Healing Hands 14 by Emily Myers

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THEPIONEER MAGAZINE OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH Fall 2011

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PIONEERTHE MAGAZINE OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH

Art and Charity on the Same Page 4 By Dennis Funk

Up All Night : A Night in the Life 6 By Trevor Miles

I Want to Hold Your Hand 10 By Faith Cotter

Healing Hands 14 By Emily Myers

Showing Love on the Block 18 By Jeff Stitt

No Limits 22 By Natalie Simon

An Open Door 26 By Shaquela Myrick

Modern-Day Vagabonds 28 By Gina Zuccolotto On the cover: Pittsburgh Steelers athletic trainers John Norwig and Ryan Grove help linebacker Jason Worilds off the field. Photo Pioneer Staff :Fall 2011 courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pioneer is the magazine of downtown Pitts- burgh. It is published four times a year by stu- Editor Layout Editor Staff Writers dents in the School of Communication at Point Faith Cotter Caitlin Atkinson Dennis Funk Park University. Trevor Miles Readers are invited to air their views on issues and their reactions to articles in The Pioneer Copy Editor Web Editor Alec Robertson through letters to the editor. Letters must include your name and telephone number for verifica- Natalie Simon Gina Zuccolotto Jeff Stitt tion. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those Photo Editor Advertising Advisers of the speaker or writer and do not necessarily reflect those ofThe Pioneer staff or Point Park Emily Myers Manager Manley Witten University Shaquela Myrick Justine Coyne An initial copy of The Pioneer is free; additional copies are $3 each.

