Soul Pitt Quarterly Magazine

By Diane I. Daniels

Photo by Diane I. Daniels
Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition members: State Legislator Jake Wheatley, City Councilman Reverend Ricky Burgess, City Councilman Daniel Lavelle, State Legislator Ed Gainey and County Councilman DeWitt Walton.

The results are in and the report is completed. Now what? Recently close to 100 people were on hand during the Pittsburgh Black Elected Officials Coalition Peace and Justice Initiative Policy Report Release Event awaiting results and ready to learn next steps.

According to State Representative Jake Wheatley and the four other PBEOC members; State Representative Ed Gainey, City Councilman Reverend Ricky Burgess, City Councilman Daniel Lavelle and County Councilman DeWitt Walton now that the phase one report is complete next steps is continued community involvement. “Your input is desired and is a necessary part of the process,” explained Wheatley. In order to move the agenda forward, the PBEOC is requesting that residents get involved by participating on one or more of the six identified committees. Areas include public safety, affordable housing, family outcomes, business and organization, education and employment. “It is time to be intentional about our work. We have fallen in an attitude of acceptance,” said Gainey. “We have to be on fire for change.”      Continue reading →

Greg Nash, Owner of “Prisoners of Iron” (POI)

     Sometimes it just takes a little push from someone else to get you in the direction that you need to go. That’s a belief that Johnstown native Greg Nash believes to be true. Nash’s fitness brand “Prisoners of Iron” (POI) has recently started a wave in the City of Johnstown, pushing individuals to put their best foot forward.

     “What once was just a cool logo has now turned into a movement,” Nash said. “Prisoners of Iron started as just a little gym group, from there, I had a real purpose and my purpose came about from not wanting to be a prisoner of the system. That’s what really drove me to lifting weights so much,” said Nash.

     Nash’s drive is what led him on this journey, but it is his desire for more that led to his following. Continue reading →

    Brenda Tate is a lifelong resident of the Hill District and a 40-year veteran of Pittsburgh law enforcement where she served in various capacities. These include, from foot patrol to the protection of three visiting Presidents and in 1998 she was the first African-American female assigned to a new unit – The Witness Protection Program.

     BT Community Consulting, LLC is her business, wherein she works with organizations to assist them build positive community relations, respond to safety needs and create effective partnerships with law enforcement. Continue reading →

African-Americans and other minorities have long been key constituents in election years. Our population, though small yet growing, has the power to literally change the direction and outcome of a potential victory—if we actually get out and vote. It is well known that the journey toward even having to right to have our voices heard was not one that was easy. For that reason, it is important that we not take what our ancestors had to fight and sometimes pay the ultimate price for, for granted. Continue reading →

     Exposed to entrepreneurship by his family, Kevin Jordan’s desire to own his business was inevitable. Internships at Duquesne University exposed him to Corporate America, he then realized he wanted to be the boss. “I had to learn the mechanics of running a business: the key aspects of assessing business risk, understanding supply and demand, target marketing, team building and raising capital gave me the ability and confidence I needed.” Continue reading →

Soul Pitt will be out in the streets this week pushin’ LOVE! Our Summer 2016 issue proudly Celebrates LOVE in a world that seems full of hate. We’ve got couples in love, events you’ll love and a lot more to love! So take a sneak peek inside and please spread this love around – Hey, maybe we can take this thing called love and PUSH IT!  http://bit.ly/PushLove

Soul Pitt Media staff would like to congratulate Ron Fisher on his 1st Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Vann award tonight for his Johnstown Spotlight Series featured in Soul Pitt Quarterly!!!
Awesome job Ron, we love you!