janera solomon. Photo credit: Jill Farrar
The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (TIP), a workforce development program in Homewood that secures opportunities for men and women with significant barriers to employment, is pleased to announce that janera solomon has been elected as its new Board Chair at the December Board of Trustees meeting. She succeeds Ann Dugan.
“We are thrilled to have a leader like janera to help guide us as we grow our impact in the region. janera is a creative thinker who embodies TIP’s values and is passionate about building strong communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” said TIP Executive Director Donta Green.
janera solomon is a writer, producer, curator, and creative strategist based in Pittsburgh. She is recognized for her creative energy, wide breadth of experience, and transformative community leadership. For more than a decade, janera served as executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, a cultural anchor in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood, successfully managing its expansive growth by developing a wide range of programs to inspire and engage diverse audiences. janera is a provocateur known for her passionate commitment to creative and cultural expression as powerful tools for dialogue, collaboration, and social change.
In response to her new appointment, janera said, “It is an honor to serve the Trade Institute as Board member and now Chair. The Board is committed to TIP’s mission of supporting Pittsburghers facing significant barriers to employment. Along with our partners, TIP addresses a critical regional need and contributes to a vision for a Pittsburgh where everyone can find a path for personal and professional success.”
In addition to her Trade Institute Board service, janera currently serves as a Public Trustee of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and as a member of the Carnegie Museum of Art Advisory Board, where she chairs the Equity and Engagement Committee.
janera has a long-standing commitment to community service. She has also served on committees for Pittsburgh All in Cities Equitable Initiative and the county-wide immigrant inclusion initiative, All for All. In 2014, janera formed the August Wilson Center Recovery Committee to rescue the Center from bankruptcy and restore it to vibrancy.
janera has been widely recognized for her leadership, having received the following awards: Pittsburgh Business Times Women of Influence, Girl Scouts of SWPA Women of Distinction, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Women of Distinction, and the YWCA Racial Justice Award. janera was also named one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People in Pittsburgh.
Other Board decisions at the most recent meeting include naming David Jardini Vice Chair and approving a three-year strategic plan.
About the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh
The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh (TIP) is a workforce development program designed to empower men and women with significant barriers to employment through skill building and job opportunities. Since 2013, TIP has worked to help over 600 individuals earn living-wage jobs across the trades.
