Community Makeover Philanthropic Investment in a Former Steel Mill Site Offers Promise of a Vibrant Future
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issue 2 2012 Community makeover Philanthropic investment in a former steel mill site offers promise of a vibrant future The Magazine of The Heinz Endowments CARING CONNECTIONS HEADLINE MAKERS inside Board of Directors The Heinz Endowments was formed state of knowledge and practice in from the Howard Heinz Endowment, the fields in which we work. Our fields Teresa Heinz established in 1941, and the Vira I. of emphasis include philanthropy in Chairman Heinz Endowment, established in 1986. general and the disciplines represented James M. Walton It is the product of a deep family by our five grant-making programs: Vice chairman commitment to community and the Arts & Culture; Children, Youth & common good that began with H.J. Families; Education; Environment; André T. Heinz Heinz, and that continues to this day. and Innovation Economy. Christopher D. Heinz The Endowments is based in In life, Howard Heinz and Vira I. H. John Heinz IV Pittsburgh, where we use our region Heinz set high expectations for their Sasha L. Heinz Damon Aherne as a laboratory for the development philanthropy. Today, the Endowments Carol R. Brown of solutions to challenges that are is committed to doing the same. Judith M. Davenport national in scope. Although the majority Our charge is to be diligent, thoughtful Franco Harris of our giving is concentrated within and creative in continually working Wendy Mackenzie southwestern Pennsylvania, we work to set new standards of philanthropic Shirley M. Malcom wherever necessary, including excellence. Recognizing that none James E. Rohr state wide and nationally, to fulfill of our work would be possible without our mission. a sound financial base, we also are Drue Heinz Director emeritus That mission is to help our region committed to preserving and enhancing thrive as a whole community — the Endowments’ assets through economically, ecologically, educationally prudent investment management. and culturally — while advancing the h magazine is a publication of The Heinz Endowments. At the Endowments, we are committed to promoting learning in philanthropy and in the specific fields represented by our grant-making programs. As an expression of that commitment, this publication is intended to share information about significant lessons and insights we are deriving from our work. Editorial Team Linda Bannon, Linda Braund, Donna Evans, Carmen Lee, Douglas Root, Robert Vagt. Design: Landesberg Design About the cover The upbeat attitude that funders are encouraging in Hazelwood through neighborhood investment is reflected in the confident moves of Jamal Williams and LeBraya Latimer. Both are dancers with K.R.U.N.K. Movement, a Hazelwood-based program that teaches performance and business skills to youth. K.R.U.N.K. was part of a community celebration for the opening of the Hazelwood section of the Heritage Bike Trail earlier this year. Photo by Martha Rial 4 Open House Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg is more than a community center or social services hub. It’s a caring place that is attracting clients by the hundreds and respect from local foundations. 12 Act II: After the Mill A Hazelwood steel mill has been closed for nearly two decades, but plans are under way to pump vol. 11 issue 2 2012 new life into the site and new hope into the neighborhood. 24 Journalism 2.0 Although journalism has been dramatically transformed by online media, Pittsburgh foundations are doing what they can to ensure that in-depth, local news coverage doesn’t disappear. 2 Feedback 3 Message 32 Here & There Journalism, page 24 feedback Our last issue of h provided an in-depth look at the Breathe Project air quality initiative, which the Endowments launched a year ago, and highlighted the 50th anniversary of “Silent Spring,” the landmark book by the late conservationist and western Pennsylvania native Rachel Carson. The magazine also profiled the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its role 2 in reshaping Pittsburgh over the decades. Community Affairs outcome from the celebration of the 50th audience. Absent, however, is a Carsonesque Successful economic development requires anniversary of Carson’s book “Silent Spring” communicator. Perhaps at Carson’s alma that you offer a good place to live as well as a has been the outpouring of articles, reflections, mater, Chatham University, informed competitive place to work. Christine O’Toole’s remembrances and calls to action. Tellingly, awareness can influence another student to story “Community Affairs” shows how the events are advertised on Facebook, reflections write about today’s pending environmental Allegheny Conference on Community and remembrances are blogged, texting crises with the world as her audience. Development has contributed to that goal. connects activists, and YouTube is swimming Ward Feurt It was the creative force in the establishment with video interpretations. Just as commu- Manager of the Allegheny Regional Asset District in nication changed with the advent of