Friday, April 29, 2011

European Parliament Member Drawn to Braddock’s Revitalization and Activist Mayor John Fetterman

When European Parliament member Sandrine Bélier came to visit the United States through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), she had a wide range of choices of cities to visit. She chose Pittsburgh as the final stop on her three-week trip.

In particular, she wanted to go to Braddock, the struggling steel town 10 miles southeast of Downtown, and she wanted to meet Mayor John Fetterman, who has attracted attention around the world for his efforts to revitalize the beleaguered town and create jobs while reducing the environmental impact of the energy and manufacturing industries.

As a member of the Europe Ecology political party and a representative from the Lorraine region of northeastern France, also a former steelmaking center, Bélier wanted to come to the Pittsburgh region to study how others have balanced job creation and environmentalism in a declining industrial economy.

After visiting New York, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Bozeman, Montana and Portland, Oregon, Bélier got to meet Fetterman this week and witness first-hand the challenges he faces and some of the solutions he has proposed.

“He was the main reason I wanted to come to Pittsburgh,” Bélier said through an interpreter. Her visit to Pittsburgh was designed by GlobalPittsburgh under the auspices of the IVLP.

Meeting in the cavernous living room of Fetterman’s loft-like home in a converted warehouse, with his wife and young son quietly blowing bubbles nearby, Mayor John, as he is known by many of the locals, explained how Braddock has gone from one of the richest communities in the region 100 years ago to one of the poorest. He told his visitor how the population went from 20,000 in the 1950s to 2,100 today. He told about going to buy a playhouse for children in a public park, and finding that the structure cost more than some houses in the community.

He compared notes with Bélier about the difficulties of overcoming years of industrial decline, and trying to change attitudes among blue-collar workers about potential opportunities created by environmental preservation and clean energy.

“These guys don’t generally think of themselves as environmentalists, but then when you say that the steel they are making could be used in wind turbines, and that clean energy could create more jobs for them, then they start to get it,” Fetterman said.

Bélier and Fetterman discussed their concerns about the threats of climate change and possible hazards of the fracking method used to extract natural gas. Fracking is used in the Marcellus Shale gas deposits in Pennsylvania, but it has been banned in France until June due to environmental concerns.

"Climate change has become a political issue instead of a political issue," he said. "And that has to change before we can accomplish anything."

The two agreed on the importance of better communication and cooperation around the world about the problems and solutions to developing clean energy and raising awareness of the challenges associated with creating jobs without causing long-term damage to the environment.

They then walked a few blocks to an urban farming facility operated by Grow Pittsburgh, which supplies organically-grown produce to local farmer’s markets and to area restaurants. The Braddock farm, which sits on two city blocks in the shadow of the massive Edgar Thomson Works of U.S. Steel, demonstrates the different aspects of the transformation taking place in Braddock.

During her three-day stay in Pittsburgh, Bélier also met with George Jugovic, Regional Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Jean-Dominique Le Garrec, Honorary Consul of France in Pittsburgh; Gloria Forouzan, Marcellus Shale Liaison in the office of Pittsburgh City Council Doug Shields; Lauren Horne, Regional Program Manager for the Labor Climate Project; Hillary Bright, Regional Field Organizer for the Blue Green Alliance; and Rob Witherell of the United Steelworkers of America. She also toured the Gamesa Corp. wind turbine manufacturing facility in Ebensburg, Pa.

For more than 50 years, GlobalPittsburgh, formerly known as the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, has forged relationships between the Greater Pittsburgh Region and the global community through citizen diplomacy – connecting people and institutions in the region with audiences around the world through a wide range of hosting, training, networking, educational and outreach programs and services. For more information, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.

- Thomas Buell, Jr.
tcbuell@gmail.com

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Pittsburgh Economic Development Group Receives $300,000 Commerce Department Grant to Help Businesses Started by Minorities, Immigrants & Veterans

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $300,000 grant to Christian Evangelistic Economic Development (CEED) of Pittsburgh to provide technical assistance to economically distressed microenterprises in the Pittsburgh region. Additional matching funds from the Heinz Endowments brings the total grant package to $600,000.

Rufus Idris
The EDA investment will support local efforts to address the challenges faced by start-up and existing underserved and disadvantaged entrepreneurs, by providing pragmatic technical assistance to immigrant-owned, refugee-owned, minority-owned and veteran-owned microenterprises in the Pittsburgh region. Assistance may include business review and planning, training and counseling, market analysis, current business technology, and on-going mentoring, case management and capacity building.

This project, an example of the important partnership between the federal government and faith-based organizations, is expected to facilitate the creation of new jobs and generate private investment in microenterprises that are a key building block in the repositioning of challenged areas, according to Rufus Idris, Executive Director of the Christian Evangelistic Economic Development.

