Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Nationally-Renowned Chef Kevin Sousa Seeking Crowd-Funding for Revamped Braddock Restaurant Project

BRADDOCK, Pa. – Award-winning  Pittsburgh Chef Kevin Sousa made news last year when he announced he would open one of his cutting-edge restaurants in the distressed mill town of Braddock, PA.  He made news again when his plans to rehab an old building to house it proved too rich for investors’  tastes, and the project nearly died.

Chef Kevin Sousa works
with Braddock-area youth
at the community bread oven.
But now Sousa’s vision is making a comeback to rival that of this gritty municipality a few miles up the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh where he and his family now live, a town which currently has no operating restaurant, fast food or otherwise.

The force in the kitchen behind such notable Pittsburgh restaurants  as Salt of the Earth and Union Pig & Chicken recently unveiled a new plan for what he calls a “community restaurant and farm ecosystem” to be called Superior Motors, named for the building’s original tenant, one of the country’s first indoor car dealerships.

Instead of wooing a few wealthy backers or big banks, Sousa has turned to the crowd-sourcing website Kickstarter to drum up the $250,000 he will need to turn his dream – one shared by Braddock Mayor John Fetterman and others – into reality. They see a 50-seat restaurant sourced by local farms, henhouses  and beekeepers, and staffed by local residents who will receive free culinary training as well as dining discounts, located in the shadow of a working steel mill – U.S. Steel Corp.’s venerable Edgar Thomson Works.

Supporters can invest as little as $1 in the project, although for a $25 outlay they can get a free entrée when the place opens. Larger contributions will bring dinner at Sousa’s home, or dinner with the illustrious Mayor Fetterman, who has become an unlikely international celebrity for his blue-collar approach to governing and urban revitalization. Out-of-towners and others willing to part with $100 will receive a limited edition Braddock T-shirt reading "Build it Back up" on the front and "Rebuilding 15104" on the back, designed by the Braddock Youth Project.

A $10,000 investment, unclaimed at presstime, would turn the place over for “an all-inclusive, custom designed corporate or holiday party, rehearsal dinner, graduation or any other dining/entertaining celebration of your designation for up to 25 guests in and around what is sure to be a one-of-a-kind restaurant ecosystem.” CLICK HERE to make your investment in Superior Motors, which was designed by Pittsburgh-based Studio for Spatial Practice.

The restaurant will be located (rent-free) on the ground floor of the building at 1211 Braddock Avenue, the loft of which is currently occupied by Fetterman and his wife, Gisele, who also has been active in driving the Braddock revitalization effort (Sousa and his family moved into their former quarters up the street).

That community-based ecosystem Sousa talks about combines food, farming, art, history, industry, training and lodging, according to the Kickstarter presentation.

“Superior Motors will truly embrace ‘farm to table’ and ‘local,’ with abundant access to fresh, organic produce from a two-acre urban farm one block away, a 1,000 sq. ft. rooftop greenhouse, as well as 4,000 sq. ft. of additional roof space to accommodate a raised bed garden.”

Superior Motors is located next to the Unsmoke alternative art gallery and performance venue housed in a formerly abandoned school which hosts new artists, studios, shows and openings every month. Between them is a hostel in a previously abandoned nunnery that will provide no-cost housing for culinary and service volunteers from all over the country, according to the Kickstarter page.

"For the first time in my career, “ says Sousa, “I have the opportunity to breathe life into a restaurant that is not chasing trends, but a restaurant that has no choice other than to represent a place and time by producing food representative of its past, present and future.”

By Thomas Buell, Jr.

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New Pittsburgh Irish Business Network Formed by Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; Kickoff Event Scheduled for Dec. 18

A new network of Pittsburgh-area companies and other organizations seeking to enhance links with the island of Ireland (North and South) has been formed by the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh in conjunction with local business leaders.

The Pittsburgh Irish Business Network will hold its kickoff event on Wednesday, Dec. 18 with a Christmas reception and presentation from the Industrial Development Authority of Ireland, at Mitchell's Restaurant, Ross Street, Downtown. Co-hosting the event is the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Brehon Law Society.

Doors open at 4 p.m.  Presentation by Helen Burke of the IDA begins at 4:30.  Holiday Season networking follows the presentation.  Your $10 admission may be applied to your 2014 annual membership.

Described as a member-driven network, the Pittsburgh Irish Business Network will provide formal programming on the Ireland Business opportunity, individual consultations, business, trade, investment, and cultural exchange, work and training visas, and more.

Over the next several months the Institute will host a series of presentations and networking events intended to encourage Pittsburgh area companies and business leaders to look seriously at Ireland, according to James Lamb, President of the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh and Honorary Consul of Ireland in Western Pennsylvania.

"From a business perspective, there is no better place than Ireland to explore international opportunities," Lamb said in an invitation to the Dec. 18 event. "Ireland is bouncing back from very difficult circumstances, surviving a harsh recession since 2008. With its low corporate tax rate, its smart young English-speaking work force, competitive wage and property rates, and its presence in the European economy with easier access to emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, Ireland is positioned to help US companies expand quickly.  Ireland, right now, presents a ‘ground floor’ opportunity to your business."

Lamb cited several recent articles about Ireland business oportunities:
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Dow-Jones-data-shows-Ireland-is-the-most-entrepreneurial-country-in-Europe-233141141.html


http://www.irishcentral.com/IrishVoice/Irish-exports-expected-to-grow-by-six-percent-before-2030-227095151.html


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/business/international/ireland-to-end-reliance-on-bailout-lifeline.html?_r=0

Membership in the Pittsburgh Irish Business Network costs $100 per year, Lamb said, which includes free admission to all PIBN events, notification of visits by leading Irish business and government representatives, Ireland Institute business consultancy services, and access to like-minded local leaders seeking enhanced partnership with Ireland, North and South. Future events will explore:
1.       The Northern Ireland business opportunity;
2.       Ireland’s talent working and learning in your company;
3.       The Penn State Football Game in Ireland, August 29—Travel there with the PIBN;
4.       Enterprise Ireland and the Irish company’s opportunity in Pittsburgh/USA

For more information, contact Lamb at 412-394-3900.


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Monday, December 9, 2013

NPR's World Cafe to Focus on Pittsburgh Music Scene on "Sense of Place" Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. on WYEP 91.3

The national spotlight will be on Pittsburgh on the Wednesday, Dec. 11 episode of the World Café, which can be heard locally on WYEP FM 91.3.