lery transaction goes something like this: Patrons interested in buying art visit a gallery and view works on display. Money from a sale is split at a percent- age agreed upon by the artist and dealer. But this is not the same for Aryal’s SamePage Productions. “I didn’t want to do things in the traditional way,” Aryal said. “Art galleries only reach a certain group of people, and the art there only represents a small selection of artists.” Because art gallery sales are limited to niche groups, Photos by Dan Haritan Aryal finds the current business Anup Aryal with “Party of Five” by Pearl Moon. model for selling original works of art as narrow — not only for artists and galleries, but also for Art and Charity consumers. Many people, Aryal believes, may have an interest in buying art but do not. on the Same Page He attributes this mainly Story by Dennis Funk to the fact that some of these paintings of fruit and cartoon- potential buyers either don’t feel utside the back door of ish portraits, with more stacked they are the type of person who Anup Aryal’s Bloomfield against a wall. An old, rusted visits a gallery or don’t live near Oapartment is a heap bicycle and disconnected rotary any. So, to reach more art fans, of dry branches. The needles, telephone were placed as func- Aryal remodeled the idea of the crisp and brown, still cling to tioning pieces of decorum. art gallery. the twigs, though it is apparent What Aryal’s home displays “The company is an en- they’ve been dead for ages. is that he believes every object tirely online gallery,” Aryal said. “I only just got rid of my has a continued use. He also SamePage Productions began Christmas tree,” Aryal said with feels this way about the contri- a self-deprecating grin that only butions of individuals, because someone who took nine months he said there are plenty of to get around to taking down people “who want to work with holiday decor could wear. He their ability to make a differ- pointed out a thickset, wooden ence, even if they are not able to shaft leaning in a corner beside write a big check personally or the breakfast table. travel halfway around the world “I cut off all of the branches to do something.” and figured I could make a cool His latest endeavor, an ‘Lord of the Rings’ walking stick online gallery called SamePage “Peaches in Lime” by Pearl Moon. from the trunk,” he said. Productions, grabs this philoso- Aryal’s living room is an phy and hurls it into the realm on etsy.com, a Web site where interesting space. The walls of selling fine art. artists sell their own works, but ring out with warm, vibrant The normal commercial gal- as he got more serious about Page 4 The Pioneer the venture, he developed a site The giving doesn’t stop with He said buying original art- specifically for the business at charities, because for Anup work is about more than getting www.siiilo.com. Aryal, the people on the receiv- something aesthetically pleas- Aryal said that siiilo repre- ing end of donations aren’t the ing. sents a metaphor where people only groups his business helps. “Art is an investment,” he are compartmentalized from Pearl Moon, one of the first said. “Original art is something one another in their own grain artists for SamePage and an that increases in value.” silos and therefore cannot work As for the profits SamePage together. The three I’s of siiilo. earns, Aryal said they will go com represent the personal back to helping others. ideals he wants to instill in his “What if we need frames for business to avoid departmen- paintings or shelves in the office talization: inclusion, innovation or something?” he said. “If we and imagination. do, then I can go out and hire Reaching people across the another artist or industrial de- globe is one of the main goals sign student and be able to pay of SamePage Productions, said them to do some work for us.” Aryal, who was born in Nepal. He called this a way of Though not a nonprofit busi- expanding to incorporate the ness, Aryal’s company will give underemployed, which is a big half the profits to the artist, piece of his vision for SamePage keep one-quarter of the sale and Productions. donate the remaining 25 per- “Our generation really cent to charity. “Mountain Girl — Me, Myself & Eye” lacks,” Aryal said. “There’s a by Pearl Moon. “Right now I’m working large section of disenfranchised with the Nepalese Children’s education promoter, said Anup youth playing FarmVille (on Education Fund,” he said. “They Aryal’s business would open Facebook) and doing nothing donate to Nepali children, doors for many artists. inspiring.” providing money for tuition. It “He’s a marketing genius,” This is where SamePage helps kids attend school who she said. “What he’s doing is an steps in, Aryal said. It’s a place otherwise might not have the excellent opportunity for art- where ordinary people can be opportunity to go. SamePage is ists to gain exposure.” Moon creative, make a living and help putting art in charity.” has sold five painting through others. It strips away the lines Bibhuti Aryal, Anup’s SamePage’s promotion. among art, charity and business younger brother who works with Anup Aryal thinks that hav- like thinner on a canvas. a nonprofit organization called ing a readily available source This is why he chose the The Rukmini Foundation, spoke for original artwork gives some- name SamePage, because it is a highly of his brother’s charitable thing special to people interest- model where everything is level work, though it stands out from ed in art who don’t visit expen- — artists don’t have to sacri- conventional art charities that sive galleries. fice their creative endeavors to give all profits to their cause. “The prices are affordable, make a profit on their work, the “What Anup is doing is so more people can purchase customer is presented a visually something different,” Bibhuti quality artwork,” he said. “You appealing array of affordable Aryal said. “If everybody does know, you can go to Target and investments, the seller is able a little bit, you know, that’s all it get a print for $100 or maybe to generate business fairly and is. I don’t think it takes a million you can come to us, pay $200 even the less fortunate benefit. dollar donation to help. We’ve and get something unique and It all comes down to one shown this — $300 gets original. Then you’re also giving thing, Aryal said: “SamePage is a girl through a year of school $100 to an artist and $50 to a about people working for each (in Nepal).” good cause.” other.” Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 5 owntown Pittsburgh Up All Drolls up its sidewalks at 7 p.m., but after everyone clears the Night: streets and goes home, there is activity that people don’t see. Managers and workers must stay A Night in to clean. Pastry chefs work well into the night to prepare treats for the the Life next day. Parking garage attendants remain on Perspectives duty all night. Someone has to from the empty the office trash. Security guards and graveyard shift police officers guard the buildings and streets. Article and photography A closer look at some by Trevor Miles of the everyday people who work the graveyard shift reveals a city teem- ing with people who make things work. David Z’s attendant booth sits empty while he tends to the garage . These are the people rity monitors glowing. who are Up All Night. When he’s not in the booth, his job entails changing light Overnight in Concrete bulbs, fixing the ticket machines David Z. misses out on and dealing with a few interesting family activities with his wife characters late at night coming of 22 years and two kids. from the bars. “Thursday is my Monday,” “Some people can be bel- he said. “I can’t go camping ligerent. But not too often,” he with my family, because I’m said. His shift is 12 a.m. to 8 a.m., working. It’s tough on the which he likes. weekends. You want to live “We have a floater shift,” he the way your family does, said, rummaging through his but when they live in the papers to find the schedule. “But daylight. . . .” they might have to work 8 a.m. He works as a mainte- to 4 p.m., then come back here at nance worker and garage midnight and work till 8 a.m. No! attendant at the Pittsburgh I would rather have my schedule Parking Authority Garage on set.” Liberty Avenue. He some- He used to work for an en- times can be found sitting in gineering company, but 9/11 his attendant booth, walls lit- changed that. A walkway stretches through the ground tered with documents, secu- floor of the Liberty Ave. Parking Garage. “I got laid off, bounced Page 6 The Pioneer around a few jobs. I wanted a job that I didn’t have to worry about job security.” He took the maintenance job because the set schedule appealed to him, but soon after he started, David began to see the negative effects of working all night. “I know many guys who quit this shift. I’ve gained weight, I don’t eat right, I can’t find the time to sleep . . . the last hour knocks you out,” David said. David didn’t seem too concerned about winter be- A jazz mural welcomes NOLA guests. ing just around the corner. still not used to it.” work on the cash-out reports for “Winter becomes an icebox the servers, making sure every- in this place, my pen freezes! But Late-Night Celebration thing adds up to the penny, a pro- I like the cold. When it snows I Peter Landis and his restau- cess that can take anywhere from spend the whole night up on the rant staff may be doing a variety 10 minutes to an hour. roof of the garage, getting rid of of things at midnight. During the On the weekend, midnight it,” David said. week, the servers wipe off the means the restaurant may still be David admitted that there is tables and get the chairs in place. packed with patrons, while the one plus to this late shift. The chefs are in the back of the jazz and blues music keeps the “I don’t have to deal with house, cleaning and preparing party going. bosses,” he said. At night I’m my food for the next day. Landis is the assistant gen- own boss.” Landis will be down in the eral manager of NOLA on the David said he admires any- basement, checking the inven- Square, a New Orleans-themed one who tackles overnight shifts. tory of the wines, specialty spirits, restaurant in Market Square that “It’s a tough life,” he said. beer kegs, garnishes, everything opened five months ago. Landis “I’ve done it four years and I’m the bar utilizes. Afterward, he’ll said that on weekends, his restaurant usually closes at 2 a.m., one of the last eateries open downtown. He said he prefers working nights instead of the lunch rush, but he isn’t bothered by either shift. “I don’t mind any hours,” he said. “I just like to work. If I sit around, I don’t feel productive.” Landis has been in the restaurant business for 15 years and said he enjoys it because it’s a “party every day.” NOLA on the square offers a rich, Creole/Cajun cuisine, and Guests enjoy a late-night meal at NOLA on the Square. on Wednesdays, Fridays and

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 7 walks of life: lawyers, athletes, actors, the person that has to work three jobs to support their family. Everyone has a story to tell. They want to come in and escape their hectic lives for a little bit.”