"Providing technical assistance to enthusiastic entrepreneurs ready to achieve the American Dream and strengthen local economies is a key component of Christian Evangelistic Economic Development efforts," Idris said. "Already, efforts have seen the creation of a number of successful neighborhood businesses and its expansion will provide opportunity to 75 new microbusinesses."

A press conference was held on Monday, April 25 at the Allegheny County Courthouse Courtyard, 436 Grant St. Pittsburgh, PA 15219, to explain details of how local groups and individuals can benefit from this initiative.

For more information about small business assistance and micro-loans, contact CEED at 412-450-8070 or by sending email to info@usaceed.org. The CEED website can be found at www.usaceed.org.

Commerce Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships works to engage community groups in the national economic development process by promoting awareness of funding opportunities in order to ensure faith-based community groups, such as Christian Evangelistic Economic Development can play a role in helping to increase competitiveness.
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Monday, April 18, 2011

GlobalPittsburgh Members Receive Discounted Ticket Packages to Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival Running May 6-15

GlobalPittsburgh paid members are eligible for special ticket prices to this year's Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival, which runs May 6-15, 2011 in Pittsburgh. Members in good standing may purchase a Film Festival 4-Pack for $15 (half the regular price of $30 for four tickets with a face value of $9 each - not valid for opening or closing night shows).

GlobalPittsburgh members also may purchase tickets to the Silk Screen Opening Night Gala on Friday, May 6 for $85 (less than the full price of $100 or $125 at the door). Reservations for the Gala are required by May 3. To reserve these special GlobalPittsburgh member ticket offers, please contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513 or tallen@pciv.org.

Individual GlobalPittsburgh membership fees are $40 per year; family memberships are $50 per year. JOIN TODAY!

Students, professionals and all members of the Greater Pittsburgh Community are invited to become members of the GlobalPittsburgh Network. Memberships make great gifts for graduates and job-seekers, too!

Member benefits include:
- Regular Activities with Other Internationals and Community Members
- Networking Events
- Discounts on Goods & Services including Zipcar
- Invitations to Programs & Events
- Homestay & Hospitality Dinners with Local Families
- Hosting Opportunities for Local Residents
- Free & Discounted Tickets to Local Cultural Events & Shows
- Connections with International Employers
- Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
- Meet Incoming International Delegations

Membership in GlobalPittsburgh is a great way for internationals and globally minded residents to participate in fun activities, to meet new people, to become more globally connected and to support GlobalPittsburgh's efforts to build international awareness in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

All activities are open to members of the GlobalPittsburgh CONNECT program and the GlobalPittsburgh Network, including international students, newly arrived professionals and families, hosts and other globally minded indvidiuals. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP WITH AN ELECTRONIC AND/OR PRINTABLE REGISTRATION FORM!

Most events take place on weekends. Transportation will be coordinated by GlobalPittsburgh, when necessary. Discounted ticket prices are available to some activities requiring entrance fees.

Corporate and organizational memberships are also available. For information, please contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513 or tallen@pciv.org.

Are you in the NETWORK?
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Saturday, April 16, 2011

GlobalPittsburgh International Networking Night at the Pittsburgh Pirates - Special Ticket Package - Tues. May 24

GlobalPittsburgh International Networking Night
Tuesday, May 24 at 5 PM; Game at 7:05 PM
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves

GlobalPittsburgh invites you and your family to come down to PNC Park on Tuesday, May 24 for an American and Pittsburgh tradition - a tailgate party - followed by an enjoyable night at PNC Park to see our Pittsburgh Pirates battle the Atlanta Braves.

Price of $35 per person includes tailgate party, ticket for the ballgame and a Pirates baseball cap. Tickets are for section 130 and 131. CLICK HERE TO SEE SEATING CHART

The tailgate party will start at 5:00 p.m. in the Gold lot #2 on N. Shore Drive between Stage AE and the Hyatt Place Pittsburgh-North Shore. The game begins at 7:05 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM (PDF)

Come down to PNC Park and find out more about GlobalPittsburgh, meet the people who are attracting international visitors to the region and engaging them long-term. Together, we are putting the Greater Pittsburgh region on the world map.

GlobalPittsburgh Corporate Members:
Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir
Confluent Translations 
Cowden Associates
Heyl & Patterson, Inc.
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Pittsburgh International Airport
Rampart Hydro
SMC Business Councils
Tube City IMS

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE:
Triple Play Sponsorship:
$500 - You will receive eight (8) seat tickets, 2 on-field batting practice tickets, and logo on all promotional materials, website and on Pirates scoreboard.