David Dye and The World Café visit Pittsburgh for the “Sense of Place” series.  WYEP Morning Mix Host Cindy Howes will share her local music picks, David will visit with Jerry Weber of Jerry’s Records, and hear hometown music history with Billy Price, plus a live session with indie-pop band Donora.

The World Cafe with host David Dye serves up an eclectic mix of music from blues, rock, and world, to folk, and alternative country with live performances and interviews with celebrated and emerging artists. This acclaimed program, distributed nationally to over 200 stations across the country through NPR Music and airs weeknights on WYEP at 6 p.m.



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Friday, December 6, 2013

Pittsburgh-born Fashion Designer Tereneh Mosley Tells Story of Collaborating with Maasai Women in Kenya on Clothing Line Based on Original Designs

Tereneh Mosley is a Pittsburgh-born fashion designer, entrepreneur and teacher whose latest project involves collaborating with women of the Maasai community in Kenya on a sustainable contemporary clothing collection based on their original designs. The following is her account of the experience. (Click on images to enlarge.)

The sky was the deepest indigo blue.  The stars were so close, I was looking out, not up to them. I was in Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya as a guest of the Maasai community. That night I reflected on the events of the day – the shared meal, the beautiful Maasai cave where I was to sleep, the stars, the stories, the welcoming warmth of the village – it all led to a love affair, I fell in love with the Maasai.

Tereneh Mosley
This was 2004, when I traveled to Kenya as a Rotary Ambassadorial scholar doing my Master’s thesis in fashion design on the social-cultural context of clothing, specifically how to incorporate indigenous design into contemporary clothing. Nearly 10 years later I returned to Kenya.

I spent the last two weeks of November 2013 at the Olorgesailie archeological museum site in the South Rift Valley, part of the Maasai ancestral homeland, where the Olorgesailie Maasai Women’s Group (OMHA) meet every day to sell their beautiful beadwork. The proceeds from these sales support their families. However, due to the remote location they have very few guests and even fewer sales. For many no sales means no food that day.

Seeing the beauty and technical skill of their work, I hoped the women would be interested in collaborating with me on an ethical apparel collection inspired by their designs. After nearly six weeks of traveling back and forth on the very bumpy road from Nairobi to Olorgesailie, they agreed.

Our first design meeting began with giggling. I had brought my laptop so they could see all of the Maasai-inspired designs of recent years, from Dior to Louis Vuitton and Givenchy to Pucci. Big fashion brands invoking the magic of the Maasai. Due to the reflection of the volcanic ash and hot sun, we could not see the image on the screen, so we decided to have our first meeting in one of the traditional manyattas (a Maasai home). We all crushed into this dark tiny space, I sat on the fire pit and we went through the images. As I scrolled through them they would point and say, “Maasai, Narok, Mara…”



Back in the shop area I taped pieces of paper with outlines of some design ideas on the tables.  I placed a variety of colored pencils on the table and said, “Okay, ladies go for it!”  The only woman in the group who spoke English was Elizabeth Kilakoi. She laughed with the other women, then explained:  “Most of them have never gone to school, have never held a pencil.  They have never written anything or drawn, this is very new to them.”


At first they all huddled over one sketch drawing together all at once. Then as one person would get an idea of her own she would move to a new sheet of paper. By day’s end we had 20 design sketches. The second day, another new set of designs. By the end of our time together we had run out of paper. The women are so creative that the original collection in my head completely morphed and evolved into something entirely more interesting, stronger. A true collaboration.

Our goal is to create a capsule collection, the OMHA-Idia’Dega collaboration called Tomon, which means 10 in the Maa language. This 10-piece sustainable apparel collection for women and men was inspired, designed and developed in full collaboration with the Maasai women.


On our last day the women presented me with a full Maasai outfit, including a breathtaking necklace, bracelets and earrings. I whispered, “This is too much.” I could not say it very loud because I was on the verge of crying. Many of the women were wearing torn old clothes and I was given this brand new outfit. Elizabeth said, “No we like to give, you are now one of us. We want you to wear this when you get to America, when you are asking people to support our project.”

When I asked the women what they would do with a steady income they said, “Have easier access to water, money to pay for their children to go to school, buying housing material for stronger homes (most live in wood and mud huts) and being able to have food every day.”

It was the most humbling and happiest moment of my life.

To learn more about the OMHA-Idia’Dega collaboration, visit the blog: http://idiadega.blogspot.com/2013/12/omwa-idiadega-whats-it-all-about.html or Facebook page at 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/IdiaDega-Elegant-Ethical-Apparel/181025701975268. And to help support the project you can view and purchase images from the Olorgesailie Maasai Cultural Heritage Festival at http://idiadega.shootproof.com/event/363061/view#a_all-mason.

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Monday, November 25, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh Director of Marketing, Thomas Buell, Jr., Chairing Global City Subcommittee for Mayor-Elect Bill Peduto's Transition Team

Thomas Buell, Jr., Director of Marketing and Director of the Study Pittsburgh initiative at GlobalPittsburgh, has been selected to chair the Global City economic development subcommittee for Mayor-Elect Bill Peduto's Transition Team, joining a group of interested citizens and community representatives to provide ideas, policy suggestions and feedback to Peduto and his newly-announced executive team.

The Global City group was one of numerous subcommittees created during the first meeting of the Transition Team members on Saturday, Nov. 30 at David Lawrence Hall at the University of Pittsburgh.

The subcommittee will address a wide range of topics related to increasing Pittsburgh's prominence on the global stage and capitalizing on international companies, people and other connections in the region, including, but not limited to:
- Enhancing export programs and partnerships for local companies
- Attracting international companies to locate and/or expand in the region
- Attracting and retaining international entrepreneurs, including graduates of the region's colleges and universities
- Marketing the city to a global audience
- Creating a more welcoming environment for immigrants and refugees
- Making the most of Pittsburgh's Sister Cities program, which currently includes relationships with 18 cities around the world
- Increasing the number of international flights at Pittsburgh International Airport

Subcommittee members will study best practices in other cities and explore ways for the Mayor-elect to collaborate with and support existing efforts in the region aimed at enhancing international connections after he takes office in January.

In a letter to participants, Transition Team Chairman and Peduto Chief of Staff Kevin Acklin called the initial session a "kick-off meeting, which will take the form of a public meeting to allow committee members to provide input on the vision for Mayoral transition."

The Transition Team participants were divided into eight committees, which are expected to finish their work by making recommendations for action items to Peduto by the end of the year.

