The Heinz Endowments

A 10-year, $600 million plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh is coming—and will transform public spaces and bring more housing thanks to funding from the state, city, sports teams, companies and foundations, including the Endowments.    Get the details from 90.5 WESA: https://lnkd.in/eEYtQmqn Art renderings courtesy Commonwealth Media Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership; Pittsburgh Cultural Trust; Allegheny Conference on Community Development

A new first of its kind report by RAND dives into the critical role nonprofits play for the 150K service members exiting the military & entering the civilian workforce each year. Often filling the gaps for services that government programs do not cover, the nonprofits are key in helping veterans find post-military jobs that match their significant skill sets. Read the report – including recommendations for consistent metrics to measure program effectiveness, new funding streams & potential federal/nonprofit partnerships: https://lnkd.in/ehmuk2NF Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF; Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness ; Carrie Farmer; VetJobs; Hire Heroes USA; Hiring Our Heroes; Call of Duty Endowment; Dan Goldenberg

One thousand people packed into the David L. Lawrence Convention Center this week for the 4th annual Eradicate Hate Global Summit, which organizers call the most comprehensive anti-hate conference in the world. Top researchers, global leaders, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, lawyers & those impacted by hate crimes gathered to discuss the most pressing issues in their fields & figure out how to increase collaboration across career lines. The Endowments is honored to be among the event's funders. Read more about this year's summit:

Acclaimed artist & co-founder of multidisciplinary art collective Rainbow Serpent, Marques Redd is helping create the future of art by reviving ancient – & often erased – traditions. By uplifting Black LGBTQ creativity & culture through exploration of emerging technologies, innovative healing protocols, African cosmologies & multimedia art, he is sparking important dialogue & reconsideration of the Western artistic canon. To launch into Marques’ beautiful, fascinating & moving vision of the world, listen/download/share this episode of “We Can Be,” hosted by Endowments President Chris DeCardy.

Artist Sean Beauford is using an Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh grant to embark on a new project: a feature documentary, "Home of Tomorrow," which will examine the history between Mansfield, Ohio, & Pittsburgh, tracing the rise and fall of industry & its effect on the two cities’ Black communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dBQGubtK Photo source: Emmai Alaquiva The Pittsburgh Foundation

Great news for southwestern Pennsylvania – hundreds of clean energy jobs are coming! Mainspring Energy will build a new plant near the airport, thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy $87 million grant. The manufacturing facility will make flexible fuel power generators and create 600 jobs. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eksvAZz6 Photo credit: Mainspring Energy

Join us on Thursday for a free webinar, as we explore the issues of criminalization of people with disabilities & highlight bright spots & strategies for interrupting this pattern & reducing unjust incarceration of people with disabilities. The Endowments is honored to partner w/ FISA Foundation & The Pittsburgh Foundation on this important Race + Disability webinar series. RSVP today: Jamelia Morgan; National Disability Institute; Tamara Siegert Spangler

Today, Oct. 21, is the last day to register before the Nov. 5 election in Pennsylvania. Check your registration: https://lnkd.in/gmGW3tEJ As we hit today's important deadline, listen to how grantee VoteRiders is leading the charge for lessening voter suppression & strengthening our democracy. CEO/Exec. Dir. Lauren Kunis joins Endowments President & host Chris DeCardy on the "We Can Be" podcast. Listen to it wherever you get you get your podcasts. Search "heinz we can be."

Listen to Heinz Award for the Environment honoree Colette Pichon Battle & Endowments President/host Chris DeCardy for a deep dive into the inequities of climate change in this episode of “We Can Be.” A lawyer & leader at environmental advocacy org Taproot Earth, Colette shares how increasingly severe weather is affecting generational land ownership from Louisiana’s bayou to Appalachia, & why she believes the root cause of climate change is capitalism & an unjust economy. And listen closely for a special guest questioner – environmental legend & Love Canal clean-up hero Lois Marie Gibbs. Available on all major podcast sites; search term “Heinz We Can Be.” The Heinz Awards

Kudos to the Pittsburgh media outlets The Allegheny Front, NEXTpittsburgh & Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle for being selected as Press Forward grant recipients. Press Forward is a nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local independent news. The Endowments is a funder of the initiative, which has 25 chapters in 20 states. Pittsburgh joined the roster in early 2024. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eARfJABZ Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University; Knight Foundation