"The Neighborhood Academy is a faith-based, independent, college- preparatory school whose mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by preparing low-income youth for college and citizenship."

THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACADEMY FALL 2015 NEIGHBORHOOD news 709 N. Aiken Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Letter from The President

Is it possible that 15 years have passed since Wilkerson spent 10 years researching her book, souls are the forebears of our staff and young our opening on September 12, 2001? It is The Warmth of Other Suns , a history of the people at The Neighborhood Academy. This hard to imagine that today marks the first day African American migration North. During this desire to live free was so powerful that these of school in our fifteenth year. Great Migration (1910-1970) some 6 million ancestors LITERALLY risked life and limb to African Americans left the cotton fields and climb on board a freedom train heading West There is a restaurant downtown called Grit & orange groves to move North; by the end of to Los Angeles or North to St. Louis, Chicago, Grace. Like our mascot, the bulldog, grit the Migration (1970) nearly HALF of Black Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, or and grace aptly describe The Neighborhood America would be living outside the South. New York. It is a measure of God’s grace that Academy: we would not be entering year 15 they arrived— spent, exhausted, but alive— without the grit of our founders (staff and To paraphrase Ms. Wilkerson, by the time the prepared to work long hours at 2-3 jobs a day, board alike), our faculty, or our students. We Migration was over the social, economic, and doing menial, underpaid tasks—all so that they would not be here if not for the grace of God political infrastructure of every major northern could eventually own a house, send their kids and you, our donors. Let us take a moment to and western city would be forever changed. to school, vote, and create a life for their fami - marvel at this miracle of grit and grace; let us In Chicago, for example, the African American lies that no one had ever dreamed possible. take a moment, in the face of all who said it population rocketed from 44,000 in 1910 to couldn’t be done or couldn’t be sustained, more than 1,000,000 by 1970. By the end of I invite you to listen to Isabel Wilkerson with to remember our Alumni: Jana’a, who after the twentieth century there were more Blacks the ears of your heart, in the context of recent earning a college degree, has just opened her living in the city of Chicago than in the entire events: Ferguson, New York, Baltimore, own salon; Quica, a sickle cell researcher at state of Mississippi. (page 11) Charleston, and yes, even Pittsburgh. All of us Children’s Hospital; Doug, in investments at are beneficiaries of the Great Migration— These migrants from “within” were not met Citizen’s Bank; Fred, at Dollar Savings Bank; music, food, art, business, education, politics; with resistance at Ellis Island, as was the more Bianca, assistant general manager for at the same time we are also inheritors of the traditional immigrant, but instead at every des - Enterprise Leasing; Isaiah, in the marketing unresolved issues of Jim Crow and the bigotry tination city along the way. Recent European department at American Eagle. These are just a and fear that remain hidden in the North. immigrants, Northern-born Blacks, and whites few of the young people whose lives have been of all classes resisted their entrance and their Ms. Wilkerson chooses “story” as the vehicle to transformed…by the dint of their grit, God’s efforts. Forced into squalid, over-crowded tene - communicate history. How fitting that The grace, and you. ments bounded by white neighborhoods zeal - Neighborhood Academy is also a place of Grit and grace will also be an underlying theme ously guarded by armed citizens, these amazing story—a story of overarching, transformational of our “Evening with Isabel Wilkerson” on souls still poured North with a grit even their change. Let us celebrate this 15 th year by September 23rd. The first Black woman in children could never understand; for at the end thanking God and each other for the grit and the history of American Journalism to win a of the day, in spite of the dangers, hardship, the grace necessary to break the cycle of pover - Pulitzer Prize and the first African American and racism, once they crossed the Mason Dixon ty and to transform the tide of violence, hatred, woman to win for individual reporting, Ms. line, they were free— a freedom unknown in separatism, and slavery that still binds us all. the Jim Crow South. I pray that God continues to bless you and this A measure of God’s grace is that these stalwart work we do,

Jodie STATISTICS CORNER 80-85% of TNA alumni graduate from a four-year college/ STUDENT SPOTLIGHT university in five years or less. Cheyne Francis, ‘16, is a go-getter. At the spring science fair (sponsored by Westinghouse Electric Corporation), Cheyne swept the awards, winning National graduation rates to obtain bachelors degrees within six years or less are: 3 ribbons, including "Best Overall" for her project, “Which Antacid should I use?” Cheyne plans to attend West Chester, Kent State, or IUP to pursue At public colleges and universities • Blacks 39.7% • Whites 60.2% a major in Communication Sciences & Disorders/Speech Pathology, utilizing her American Sign Language skills. Make plans to visit The Neighborhood At private institutions • Blacks 44.5% • Whites 68.1% Academy this spring to see Cheyne present her Senior Seminar project, "A Study of Deaf Culture and Their Interpretation of Current Events/Media." Source: The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education Meet Sarge! Our willing Cover Girl/Dog. Special thanks to Bernadette Gerbe (friend of the school, glass artist, and owner of Gerbe Glass in Lawrenceville) for sharing her photogenic pup with us.

STUDENT TE ACHERS LIFE AND STAFF

WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES AWARD-WINNING STAFF It is our pleasure to announce that our very own Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Operations, Anthony Williams, has been selected as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Honorees! In usual form, Anthony humbly Rachael Dittmar, Caitlin Everhart, DEVELOPMENT TEACHING responded, “I would not be the man I am today ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE without the support, guidance, and patience of my friends, family, and various youth who I have worked with over the years. I also would like to thank and acknowledge the communities of The Neighborhood Academy and East Liberty Presbyterian Church for believing in my personal, professional, and spiritual growth.”

