2019 marks the 15th annual Victorian Tea, an annual fundraiser event geared toward raising funds and awareness for Sojourner House. The annual high tea brings hundreds of mothers, daughters, fathers and sons to come enjoy tea and pastries and enjoyable entertainment and programming, and most importantly to help contribute money towards Sojourner House and their mission of providing rehabilitation, treatment, and housing for mothers and their children. Given the impacts of the opioid crisis on Western Pennsylvania, the organization is more important than ever. This year, our honorary co-chairs of the Victorian Tea bring a unique perspective because of first-hand experience working with Sojourner House. Harris Ferris has served as the executive director of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre … [Read more...] about Annual Victorian Tea Fundraiser Honorary Co-Chairs Janet and Harris Ferris are Strong Believers in the Importance of Sojourner House
Staff
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
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
Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania and the Center for Loving Kindness and Civic Engagement at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh hosted a community forum on Nov. 19 called “Hopeful Responses to Addiction,” geared toward addressing issues related to addiction in the Pittsburgh region. The event took place at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill. Approximately 50 guests listened to speakers representing a mixture of faith leaders from various local religious organizations, community experts on issues related to addiction, and first-person experts on the subject matter. The forum consisted of three main segments: defining addiction; the impact of addiction; and how to respond as a community. Two of the event’s speakers were people with connections to … [Read more...] about Sojourner House Among Proud Participants of “Hopeful Responses to Addiction” Community Forum
For someone who doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, Maelene Myers has been nothing short of a lighthouse in the East End community for more than two decades. And for Sojourner House MOMS, Myers has played a pivotal decision-making role forming and developing Sojourner House MOMS since it opened in 2004. As a matter of fact, Myers, who is Executive Director of East Liberty Development, Inc. has sat at the helm of the Sojourner House MOMS board as its president for a decade. She plans to step down from that role after next week’s MOMS board meeting adjourns. When asked why she has taken on Sojourner House MOMS as a decades-long project she holds close to her heart, Highland Park resident Myers said the following: “Providing safe and stable housing is very important during recovery. The … [Read more...] about Maelene Myers to be 2019 Pearl of Hope Recipient
Shadyside Presbyterian Church’s 25th annual Strawberry Festival, which took place on June 8 on the lawn of the church, was once again an evening full of great fun and great camaraderie. Proceeds from the event have benefited Sojourner House for the past eight years. Read all about the festival in the Summer 2018 of issue of Shady Ave magazine. … [Read more...] about 25th Annual Strawberry Festival