My Homewood

RSP: Making connections, pt. 1

Elwin Green — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:19:00 GMT

RSP stands for the Race Street Project. When I first wrote about the project, I said that I have shared the RSP outline with a bunch of other folks, and received positive responses.

A little more detail about that: I first spoke with Court Gould, executive director of Sustainable Pittsburgh. He got excited, and offered to arrange a meeting with Kim Graziani, the Mayor's Director of Community Initiatives. She got excited and invited me back to meet with her and Rob Stephany, executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Rob Stephany is more low-key than Court or Kim (listen to me, calling folks by their first name), so maybe I should not say that he got excited. But he was real interested, and very encouraging.

One of the things that he and Kim were so drawn by is the scale of the project - five city blocks. There are people doing great things all over the city in terms of green, they said, but there has not been a single project large enough for them to work together. The Race Street Project could be that project.

So, Rob and Kim suggested a meeting between the Save Race Street Committee and a bunch of folks who could be helpful to us in getting the project done.

That brings us to this week. Tuesday morning a pair of interns with the Urban Redevelopment Authority came by to do a walk-through and to take photos to document the present state of the street.

Yesterday morning, the big meeting happened, the first meeting of the Committee with our potential helpers.

Actually, not the entire Committee was there - it was chairman Min. Terry Fluker, member Latif Yeniceri and myself.

Besides Mr. Stephany and Ms. Graziani, our visitors included the interns, Derric I. Heck and Emily Burnett; Lauren Byrne, also of the URA; Dianne B. Swan, executive director of The Rosedale Block Cluster, Inc.; Andrew Butcher, chief executive officer and Chris Koch, chief operating officer, GTECH Strategies; Miriam Manion, executive director and Julie Pezzino, associate director, Grow Pittsburgh; Joe McCarthy of Penn State Cooperative Extension (I don't remember his title and don't have his card); and Khalif Ali of Operation Better Block, Inc (ditto).

That was about twice as many people as I expected.

We met in front of Baptist Temple Church, which is at the intersection of Race and Sterrett streets. Terry told the group how the Committee got started, then I said a few words about the project, and we began a walk-through of Race Street. First we headed west to the start of Race, at Lang Avenue, then we went back east to where it ends on the slope of Brushton Avenue.

Emily brought URA maps and panoramic images of the street assembled from the photos that Derric took Tuesday. We stopped often to consult the maps - who owns this property? Is this property tax delinquent? Could this vacant lot become a sideyard for the neighbor who is apparently already taking care of it?

What I had expected to be a brisk jaunt with a half-dozen or so people became a more leisurely stroll with more than twice that number.

We then went to the Homewood-Brushton YMCA to meet.

I had a three-point agenda for the meeting.
1. Establishing basis for engagement
2. Clarification of interests: What do I/we have to offer? What do I/we want to receive?
3. What are the next steps?

More about the meeting in the next post.

Re: MJ - one last thing

Elwin Green — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:56:00 GMT

From Dan Majors' obituary of Michael Jackson:

Sean Jones, a professor of jazz studies at Duquesne University, last night said that Mr. Jackson represented two things.

"First," he said, "was the constant pursuit of perfection. He made sure that every last thing that he ever did was polished and pristine. The result of that work is the greatest selling pop album that was ever made. That's because of his unbelievable work ethic.

"And, second, his music spoke to the core of our humanity. Our spirituality, our need for love, our physicality, our emotions, and our need to bring people together. He found something that everyone could relate to. His music was all about love. He didn't play music for a race. He played music for people."

A comment on Mr. Jones' first point: there's talent, and then there's plain old hard work. Without the latter, the former doesn't matter.

Here's hoping that MJ's work ethic becomes a large part of his legacy.

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Black Male Solidarity Day 2009

Elwin Green — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:39:00 GMT

Tomorrow, the Brother 2 Brother Leadership Forum will celebrate the third annual Day of Black Male Solidarity. This year's event will be dedicated to the life and memory of Dr. Dawud Akbar, who passed away April 26.

The event will be held at the Faison Arts Academy, 7430 Tioga Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the first Day of Black Male Solidarity had the character of a rally, tomorrow will offer a series of workshops under the overall heading "Reclaiming Black Manhood." Workshop topics will include, leadership development and rites of passage, fatherhood, and wealth building, among others.