Lunch at the Glass Castle A pink granite obelisk sits in the middle of a plaza surround- ed by glass towers. Mounted lights shine various colors on the stone, while all of this is reflected in the thousands of glass panels. Debbie Cooper enjoys her lunch break with co-workers at 1:30 in the morning, sur- rounded by the glimmering PPG Place. Cooper has worked here as an office cleaner for 28 years. Her shift is 9:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., and she empties trash, vacuums Debbie Cooper and a co-worker enjoy the night air on lunch break at PPG Place. floors, and does other miscella- Saturdays, the restaurant has rest he gets, Landis likes the neous tidying up. live music. opportunity his job gives him PPG Place’s tallest tower is Though working in this kind to make new friends and learn 40 stories; however, Cooper is of atmosphere can be fun, Lan- about people. only responsible for a few floors. dis admits, he still needs to find “You meet so many differ- “I do two and-a-half floors . time to rest. ent characters, and interact . . but some floors have 60-70, “I used to work till 4 a.m. with people. . . . That’s what even 100 offices,” she said. With my internal clock, I can’t humans were meant to do,” he Cooper says that working fall asleep till 3 a.m. If I get less said. “Everybody is interest- in PPG Place at night can be than five hours I’m not as good,” ing. We get people from all creepy, because of how quiet it he said. He just bought a new home within the city limits, so he will have a much quicker commute than his previous 45-minute trek from Upper St. Clair. Besides working late at the restaurant, fixing up his house is something that keeps him awake. “I’m probably gonna paint till 5 or 6 a.m., sleep for a few hours and come back to work,” he said. Market Square glimmering at night. Regardless of how much Page 8 The Pioneer is all the time. Still, she loves while her daughter has been how pretty the towers look growing up. Because of her in the winter with the snow, night shift, her husband spends though Cooper and her co- more time with Lou. workers will take their breaks After work, Cooper will stay inside the food court. up until 9 a.m., take her daugh- Cooper has been married ter to school and sleep until 4 for 39 years. Her husband, p.m. Cooper wishes things could Thomas, used to work in a work differently with her daily steel mill as a fenceman. After routine. he was laid off, she found the “I’d be home with my cleaning position at PPG Place. daughter, be able to help her When her husband began with her homework instead of working again, the Coopers being tired and grouchy,” Coo- had no one to watch their son, per said. so sticking with the overnight She and her husband cel- shift was her best option. ebrated their 40th anniversary “My husband worked day- October. light, and you don’t know who “My husband’s retiring. I The moon looms over PPG Place. to leave your kids with nowa- wouldn’t mind going back to days,” Cooper said. daylight,” she said. considering picking up a grave- Today, her son, Tommy, is When her lunch break end- yard shift. 27 and she has a 14-year-old ed and her co-workers headed “Don’t do it,” she said, add- daughter, Lou. inside the building to continue ing that workers don’t get to see Cooper said it has been hard their work, Cooper offered one the sunrise at PPG Place. working the overnight shift final piece of advice for anyone “We see the moon,” she said.

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 9 I wannaI hold your hand By Faith Cotter Colleges and organizations enrich the LGBTQ community

Photo courtesy of Julianna Bagwell Alliances provide a space for LGBTQ youth to hang out. organizations that can provide brushes with LGBTQ opposi- he University of Pitts- support. tion. Tburgh’s Rainbow Alli- “The GLCC is the hub of One semester, a Christian ance ran out of fliers to pass out the queer community (in Pitts- group staged a protest near a to all the students who attended burgh),” Lyndsey Sickler, co- meeting of the alliance. But the first meeting of the semester chair of the GLCC, said. “(The for the most part, Pifer said, in the Kurtzman Room of the GLCC) is a center to commune things are OK and the alliance William Pitt Student Union. together. If someone calls you often acts as a liaison with other The alliance expected 100 by the wrong pronoun, you can groups at the university. students. Nearly 200 attended. say, ‘Hey, I don’t identify with The Panhellenic, for exam- In the rows of chairs sat that,’ and it’s a safe space (to say ple, an organization that over- gay and lesbian people, straight that.)” sees Greek life on Pitt’s campus, people, transgender and bisex- D.J. Pifer, business manager has invited the Rainbow Alli- ual people, queer and question- for the Rainbow Alliance and a ance to speak about homopho- ing people, all crowded together junior psychology and business bia to members of fraternities under crystal chandeliers that major at Pitt who is originally and sororities. dangled from the ceiling of a from Warren County, said he Adam Dobson, a Pitt senior building that embodies 100 doesn’t know what to expect majoring in chemical engineer- years of history. from Pittsburgh after he gradu- ing and religious studies, said Alliances like Rainbow ates. alliances bring students to- provide support and a social “College is easier to find gether who otherwise might not niche for LGBTQ students in like-minded people,” Pifer have met. Pittsburgh colleges, but once said. “As an adult you have to “You can hold a partner’s students leave the walls of the be more aware of what you’re hand in public,” he said. “Where university, they have to transi- doing. Being in a business or a I grew up, there wasn’t an (al- tion to the LGBTQ community corporation affects you faster liance.) It wasn’t very LGBT of the city. and harder. That’s your life.” friendly. Being here in a group When they leave school, According to Pifer, the Rain- that is friendly and can enact Pittsburgh’s Gay and Lesbian bow Alliance has experienced change here in the surrounding Community Center is one of the Page 10 The Pioneer areas is very rewarding.” cation Network; the Gay and “There was a guy there who Dobson added that, though Lesbian Neighborhood Develop- liked my name so much that he the city can be hostile, more of- ment Association; Dreams of called everyone Rasheedah,” ten than not Pittsburghers take Hope; and Persad. Brown said with a smile. “He a passive approach to LGBTQ It also offers yoga classes, makes me laugh. We’re like issues. He said that even though a book club, dances, volunteer- brother and sister.” ing opportunities, lock-ins, and “People aren’t aware of other chances to meet and con- stuff that exists out there, and “You can hold a nect with others in the LGBTQ there’s so much here if you partner’s hand in community. know where to look,” Sickler public.” Brittany Meixner, a mathe- said. “Connect to services. Get matics major at the Community involved. Get in the know of College of Allegheny County, what is going on in the com- —Adam Dobson said the GLCC cropped up in munity.” her life just when she needed “My experience in this city, there are LGBTQ-friendly social it. She made friends, and since for as conservative as it is, is spots within the area he doesn’t her mother spent time in the pretty accepting. We still have think there are a lot of niche hospital this past summer, the issues with LGBT violence, groups outside of bars or orga- GLCC provided a much-needed youth thrown out of homes, nizations. normalized routine. but you’ll find that anywhere,” “That’s why the Rainbow Al- “It really helped me. Every- Sickler said. liance is so important,” he said. one is really nice,” Meixner said. For Pifer, an experience According to Sickler, you She is also part of CCAC’s while riding the bus stood out just have to know where to look Gay-Straight Alliance, where ef- to him. for social support. Because of forts on the alliance’s behalf got “I held a boy’s hand,” he networking and her long in- a gender-neutral bathroom in said, “and at least one person volvement with the GLCC, she place at the Allegheny campus. had something to say. But knows what is available when it Rasheedah Brown, who is 50 other people, though they comes to the LGBTQ commu- studying entertainment design didn’t act, visibly disagreed. nity in Pittsburgh. and special effects makeup at The world is full of good peo- “I’m aware of my own privi- the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, ple. The bad ones are just a lot lege in being able to say that, said one of her best memories louder.” though,” Sickler said. “Not from the GLCC was a lock-in everyone is in that space in their where GLCC members spent the lives.” night at the center, watching Sickler started to use the movies and just hanging out. GLCC as a teenager and began working there because she “wanted to see better things for the community.” “I’m personally invested in the youth and I’ve been working with them since I was 19, 20 years old,” she said. “The youth are the future of the community.” The GLCC is an umbrella organization for groups like the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Edu-

