The February 11th lunch at the Neighborhood Academy was canceled due to the horrendous weather situation and, not insignificantly, school was canceled.
Our next lunch date at the Academy is WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3rd. Many of the people planning to help in Feb. are still involved in March. But this opportunity is open to others! Does anyone wish to volunteer for the March date? Please contact Diana Wood!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Open Hand ministries volunteer opportunities
Below is a note from Michael Stanton of Open Hand ministries letting us know of several volunteer opportunities in the coming weeks. If you are able to lend a hand, please contact Michael at MStanton@pts.edu .
Greetings,Open Hand Ministries seeks to respond to the injustice and inequality common to inner city neighborhoods by providing low/moderate income, disadvantaged families the opportunity for affordable homeownership in the economically challenged Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Garfield and East Liberty. Here is a link to their website: http://openhandpittsburgh.org/
Open Hand is scheduling special workdays for Feb. 20th & Feb. 27, in addition to the regularly scheduled March 6th work day. Please review the following summaries.
Re/ the 2/20 & 2/27 workdays, please let me know as soon as possible re/ your availability and an approx. number of vol's you anticipate.
Things are really coming together re/ this project - you'll be happy to be a part of it!
Feb. 20 -
1) Final selective demolition that was orig. scheduled to be completed on Feb 6th workday (cancelled due to weather
- 10-12 vols - no special skills required
2) working w/ trade skill professional to frame in and sheath wall to close in the opening between the kitchen and the small addition that we will be removing plus installing door.
- 1-2 volunteers with moderate carpentry skills
3) working with trade skill professional to remove wall between kitchen and dining room and install load bearing beam
- 1 volunteer with moderate carpentry skills
Feb. 27 -
1) working with tradeskill professionals to install windows
- 10-12 volunteers with minimal to moderate carpentry skills
2) kitchen addition demo.
- 8-10 volunteers with minimal carpentry skills
March 6 -
regularly scheduled vol workday
schedule tbd
full range of skill sets
Friday, February 5, 2010
Congrats to Donna Riley!
Dr. Donna Riley, who used to be a member of Sixth, has been named GLBTA Educator of the Year by the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. Donna serves as an Associate Professor of Engineering at Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
For more, please click on this link to the story on the More Light Presbyterians website: http://www.mlp.org/article.php?story=DonnaRileyAward2010 .
Thursday, January 28, 2010
'Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh'
Did you miss the Presbytery's tour of the Free at Last? Slavery in Pittsburgh in the 18th and 19th Centuries exhibit at the Senator John Heinz History Center?
You can now visit the exhibit online at www.library.pitt.edu/freeatlast .
Free at Last centers on 55 handwritten records of legal transactions in Pittsburgh documenting this region's involvement with slavery and indentured servitude. The online exhibit includes video of Dr. Laurence Glasco talking about the documents and the stories behind them. You can also zoom in and read -- closely -- the handwritten documents.
You can now visit the exhibit online at www.library.pitt.edu/freeatlast .
Free at Last centers on 55 handwritten records of legal transactions in Pittsburgh documenting this region's involvement with slavery and indentured servitude. The online exhibit includes video of Dr. Laurence Glasco talking about the documents and the stories behind them. You can also zoom in and read -- closely -- the handwritten documents.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Open Hand Ministries - Saturday Feb 6th
The next work day for Open Hand Ministries has been set for Saturday February 6th. Typically, the work day begins at 9:00 AM, meeting in Garfield at an urban garden at the corner of Wicklow St. and Cornwall St. Future work days are planned also for the first Saturdays in March, April and May.
Open Hand Ministries seeks to respond to the injustice and inequality common to inner city neighborhoods by providing low/moderate income, disadvantaged families the opportunity for affordable homeownership in the economically challenged Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Garfield and East Liberty. Here is a link to their website: http://openhandpittsburgh.org/
Volunteers will be assisting in a hands-on way to build homes and hope in these communities. Please contact Bryan Webler (bryan.webler@gmail.com, 412-916-4884) if you are interested in helping out.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Aldora's Letter in Post-Gazette re Braddock
Grow Braddock
UPMC will quit admitting patients to Braddock hospital shortly. But it is time to grow in Braddock, not go from Braddock.
Does UPMC not know that this is a community on its way back up? Its citizens have fought and won the battle to keep the first Carnegie Library open, have planted urban community gardens, and a new green industry has just announced plans to locate in Braddock.
This hospital serves the greater Monongahala Valley, is one mile from The Waterfront, across the river from Kennywood, and has plenty of real estate available for expansion.
Why has UPMC underfunded needed services and then systematically and egregiously eliminated or relocated these services in crowded and distant locations?
Does UPMC not know that public transportation is poor-to-none and its parking garages are expensive? Has any UPMC executive ever used public transportation to get to one of its facilities and know how much time and effort it takes?
Does UPMC not know that there is more to health care than provision? Health care is teaching from the cradle to the grave. Has UPMC forgotten the first rule in medicine is do no harm?
UPMC should be called to account for the harm it is doing to these communities and expand Braddock hospital and its services.
ALDORA T. WATT
Regent Square
UPMC will quit admitting patients to Braddock hospital shortly. But it is time to grow in Braddock, not go from Braddock.
Does UPMC not know that this is a community on its way back up? Its citizens have fought and won the battle to keep the first Carnegie Library open, have planted urban community gardens, and a new green industry has just announced plans to locate in Braddock.
This hospital serves the greater Monongahala Valley, is one mile from The Waterfront, across the river from Kennywood, and has plenty of real estate available for expansion.
Why has UPMC underfunded needed services and then systematically and egregiously eliminated or relocated these services in crowded and distant locations?
Does UPMC not know that public transportation is poor-to-none and its parking garages are expensive? Has any UPMC executive ever used public transportation to get to one of its facilities and know how much time and effort it takes?
Does UPMC not know that there is more to health care than provision? Health care is teaching from the cradle to the grave. Has UPMC forgotten the first rule in medicine is do no harm?
UPMC should be called to account for the harm it is doing to these communities and expand Braddock hospital and its services.
ALDORA T. WATT
Regent Square
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Prayers for the People of Haiti
Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and all those who have held Haiti close in their hearts and work.
Sixth's mission giving to Haiti has been focused on recent years on Covenant Hospital (now Village Partners International) and, more recently, Partners in Progress.
Funds from the Presbyterian Church's One Great Hour of Sharing will go immediately to help with response and recovery in Haiti. Sixth participates in this special offering, and so your gifts will be used to help the people of Haiti in the coming days.
------------------------------------------------------
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:
God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you.
Amen.
(Adapted from Book of Common Worship)
-Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine
Sixth's mission giving to Haiti has been focused on recent years on Covenant Hospital (now Village Partners International) and, more recently, Partners in Progress.
Funds from the Presbyterian Church's One Great Hour of Sharing will go immediately to help with response and recovery in Haiti. Sixth participates in this special offering, and so your gifts will be used to help the people of Haiti in the coming days.
------------------------------------------------------
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As the eyes of the world turn to Haiti, let us join our hearts in prayer:
God of compassion
Please watch over the people of Haiti,
And weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
With a sense of your present love,
And hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
May they find you and be comforted;
Guide us as a church
To find ways of providing assistance
that heals wounds and provides hope
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffer
We all suffer
Through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you.
Amen.
(Adapted from Book of Common Worship)
-Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine
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