Buell, 57, came to Pittsburgh in 1987 to work as a business reporter at The Pittsburgh Press, which closed at the end of 1992. Since then he has been Lead Partner of his own strategic communications consulting group, Verso Partners: Communications, which has worked with corporations, non-profit organizations and other clients nationwide.

The Economic Development will "offer recommendations to strengthen the City of Pittsburgh as the continued economic engine of the region."

Other Transition Team committees included:


♦ Innovation & Performance offer recommendations to foster a culture of innovation and accountability necessary to make Pittsburgh a world class city. (Chair: Debra Lam)

♦ Administration & Finance: offer recommendations to overhaul all personnel and finance functions to enhance investments in our city workforce. (Chair: Debbie Lestitian)

♦ Operations & Infrastructure: offer recommendations to overhaul all operational functions to improve the delivery of services to city residents. (Chair: Guy Costa)

♦ Housing & Urban Empowerment: offer recommendations to enhance the quality of housing and services for residents of Pittsburgh’s low and moderate income neighborhoods. (Chair: Valerie McDonald-Roberts)

♦ Education & Neighborhood Reinvestment: offer recommendations to improve educational opportunities and small business redevelopment in city neighborhoods. (Chair: Dr. Curtiss Porter)

♦ Public Safety: offer recommendations to improve the delivery of public safety resources to make Pittsburgh one of the safest cities in America. (Chair: Mayor-Elect Peduto)

♦ Law & Ethics: offer recommendations to foster a culture of respect for the rule of law and ethics across all functions of city government. (Chair: Lourdes Sanchez Ridge)

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Friday, November 22, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh Arranges 8-Day Training Program for Delegation of Russian Information Technology Specialists

GlobalPittsburgh arranged eight days of professional training from November 16-24, 2013 for a federally funded group of four information technology (IT) specialists from Russia and one facilitator in a group entitled Accountable Governance – IT Specialists.

The visitors were invited to the U.S. under the auspices of the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. The program was administered by FHI360 in Washington, D.C.

Topics of interest to the group included IT innovation; IT educational policy; innovations implementation; IT market development trends; how informational technology is applied in educational system; promoting and applying new educational software products in educational institutions; how student are motivated to learn new technologies; policies for cloud technologies; and IT innovation projects for small and medium size business.

Meetings arranged by GlobalPittsburgh for the group included representatives of University of Pittsburgh Office of Technology Management, School of Information Sciences and Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education; the offices of Sen. Pat Toomey and Gov. Tom Corbett; Innovation Works; Project Olympus; Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon University CyLab; ServNet Technologies; Carnegie Speech Co., Duquesne University School of Law and Palumbo Donahue School of Business, where the group also made presentations; Allegheny County Intermediate Unit; Robert Morris University Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management; a networking dinner with local IT professionals, and a potluck dinner with members and friends of GlobalPittsburgh.

The group included:
- Ms. Darya Andreyevna Avilova, Government Programs and Industry Relations Analyst, at Skolkovo Institute of Science & Technology, in Skolkovo and Moscow Oblast.
- Ms. Mariya Aleksandrovna Milkova, Chief Business Development Officer for Statsoft-Russia, in Moscow.
- Ms. Olga Sergeyevna Ponomareva, CEO of Garant-Park-Internet, LLC, in Moscow.
- Ms. Kristina Yuryevna Zakharova, Business Development Manager, at ALP- Information System, LLC, in Moscow Oblast.
- Mr. Dmitriy Konstantinovich Popov, facilitator accompanying the group from Russia.

Members of the delegation stayed in the homes of GlobalPittsburgh host families during their visit.

View more photos of the group's visit at http://www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh/sets/72157637936279426/


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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Join Us Dec. 5 for GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays Happy Hour for Globally-Minded People at Luke Wholey's in the Strip

Come meet globally-minded people from Pittsburgh and all over the world to make new friends and learn more about different cultures at our GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays monthly happy hour on Thursday, December 5 from 5:30-8:00 pm at Luke Wholey's Wild Alaskan Grille in the Strip District. Bring your friends, family and colleagues or come alone - we're a very friendly group!

We will hold some winter holiday activities this month, so come ready for some global challenges!

CLICK HERE to register now and get your free chance to win some awesome door prizes, including a Magicstick mobile phone charger from Powerocks (picture below)!

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays is a regular monthly night of networking and socializing with different themes and different activities - but always with an international flavor - on the first Thursday of every month. It's an evening of friends, interesting conversation and good spirits with an international flair. Everyone is welcome!

You could win a Magicstick
mobile charger from Powerocks!
Just click on the image to register.
Discounted membership registration when you sign up at the event. Get $10 off your individual or family annual membership. Signing a friend to be a member entitles you both to free drinks. If you are already a member and you bring a friend who becomes a member at the event, you will both receive free drinks!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, do not hesitate to call 412-392-4513 or email nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

GlobalPittsburgh is looking to partner with small businesses and organizations for this event. We are offering the opportunity for you to promote your small businesses or organization at our event at a table, advertise your name on our social media, and announce our partnership during the evening. If you are interested in setting up a vendor table or simply would like to donate an item/gift certificate for the prize drawing, please contact Nadya Kessler.

Luke Wholey's is located at 2106 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Admission is FREE for paid GlobalPittsburgh members. Admission is $5 at the door for everyone else. Membership information will be available at the event, but you may also join GlobalPittsburgh now at www.globalpittsburgh.org/membership and get in free on the night of the event.

If you have questions or would like to set up a vendor table, please contact Nadya Kessler in the GlobalPittsburgh office at 412-392-4513 or by email at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org. Photos from past First Thursdays and a few other GlobalPittsburgh events, activities, and programs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh. See you there!

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh's Gail Shrott Among Women Honored For Global Impact by Women & Girls Foundation

Gail Shrott, Director of the International Leaders Program at GlobalPittsburgh, was among a select group of women in Western Pennsylvania honored for making a global impact in the region by the Women & Girls Foundation.

Gail Shrott
"Shrott’s work with GlobalPittsburgh is bringing the world to Pittsburgh to share ideas and build relationships, while helping them see the best of what our region has to offer to the world," the WGF said in making its presentations during a banquet Saturday night at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture in Pittsburgh.

"All of Shrott’s work introduces Pittsburgh residents, businesses, organizations, and other community groups to their counterparts and a world of opportunities for the future. She has also mentored more than a hundred interns, many of whom have gone on to pursue global careers.

"It is not just with knowledge and experience that Shrott’s work is benefiting the Pittsburgh community, the international leaders for whom GlobalPittsburgh developed itineraries infused nearly $250,000 into the regional economy, staying at hotels, eating at local restaurants, and using local transportation services.