The event is free and open to the public. Men are encouraged to bring their sons or other young boys with them. For more info, call (412) 371-3689.

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Now we see him, now we...

Elwin Green — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:21:00 GMT

When I left work yesterday, at about 5:30, all seemed normal.

When I got home, my tenant told me that the world had changed.

Not in so many words. With an astonished look on his face, he started talking about how quickly the news about Michael Jackson had changed, and I needed for him to slow down and back up.

"He's dead."

Then it was my turn to be astonished. Incredulous may be the better word. Acknowledging the fact, but not accepting the reality.

I had to run an errand after dinner. I tuned my car radio to a station that was playing MJ songs. Kept thinking, he was 50, I'm 57; I can't waste time.

Later, my wife tuned the TV to BET, offering a marathon of MJ videos. I canceled my workout to watch "Thriller." Samuel L. Jackson echoed what I had always believed, that "Thriller" changed the game when it came to music videos; that Michael Jackson elevated the music video to an art form. In fact, I have long suspected that "Thriller," and the videos that followed, may have had a larger impact than his music itself.

Janet and I didn't talk much; I couldn't think of much to say. Kept thinking, will I ever do anything as well as he did his thing?

Michael Jackson's funeral will, of course, be huge. I wonder if anyone local will hold any sort of memorial event?

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The Race Street Project

Elwin Green — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:23:00 GMT

A couple of months ago, I submitted a project outline to the Save Race Street Committee. They liked it and agreed that we should pursue it.

I have since circulated the outline to a bunch of other folks, and received a lot of positive feedback, including offers of help.

Good thing, because the project won't happen without a lot of help.

The project is called the Race Street Project. Here's the project description:

The Race Street Project is a community-based initiative to restore and enhance the built environment of Race Street, a five-block long street in the Homewood section of the City of Pittsburgh, and to document the process in ways that allow interested parties to learn from the experience.

And here's the outline, which will change and grow.

I'll keep you folks informed about our progress, regress, digress, transgress and whatever else happens along the way.

All comments/questions are welcome.

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Heard in passing

Elwin Green — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:12:00 GMT

I was just on the phone with Kiva Fisher-Green, and she said along the way, "At the end of the day, it's the people in the community, I believe, that's gonna turn things around."

She hastened to add that people who do not live in the community, but who work in the community in some fashion, can certainly help. But the residents have first and final responsibility for the community.

Just thought I'd share.

What do you think?

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Dwelling House, pt. 2

Elwin Green — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:28:00 GMT

I put $1,000 into my Dwelling House account today.

A few minutes ago, I received a forwarded email announcing a meeting to be held Friday at 1 p.m. at the Hill House, 1835 Centre Ave. Longtime activists Rick Adams and Tim Stevens appear to be the organizers of the gathering, at which Dwelling House CEO John Haines will be present, "to discuss a community mobilization campaign."

"Bring your check books," the email says, "because after the meeting those of us who are able will go down to Dwelling House and put deposits in our existing accounts or open new ones."

Here's hoping many people show up for the event; but here's hoping also that many others who don't, go ahead and make deposits anyway. After all, $1 million is only 1,000 x $1,000 - or 10,000 x $100. Not everyone has $1,000; not everyone has $100. But I'm betting my $1,000 that between us, we have enough. We can do this. Let's just go ahead and get it done.

Don't have an account yet? Start here.

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Another Black institution on the ropes.

Elwin Green — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Dwelling House Savings and Loan is in danger of being shut down by the federal agency that regulates S&Ls.

The savings and loan needs $1 million in new money by June 30 to meet the Office of Thrift Supervision's requirements. If that doesn't happen, it could be shut down or sold.

More than one observer has compared Robert R. Lavelle to the character of George Bailey in the Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life." Like George Bailey, Mr. Lavelle has led a financial institution that has, for decades, made mortgage loans to borrowers whom other lenders would deny, thereby helping those borrowers to become homeowners. That has been Dwelling House's mission, to increase homeownership among those who would otherwise be denied.