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 11 TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE

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Page 12 The Pioneer Getting the Professional Edge

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Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 13 Healing hands Trainers work year-round to keep Steelers healthy and playing By Emily Myers Pittsburgh Steeler grimaces in pain A on the field, clutch- ing the area where it hurts. As 65,000 fans hold their breath, staff rushes to help him. Leading the rush is John Norwig, head athletic trainer since 1991. “We are first responders,” Norwig said on a Tuesday morning when players did not have to report to the Steelers’ South Side practice facility. “We make sure that a guy is stable.” Norwig and his staff, which Photos courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers includes assistant athletic Head athletic trainer John Norwig is in his 20th season with the Steelers. trainers Ryan Grove and Sonia recover faster.” program, from the draft, through Gysland, work with the team This is likely due to the play- the season, to the mending that physicians to help diagnose and er’s fitness level and age, which occurs after the last game is treat injuries. helps him rehabilitate faster. For played. Not all injuries are quick players considered older for the “We are responsible for the fixes. National Football League, train- prevention, the recognition, the “When they get hurt, it’s very ers are concerned with them be- treatment and the rehabilitation frustrating,” Norwig said. “These ing more susceptible to injuries. of the injuries,” Norwig said. guys are extremely talented, Certified athletic trainers play Originally from Hanover, extremely fit, they very rarely a crucial role in the entire athletic Pa., Norwig did not dream of get hurt and when they do, they being responsible for the health of athletes who make millions of dollars. His father enjoyed watching sports, and Norwig grew up playing football. While playing at Penn State’s York campus, he learned about the athletic training program. After he transferred to the main campus, he applied to the athletic trainers program. “The athletic training curriculum was still in its infancy and I met the guy running the curriculum,” Norwig said. “I met the Athletic Trainer Ryan Grove has been with the Steelers since 1991. requirements . . . and had the op-

Page 14 The Pioneer portunity to get in the program.” Norwig was the head athletic trainer at Vanderbilt University for six years. Grove worked for East Tennessee State University before coming to the Steelers in 1999. Gysland is in her first year with the Steelers after finish- ing a year with Duke University. Since joining the organization at the end of the summer, she has learned more about the professional setting. “It’s a big adjustment in the fact that this is what people do for a living,” Norwig said in refer- ence to the move from the university level to the professional.

“We are responsible for the prevention, the recognition, the treatment and the rehabilitation of injuries.” —John Norwig “It’s a job. . . . College is not quite the business that this is.” Gysland has found some similarities between Duke and the Steelers. “At Duke, everybody knows everybody. . . . That is similar with the Steelers,” said Gysland, who is Norwig is the first on the field when a player is injured and the last off. the only female athletic trainer in At the end of the Steelers “Some athletes we pay more the NFL. season, Norwig’s, Grove’s and attention to than others,” Norwig “My gender doesn’t matter at Gysland’s season begins. said. “We don’t have the same all,” Gysland said. “The players “You don’t put things in a depth of knowledge on all 500 don’t see me different than John trunk and say, ‘OK, the season athletes, but we know something or Ryan.” is over, I’ll see ya in a couple about all of them.” No matter the athletic trainer months,’” Norwig said. “It doesn’t Norwig starts to focus on the or the setting, the first priority is happen that way.” preseason, conditioning and orga- the health of the athletes. They follow up with anything nized team activities. The coaches “You have to first look out from rehab to surgery to help and staff make sure the team for the athlete. You have to make prepare athletes for the next year. starts to prepare for the season sure they are both physically and They also start gathering health mentally. mentally prepared to return,” information on the players in the The next season’s physi- Grove said. NFL Draft. cals make sure the athletes

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 15 are fit to play. The staff and team have a break between mid-June and the end of July, when training camp starts in Latrobe. After training camp comes preseason. When the regular season begins, the athletic trainers spend roughly 60 to 70 hours a week with the athletes. “It is a long season and I’m sure it wears on my wife and kids a little bit,” Grove said. “But I do enjoy it and I think my kids enjoy going to the games. . . . There are positives and negatives with everything, but with this job I feel there are more advantages.” Gysland sees some of these advantages. “Having this opportunity to Athletic trainers have advantages and take part in the all the joys of the team. work in a professional setting said. “Having access to different gives me the ability to become a gives me opportunities,” Gysland types of techniques and things better trainer.”