Double Play Sponsorship:
$250
- You will receive five (5) seat tickets, and logo on all promotional materials
and website.

Single Play Sponsorship:
$100
- You will receive two (2) seat tickets and logo on all promotional materials.

For details, contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513, email tallen@pciv.org

May 24, 2011
CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM (PDF)
Mail, scan & email, or fax this form with
payment to:
GlobalPittsburgh
Attention: Tim Allen
650 Smithfield Street, Suite 1180
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Fax: 412-246-4143
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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Become a Member of the GlobalPittsburgh Network - Community Connections, Activities, Event Invitations, Discounts & Free Tickets to Local Shows

Students, professionals and all members of the Greater Pittsburgh Community are invited to become members of the GlobalPittsburgh Network. Memberships make great gifts for graduates and job-seekers, too!

Member benefits include:
- Regular Activities with Other Internationals and Community Members
- Networking Events
- Discounts on Goods & Services including Zipcar
- Invitations to Programs & Events
- Homestay & Hospitality Dinners with Local Families
- Hosting Opportunities for Local Residents
- Free & Discounted Tickets to Local Cultural Events & Shows
- Connections with International Employers
- Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
- Meet Incoming International Delegations

Membership fees are $40 per year for individuals and $50 for families. CLICK HERE TO JOIN TODAY!

Activities for fall and winter 2011 include networking dinners, bike rides, Thanksgiving dinner and more. CLICK HERE for a list of upcoming member activities.

All activities are open to members of the GlobalPittsburgh CONNECT program and the GlobalPittsburgh Network, including international students, newly arrived professionals and families, hosts and other globally minded indvidiuals. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP WITH AN ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION FORM

Most events take place on weekends. Transportation will be coordinated by GlobalPittsburgh, when necessary. Discounted ticket prices are available to some activities requiring entrance fees.

Corporate and organizational memberships are also available. For information, please contact Tim Allen at 412-392-4513 or tallen@globalpittsburgh.org.

Are you in the NETWORK?
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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Growing Number of Bhutanese Refugees Quietly Settling Into Life in Pittsburgh With Help From Local Churches

In the dining hall of Bellevue United Presbyterian Church in the North Boroughs of Pittsburgh one recent Saturday afternoon, a potluck meal is taking place. Waiting in line for lunch are parents with small children, several seniors and a gaggle of teenagers laughing playfully among themselves. They take their paper plates to tables around the room and talk with each other as they eat, or stop to chat with a friend along the way.

Nothing unusual for a church gathering, except that many in this group exhibit the colorful garb, distinctive facial features and rhythmic language of southern Asia. They are among the hundreds of refugees from Bhutan – a small country wedged between Nepal, China and India – who have resettled in Pittsburgh over the past several years after spending years in camps in Nepal.

Several of the families belong to the Bhutanese Nepali-speaking minority known as Lhotshampas. In the 1990s, Bhutan’s ethnic cleansing campaign led to harassment, arrests and the burning of ethnic Nepali homes. Many fled, while others were expelled by government troops after being forced to sign papers renouncing any claims to their homes and homeland, according to the group Human Rights Watch.

The families were brought to the Pittsburgh area starting in 2008 through Catholic Charities, and congregations like Bellevue United Presbyterian have helped them settle in to the community. They are among the more than 40,000 Bhutanese refugees who have resettled in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries since that time, according to Human Rights Watch. Many have found jobs, while others are working to improve their language skills.

Bellevue United Presbyterian Church is one of several churches in the North Hills helping the refugees. Down the street at Bellevue Christian Church, a single family walked in looking for help one day two years ago. Now there's a list of 20 refugee families.

That growth led several other churches in the area to join together to make sure that the refugee families get the help they needed, and also that services aren’t being duplicated unnecessarily, according to Matt Harding, who is the unofficial coordinator of the collective church efforts.

The other churches and organizations involved include Sacred Heart, Community Presbyterian of Ben Avon, Allegheny Center Alliance Church, St. John Neumann Catholic Church and Jewish Family & Children's Services, Harding said.

“It's kind of a cause for the whole community rather than just one church,” said Harding, a Bellevue native and Penn State graduate who recently returned to the area after working out of state for five years. “The needs of these families are pretty great, so it helps that we're working together. It's kind of a blessing.”

The churches and other community supporters have devised ways to spread out the responsibilities.

“We generally focus on a few families at a time,” said Linda Carroll, a member of Bellevue United Presbyterian Church. “We visit them regularly when they first arrive and help with basics such as learning to shop, to use laundry machines, etc.”

