Soul Pitt Quarterly Magazine

This article was first published in Soul Pitt Quarterly Print Magazine (Summer 2024). Copyright Soul Pitt Media. All Rights Reserved.

Adams County, PA, is unlike anywhere I have ever lived, and in a positive way.  Yet more than a few friends ask: “Why are you there?”  My reply: “Because I married Bob (who is white), and he was here.”  Yet the reason why I have come to embrace this place I call home is even more profound: life was bringing me here. Yet everything is different from my norm.

I’m an African American woman in a primarily rural, majority-white, conservative part of Pennsylvania. Undoubtedly, this draws interest among curious friends. What is this yearning I have?  I build bridges, not walls.  Though I am here because of a marriage, I choose to stay here because my voice is different.  Yet, I am open to crossing the bridge to common ground. So, the bridges I built began by inviting local white women to our farm.  I hosted female authors and moderated discussions and Q&As, and we sold books. My guests were enveloped in a beautiful landscape, vegetable and herb gardens, historic structures, one registered as a Civil War Building, and healing spaces I created on the land, notably Serenity Grove. The magic happened, and I had a powerful sense of calm I never felt in my city life.  I had found my purpose without fear or doubt. Continue reading →

The nonprofit now provides much needed services to 6000 Latinos a year, up from 400 just four years ago.

Monica Ruiz, a half-Guatemalan American citizen fluent in Spanish, was born and raised in Cleveland. But when Pittsburghers tell her to “go back where you came from” –- an insult she hears weekly —they’re not talking about her returning to Cleveland.

Ruiz has a theory about why so many Pittsburghers are antagonistic towards her and the population that her organization, Casa San Jose, supports: They’re afraid.

“When the steel industry collapsed 50 years ago in Pittsburgh, the people who stayed here developed a scarcity mindset,” says Ruiz, executive director of Casa San Jose, a non-profit in Pittsburgh’s Beechview neighborhood that helps Latino newcomers acclimate to life in Western Pennsylvania.

“They wanted life to stay the way it was,” Ruiz explains, “and they’re still holding onto that identity.”

It’s ironic, given that Pittsburgh’s steel dynasty was built by a melting pot of immigrants. Today, newcomers from around the world are stirring that proverbial melting pot, creating anxiety among born-and-raised Pittsburghers that the city’s history will become forever changed and forgotten. Continue reading →

In the heart of Wilkinsburg stands Ethnan Temple, a vital hub for community engagement and youth empowerment in the neighborhood. Under the leadership of Pastor Jerome Hurst, Ethnan Temple has become more than just a place of worship, sparking widespread positive change through its dynamic outreach efforts and programs.

Pastor Jerome’s vision for Ethnan Temple extends far beyond the confines of traditional religious activities. He envisions a community where every young person has access to resources and opportunities that empower them to thrive. “Our goal is to create a supportive environment where young people can learn, grow, and realize their full potential,” says Pastor Jerome. Continue reading →

Sustainable is the new trend coming from designer houses. Fashion Designers, internationally and locally, are paying attention to our planet’s climate crisis with their choices in where they gather fabric pieces used in their collections.

Pittsburgher Imani Batts of Catherine Trendz LLC is a fashion designer who produces high-quality, stylish, eco-friendly, and ethically made clothing. She is curating a Black History Month event, “GRWM Runway Experience,” on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The event will take place at Velum Fermentation on the South Side. Before we dive into this unique fashion event, let us get to know Imani—

Imani was born and raised in the West Mifflin/Homestead and studied Fashion Merchandising at IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania). She also completed an international study at the Florence University of Arts in Florence, Italy. “I feel my international studies are what pushed me to confirm I wanted to do something in fashion.” During her international studies, she held an internship position in Florence as an Assistant Director. Continue reading →

In a heartwarming display of community engagement and generosity, Pittsburgh Steeler, Levi Wallace in collaboration with his charitable organization, the Levifoundation39, recently made a significant contribution to the community. The cornerback donated playground equipment to the Kidsville Learning Center in the Bloomfield/Garfield neighborhood. The gesture highlights the positive impact athletes can have off the field.

When Kidsville’s assistant director, Michele Hurtt, got the phone call, she was in disbelief. “I thought it was a joke. I thought, are you serious? I wanted to know how they found us, why they chose us.” Hurtt said that the center remains amazed by the generous act and deeply appreciate the gesture. But it got better, not only did Wallace personally deliver the equipment himself, he came back the next day with his team mates to put everything together. “We were completely surprised that he offered to come back with team members to assemble the play yard equipment,” Hurtt said. Armed with their own tools, Wallace was joined by strong safety, Elijah Riley, cornerback, Luq Barcoo, free safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and free safety, Tre Norwood. Working together, the Steelers defense players had the play yard toys up and ready in no time. Continue reading →

Keystone Inn owners, left to right: Stephen, Christine, and Patrick

Gettysburg, the county seat of Adams County, is 39 miles from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital city. US News & World Report voted Gettysburg one of the best small towns in America, attracting nearly one million visitors yearly. Within convenient driving distance from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, Gettysburg is a significant draw for destination travelers. Numerous cultural attractions tell a story that could appeal to African Americans. The Battle of Gettysburg is one. Many African Americans have yet to learn the complete story of this bloodiest battle on American soil. The Union army’s defeat of the Confederates weakened them, which was pivotal to the Confederates subsequently losing the Civil War and slavery’s end. The Thirteenth Amendment emancipated all enslaved people, wherever they were in the country, resulting in freedom for nearly four million people of African descent. Know our history. Know our story. Continue reading →