Now, also like George Bailey and the Bailey Savings and Loan, Mr. Lavelle and Dwelling House have been victimized by theft on a scale that threatens the institution's survival.

But the closure or sale of Dwelling House is by no means a foregone conclusion. In the movie, the savings and loan was saved by friends and neighbors who chipped in to help when they learned about the trouble.

And here let us make some important distinctions. Every one who chipped in did so freely, from his or her own pocket or purse. The money that saved Bailey Savings and Loan was not taxpayer money. Furthermore, the giving of that money was a matter, not simply of helping, but of repaying. The people who blessed George Bailey with that basket of cash were people who had been blessed by him over the decades.

Those of us who have been blessed by Robert R. Lavelle and Dwelling House can save Dwelling House, just as those who had been blessed by George Bailey saved the Bailey Savings and Loan (I say "us" because I have worked at both Dwelling House and Lavelle Real Estate, Inc. and have considered Mr. Lavelle a good friend for upwards of 20 years).

How can we save Dwelling House? Depends on who we are. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're delinquent, we can come current, or make a payment to reduce our delinquency. If we have a mortgage with Dwelling House and we're current, we can pay ahead according to our ability. If we have an savings account with Dwelling House (I'm in this group), we can make a deposit. If we don't have an account, we can open one.

Please note that I am talking about deposits, not about gifts. The way for us to save Dwelling House is by doing business with Dwelling House.

Why should we bother? Because if we don't, somebody we know may find it a lot harder to buy a house next year, or five years from now, or ten years from now. The U.S. Census Bureau says that in 2000, the homeownership rate for white Americans was 71 percent, while for blacks it was 46 percent. We need more Dwelling Houses; we cannot afford to lose the one we have.

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Okay, back to earth (G-20, pt. 2)

Elwin Green — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:40:00 GMT

Having said all that, anyone working for Homewood's positive exposure during the G20 must also be realistic. Recognize, for example, that East Liberty has Jamaican and Ethiopian restaurants, and Homewood doesn't.

And yes, the person writing about diversity made a darn good point.

I remember a visitor to Pittsburgh once remarking on the fact that from the time he landed at the airport to the time he got out of his cab downtown, he didn't see any black people.

What will dignitaries and journalists from around the world notice?

(Speaking of cabs, could we PLEASE get Pittsburgh's cab service in shape by September?)

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HOLY COW (G-20, pt.1)

Elwin Green — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:32:00 GMT

The G20 is coming to Pittsburgh.

This is huge for the city. But what can we make it mean for Homewood?

Our news package offers people the opportunity to respond to the news. One writer said:

Great but very ironic that the LEAST DIVERSE city I have ever been in will host all these diverse folks. I travel extensively for my job & believe even places like Rochester or Kansas City are more diverse. Time for the "burgh to attract some diversity. PLEASE!

A couple of people also note, as the story does, that many will view the G20's visit as a prime opportunity to stage protests or demonstrations.

Granted.

But this news makes me want to convene a meeting with the brightest, most impassioned and most hopeful people I know, to talk about how Homewood can gain positive exposure around the summit.

For example: If I had to guess, I would guess that a group that large, that diverse and that sophisticated would include at least a couple of jazz lovers. What if, instead of having its free concert at the Homewood Carnegie on the last Wednesday of that month, the 30th, the Jazz Workshop moved that concert to the 23d? What if that concert were dedicated to the G20 visitors and a group of people dedicated themselves to making it easy for the G20 people to attend the concert? Might some of them show up?

Bigger example: What if the Jazz Workshop, the Afro-American Music Institute, and the Community Empowerment Association Hip-Hop Academy worked together to create a great big festive music event to celebrate the G20 coming to town? Or, a post-summit festival that weekend?

Third example: What if the people working on the creation of the Homewood Children's Village invited President Obama to Homewood, and what if he accepted the invitation? (Why would he do such a thing? Because the HCV fits in with what he has said he wants to do in education.) What opportunities would that create for postiive exposure?

Any of those possiblities would require a ton of hard work by a bunch of people. The questions are, what people are willing to discuss the possibilities, and then, who is willing to do the work?

There will be a LEGION of journalists here from around the world. When Pittsburgh is front and center on the world stage, should Homewood remain invisible?

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