"She designs and implements itineraries of professional meetings and cultural activities for distinguished visitors invited each year to the U.S. under the auspices of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and sponsored by other institutions. In the past year and a half, she has developed programming for visitors from one hundred countries, on topics such as STEM education, energy, higher education, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, among many other issues.


"Shrott began her career as a museum curator/director. Two years after her arrival in Pittsburgh, she met the Executive Director of what was then the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors while arranging a session for a seminar for regional museum professionals about the needs of international tourists. When a job was posted at the organization in 1989, Ms. Shrott applied, was hired, and, effectively, changed her life!

"Shrott transferred her research, writing, and volunteer management skills to the benefit of her new career connecting western Pennsylvania’s people and resources to emerging leaders around the world. She has been recognized for her creativity and ability to promote the Pittsburgh region’s experts in a wide variety of fields by the National Council for International Visitors – to which GlobalPittsburgh is affiliated - and by the Office of International Visitors in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  


"Shrott is currently working on a special initiative with the National Council for International Visitors to prepare training materials to recruit new volunteers of all ages to become involved with GlobalPittsburgh’s counterpart organizations throughout the U.S.

"This past June, Shrott arranged an 8-day training program for a group of five environmentalists from Kazakhstan in which they met with environmental education programs at Chatham and Duquesne Universities, regional non profits such as GASP and TreePittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s  Department of Environmental Protection, an environmental charter school,  and Giant Eagle’s Corporate Fleet Manager, among others. The group’s program also included opportunities to kayak near Point State Park and tour Phipps’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes.  It is her hope that the training program will nurture a linkage between Pittsburgh environmentalists and environmentalists in Aralsk, Kazakstan, working with the decimated ecosystem of the Aral Sea.

"More recent programming enabled Shrott to arrange itineraries for high level visitors from France, Greece, Germany, and China.   The best parts of Shrott’s work is that each request for programing allows her to tap into  new Pittsburgh resources and  cultivate potential linkages to address issues of great importance to other countries."


The other women receiving recognition for their global impact were:
Yinka Aganga-Williams, Acculturation for Justice Access & Peace Outreach (AJAPO)
Robin Alexander, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE)
Esther Barazzone, Chatham University
Tacy Byham, Development Dimensions International (DDI)
Miriam Cremer, Basic Health International
Simin Yazdgerdi Curtis, American Middle East Institute
Anne Nemer Dhanda, PPG Industries, Inc.
M. Bernardine Dias, TechBridgeWorld
Stephany L. Hartstirn, UPMC Health Plan
Tavia La Follette, ArtUp
Ali McMutrie, Haitian Families First
Prabha Sankaranarayan, Mediators Beyond Borders International
Alberta Sbragia, University of Pittsburgh
Kathy Keim Surma, The Nyadire Connection and Girl Child Network
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Friday, November 15, 2013

Carnegie Mellon Announces Record Year for Startup Company Creation With 36 New Companies Formed

Carnegie Mellon University announced that 36 new startup companies were created at CMU this year — a record for the university and a major economic milestone for the Pittsburgh region.

This year’s startups include PECA Labs, a medical device company that has developed a heart valve with the potential to save thousands of children from undergoing repeated open heart surgeries; PieceMaker Technologies, a company marketing the PieceMaker 3D printer, software and support services to allow stores to print and deliver goods on demand; and SolePower LLC, a company commercializing power-generating shoe insoles for charging portable electronics such as cellphones and GPS devices.

“Carnegie Mellon has shown that innovation can be encouraged and strengthened,"  said CMU alumnus Bruce McWilliams, chairman of the Research and Technology Commercialization Committee of CMU’s Board of Trustees, and president and chief executive officer of SuVolta Inc. "Through streamlined university policies and investment in support for faculty and students with interests in entrepreneurship, the university is expanding its impact and creating an example for other research institutions around the world."

CMU President Subra Suresh revealed the record and highlighted the startups’ accomplishments at LaunchCMU, a research and entrepreneurial showcase presented by the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).

CMU, its faculty and students have spun out more than 130 companies over the past five years and have attracted approximately $400 million of outside investment. Additional companies launched during this five-year period include Duolingo, creator of a free language-learning app that enables users to simultaneously translate documents on the Web; Surtrac Inc., developer of intelligent and adaptive traffic signals to cut down on congestion, save people time and reduce auto emissions; and ActivAided Orthotics, maker of the RecoveryAid shirt, which trains users to perform with proper body mechanics and correct posture for back pain relief.

For more information about CMU startup companies, go to http://www.cmu.edu/cie/launch-cmu/index.html.

Also participating in the announcement were Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Congressman Mike Doyle (D-Pa.).

“I would like to congratulate Carnegie Mellon on this impressive milestone of innovation and excellence. I continue to be impressed with the talent fostered from CMU’s researchers and entrepreneurs,” Casey said. “The technologies highlighted today will impact a vast number of industries including health care, agriculture and transportation. Pennsylvania has led the way in new technologies, and the startups acknowledged today will continue that strong innovative legacy along with developing future economic growth.”

Toomey, a former small business owner, praised CMU and its innovators for their entrepreneurial efforts.

“Congratulations to Carnegie Mellon and the 36 startups it helped launch this year. As a former small business owner, I can attest to the struggles, uncertainties and risks involved in starting one's own business. With this in mind, I applaud the perseverance of these innovators and CMU’s efforts to help them succeed,” he said.

“It’s remarkable that one university has spun off so many startup companies in just a year, but Carnegie Mellon has so many talented faculty, students and alumni that it shouldn’t be that surprising. CMU’s combination of world-class researchers with centers set up to help them commercialize their work has made the university a national leader in startup creation — and made an important contribution to our region’s economic growth in the process,” Doyle said. “As someone whose top priority throughout my service in Congress has been promoting good jobs and economic growth in southwestern Pennsylvania, I’ve worked many years with CMU to support and expand its research efforts.”

A global university, Carnegie Mellon has campuses in Pittsburgh, California’s Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico.


Source: Carnegie Mellon University         READ FULL ARTICLE

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Innovation Institute Launched at the University of Pittsburgh to Promote Entrepreneurship, Commercialization, Economic Development

The University of Pittsburgh has founded the Innovation Institute to advance Pitt’s successes in entrepreneurship, commercialization, and economic development. The new institute will bring together under one umbrella the existing Office of Technology Management, Office of Enterprise Development, and the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence. By consolidating the University’s resources for innovation and encouraging collaboration, the institute will provide a new level of support for entrepreneurial initiatives on campus and throughout the region.

