The Plan for Pitt: Strengthen Communities

A map indicating organizations with relationships with Pitt colleagues
Interested in volunteering your time or making a connection in the Pittsburgh community? Use Pitt’s Engagement and Outreach Map to locate organizations and learn what connections have already been established.
A black and white group photo including Isma Burrell on the steps of a church building
There are many ways to tell a family story: through your grandma's recipes, a poem about your favorite aunt, or a video produced at the lake where you learned to fish. Join a Year of Creativity-sponsored webinar focused on preserving Africana family history this weekend.
A man and woman in white smile for the camera
The pandemic can be difficult for kids to understand—two medical students, one on a research year at Pitt, have written an illustrated book to help.
Justin LeWinter in a blue face mask standing next to a truck and a pile of cardboard boxes
In Pittsburgh’s Hill District, local organizations are connecting through weekly phone calls to help people and businesses in need. From delivering lunch boxes to a mask donation program, the spirit of community is alive, even while residents are apart.
A dancer in for the Philippine Nationality Room Dedication
Pitt’s Nationality Rooms are offering a series of ethnic and cultural videos on the program’s Facebook page. An effort that’s...
John Lush and Susan Hedrick in wedding attire
The story of John Lush (A&S ’04, EDUC ’05G) and Susan Hedrick’s surprise, celebrity-studded wedding started with a viral tweet. See how the cast of “The Office” made their May nuptials extra sweet.
Alex “Red” Bittner in a blue sweater
Veterans and Pitt-Greensburg staff members Alex “Red” Bittner and Lisa Reffner are drawing on personal experience to make sure student-veterans feel supported the moment they step on campus. Learn about their program’s efforts.
Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg and Duquesne University President Ken Gormley
A new series from Pitt’s Institute of Politics and the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law and Public Policy will feature discussions to better understand governance issues in restoring the economy and operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first installment covers historical mistakes and overreach made by governments during times of crisis.
A photo made up of Pitt community members, in the shape of a panther
In 1920, around 5,000 students gathered together to form a "Living Panther." One hundred years later, the Pitt community helped us recreate the show of solidarity virtually. Zoom in to find yourself or to see the many faces that make up our Panther nation, both near and far.