On Saturday, November 7th, more than 100 participants packed the Schenley Ballroom of the Wyndham Hotel in Oakland to learn how to take a proactive approach to fighting blight in their neighborhoods.
The Blight Bootcamp is a first-of-its kind, collaborative effort of Neighborhood Allies, the Mayor’s Office, GTECH, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) and the Design Center of Pittsburgh to bring together residents, community organizations and public officials for a day of learning and networking to increase the impact of blight elimination efforts within our neighborhoods.
The day started with a morning motivational keynote address from Presley Gillespie, President of Neighborhood Allies. A panel discussion followed, moderated by Henry Pyatt from the Office Mayor William Peduto, which emphasized the importance of community and government partnerships to fight blight. Panelists included: Maura Kennedy, Director of Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licensing and Inspection; Irene McLaughlin, Attorney at Law; Ian Beniston, Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation; and Liz Kozub of the Turtle Creek Council of Governments.
Throughout the day, attendees participated in a range of workshops taught by leading field experts on topics such as: Planning Your Vacant Lot Project, Resident Led Advocacy, Community Arts to Fight Blight, Data Driven Decision Making, and Green Space Solutions, just to name a few. Individuals also received specialized attention to their specific blight problems through our Blight Doctor Consultation Sessions.
The afternoon keynote address was delivered by Ian Beniston, who provided a powerful, passionate plea to residents, calling on them to work with the resources they have now to revitalize their neighborhoods for a better tomorrow. The keynote address was capped with dynamic performances by Jacquea Mae and Devyn “Nerd Boy” Swain.
Special thanks to all of our volunteers, especially our Coro Fellows!