“Innovation is essential for propelling the University to become an even stronger leader in education, research, and regional development,” Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson said in announcing the program. “Forming this comprehensive institute will allow previously separate units to integrate their resources and avoid duplication of services. The Innovation Institute’s establishment is part of a broader effort to cultivate an environment that empowers faculty, students, and staff to reach greater heights in their innovative research and entrepreneurial activities.”

Beeson has named Marc S. Malandro interim director of the Innovation Institute. Malandro is Pitt’s associate vice chancellor for technology management and commercialization and director of both the Office of Technology Management and Office of Enterprise Development. A national search will be conducted for a permanent director of the Innovation Institute.

“The Office of Technology Management and the Office of Enterprise Development will continue to work with faculty, staff, and students to facilitate the commercialization of new technologies and the formation of new companies originating at the University,” Malandro said. “The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence will continue to support and educate business leaders in the regional entrepreneurial community. It is clear there are strong synergies between the groups and, working together, we will be able to maximize our impact.”

A University-wide entity, the Innovation Institute will be located in the Gardner Steel Conference Center at Thackeray and O’Hara Streets, Oakland. It will serve as a primary support center in the following areas.

Education
The institute will promote student engagement by establishing research and internship programs related to innovation and entrepreneurship. It also will assist academic departments with infusing innovation and entrepreneurship skills into their curricula; develop non-degree programs for innovators and entrepreneurs within the University and the broader community; and train new entrepreneurs and small-business owners within the region to be successful.

Collaboration
The institute will develop and implement strategies that will promote collaborations within the University and between University innovators and the business community. In addition, it will coordinate with other entities promoting local economic development. This may include cohosting events to bring the University community together with the business community or forming new types of industry-university partnerships on research and development initiatives.

Commercialization
The institute will support the University’s commercialization efforts by introducing technologies and faculty inventors to companies capable of developing University intellectual property into products and services through existing companies or new start-up companies.

Communication
The institute will serve as a conduit for the University community and regional business community to learn about educational programs and resources available at the University, including existing connections between the University and regional entrepreneurs and companies.

Pitt’s leadership in innovation and entrepreneurship has already had a significant impact:
- 98 startup companies have been launched around Pitt innovations since 1996;
- More than 800 startup companies in the region have been guided by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence since 1993;
- 541 issued patents are in Pitt’s U.S. patent portfolio; and
- 1,400 educational programs have been attended by 40,000 business leaders since 1993.

The Innovation Institute will continue to build on these successes. Visit www.innovationinstitute.pitt.edu for more information.

Source: University of Pittsburgh
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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Organizations Accepting Donations for Post-Typhoon Relief Efforts in Philippines and Vietnam

Here are several organizations supplying aid and support to victims of Typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines).
World Food Programme: WFP is mobilizing quickly to reach those in need. Make a donation now to provide emergency food assistance to families and children.

Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières provides medical aid to those most in need regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.

American Red Cross: Sending support specialists to help the hardest hit areas.
Direct Relief International: Direct Relief is collaborating with its partner on the ground, Asia America Initiative (AAI), to coordinate the delivery of needed medical aid, which is expected to arrive in the Philippines capital, Manila, early next week.  The donation contains antibiotics, pain relievers, nutritional supplements, anti-fungal medications, wound dressings, and chronic disease medicines.


Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is launching immediate relief efforts after one of the strongest storms in recorded history devastates the Philippines.
Oxfam: Oxfam rapid assessment teams are poised to provide emergency supplies and shelter in parts of the Philippines hit by Typhoon Haiyan.
ShelterBox: Donations designated toward ShelterBox’s Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts will be used to supply the most vital equipment needed and will not be assigned box tracking numbers. Each ShelterBox supplies an extended family with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless.
UNICEF: UNICEF is working to provide safe water, hygiene supplies, food, shelter and a safe environment to recover.
Locally, Brother's Brother Foundation is working with the Philippine American Medical Society of Western Pennsylvania to provide short term and long term assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda which devastated parts of the central Philippines. BBF has worked with PAMS and other Philippine American groups for more than 30 years to send medical supplies to over 30 Philippine hospitals. PAMS supports medical assistance by ocean-going container shipments each year with BBF and sends upward of 70 medical volunteers annually to poorer parts of the Philippines.

Sources: Yahoo, individual organizations

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Monday, November 11, 2013

Number of International Students in Western Pennsylvania Rises 16 percent to 11,437 During 2012-13 School Year, Report Says; GlobalPittsburgh Grows Recruitment Efforts

The number of international students in the Pittsburgh region rose 16 percent during the 2012-13 school year - more than twice the national rate - to a total of 11,437 students, infusing a total of $333.4 million into the region's economy, an increase of nearly 20 percent over the year before, according to a new joint report by the Washington, D.C-based Institute of International Education and NAFSA, an organization representing international educators.

International Students
at La Roche College
 Across the state of Pennsylvania,  a total of 37,245 international students - an increase of 11.5 percent - were responsible for $1.7 billion in economic stimulus, and for sustaining nearly 5,800 jobs in higher education and another 13,100 jobs indirectly related to higher education through their spending during the school year, NAFSA/IIE reported.

In total, international students brought $32.4 billion into the U.S. economy during the 2012-13 school year, with the number of students growing at a 7.2 percent rate nationally to a total of 819,644, the report said.

Economic impact includes tuition, housing, food, shopping and other expenditures for undergraduate and graduate students and their spouses and children, creating thousands of jobs in the region and making education one of the region's biggest exports.

"International students not only contribute economic value, they build bridges between the United States and other countries; bring global perspectives into U.S. classrooms and research labs; support U.S. innovation through science and engineering coursework, making it possible for U.S. colleges and universities to offer these courses to U.S. students; and support programming and services on campus for all students by paying out-of-state tuition, funded largely by non-U.S. sources," NAFSA said in issuing its report.

NAFSA reported the economic impact of international students by dividing data into U.S. Congressional Districts. The Western Pennsylvania region includes Congressional Districts 3, 9, 12, 14 and 18.

The new report confirms the importance - and the economic value - of attracting more international students to the Pittsburgh region, which is the goal of GlobalPittsburgh's Study Pittsburgh initiative.