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 16 Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 17 Showing Love on The Block PGH neighborhoods move toward more positive communities Article and photos by Jeff Stitt roken bottles and trash litter Pittsburgh Bneighborhoods such as Lawrenceville, Brighton Heights and the West End Vil- lage. Vacant buildings stand next to concrete lots that serve no purpose but to scrape and The Antrim Street rain garden before residents and volunteers began planting. bruise children who attempt to needs through volunteer work. try, including New York City find a place to play. “ServePGH” encourages Mayor Michael Bloomberg. An effort is being made to residents to help revitalize Ravenstahl has created six clean up Pittsburgh neighbor- neighborhoods. sub-programs of ServePGH, hoods. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl “Working block by block is one of which is the “Love Your and the City Council are an- the way a community develops Block” program. swering President Obama’s call. into a community that everyone Through the program, In 2009, President Obama appreciates,” City Council Presi- neighborhoods are being revi- signed the Edward M. Kennedy dent Darlene Harris said. talized with gardens, play areas, Serve America Act. The goal is ServePGH was established litter cleanup, memorials and to boost national service by al- in cooperation with 15 other new paint. lowing Americans to serve local mayors from around the coun- Eleven out of 32 applica- tions have been accepted based on feasibility, impact on the community and engagement with residents. The Home Depot Foun- dation awarded Pittsburgh $10,000 to move forward with the Love Your Block revitalization movement. Communities chosen to benefit from Love Your Block were given a $500 gift card to fund revitalization. The program also has worked in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Works, the Bureau of Building Inspectors and the Urban Redevelopment Pete Bellisario, president of the Brighton Heights Citizens Federation, works Authority. with Pittsburgh Public Works employees to unload plants and mulch. Rebecca Delphia, chief service officer for the city of Pitts-

Page 18 The Pioneer Antrim Street volunteers of various ages collaborate to plant the corner lot garden. burgh, oversees ServePGH and Ravenstahl was present at “I can’t build things like a con- Love Your Block. the opening of the event on Ant- venience store or other things I “Feedback has been through rim Street on Sept. 24. would like to see here, but I can the roof. . . . (The mayor’s office) “The reality is, government make a garden.” was blown away,” Delphia said, can only do so much, so thank Day and her husband took adding that she and other of- you for rolling up your sleeves an interest in the event because ficials hope to see the program and doing hard work,” Ravens- “we’re putting so much energy grow next spring. into our home, I thought, why “The important thing was “I am proud of Pitts- not extend into the community.” for the projects to be projects burgh’s strong tradition of Day thinks of the garden as a that the communities want to neighbors-helping-neigh- “discovery garden” because it is see,” Delphia said. new to the community. Children She said she was impressed bors.” helped make it, and plants were to see “how much leverage (the —Mayor Luke Ravenstahl specially selected so that they groups have) by taking this could attract various birds and small grant and making it so tahl said. butterflies. much more.” Among the volunteers was Day said she hopes children People in Brighton Heights Brighton Heights resident Kelly are “exposed to positive lead- are completing the Antrim Day, who applied for the grant ership and will be able to look Street Beautification Project, and helped organize the project. back and say that they helped whose goal is to clean up a va- Day, a former resident of Blaw- with the garden. cant lot and put garden plots in nox who has lived in Brighton One of her main reasons place. Heights for several years, said for committing to the project The garden will serve as neighborhoods should have was safety, as cars speed up and a rain garden with perennial gardens. down the narrow road, which is plants. “We’re lacking,” Day said. on a hill. In a class from which she recently graduated, she learned about proper planting techniques and that foliage has a natural tendency to make people slow down, making the children safer. Helen Lorinc was raised in Brighton Heights and moved away for about 20 years. She came back and is a member of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl addresses residents and volunteers on Antrim Street. Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 19 to improve their blocks and communities. I am proud of Pittsburgh’s strong tradition of neighbors-helping-neighbors,” Ravenstahl said. Resident Greg Mckcithen, 17, agreed. “It feels like somebody cares about the environment they’re living in,” Mckcithen said. Delphia said the goal for Love Your Block is to have at least 200 volunteers, which Joan Bellisario, Brighton Heights Citizens Federation treasurer, stands next to the lot before ground is broken for planting on Antrim Street. the Brighton Heights Communi- “The neighborhood I grew ty Federation, a group of leaders up in, you felt like when you that matched the $500 grant walked down the street some- and helped sponsor the event. one had your back. It’s critical The project and the volun- to the community,” she said. teer turnout reminded her of Ravenstahl agreed about her youth. community camaraderie. “It gives More “ServePGH” opportunities me hope to see the work that from the mayor’s office these volunteers • The Mayor’s Civ- ing the winter. They have done, and The youth of Brighton Heights also ic Leadership Acad- shovel their snow, de- will continue aided in “beautifying” Antrim Street. emy gives participants ice their walkways and to do through she believes they will meet and a behind-the-scenes handle other winter my Love Your surpass. look at local govern- needs. Block program. Interested volunteers can go ment. It inspires me to the Pittsburgh Cares Web site • The Mayor’s to know there or call the mayor’s office. • The Mayor’s Citizen Service Award are those like “It makes me feel like there Mentoring Initiative is given to someone them in every is someone who cares about us, pairs a city worker as who goes above and neighborhood and cares about themselves,” a mentor to a sixth- beyond the call of vol- of our city, who Mckcithen said. grade child. unteerism. work each day

• Red-up Zone, Anyone is wel- named after the Pitts- come to volunteer. burghese term “red- Volunteers have up,” meaning clean included college up, assigns volunteers students, high school to a specific area of the students, volunteers city to remove litter. from out-of-state, and people located • Snow Angels pro- in the individual vides volunteers to aid communities. neighbors in need dur- −J.S.