Kortnie James, Tracy Riggle, TEACHING HUMANITIES, SR. SEMINAR & ASSOCIATE RELIGION INSTRUCTOR

Derrick Turner, MALE COUNSELOR (pic not available)

THANKS TO FUNDING ALUMNI NEWS FROM THE SPROUT FUND’S HIVE FUND FOR Cherice Jackson ‘15 was an intern this summer taken on the challenge of leading a section CONNECTED LEARNING, for Steel City Squash. Here’s what Brad Young, during our classes and the students respond our students have entered into exploring the Executive Director recently shared with us: “I very well to her. I look forward to continuing world of bicycling. For the past two summers, just wanted to let you know that Cherice has to grow this partnership, especially if we Micah Arnold (far left) has taken cycling to been an absolute pleasure to have working with keep getting Cherice-caliber employees.” We a new level by joining Mark Rubenstein’s us this summer. She is intelligent, responsible congratulate Cherice and wish her well as she Pittsburgh Youth Leadership group on and a go-getter in all respects. She has even moves on to pursue psychology at Slippery regional bike trips, including Vermont and Rock University this fall. the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Alumni enjoy re-connecting at this summer’s TNA Alumni picnic. Thank you to Jim and Nora Nealon for hosting! TRIBUTES AND MEMORIALS GIFTS WERE RECEIVED IN HONOR OF* Mr. & Mrs. William Bensur From Ms. Jan L. Bamford CORP ORATE C ONNECTI ONS Mr. & Mrs. David Smith From Ms. Christine Burton THANK YOU to COMCAST, who not only Highmark presented a contribution of $50,000 The Class of 2015 From Mr. George C. Greer support our students through EITC giving, through the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Mr. & Mrs. John W. Douglas, Jr. but provide Internet Essentials for our program to The Neighborhood Academy, and From Mr. & Mrs. Jay C. Huffard families. Internet Essentials is the nation’s Senator Fontana spoke at the ceremony. GIFTS WERE RECEIVED IN MEMORY OF* largest and most comprehensive high-speed Charlie Jarrett Internet adoption program. It provides low- The EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) From Mr. & Mrs. Hans G. Fleischner cost, high-speed Internet and the OSTC (Opportunity Scholarship Tax Peggy Houston From Mr. John D. Houston II service for $9.95 a month Credit) are vital programs for The Neighborhood Mrs. G. Paul DeBor plus tax, the option to Academy. For more information, call Sheila From Mr. & Mrs. Robert Palmer purchase an Internet- Rawlings at 412-626-6851. Mr. & Mrs. John Brodhead ready computer for under $150, and multiple From Mrs. Arthur M. Scully, Jr. options to access free digital literacy training Chuck Prine Thank you, Hi ghmark! From Mr. William G. Wegner *From in print, online and in-person. To participate 5/11/15 – families must have at least one child eligible 8/27/15 for the National School Lunch Program, whether public, parochial, private, charter, or homeschooled students. For more information, or to apply for the program, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376.

Pulitzer Prize Winner The Great Migration will be the interwoven academic theme for WISHLIST ISABEL WILKERSON our students’ fall studies. • (3) Sponsor a Senior Seminar Project - $50 each is coming to The Neighborhood Academy, Seniors (all of whom are reading the • Drawing Paper Pad- $5 Wednesday September 23rd! book) and underclassmen (who are reading segments) will engage in • Art Classroom rulers $5 each Isabel will be speaking about her book, The Warmth of discussions with Isabel to glean her • Scissors for art $7 each Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration , insights on The Great Migration. which chronicles the stories of three protagonists who Students will continue to engage in rich, • Classroom set of Rulers - $35 journey across the United States in search of a better life. perspective-altering studies surrounding • (3) Temperature Probes -$29 each The Great Migration and the exploration • (3) Ti-83 Graphing Calculator- $90 each SEATS ARE SELLING FAST! of their heritage. Planned activities Go to: www.theneighborhoodacademy.org include a visit to the Heinz History • (2) Eco Chambers- $38 Center’s “From Slavery to Freedom” • High Accuracy Drop Counter- $99 Event Details exhibit, tracing one’s roots through • Osmosis Apparatus- $169 5:30-6:45pm: Registration, cocktails, supper membership giveaways awarded by 7:00pm: Fireside chat with Isabel Wilkerson Ancestry.com, a tour of Dollar Bank’s • Classroom Set of Compasses- $30 historical branch, continued classroom 8:30pm: Coffee, dessert, reception and book signing discussions, writing assignments, and • (3) Membership to IXL math interactive more. Historically, Dollar Bank served website $250 for an annual class membership Tickets are: $100, $250, and $500 poor and minority communities by • Boys’/Mens’ blue uniform blazers All proceeds benefit student scholarships for The allowing accounts to be opened with (gently used are fine) Neighborhood Academy’s incoming 8th grade class. just one dollar. • White dress shirts (gently used are fine) • Unused gift cards NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH, PA PERMIT NO 05429 709 N. Aiken Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206

phone: 412-362-2001 fax: 412-362-2004 www.theneighborhoodacademy.org

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