"This report confirms once again the importance of our efforts at GlobalPittsburgh to bring more international students to the Pittsburgh region, and then to engage them in activities and help them feel welcome so that they will have a positive experience," said Thomas Buell, Jr., Director of the Study Pittsburgh initiative, which represents a growing consortium of colleges, universities and English Language programs in the region called the GlobalPittsburgh Education Partnership (GPEP).

GlobalPittsburgh augments the international recruiting efforts of local educational institutions by:
 Providing a conduit for prospective applicants to ensure delivery and full review of applications.
 Ensuring that applications are complete.
 Directing applicants to information about visa and documentation requirements.
 Providing welcoming activities and networking opportunities for students after they have enrolled.

The Study Pittsburgh initiative provides information and publicity materials to selected advising centers and counseling offices around the world using GlobalPittsburgh’s strong relationships with government agencies and diplomatic channels. These channels include:
 EducationUSA, a U.S. State Department program designed to attract international students to the United States through a network of more than 400 advising centers in 170 countries around the world providing information and assistance to prospective students.
 Trade offices of U.S. Commerce Department and Pennsylvania Department of Economic & Community Development, which are committed to increasing international student enrollment in the United States.
 Education agencies and recruiters in targeted countries around the world.
 U.S. Embassies & Consulates around the world.
 Foreign Embassies & Consulates in the United States.

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Friday, November 8, 2013

Pittsburgh-Based Brother’s Brother Foundation Prepares Response to Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda

Pittsburgh-based Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF) is working with the Philippine American Medical Society of Western Pennsylvania (PAMS of WP) to provide short term and long term assistance in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda which has devastated parts of the central Philippines.

BBF has worked with PAMS and other Philippine American groups for more than 30 years to send medical supplies to more than 30 Philippine hospitals.  PAMS supports medical assistance by ocean-going container shipments each year with BBF, and sends more than 70 medical volunteers annually to poorer parts of the Philippines.

BBF, a 56-year old Pittsburgh-based international charity, has provided over $3.5 billion of medical supplies, textbooks, food, seeds, and other humanitarian supplies to people around the world in over 140 countries.

With the help of gifts from the general public, corporations and foundations, in 2012 BBF sent product contributions to those in need in 66 countries including Burundi, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Liberia, Nicaragua, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Zambia.  These shipments were the equivalent of 297 tractor trailer loads.  Also in 2012, BBF provided supplies for 274 medical and humanitarian hand-carry mission trips.

Forbes Magazine highlighted BBF as one of five all-star charities in its November 2012 listing of the top 100 U.S. Charities, with a 100 percent rating for fundraising efficiency and charitable commitment. The Better Business Bureau continues to give BBF its “Wise Giving Alliance Standards” seal of approval.

Donations to assist with shipping costs are always accepted. One hundred percent of donations to BBF designated for Philippines relief will be used directly for relief purposes. Credit card donations can be made at www.brothersbrother.org or by calling BBF at 412-321-3160. Checks should be made to the Brother's Brother Foundation and sent to:
Brother's Brother Foundation/Philippines Relief
1200 Galveston Ave.                                    
Pittsburgh, PA  15233

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Pittsburgh Business Leaders Traveling to D.C. to Call for Passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Business leaders from Pittsburgh are joining a Pennsylvania delegation traveling to Washington, DC., to push for passage of meaningful immigration reform this year.

The leaders are meeting with members of the state's congressional delegation urging them to support bipartisan immigration legislation that will create jobs and strengthen America’s communities and economy.

Dewitt Peart, president, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, said immigration reform is essential to the Pittsburgh region's continued economic growth.

“In the Pittsburgh region, our economy has recovered," Peart said in a statement. "Now, we have vacant positions that are going unfilled and more positions opening due to approaching retirements. We need more people and we need to put them to work. We are committed to preparing residents for the jobs that will be in high demand and we’re partnering with labor to support sensible immigration reform that’s needed for Pittsburgh and other regions to increase and maintain our economic vitality."

“Our universities are attracting and educating some of the world’s top talent in tech and other advanced STEM degrees," said Audrey Russo, CEO and President of the Pittsburgh Technology Council.  “Many of these students want to stay in the U.S. after graduation, yet we send them away to other countries to compete against us. If we don’t reform our immigration system to attract and retain top talent our country is going to lose its global competitiveness.”

Pennsylvania participants in the Washington trip include:

- Kevin Coutts, President, Forest Homes of Lake Wallenpaupack, Inc. and Vice President, Pennsylvania Builders Association
- Audrey Russo, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council
- Brandon Mendoza, Government Affairs Associate, Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
- Alex Halper, Director of Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
- Fr. Bernard Survil, Diocese of Greensburg and Founding & Board Member of the Association of US Catholic Priests
- Peter Gonzales, President and CEO, The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
- Anatoli Murha, Business Development and Marketing Manager, Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union
- Fr. Tom Higgins, Archdiocse of Philadelphia, Holy Innocents Parish

Attendees will advocate for an immigration reform solution that incorporates the following principles:

- Make low-skill temporary visas easier to obtain, so that the agricultural industry may have access to critical seasonal workers when needed.
- Border security must be included as a centerpiece of the legislation.
- Increased access to high-skill visas that will meet the demands of our growing economy.
- A solution for addressing currently undocumented immigrants, including children who were brought here young and grew up in America.
- An employer “e-verify” verification process that will ensure all employers follow the law without having to deal with unnecessary burdens.
- The group is headed to D.C. as part of the “Americans for Reform: Immigration Reform for our Economy, Faith, and Security” event. The event is a joint effort organized by the Partnership for a New American Economy, Bibles Badges and Business, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and FWD.us.

Source: Pittsburgh Technology Council

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Wednesday, October 9, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays Happy Hour Nov. 7 at Luke Wholey's Wild Alaskan Grille in the Strip District

Come meet globally-minded people from Pittsburgh and all over the world to make new friends and learn more about different cultures at our GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays monthly happy hour on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5:30-8:00 pm at Luke Wholey's Wild Alaskan Grille in the Strip District. Bring your friends, family and colleagues or come alone - we're a very friendly group!

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays is a regular monthly night of networking and socializing with different themes and different activities - but always with an international flavor - on the first Thursday of every month. It's an evening of friends, interesting conversation and good spirits with an international flair. Everyone is welcome!

Special features for the November event:
- Free admission for GlobalPittsburgh members
- GlobalPittsburgh Networking PASSport (see below)
- Complimentary appetizers
- Prize drawings
- Free seated massages from Massage Envy in Squirrel Hill

Get your GlobalPittsburgh Networking PASSport (attendance stamp card for members). Collect stamps and turn them in for free drinks and prizes.

Discounted membership registration when you sign up at the event. Get $10 off your individual or family annual membership. Signing a friend to be a member entitles you both to free drinks. If you are already a member and you bring a friend who becomes a member at the event, you will both receive free drinks! Online registration for your convenience. By registering online (link below) you will receive a free ticket to one of the drawings at the door.

REGISTER NOW!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, do not hesitate to call 412-392-4513 or email nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

GlobalPittsburgh is looking to partner with small businesses and organizations for this event. We are offering the opportunity for you to promote your small businesses or organization at our event at a table, advertise your name on our social media, and announce our partnership during the evening. If you are interested in setting up a vendor table or simply would like to donate an item/gift certificate for the prize drawing, please contact Nadya Kessler.

Luke Wholey's is located at 2106 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Admission is FREE for paid GlobalPittsburgh members. Admission is $5 at the door for everyone else. Membership information will be available at the event, but you may also join GlobalPittsburgh now at www.globalpittsburgh.org/membership and get in free on the night of the event.

If you have questions or would like to set up a vendor table, please contact Nadya Kessler in the GlobalPittsburgh office at 412-392-4513 or by email at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org. Photos from past First Thursdays and a few other GlobalPittsburgh events, activities, and programs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh. See you there!

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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Get Something in Return When You Support GlobalPittsburgh on Pittsburgh Day of Giving Oct. 3

Please support GlobalPittsburgh on the Pittsburgh Foundation’s 5th Annual Day of Giving on Thursday October 3.  If you’re planning on renewing your GlobalPittsburgh membership or purchasing tickets to GlobalPittsburgh CultureFest on Oct. 24, this is a great time to do it. The Pittsburgh Foundation provides partial matching funds to enhance your investment in GlobalPittsburgh’s programs, so your dollars go even further. It’s very simple (instructions below). And did you know our programs bring a quarter million dollars into the local economy every year?

Get your free GlobalPittsburgh
t-shirt when you invest $100
or more on Day of Giving!
Here are possible donation levels and what you will receive:
$50 for GlobalPittsburgh annual membership for individual, family or graduate student.
$70 for CultureFest ticket Oct. 24 (you will automatically be entered to win 2 tickets to Paris on Delta).
$100 or more – Membership, CultureFest ticket and GlobalPittsburgh t-shirt!

IMPORTANT – In order to receive credit for your membership or CultureFest tickets, you will need to forward your email receipt to us and tell us that you want credit. Send it to Nadya Kessler at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

Instructions:
- On Oct. 3, go to http://www.pittsburghgives.org
- Click on Donate Now
- Enter your name, email and phone number in appropriate boxes.  Please note you must have a valid email address to receive a tax receipt for your donation.
- Select GlobalPittsburgh (Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors) from the drop down menu.
- Enter the amount you wish to give.
- Once you are ready to complete your transaction, click on Go To Checkout and you will be taken to the secure credit card payment page.

MasterCard and Visa are accepted for payment and you will receive confirmation of your donation and a tax receipt via email within an hour of the transaction. Remember to email us a copy of your receipt in order to get credit for your GlobalPittsburgh membership and/or CultureFest tickets. Thank you!

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Global Pittsburgh and Carnegie Speech Sign Agreement to Market Language Learning Technology to Education Resources Locally and Worldwide

GlobalPittsburgh has signed an agreement with Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Speech to promote and market Carnegie Speech’s proprietary language-learning and accent modification programs to education-related institutions and corporate entities in the Pittsburgh region and around the world.

Under the agreement, GlobalPittsburgh will act as a sales representative for Carnegie Speech online applications among universities and international organizations with which it works through relationships with the U.S. government agencies and organizations.

“GlobalPittsburgh’s long history of promoting Pittsburgh to the world is what attracted us to partner with them,” said Paul Musselman, CEO of Carnegie Speech.  “GlobalPittsburgh’s many programs bring together residents and visitors to learn about each other’s communities and aspirations. Our software can accelerate communication and promote friendship, speed learning and improve commerce between Southwestern Pennsylvania and the world.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for GlobalPittsburgh to continue expanding our role as an international connector in the Pittsburgh region,” said Michael Malloy, Chair of the GlobalPittsburgh board of directors. “By partnering with a local company and engaging them with our global network, we are able to provide tangible economic and educational benefits to our member organizations and to the community as a whole. That is the role we want to play in the Pittsburgh region.”

Carnegie Speech’s NativeAccent® is the world’s only patented and award-winning Software as a Solution (SaaS) that assesses an individual’s spoken English grammar, fluency, word stress and pronunciation, and then delivers a personalized lesson plan that matches your precise learning needs. Carnegie Speech has over 150 education, enterprise and government customers around the world whose users see up to 100 percent improvement in their spoken English grammar, fluency, word stress and pronunciation in as little as 10 hours of use.

GlobalPittsburgh, formerly the Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors, engages international delegations, groups and individuals by creating itineraries and facilitating introductions through the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other international programming agencies in many fields, including energy and environment, life sciences and medicine, education, business and technology, clean/green design, advanced manufacturing, arts and culture, government and finance, social services and law, and other areas.

GlobalPittsburgh also helps recruit international students to the region through its Study Pittsburgh initiative, and connects international students and professionals with globally minded people in the region through member activities and events.

For information about Carnegie Speech, contact Carlton Ketchum, Director, Enterprise Sales at 412-281-3004 ext 203 or 412-965-4178, by email at carlton@carnegiespeech.com, or go to www.carnegiespeech.com.

For information about GlobalPittsburgh, contact Thomas Buell, Jr., Director of Marketing, at 412-392-4513 or 412-720-2218, by email at tbuell@globalpittsburgh.org, or go to www.globalpittsburgh.org.



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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Great Chance to Win 2 Tickets to Paris on Delta Airlines When You Come to GlobalPittsburgh CultureFest Oct. 24

You've got a great chance of winning two free round-trip tickets to Paris on Delta Airlines when you come to GlobalPittsburgh CultureFest on October 24 at the downtown DoubleTree by Hilton. Every ticket purchased receives one chance to win!

CultureFest celebrates the globally-minded people, entrepreneurs, innovators and citizen diplomats who make Pittsburgh such a great place. It's the highlight of our year, and proceeds will support our ongoing programs.

CLICK HERE for more details and registration information.