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Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 21 No

Limits Students reach their goals to become educational, societal interpreters for the deaf Article and Photos by Natalie Simon he narrow, dimly lit the only ones talking, and the “My passion (for sign club was accented other club members were fully language) came from a place Tby small, white icicle aware of it, giving the two la- mat,” Coticchia said. “When lights hanging from the ceil- dies glances of mixed emotion. I was 6 years old, my dad ing above Priscilla Stark and These two Community College bought a place mat that had Lizzie Coticchia. of Allegheny County students sign language on it and I fell To their left, large mir- sat several seats away from in love with it.” rors positioned along the anyone else in the tavern-like Continuing to have conver- wall reflected draped Steel- club. They had to complete an sations with the people around ers banners and several big assignment by the time they them, Stark and Coticchia screen TVs showing the last of left. became increasingly comfort- yet another Pittsburgh Pirates They were there to get the able in their surroundings, loss. The sound was off. The most out of their experience, turning into social butterflies. subtitles were on. and they knew they needed They began signing to more Stark and Coticchia were to start interacting. So, they employees at the club. began to sign. Dana M. was working They were at the Pitts- concessions. An obvious Steel- burgh Association of the Deaf, ers fan, she sported black- a club in Uptown Pittsburgh. and-gold nails, a bedazzled The aspiring interpreters were Steelers uniform and earrings given the assignment to expe- in the shape of a Steelers jer- rience something in the deaf sey. community and decided PAD Dimples accented her was the perfect place to go. squinty smile. Those dimples Stark and Coticchia are are so well-known, people sign enrolled in several Ameri- her name by signing the letter can Sign Language classes “D” while moving it back-and- at CCAC’s North Campus. forth near where a dimple is They both have a passion located. for wanting to assist deaf While Dana became ac- people through interpreting quainted with Stark and Cot- in schools and other facets of icchia, she explained some Lizzie Coticchia signs “university.” society. experiences she had with

Page 22 The Pioneer interpreters and what she has preters is most crucial, and they caught up on each other’s to go through today to get one. where people like Stark and lives, Stark explained why she She recently went to South Coticchia strive to fill the void. was going into interpreting. Hills Beauty Academy on Heather Sieg, assistant “I wasn’t raised signing West Liberty Avenue to enroll club manager at PAD, has two in (ASL),” said Stark, both of in cosmetology courses. The sons enrolled in the Shaler whose parents are deaf. “It school refused to accommo- Area School District. One son, was more broken, but once date her with an interpreter. Ryan, is deaf. I got into (CCAC), I couldn’t “They looked at me like I “He loves having (his sign broken English. I mean, if was crazy,” Dana said. interpreter). He doesn’t miss I did, they’d probably look at It’s now her responsibil- any more information that’s me like ‘what the hell’s wrong ity to seek out and pay for her being said in classes,” Sieg with you?’” Stark said with a own interpreter so that laugh. she can enroll in beauty Stark plans on ac- school. quiring a two-year In response to Da- Educational Interpret- na’s story, another club ing Program associate’s member signed that it degree, a program begun was unfair for her to at CCAC in the spring. have to do that. While one doesn’t “Tell me about it,” need a degree to inter- Dana said as she rolled pret in K-12 schools, her eyes. graduating with an The deaf population associate’s degree in in Pittsburgh is much educational interpreting more abundant than will put Stark ahead of people realize. The the game. All she would need for educational have to do after that is interpreters keeps take the Educational schools like South Hills Interpreter Performance Beauty Academy and Assessment. many others from ac- Stark has the ability cepting deaf students. to understand signing in There are schools both English and ASL. surrounding the city The two are similar, hav- specifically intended ing the same basic signs Mural on outside wall of PAD building. for the deaf, such as the for words. ASL is more communication and language- said. thought-based and uses few based Western Pennsylvania Sieg attended Mount Leba- prepositions. School for the Deaf. This non- non High School and had an “There’s dialects. It’s like profit school allows students educational interpreter, but speaking to someone from the to learn sign language in both the program that provided the South,” Stark said. English and ASL. interpreters moved to North No two people sign the But except for educational Hills High School. same, but the overall basics to institutions like WPSD, there It turned out that Sieg and signing are tested when taking remain public and private Stark attended the same high the EIPA. K-12 schools where deaf in- school and were old friends. Both Coticchia and Stark dividuals are enrolled among Sieg still has Stark’s high are dedicated to being the best hearing students. This is an school picture and was sur- interpreters they can be. They area where the need for inter- prised to see her there. While want to be interpreters for

Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 23 Dana at the beauty academy or for Sieg’s son at Shaler. Coticchia wants to interpret on the college level as well as outside the classroom. To interpret in college, a person needs to have a bachelor’s degree. The only school in Pennsylvania that accepts the sign language transfer credits from CCAC is Mount Aloysius in Cresson. “You need a bachelor’s degree in anything — math, science, journalism. All you have to do is have a bachelor’s degree and pass the (EIPA),” Coticchia said. Heather Sieg reacquaints with Priscilla Stark. Coticchia is determined to educational and community to spread the word about get a program available closer interpreters gain an associ- the signing classes offered at to home. She’s seeking out the ate’s degree in ASL at CCAC, CCAC. Coticchia explained help of the University of Pitts- they would be able to transfer that if there are more ASL burgh, where a majority of the to Pitt to complete a bach- students at CCAC, the greater CCAC ASL teachers also work. elor’s degree. the chance Pitt will pick up a If aspiring higher-level Coticchia and several other transfer program. students “If we do the two years Pittsburgh Association for the Deaf in the ASL at CCAC and the two years program at Pitt, we can do everything 1854 Forbes Avenue plan to interpreting. You’ll have no Pittsburgh, PA 15219-5836 visit high limit, nothing setting you schools back,” Coticchia said. (412) 532-4542 Public Videophone (412) 246- 8060 Office Videophone www.pghdeafclub.org Find “Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf” on Facebook for more information and event dates CCAC • ASL courses are offered at both the CCAC North campus and Boyce campus • Offers the Educational Interpreting Program associate’s degree only at CCAC North campus • Curriculum includes classes such as basic ASL signing courses, interpreting voice-to-sign (and sign-to-voice), deaf culture, ASL literature

