Sojourner House is proud to announce the honorary chairs of the 12th Annual Victorian Tea will be Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Gilman and his wife, Amanda Gilman. The event chair will be Christie Smith, member of the Sojourner House board of directors and treasurer of the Sojourner House MOMS board. Kathy Slencak, Manager of Public Relations at CentiMark Corporation and CentiMark Foundation, is the recipient of the 2016 Pearl of Hope award. Brenda Waters, KDKA-TV News Anchor and Reporter, will emcee the event. The 12th Annual Victorian Tea will be held Sunday, April 10 at Pittsburgh's Grand Hall at the Priory. A social hour will take place from 1-2 p.m., and the event program runs from 2-4 p.m. If you have questions, would like to host a table, or would like to serve as a … [Read more...] about Dan and Amanda Gilman to serve as Victorian Tea Honorary Chairs
In 1995, tucked away in an office no larger than most bathrooms, and just four years after the organization’s founding, Gloria Brown began her tenure with Sojourner House. Brown has been counting numbers her entire life. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Brown was what most would consider a “math wiz.” Originally studying to be a social work major, Brown always loved helping people. However, her skills in math led her to pursue a career in accounting. In 1972, Brown interned at an accounting firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Shortly after her internship, she returned to Alabama to marry her husband of 43 years, and the couple moved to Pittsburgh to start a life together. In the early stages of her career of Sojourner House, Brown was responsible for entering client information … [Read more...] about Gloria Brown Retires
Unseasonably soggy weather couldn't dampen Sankofa residents' resolve to get their hands a little dirty! As part of an ongoing community garden project, four raised beds were installed on a patch of grass beside Sankofa. The beds were lined with plastic and filled with soil to prepare for the first of many gardening days. Mothers and children weren't deterred by the cool rain and 8 a.m. start time. Before planting commenced, Whole Foods Market employee and expert gardener, Valerie Testa, educated the residents in basic gardening principles. Testa, a long-time gardener, helps run the Enright Park Community Garden in East Liberty with other Whole Foods volunteers. The seedlings Sankofa residents planted were home grown from seeds in one of Testa's own gardens. The garden was made possible … [Read more...] about Sowing Seeds of Hope
For children at Sojourner House MOMS, summer was packed with educational experiences. With field trips, science lessons, and creating their own works of art, the children at MOMS had a full itinerary. Days began with certified teachers arriving in the early morning to prepare lesson plans and activities. These teachers, provided thanks to the generous support of the Homeless Children's Education Fund, joined MOMS staff and volunteers in eagerly and passionately leading the camp. Daily enrichment activities spanned multiple educational disciplines. LabRatz science club performed science experiments each week and ArtExpressions allowed the campers to express themselves through their own creativity. Weekly educational field trips included adventures to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG … [Read more...] about Sojourner House MOMS Summer Camp 2015
rit·u·al (noun) 1. A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order. Seeing your drug dealer across the street; touching the bag of heroin he surreptitiously places in your palm; hearing the flick of the lighter as your finger rolls across the striker wheel; the bittersweet smell of tan powder cooking over a cheap metal spoon. The act of drug use is ritualistic in nature. The user participates in a specific series of actions, these actions often being the hardest habits to break. But the mothers of Sojourner House welcomed a new ritual into their lives, and left the old ones at the Sojourner House entrance. Sojourner House residents gather to observe rituals symbolizing their journey on the road to recovery. Led by … [Read more...] about Rites of Passage
Blue skies and sunshine greeted over 70 guests who gathered on May 6 to celebrate the grand opening of Sojourner House MOMS at Sankofa. Valerie McDonald-Roberts, Chief Urban Affairs Officer for Mayor Peduto's administration, cut the ribbon at the event, culminating three years of extensive planning and community support. Attendees included Joe Lagana and Bill Wolfe of the Homeless Children's Education Fund, Marge Petruska of The Heinz Endowments, Sylvia Fields of Eden Hall Foundation and numerous other community partners. Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Reginald Young, and Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Castor Binion, also attended. Additionally, Dr. Norma Raiff, founding executive director of Sojourner … [Read more...] about Sankofa Open House