Won't you be a Pen Pal?

Oakland residents of all ages are encouraged to make new connections through the Pen Pal program.

OPDC is starting a pen pal program! We believe that every day is a good day to get to know your neighbors.

While COVID-19 has halted the in-person community gatherings we usually enjoy, we now rise to the challenge of finding new (and old) ways of connecting.  

As colder weather sets in, we are matching interested Oakland residents together for a pen pal relationship that allows folks to meet new neighbors from the socially distanced comforts of their homes. 

Andrea Boykowycz is OPDC’s Community Services Director and an Oakland homeowner. Andrea looks forward to the new program, saying, “My Oakland neighbors and I keep tabs on each other through porch and sidewalk encounters — but this winter, those encounters will be a lot rarer than in years past. OPDC’s community services team is always looking for ways to help residents feel better connected with each other, and we’re hoping that matching eager letter writers with pen pals will help forge new friendships — even while we’re all keeping our distance.” 

To be matched with a pen pal, please fill out this google form or call Marketing and Community Programs Coordinator Maura McCampbell at 412-621-7863 x17 (please leave a voicemail and she will return your call since we are working remotely.) Tell us a bit about yourself and your communication preferences, and we will pair you with another interested Oakland resident after the start of the new year.  

Once matched, you will receive a letter or email (depending on your chosen mode of correspondence) with your pen pal’s name and contact information.  

Happy writing!

A refreshed parklet on Niagara is a welcome upgrade to Oakland families

By: Maura McCampbell, Marketing and Community Programs Coordinator

Folks walking by Niagara Street will notice new activity in Oakcliffe’s tucked-away neighborhood park. Young kids might be playing on the playground’s new climbing wall; teens may be chatting on the recently-installed swings. Perhaps there’s an ongoing game of pickup basketball. Or all of these things at once. Most notably, the park is in use more than ever before, thanks to its recently-completed renovations. 

These renovations result from three years of planning, spurred by a city initiative to eliminate playground deserts in Pittsburgh. Looking to reduce the cost of maintaining Oakcliffe’s two playgrounds, the city closed the park on Ophelia with plans of turning it into a stormwater management rain garden. Meanwhile, the Oakcliffe Community Organization was hard at work redesigning the Niagara Street park. Working with the city’s Landscape Architect Andrea Ketzel, Oakcliffe residents designed a park that repurposed null spaces with youth-friendly features while preserving its existing assets. New additions include swings, slides, a climbing wall, new surfaces, and fencing. 

Dave Panasiuk, President of the Oakcliffe Community Organization, speaks to the pleasant nature of this project. “We couldn’t be more proud of our park,” Dave said. “It’s tough for us when we meet because planning is consistently a major part of our meetings. We spend a lot of time talking about the construction of the next big building in Oakland or the endless amount of code violations. It’s nice to have something like this playground that is overwhelmingly positive that we can get together and work on.” 

In addition to his involvement in the planning process, Dave enjoys the playground as the father of a nine-year-old daughter. “If it’s a nice day, we’re out on the playground,” Dave said. “It’s great to have something in your neighborhood that kids want to play on outside rather than stare at a screen inside. It’s nice that you can go at any time of day and see a mixture of folks using it – not just young kids but also high school and college students. It really looks like a thriving community.” 

When circumstances permit, the Oakcliffe Community Organization plans to have a grand opening ceremony. They are also excited to hold their monthly meetings at the playground. The group currently meets from 7 - 8 PM on the second Wednesday of every month over Zoom.  

Email oakcliffehousingclub@gmail.com or call 412-260-1922 for more information.

Voting guide for the November 3 election

Graphic via League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh

By: Maura McCampbell, Marketing and Community Programs Coordinator

Allegheny County has implemented several changes to voting processes this year. With election day less than a week away, here’s what you need to know to make sure your vote counts. Want to know who’s on your ballot? View a sample ballot for your local election.

In-person voting: The polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM on November 3. Anyone who is in line by 8 PM can vote. You can double-check your polling location with this website. Allegheny County introduced a new voting machine this year during the primary election. Voters will fill out a paper ballot, review their selection, and submit their vote by scanning their ballot into an official election machine. Ask a poll worker for help if you have questions at any point during this process. For more detailed instructions, click here.

Vote by mail: Please return your completed ballots through the USPS or drop them off at the Elections Division office at 542 Forbes Avenue (hours vary by day, please check here for times). All completed ballots must be hand-delivered or postmarked by 8 PM on November 3. You can check the progress of your returned ballot here.