Highlights of the evening include:
- Live performances
- Gourmet international food stations
- Interactive program
- VIP reception with special guests
- Networking with over 200 globally-minded people
- Entry to a Grand Prize drawing
- Complimentary drink ticket
- Complimentary seated massages
- Entertaining vendors
- Wine tasting
- Prize drawings

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown is located at 1 Bigelow Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
CultureFest: 6:00 - 9:00 PM
VIP reception: 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Tickets for GlobalPittsburgh members - $70 each
Delegation of 8 - $550
Student members - $50
Non-members - $85
Ticket + GlobalPittsburgh membership - $100
 Delegation of 8 - $650
VIP reception + admission - $200 each

BECOME A VENDOR (PDF)
SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION (PDF)

For details, contact Nadya Kessler at 412-392-4513 or nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

Gold Sponsor:



Vendors:




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Monday, September 23, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Boo Bowling Party to Celebrate Halloween Oct. 30 at Pittsburgh Athletic Association

It’s that spooky time of year where the ghouls and goblins come out to play. Join GlobalPittsburgh as we celebrate Halloween on October 30 from 6-9 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.

Come for the jack-o-lanterns, pie, cider, witches, ghosts and everything else that makes the end of October so delightfully frightful and fun. We encourage everyone to come dressed in their favorite Halloween costume. Our Boo Bowling Party is all about fun!

Come and enjoy:
*Two hours of complimentary bowling and shoe rentals
*Delicious holiday cake
*Chips and pretzels
*Cheese and vegetable platters
*Hot apple cider
*Halloween costume contests with prizes for winners
*Halloween games and activities
*Cash bar

The Pittsburgh Athletic Association, located in beautiful Oakland, was established in 1908 and remains a Pittsburgh icon rich in history and renowned for its traditional elegance and premier style. Come and share this Halloween Party with our globally-minded members and friends. You will have an unforgettable fun evening! 

Tickets are on sale now: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Prices will go up on October 20 and at the door.

To learn more and buy tickets please visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=liinidhab&oeidk=a07e87y5tn325b8a1d9&

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Thursday, September 12, 2013

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays Happy Hour Oct. 3 at Luke Wholey's Wild Alaskan Grille in the Strip District

Come meet globally-minded people from Pittsburgh and all over the world to make new friends and learn more about different cultures at our GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays monthly happy hour on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 5:30-8:00 pm at Luke Wholey's Wild Alaskan Grille in the Strip District. Bring your friends, family and colleagues or come alone - we're a very friendly group! 

GlobalPittsburgh First Thursdays is a regular monthly night of networking and socializing with different themes and different activities - but always with an international flavor - on the first Thursday of every month. It's an evening of friends, interesting conversation and good spirits with an international flair. Everyone is welcome! 

Special features for the October event: 
- Free admission for GlobalPittsburgh members
- GlobalPittsburgh Networking PASSport (see below)
- Complimentary appetizers
- Entertaining vendors
- Prize drawings
- Drink specials
- Free seated massages from Massage Envy in Squirrel Hill

Get your GlobalPittsburgh Networking PASSport (attendance stamp card for members). Collect stamps and turn them in for free drinks and prizes.

Discounted membership registration when you sign up at the event. Get $10 off your individual or family annual membership. Signing a friend to be a member entitles you both to free drinks. If you are already a member and you bring a friend who becomes a member at the event, you will both receive free drinks! Online registration for your convenience. By registering online (link below) you will receive a free ticket to one of the drawings at the door.

REGISTER NOW!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, do not hesitate to call 412-392-4513 or email nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org.

GlobalPittsburgh is looking to partner with small businesses and organizations for this event. We are offering the opportunity for you to promote your small businesses or organization at our event at a table, advertise your name on our social media, and announce our partnership during the evening. If you are interested in setting up a vendor table or simply would like to donate an item/gift certificate for the prize drawing, please contact Nadya Kessler.

Thanks to Giant Eagle Market District for supporting First Thursdays!
Luke Wholey's is located at 2106 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Admission is FREE for paid GlobalPittsburgh members. Admission is $5 at the door for everyone else. Membership information will be available at the event, but you may also join GlobalPittsburgh now at www.globalpittsburgh.org/membership and get in free on the night of the event. 

If you have questions or would like to set up a vendor table, please contact Nadya Kessler in the GlobalPittsburgh office at 412-392-4513 or by email at nkessler@globalpittsburgh.org. Photos from past First Thursdays and a few other GlobalPittsburgh events, activities, and programs can be viewed at www.flickr.com/photos/globalpittsburgh. See you there!


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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Show Your International Colors with the New GlobalPittsburgh Expand Your World T-Shirt

You're a citizen of the world so show off your colors with your own GlobalPittsburgh t-shirt! These all-cotton shirts will display your commitment to spreading international awareness while investing in GlobalPittsburgh's programs and activities.

Click on the button below to order your very own "Expand Your World - Get Connected" t-shirt. They also make great gifts for children, grandchildren, parents, friends and maybe those out-of-town college students who might want to show their Pittsburgh pride.

These shirts (in GlobalPittsburgh purple) are yours for $20 plus flat-rate shipping in the U.S. Click on the button below to order yours now. Tell your friends!


Choose your size (men's sizes)


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Friday, August 16, 2013

Pittsburgh-Based Wonderaddo Launches Fun, Engaging Global Education Resource for Children and Families

Pittsburgher Mandy Fields Yokim has founded Wonderaddo, LLC, a global education resource focused on promoting the global awareness of children and families in Pittsburgh.

Wonderaddo launched its new website on Thursday, August 15th, 2013 with the goal of providing a valuable community resource that will inspire Pittsburgh residents and visitors to explore the world through global events, activities and connections in our beautiful city – no passport or suitcases required.

The public is invited to Wonderaddo's free Explore the World Launch Event at the Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip District on Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Wonderaddo is a great resource for parents with young children to experience the world and celebrate diverse cultures in Pittsburgh." - Amiena Mahsoob, Director of Education Programs, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
As Pittsburgh continues to be recognized on a national and global scale for its many amenities, Wonderaddo strives to inspire even our youngest residents and visitors to appreciate and benefit from all that the city has to offer, says Yokim, a writer and the mother of young children.

"When Mandy visited the GlobalPittsburgh office to talk to us about Wonderaddo, we agreed that she would be filling a niche by helping families with young children learn about global activities in the region and further explore other cultures via fun educational tools.  We believe that Wonderaddo may lead families to consider becoming host families for international visitors for our organization and to inspire kids to travel and consider global careers when they are older." - Gail Shrott, Director, International Leaders Program, GlobalPittsburgh
For more information, go to www.wonderaddo.com.



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