popular Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge 1993, which is dedicated to sustaining and television, which accompanied the “Silent Wells, Maine improving the quality of life in our region. Spring” era, mobile browsing, web chatting, Playing its historic role of bringing private targeted advertising, customized reading and Air Time and public sectors to the table, the Allegheny personalized music now feed omnipresent I read with interest Jeff Fraser’s article “Air Conference raised the funds and educated the handheld devices. Time,” on efforts to improve Pittsburgh’s air public and elected officials on the benefits of Carson’s writing success stemmed from quality through the Breathe Project initiative. a dedicated revenue stream to make sure that her accessibility. Bell cites Carson’s fresh sub- Leaders in the regional community impressed our libraries, regional parks, and cultural and ject, public science and her allegorical style. me when we compared their efforts with those civic facilities remained the fabric of our Bell also documents some of the reduced to clean Houston’s air, without sacrificing community. As executive director of the pesticide success stemming from the messages economic growth, during the six years I served Regional Asset District, I appreciate that the in “Silent Spring.” Others have noted the as Houston’s mayor. Pittsburgh, like Houston, conference’s success has resulted in $1.3 billion almost universal good from her message on is proud of its industrial past and also has in investment in those assets as well as a like the interconnectivity of all living things and had to overcome stereotypes about its air amount in funds to county and municipal their link to the earth. When Carson wrote, the quality. Leaders in the business community, governments to lower the dependence on subject matter was familiar, if unexplored, and nonprofits and the public sector worked property tax. RAD was a win–win for our the message well-crafted. The book rose on together to achieve measurable improvements area, and the conference’s dedication to the the national stage, in part due to the swelling in air quality, based on good science. concept is the main reason it exists at all. tide of mass communication and an unprec- Pittsburgh has so much to offer: hard- One important clarification: While the edented connectedness to the world around working people, mountains, fall foliage, and conference budget has grown over the years, us. Defenders and condemners made their a sense of community built on history and the figure quoted in Chris O’Toole’s sidebar case to a large-scale audience. In 1962, tele- traditions. In the long run, its economic article, “Other City Leadership Groups Share vision was just becoming an omnipresent development, like Houston’s, depends on the Pittsburgh’s Goals,” is the consolidated budget influence; today, a digital platform is the willingness of entrepreneurs, executives and of several important economic development popular choice for news and entertainment skilled workers to move there. Most Americans and research agencies brought under the for Americans. If computers were responsible want their loved ones to breathe clean air. conference umbrella. This shared service for shrinking our world, then mobile tech- I have been in the energy business, and I know arrangement is efficient and a model for nology takes the next step and connects us that responsible companies can meet air other regional organizations. constantly, erasing geographic boundaries. quality standards using best practices. Hats Texting surpassed phone communication off to civic leaders who understand that, in David L. Donahoe modern America, most jobs will move to Executive Director five years ago. The shorthand style found in where a skilled workforce wants to live, and Allegheny Regional Asset District texts is the subject of derision, but the same arguments were probably made when con- not vice versa! Green Legacy temporary style replaced traditional writing. Bill White Thank you for the “Green Legacy” article Effective writing is transparent. It strives Former Houston Mayor by Natalie Bell, which I enjoyed reading. to convey meaning to an intended public, a Owner, White Interests LLC As manager of the Rachel Carson National goal that the texting upheaval meets, just as Houston, Texas Wildlife Refuge, I’ve noticed that a positive Carson’s idiomatic style spoke to the 1960s Comments: The staff of h magazine and The Heinz Endowments welcome your comments. All print and email letters must include an address with daytime phone number(s). We reserve the right to edit any submission for clarity and space. Published material also will be posted on The Heinz Endowments’ website, www.heinz.org, which offers current and back issues of the magazine. message Barry Lavery By Teresa Heinz Chairman, The Heinz Endowments 3 magine that it has fallen to you to lead a large foundation The story demonstrates that the power of place-based serving the Pittsburgh region, and the first thing that philanthropy is in the conviction that there are no bad places, only lands on your desk is a thick, decade-old, file dealing with bad conditions.