If you requested a mail-in ballot but do not receive one by election day, you can go to a polling place near you and fill out a provisional ballot. If you received a mail-in ballot but have decided that you want to vote in person, you must bring the entire ballot (including both envelopes) to your polling place. Have questions about correctly completing your mail-in ballot or the process of counting mail-in ballots? Check out this informational video.

Emergency absentee ballot: If you’re faced with an emergency on Election Day and can’t make it to the polls, you can request an emergency absentee ballot. Click here for more information and to request the ballot.

Do you have any questions? Visit www.votespa.com or call 412-350-4500.

School 2 Career resumes with virtual programming to meet our times

By: Maura McCampbell, Marketing and Community Programs Coordinator

School 2 Career, a program that teaches high school youth from Pittsburgh’s underserved communities vital skills for personal and professional advancement, celebrates its 25th anniversary this September. Unsurprisingly, things will look a bit different this year.

In response to the health and safety threats posed by COVID-19, S2C has moved to an all-virtual programming format.

The program recently kicked off with a virtual orientation that introduced students to job development skills that will prepare them for professional work, followed by career and abilities assessments.

Subject-specific tutoring will continue remotely throughout the year, as will the virtual version of the popular Friday Speaker Series. The September 25 guest is William Jones, founder of the Afrofuturism Network, who will be zooming in from Washington, D.C.

Instead of in-person career-specific placements that students typically partner with throughout the year, School 2 Career has developed a robust curriculum that facilitates at home skill-building, online interviewing, virtual learning, and successfully working from home. This year’s programing lineup also includes entrepreneurial workshops and coding seminars with the University of Pittsburgh. While there are no in-person placements, students will continue to receive a stipend for their participation in these opportunities.

The format of this year’s program has changed, but the fundamental mission is unwavering.

For 25 years, School 2 Career has equipped students with the skills they need to be problem solvers in the workplace. Central to this is a professional literacy in virtues such as dependability, accountability, and responsibility, all of which position the program’s graduates with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the unexpected.

As for the program itself, S2C’s quarter-century of evolution has centered around changing to meet the needs of the communities we are serving. This year is no different.

Interested in participating in School 2 Career? You’re in luck – the program is still accepting applications for this year! Visit www.opdc.org/school2career or contact School 2 Career’s Program Director, Karla Stallworth, at kstallworth@s2c.org or 412.345.1536 to learn more and apply.

Join us for An Evening of Oakland Storytelling

OPDC’s signature fundraiser, An Evening of Oakland Storytelling, is TONIGHT at 7 pm. Register for your virtual ticket and please consider a donation.

All event proceeds support OPDC’s programs to improve the lives of Oakland community members. A suggested donation of $40 (in honor of our 40th year in Oakland) helps OPDC continue to prepare local high school students for college and careers through School 2 Career, advocate for residents, assist senior homeowners with repairs, and so much more.

Tonight - you'll hear a three-song musical set from local singer-songwriter Sierra Sellers, stories from Ty Williams and Laura Zurowski, and a return appearance from Sellers with her Oakland-inspired story.

Thank you to our storytellers for sharing their tales, our emcee, Dave English, and host committee members: LeeAnn Anna, Lauren Bachorski, Julia Erickson and Aaron Ingley, Abass Kamara, Melisa McSwigan, Rebekkah Ranallo, and Tara Sherry-Torres. 

OPDC is grateful for Walnut Capital's support for An Evening of Oakland Storytelling.

They return as the event's title sponsor for the second year in a row. Walnut Capital continues to grow in Pittsburgh; offering development and property management of residential and commercial real estate. As part of their mission, their "new developments will be created with a focus on building community, revitalizing the surrounding neighborhoods, and creating environmentally-friendly spaces."

Their recent and upcoming projects in Oakland include Craft Place (3224 Boulevard of the Allies), the Innovation Reseach Tower (under construction at Fifth and Halket), and the rehabilitation of the Pittsburgh Athletic Association (4215 Fifth Avenue).

thank you to our community ambassadors for their continued support of An Evening of Oakland Storytelling.

For over 135 years, NexTier Bank has made it our mission to serve the communities of Allegheny, Armstrong, and Butler counties.

UPMC's mission is to serve our community by providing outstanding patient care and to shape tomorrow's health system through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education.

For more than 160 years, we have been committed to providing our clients with great service and powerful financial expertise to help them meet their financial goals. We are proud of our longstanding history of supporting not only our customers but also our communities, employees and shareholders.

Thank you to our additional sponsors and partners: