Neighborhood Commitments
Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments are the University’s flagship place-based community partnerships. The commitments, focused on the Oakland, Homewood, Hill District, and Greater Hazelwood neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, provide long-term commitments of staffing, infrastructure, and coordination to facilitate mutually beneficial collaborations between Pitt and the local community.
The Oakland neighborhood commitment is anchored by the Pittsburgh campus. The Homewood and Hill District neighborhood commitments are anchored by Community Engagement Centers—vibrant, welcoming facilities that facilitate engaged scholarship, engaged learning, capacity-building, and economic inclusion. A third Community Engagement Center is planned for the Hazelwood neighborhood, which will have a priority focus on harnessing the nearby life sciences corridor (and BioForge) for community-scale opportunities in education, workforce development, and inclusive community development.
Homewood and the Hill District Neighborhood Commitment: Community Engagement Centers
The University's Community Engagement Centers (CECs) ground Pitt's Neighborhood Commitments in the heart of the community. Acting as a front-door to Pitt, the CECs offer a vibrant and welcoming space to foster collaboration and house services, programs, and staff dedicated to the neighborhood. Based in the Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Homewood and the Hill District, the CECs do not duplicate the programs and services already found in the community. Instead, the activities and programs offered through the CEC are designed to complement and enhance what is already available.
Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment
Pitt has been a collaborator in the Greater Hazelwood community for 25 years and is a powerhouse in the life sciences. The next phase of Pitt’s community commitment will support community-led efforts to identify educational and economic benefits for the people of Greater Hazelwood in the emerging life sciences industry.
Oakland Neighborhood Commitment
The University is proud to be part of the Oakland neighborhood and is committed to being a valuable partner. ECA leads and a facilitates a series of institutional level commitments as part of an effort to increase community access to Pitt programs and facility resources while enhancing Pitt's support of the community's agenda.
Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program
The Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program, which is made possible by a generous gift from The Gismondi Foundation, is a collection of education programs and services provided to elementary-aged students in neighborhoods where Pitt has made a long-term commitment to community engagement: Homewood, the Hill District, Greater Hazelwood, and Oakland.