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Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 25 An Open Door As opportunities go weary, hope is offered for homeless Downtown Article and Photos by Shaquela Myrick

yrone Arnold, head chef for the Red Door Thomeless outreach food program at the St. Mary of Mercy Church on Boulevard of the Allies, has seen an increase of people looking for services. The Red Door is a volunteer agency that distributes bagged lunches Monday through Saturday mornings. “People are not only homeless, but they are flat out hungry. This Volunteers receive donations from businesses in the area such as Panera affects all walks of life,” Arnold Bread and Bruegger’s Bagels. said. organization referred him. He said in Michigan was not an option. The lack of knowledge of the he doesn’t have a home and is look- He suffers from hepatitis C, area forced Arnold to live at the ing to “get established.” a sciatic nerve, 100 stitches in Light of Life Ministries on the He moved to Pittsburgh in his stomach, liver malfunctions, North Side for a few months when 2002 after working for PepsiCo in carpal tunnel, cervical disk inju- he first moved from Cleveland to Maryland. He experienced pre- ries, bipolar disease and depres- Pittsburgh. existing medical issues before he sion. He attended Le Cordon Bleu injured his back at the warehouse. “I’m stable, but nobody should Culinary School and worked at a He collected a settlement and have to deal with this,” Allen said. gas station and catering business moved to Pittsburgh because of its “I’m trying to help everybody, but I at night. medical reputation. In June, he need to help myself.” Arnold said he did not experi- visited his home state of Michigan He said finding a place to sleep ence the kind of frustration many to take care of his family and sick at night is the hardest issue and people he has met face when they mother. causes him stress all day. often “get the runaround” seeking When he returned, his lease It is “one of the things that information and attention. was up, the settlement money had tears me apart,” he said. He does Douglas Allen Jr., 55, said he run out and he said staying not like homeless shelters because went to the Red Door after another

Lines form outside of the Red Door on the Boulevard of the Allies by those looking for a meal.

Page 26 The Pioneer but it’s hard for me to get around. on Liberty Avenue and he couldn’t I’m hardly walking with my dis- take his eyes off the coins. abilities, and not fully knowing my “I need it for the bus,” he said. surroundings make it difficult,” Allen said that 10 years from Allen said. now he hopes he can gather Marguerite, receptionist at enough resources and find some- St. Mary’s for 18 years who asked thing “concrete” in his life so he to be identified only by her first can say, “Thank you, Jesus, I can name, said having people on staff stop walking.” with expertise would be helpful. “You can’t think on an empty “I wish we had case workers stomach. Your body doesn’t have as a one-on-one situation with the the energy,” Allen said. “That’s answers to where to go and what why I came to the Red Door.” to do,” Marguerite said. “Sometimes I shield myself “They have to know how to from going out there. It hurts,” deal with the situation. These Arnold said. “If you’re not read- ing the newspaper and you come “Jesus . . . never turned down here for an hour, you’ll see. anyone away.” It’s really gotten bad out there.” —Tyrone Arnold “You have (some) of the homeless who want to work and people may have been beaten (or) support themselves and Congress Chef Arnold cuts vegetables for abused and can get disturbed very is on their own agenda, (but) it’s homemade soup. quickly,” Allen said. not working. It’s only hurting us of personality clashes and over- He said if proper care is not more,” Arnold said. “(Homeless- night stays can quickly take a turn given from counselors it can be ness) is something working Pitts- for the worse. quickly damaging. burghers don’t want to see.” “You never know what to It takes “under- expect,” he said. “Someone wants standing, patience and to fight or steal and that can even endurance,” he said. lead to death. It starts with words Arnold said that and it escalates.” in the meantime there “I don’t want to be in that are sources that are environment,” he said. “It’s not my able and waiting to structure.” help without question Allen is looking for medical or hesitation. attention but explained that most “We don’t know outreach resources are either their story, (so) you “filled up” or he doesn’t match the try not to be judg- criteria for an application. Some mental,” Arnold said. organizations require letters of rec- “You think what would ommendation or medical referrals Jesus do. He never from an agency. turned anyone away. Allen has secured an interview All I can do, all I know with Operation Safety Net, part is that they are hun- of Pittsburgh Mercy Health Sys- gry.” tem and Catholic Health East that Allen said he saw provides access to health care for a man drop change on homeless people. “I’m in an aggra- the floor at the Mc- Volunteers pack sandwiches and cookies into bags. vated situation. I have meetings, Donald’s Restaurant Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 27 Modern-Day Vagabonds Backpacking Swedes and a Pittsburgh native go abroad in search of new sights and sounds. By Gina Zuccolotto ressed in worn cor- foreign in the United States This differs for typical Euro- duroy with his guitar because students are under pean students because there is Dcase thrown over his constant pressure to complete less restriction on international shoulder Magnus Olofsson, a college within four years to travel. Europe’s open borders, 20-year-old Stockholm native enter the work force right after great public transportation sys- and aspiring musician, ven- graduation. tem and efficient infrastructure tures out into the unwelcoming Philadelphia weather to play a half-hour set at a local dive bar on the outskirts of the historical district. Though he is expecting that his five other Swedish travel companions will serve as his only groupies for tonight, he is eager to play just for the sake of playing. For Olofsson and his friends, Philadelphia was the last stop on their “gap year” trip abroad before catching their depart- ing flight and heading home to Sweden to decide whether they would like to continue their education or join the work force.

