After nearly 12 years at the helm of Sojourner House, Executive Director Joann Cyganovich will retire on June 30. Sojourner House has experienced a stellar past decade-plus of growth, and an increasingly well-regarded reputation. Much of that can be attributed to Joann. Highlights of her tenure at Sojourner House include, but certainly aren't limited to: Spearheading the creation of MOMS Green. MOMS Green -- located between Hays and Black streets in East Liberty -- a play park and garden for the MOMS neighborhood created in 2010. The 18-month project transformed two blighted vacant lots into a safe, landscaped play space and garden area for Sojourner House MOMS families and the entire neighborhood to enjoy. Overseeing Sojourner House's 2012 acquisition and rehabilitation of … [Read more...] about Sojourner House Executive Director to Retire
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The Pennsylvania Treatment Alliance is a recently formed collaboration between three organizations focused on combating the opioid epidemic in Western Pennsylvania, with a specific emphasis on treatment for women and families. The Alliance is a combined effort between Sojourner House, which provides compassionate, faith-based addiction recovery services to women and their children; Family Links, an organization committed to building healthy communities by strengthening individuals and families through provision of comprehensive, quality services in matters including addiction; and POWER, whose mission is to help women reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction and to reduce the incidence of addiction in future generations. The trio of organizations has been working together for … [Read more...] about Sojourner House, Family Links and POWER Join Forces to form Pennsylvania Treatment Alliance, Combating The Opioid Epidemic
Please check out our new video! This video had its debut at the 14th Annual Victorian Tea. Sojourner House opened its doors to Chatham University's Words Without Walls program in 2012. During Words Without Walls, MFA students visit Sojourner House each week to teach creative writing. At the end of each semester, our residents present their work to the public during readings at local art galleries. Please watch the video to hear excerpts from the most recent Words Without Walls poetry reading. … [Read more...] about Words Without Walls Poetry Reading Video
Please check out our new video! A day in the life of the residents of Sojourner House and Sojourner House MOMS. This video had its debut at the 13th Annual Victorian Tea. To view more photos from the 2017 Victorian Tea, please visit our Facebook page and our twitter page @SojournerHousePA. Please feel free to share. … [Read more...] about Video of A Day in the Life at Sojourner House
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
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