Other activities include trips to the thrift shop and Asian markets in the Strip District since few of the refugees have cars or driver’s licenses. The churches help with hospital emergencies, with understanding mail, and apartment problems, Carroll said.

“This year a church member helped them with their taxes,” she added. “We maintain shelves of household items and clothing that any family in the area can use when they first arrive. This supplements the basic necessities provided by the sponsoring agencies.”

The church members also keep an eye out for furniture that can be used by the refugee families.

Other churches in the area are considering adding their own English as a Second Language programs. At Reformed Presbyterian Church of the North Hills, located on Thompson Run Road, members are putting together an evening program that is scheduled to start in September. It will be taught by volunteers from the congregation, and will offer three levels of English-speaking proficiency, according to Director John Russell. Those seeking information about that program may contact Russell by calling 412-366-1804 or emailing rssj7@aol.com.

After the potluck lunch and the singing of several songs in English and Nepali, Bellevue United Presbyterian Pastor Cathy Purves welcomes the group and asks about their biggest challenges in coming to the United States. Many in the room call out that they want to learn better English. Some say they are looking for jobs available on a bus line or within walking distance. The refugees who have found work have been commended for their hard work and dependability. Others say they like the laws and rules in United States.

Several members of the congregation attending the lunch offer to help find programs in the area teaching English as a Second Language. Others have ideas for jobs. It seems that everyone goes home happy.

Anyone interested in working with the North Boroughs churches or other groups assisting the Bhutanese refugees may contact Matt Harding at 412-860-2584 or mch196@gmail.com, or Linda Carroll at 412-761-2143 or lindalawc@verizon.net.

- Thomas Buell, Jr.

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Monday, April 4, 2011

GlobalPittsburgh Hosts Group of Visiting Fulbright Scholars to Showcase Regional Assets

GlobalPittsburgh recently was awarded a grant to host an Enrichment Program for Fulbright Scholars in Western Pennsylvania, the first phase of which took place March 24-27. The Fulbright Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

The enrichment program was designed by GlobalPittsburgh to enhance the experience of the visiting scholars and connect them with the larger community. The Fulbright Scholars participating in the program were from Bulgaria, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Poland, Spain and Taiwan.

They are teaching or conducting research at the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh and Bradford campuses, at Carnegie Mellon and at Penn State’s University Park campus and at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Their fields of study included arts, history, engineering, anthropology, medical science, computer science and communications.

“This enrichment program in a non-anchor city is new for the Fulbright program; Pittsburgh is proud to have been chosen to host Visiting Scholars through this program,” said Roger Cranville, President of GlobalPittsburgh. “The Pittsburgh region benefits greatly from this kind of visit, which displays our strengths to the rest of the world, and connects this region to other countries in many positive ways.”

The visiting scholars are expected to complete the second phase of the program in May, Cranville said. Gail Shrott, Vice President of Program Services, and Tim Allen, Director of Program Services designed and implemented the programming for GlobalPittsburgh with the assistance of local Fulbright alumna Hannah Sholder. They are in process of confirming the itinerary for the Fulbright Scholar’s May programming.

During their visit the group met with local Fulbright alumni, visited the Cathedral of Learning for a tour of the nationality rooms in the morning, met with members of the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership at Penn State Greater Allegheny, had an interactive session with staff and students at Urban Youth Action, toured the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, attended the Latin American and Caribbean Festival at the William Pitt Union building, visited Phipps Conservatory, and had dinner with members of the GlobalPittsburgh network.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING FULBRIGHT VISITING SCHOLARS

Bulgaria Mr. Oleg Nikolaev Gotchev
University of Pittsburgh Bradford, Arts

Italy Mr. Fabrizio Tonello
University of Pittsburgh, History

Latvia Mr. Anatolijs Borodinecs
Penn State, Engineering

Kyrgyzstan Mrs. Mukram Toktogulova
University of Pittsburgh, Anthropology

Poland Mr. Marek Antoni Postula
Penn State Hershey, Medical Sciences

Spain Mr. Oscar Saz Torralba
Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science

Taiwan Ms. Chen Ling Hung
Penn State, Communications

Taiwan Mr. Ming Miin Yu
Penn State, Engineering

Also joining the group for certain activities were Dr. Ercan Karakoc, Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Chatham University, and Mr. Konstantin Redkin, a Fulbright Alumnus studying at the University of Pittsburgh’s Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science.

GlobalPittsburgh welcomes hundreds of international visitors to the Pittsburgh region annually, creating benefits to the visitors and to the region, Cranville said. Other programs include the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership, to attract international students to the region, and GlobalPittsburgh CONNECT, which provides activities and programs for international students and globally minded individuals.

For more information, go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.
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