Gap year occurs when recent Photo by Magnus Olofsson high school or college graduates Magnus Olofsson and Marc Christianson prepare for a hike on the Kungsleden take time off for informal travel Trail in northern Sweden. or to pursue volunteer opportunities outside their native coun- According to CNN Travel, accounts for easy access into try. These trips last from six when American students neighboring countries within a months to a full year. choose to travel, they often very short length of time. “Gap year is very common, stay within the confines on the For Marc Christianson, one especially with the economy be- United States. A general lack of Olofsson’s fellow backpacking so unstable at the moment of time off restricts them to ers, the idea of stopping the across all of Europe,” Olofsson weekend trips to destinations cycle of the constant repeti- said. “Students are delaying that are based on proximity. tion of day-to-day life triggered their start at university because They choose not to go abroad something for him and his the price has risen astronomi- because they are comfortable friends. This prompted them to cally.” and accustomed to their sur- sit outside a café and map out The concept of gap year is roundings. their journey across the world

Page 28 The Pioneer on the back of a napkin. To pay for the trip, Starting on July 23, 2010 these men have been these men left their homes near saving their money the Växjö region of Sweden and throughout their high decided to start their journey school careers. They in Zurich, Switzerland. From had their parents foot there they hiked through Aus- the rest of the bill to tria and into the Dolomites make their trip pos- mountain region in northern sible. The group bud- Italy. They then backtracked to geted approximately Germany and worked their way $10,000 per person, into France for New Year’s. but ended up only Photo by: Mangus Olofsson The group continued on into spending $7,300 by Marc Christianson’s handprint on a tree in the the Madrid, Spain and went to canceling their plans to Dolomites mountains of Italy. visit friends who were attending tour the Amalfi Coast in was actually edible, let alone college in Portugal. From Por- southern Italy. prep it and cook it ourselves.” tugal, they caught a plane and The group got the most out Olofsson and fellow back- headed to the United States for of its meager budget by buying packer Noak Steniuth are both a month-and-a-half long tour all it’s equipment used, camp- avid guitar players. The duo of the country’s most notable ing, learn- played local gigs when instru- national parks in Colorado, Ari- ing the ins- “I wanted to ments were made available and zona and Nevada. and-outs of got an assortment of odd jobs After experiencing Las Ve- hitchhiking become more to pay for their expenses during gas nightlife, the group went to and getting interesting.” their travels. Life on the road Philadelphia to catch a depart- creative —Marc led them to learn to live within ing flight home. when it Christianson their means and rely on the con- “Before we left, we spent a came to eat- fines of their packs. month and a half developing ing. “I consider my pack to be a a set time frame for how long “It is safe to say that we all necessary extension of my rear,” we were going to spend in each lost a stone (14 pounds) from Olofsson said. “It’s never off of country and had to set aside an catching and picking what we me. It contains everything, and allotted amount of money for ate,” Olofsson said. “None of depending on how bad it smells, each destination,” Christianson us are cooks, or were smart it is a good indication of how said. enough to tell what part of a fish much we actually did and what we accomplished during the past year.” A backpacker’s pack is about one-third of the traveler’s total body weight. The travelers had to be precise and innovative when choosing what to take. The contents of each pack varied from person to person. They sorted their processions and materials into categories and assigned each backpacker a category to maintain organization and utilize all of the group’s Photo by Noak Steniuth storage space. A view of the Kungsleden Trail in northern Sweden. Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 29 The largest inconvenience memorable experiences was of the language and having them about having no permanent stumbling onto a totem festival live among the natives. address is having very limited in Portugal. Each eight-foot to- “Overall, the application communication to friends and tem was bedecked in fabrics and process was fairly easy. I had family back home. The group had images of historical events to fill out some forms and relied on computer applica- engraved in its base. write a few essays on why I tions such as Skype and Face- “There was dancing, mu- wanted to go to Madrid. I took book to conduct the interviews sic and food. It was exactly a an 8-credit intensive Spanish for this article and to keep in tourist’s perception of all things course for six weeks overseas,” touch with love ones when In- interesting.” Christianson said. Vigliotti said. ternet connection was available. Personal experiences like Though NYU has housing Before the group departed, these were often awe-inspiring available on campus in Madrid, each member wrote down a and are forever embedded in the Vigliotti chose to live off-cam- list of goals that he wanted to back of their minds. pus. accomplish on this trip. Some “Whenever I go some- “I lived with a . . . 60-year- goals were as simple as learning where new, I will always first old woman who did not speak look up,” Olofsson English. I tried teaching her the said. “The stories word Pittsburgh, but she was depicted in build- unable to pronounce my home ings’ architecture city. Instead, she said I was are like permanent from “pick-pick,” Vigliotti wrote documentation of via email. where a city has “The Spanish people were been and where it some of the nicest people that is headed. Classic I have ever met. They are also design shows coun- amazing cooks. I think I ate my tries’ foundation, way through Spain,” Vigliotti whereas modern wrote. design shows how Vigliotti’s program require- innovative a city ments took her venturing across Photo by Caitlin O’Connor Alyssa Vigliotti overlooks the scenic city of San Sebas- is,” Olofsson said various parts of the Spanish tian, Spain. when reflecting on countryside, so she was forced his experiences in a to embrace similar travel tech- to say the basic greetings of the Skype interview. niques shared by the group of countries in the native languag- A cohesive mixture of old backpacking Swedes. es. Other goals were personal and new can be found in Ma- “It was so easy to travel to and centered on the basis of drid, where Alyssa Vigliotti, an different cities in Spain. I visited self-discovery. NYU student and Pittsburgh Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Cór- “I wanted to become more resident chose to go abroad by doba, San Sebastian, Valencia interesting,” Christianson said. taking a different approach. She and Segovia,” Vigliotti said. “Though these gumps were con- decided to spend a whole semes- Looking back on his journey, stantly around me, I discovered ter living overseas. Christianson said, “I have met a lot about myself.” NYU has 11 sister schools loads of fascinating people, seen The group’s activities de- based in cities ranging from art and architecture that some pended on the recommenda- Prague to Shanghai. In 1958, will never get to see in their life- tions of locals and people they Madrid was NYU’s first estab- time and practically cried every met through the course of the lished study abroad destination. time we made our way over a day who happened to be inter- It aims to fully immerse its stu- mountain and stopped to look at ested in listening to their story. dents in the Spanish culture by what was below. How is that for One of Christianson’s most enhancing their understanding interesting?”

Page 30 The Pioneer Fall ’11, Vol. 1 Page 31