As staff at Neighborhood Allies, we know that the most impactful community-serving work is not carried out in a vacuum – so, we collaborate with others at every turn. We strive to make connections that bloom into trusted partnerships while simultaneously learning from the knowledge of others, engaging in new opportunities for professional development, and deeply listening to the communities we serve. From board service and volunteering, to sharing best practices and resources with partners, we engage in creative problem-solving and work to address gaps within our systems.
Collaboration to Drive Systemic Change
Our Social Impact Design (SID) and Centralized Real Estate Accelerator (CREA) Programs fill a crucial gap in supporting the career growth of minority architects in Pittsburgh by working alongside programs such as the UDREAM fellowship program and NOMA Pittsburgh.
NOMA Pittsburgh (the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects) has been instrumental in creating a supportive community for minority architects through mentorship, networking, and professional development for its members. In turn, Neighborhood Allies has been able to build the entrepreneurial capacity of minority architects and designers by providing impactful community projects that enable them to build their portfolios, refine their skills, and grow their careers.
For example, emerging entrepreneur Chase Kea was recently given the opportunity to work with us on a project to design a Creative Analytical Play Space (CAPS) at the Brashear Association, Inc. in Knoxville. When built, this space will act as a community attraction that provides needed outdoor space for The Brashear Association’s existing programming, as well as safe passage from the site to the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Knoxville. The opportunity provided Kea with unique experiences he wasn’t able to get elsewhere and helped him to build his portfolio of successful projects. Kea was selected through our Equity-Centered Designer Network, which provides minority designers with paid opportunities to collaborate on real-world projects in underserved communities.
“Our Equity-Centered Designer Network affords minority architects experiences to equip them with the confidence, expertise, and network needed to eventually start their own practices. Our staff provide critical capacity-building support, enabling these designers to take on more projects without being overwhelmed by logistical or administrative barriers.”
–Tamara Emswiler, Senior Program Manager for Social Impact Design.
In addition to the vast programmatic work which supports the minority architects that make up NOMA Pittsburgh’s membership, two of our staff – Tamara Emswiler and Jordan Swartz – have also provided vital assistance to the organization by engaging with their board and committees.
Sharing Staff Expertise & Becoming Thought Leaders
Many Neighborhood Allies staff members regularly share their knowledge, talents, and passions with other organizations by serving on a plethora of boards and committees each year.
Impressively, 63% of our staff provided board or advisory services to other nonprofit or governmental organizations in 2023, representing added capacity for a diverse mix of over 30 local, regional, and national entities. That number has only continued to grow in 2024.
Tamara Emswiler, Senior Program Manager for Social Impact Design, and Jordan Swartz, Social Impact Designer, have added notable capacity to NOMA Pittsburgh by serving in various leadership roles within the organization over the past three years. Together, they have collectively provided nearly 950 hours of support in that time.
Tamara has nearly completed her 2-year term as Treasurer of the board, during which she led successful fundraising efforts, improved processes for reimbursement and banking, and managed membership and event budgets, among other things. Prior to becoming Treasurer, Tamara served as co-lead for NOMA PGH’s Team Design, a group of active members who strive to elevate the design expertise of minority architects, designers, and allied professionals in the Pittsburgh region.
Jordan has served as co-lead for Team Develop since 2023, where she assisted in extending professional guidance and educational opportunities to support and develop NOMA members in their careers. Her duties included hosting regular study sessions and planning events focused on professional development. In 2025, she will move to Team Build, where she will focus on building lasting connections and strong foundations for the future of NOMA PGH and the AEC industry through NOMA leaders. She will also play a larger role in NOMA’s youth engagement efforts, including their summer program, Project Pipeline.
“The work produced by the students during Project Pipeline continues to re-invigorate my love for design year after year. Now stepping up to co-lead Team Build, I’m excited to continue creating a space for young minds from Pittsburgh’s underserved communities to engage with the built environment.”
-Jordan Swartz, Social Impact Designer
To support the continuation of this vital community work, consider attending NOMA Pittsburgh’s 2025 Design in Color Parti Fundraiser on February 8, 2025. Funds raised will directly support initiatives that empower emerging designers through scholarships and mentorship programming, foster community impact through inclusive design initiatives, and support sustainable growth within the organization. Early bird ticket sales end on December 31, 2024. Click here to purchase.
Deep collaboration with organizations like NOMA Pittsburgh is essential to reaching the overarching goals of our neighborhood revitalization work, ensuring that development is equitable and represents the wants and needs of a community from the very start of each project. Further, building upon such partnerships in all aspects of our work and finding unique ways to connect and expand programming across organizations contributes to a more robust and effective nonprofit ecosystem in Pittsburgh.
