event or learn more about the Engaged Scholars Initiative.
Join the 2025 Practitioner-Scholar Community
The Practitioner-Scholar Community experience will be offered again in early 2025. The applications will be released on January 13 and due January 31, with the cohort beginning in mid-February. IARSLCE invites people who anticipate applying to fill out an interest form so they can reach out with priority information and track capacity as they will be offering only 40 spots for this upcoming cohort. They will host two information sessions on January 9th, the first at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm GMT and the second at 12pm SAST / 6pm HKT / 9pm AET.
To learn more about this opportunity, visit the IARSLCE website and complete the interest form to receive updates.
Addressing Wicked Issues through Community-Engaged Scholarship - 2024-2025 Series: Youth and Gun Violence
The addressing wicked issues through community-engaged scholarship initiative takes a deep dive into some of the most critical issues threatening our communities and explores how we—higher education community engagement professionals, practitioners, and scholars—can make a difference.
Each year, participants will engage in a series of webinars and discussions that explore how knowledge about a particular issue is being generated and how people can come together to put that knowledge to good use—creating local solutions to these wicked problems. This series is jointly hosted by Campus Compact and the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES).
Program Series:
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through community-engaged research - January 22, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through community-engaged teaching & learning - February 19, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through student-led civic engagement - April 16, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through anchor strategy & community partnerships - May 14, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence wrap-up and closing conversation - June 4, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
Register for the series.
Campus Compact Member Open House Sessions
Find out how to get the most out of Campus Compact membership! Attend a virtual Open House to discover the information you need about the tools, resources, and programs available to Campus Compact members. You’ll hear about ways everyone on your campus—faculty, staff, senior leaders, and students—can leverage Campus Compact membership to support institutional priorities and move forward civic and community engagement work. Open to existing and prospective members!
Next session: Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 2 to 3 p.m. ET. Register today!
CUMU Open House
The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities will be hosting an Open House on January 14, 2025 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET. You’ll learn about:
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New: Webinar series focused on student success
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Anchor Learning Network (ALN): A cohort-based learning community that builds both individual capacity for anchor work and also connects your campus with this powerful network.
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Huddles focused on Community-Engaged Research, Latine Student Communities, Strategic Communications and Sustainability and the Anchor Mission
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Metropolitan Universities journal (MUJ)
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Research Initiatives and much more!
Whether you’re a long-time member, a new member, or thinking about joining CUMU, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about membership and get involved. Open to all; register online!
APLU Launches Effort to Advance Peer Mentorship & Student Success at Six Public Universities
In an effort to improve peer mentoring to drive student success, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities today announced a new grant that will support six APLU member universities in piloting, refining, and establishing sustainable peer mentorship models. APLU has received a $1.3 million grant from ECMC Foundation to launch the Mentorship for Academic & Personalized Student Success (MAPSS) Initiative. The association intends to share the lessons learned with its full membership to encourage greater adoption of effective mentorship practices.
Applications are due December 20, 2024. Find information on how to apply online.
Preparing and Evaluating Engagement Dossiers
In this workshop, Rod Williams, vice provost for outreach and engagement at Texas Tech University, will discuss how to frame your dossiers, incorporate important components, and report impact. This session will also address strategies to evaluate engagement dossiers in external reviews and on primary promotion committees.
Date and Time: January 22, 2025, 12 to 1 p.m. ET. Register online.
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Greater Hazelwood
Join the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment team!
The University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Engagement and Community Affairs is hiring an Outreach Coordinator to support the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment. This role will focus on fostering and sustaining community and University collaborations, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the development and implementation of the resident and community engagement strategy for the future Community Engagement Center in Greater Hazelwood. Learn more about the position and apply on the University's job portal.
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Hill District
Pitt Purchasing Office Hours - Hill District
Interested in selling your product or providing a service to the University of Pittsburgh? Drop by for office hours on the second Tuesday of each month at the CEC in the Hill District to chat with Jennifer Barnes, Pitt’s Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Manager.
The session will take place on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in the Hill District, 1908 Wylie Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
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Homewood
Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center Financial Resources Office Hours
Meet with a financial counselor that will assist with FREE credit restoration, financial planning, and financial literacy. Walk-ins welcome! Office hours occur every Tuesday in January from 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood, 622 N. Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208. For more information, visit neighborhoodallies.org/fec.
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The Office of Engagement and Community Affairs distributes a variety of newsletters full of community updates, volunteer opportunities, and more. Sign up for all of our newsletters, or share this link with a friend, to get connected today! www.community.pitt.edu/newsletter
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