March 22, 2021 by Katie Orr This year, Sojourner House celebrates its 30 year anniversary. In honor of this milestone, we will highlight pivotal figures and moments in Sojourner House’s esteemed history, throughout 2021. The first blog fittingly spotlights Sojourner House’s second executive director and MOMS creator, Norma Raiff. Raiff retired from her executive director role in 2007, but has remained a wonderful friend. As a matter of fact, she joined the MOMS board of directors in 2020. When did you start with Sojourner House? I became Executive Director in 1995. However, I (along with several women who had served on the Women’s Center and Shelter Board) had visited Sojourner earlier. What inspired you to be a part of the … [Read more...] about 30 Years of Sojourner House: An Interview with Norma Raiff
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By Lindsey HayakawaFeb. 17, 2021 In honor of Black History Month, Sojourner House will highlight inspirational female roles from black history, each week in February. Kara Walker is the third woman to be highlighted. Kara Walker is an American contemporary painter, silhouettist, print-maker, filmmaker, and installation artist. Walker was born in Stockton, CA, in 1969, but was raised in Atlanta, GA, from the age of 13. Walker received her BFA from the Atlanta College of Art in 1991, and received her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1994. The New York-based artist has shown her work in numerous exhibitions worldwide. Walker is acclaimed for her candid explorations of race, sexuality, gender, violence, and identity in her work. She is best known for her … [Read more...] about In honor of … Kara Walker
By Lindsey Hayakawa Feb. 10, 2021 In honor of Black History Month, Sojourner House will highlight inspirational female roles from black history, each week in February. Amanda Gorman is the second woman to be highlighted. Amanda Gorman is an American poet and activist. Gorman was born in Los Angeles, CA, in 1998. Gorman graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2020. At 16, she was named the Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. Gorman's work and activism focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization, as well as African dissolution. Gorman has written articles for the New York Times, and published one book, a poetry book titled The One for Whom Food is Not Enough in 2015. Gorman has two more books in the works, … [Read more...] about In honor of … Amanda Gorman
By Lindsey Hayakawa Jan. 25, 2021 Self-care. Work-life balance. Effective coping strategies. Addressing harassment. All of these are crucial topics to discuss. And that they were, during “Women & Workplace Wellness,” a recent virtual panel discussion hosted by Ola Jackson, owner of Onyx Women Network (OWN). The candid discussion, sponsored by Highmark and Allegheny Health Network, took place on Dec. 29. “Our Women and Workplace Zoom event was so badly needed at this time. It turned out to be one of the most successful online events that we had. The response great,” said Jackson. One of the panel participants: Sojourner House’s very own Executive Director, De’netta Benjamin-Miller. “De'netta Benjamin-Miller brought so much insight to … [Read more...] about Sojourner House Executive Director took part in Women & Workplace Wellness panel discussion
Bynums Marketing & Communications, Inc. and BCC Ministries Go Virtual With the 2020 Pittsburgh Circle of Courage Awards; Event Celebrates 10 Years of Honoring Persons of Faith and Courage Bynums Marketing & Communications, Inc. and BCC Ministries are pleased to present the Tenth Annual Pittsburgh Circle of Courage Awards scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2020, at 6:45 p.m. In sensitivity to the COVID-19 epidemic, this will be a virtual event. Awardees selected for this honor include individuals from various industries who have demonstrated faith and courage in their chosen field. This year’s awardees include: Micheline Barkley BUSINESS Mike Logan SPORTS De’netta Benjamin-Miller, LCSW SOCIAL SERVICES Pastor Eric L. Ewell, Sr. RELIGION Marlin D. … [Read more...] about Sojourner House Executive Director, De’netta Benjamin-Miller, receiving Pittsburgh Circle of Courage Award during virtual event on Aug. 21
Dear Friends of Sojourner House, One of the first objects that our clients, staff, volunteers, and guests see upon entering our building is a photo of great African-American preacher Sojourner Truth. As many of you know, our 29-year-old organization was named after Sojourner Truth who was nothing short of a heroine and a role model for all generations that have followed. Truth was born into slavery, but escaped to freedom in 1826. She gave herself the name Sojourner Truth in 1843 after she became convinced that God had called her to leave the city and go into the countryside "testifying the hope that was in her." During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit Black troops for the Union Army. An electrifying public speaker, Sojourner Truth committed her life to being a … [Read more...] about A Message For Social Justice