East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) changes the lives of people facing the impacts of poverty. EECM was founded in 1970 as a collective response to changes in the East End community when local faith communities recognized the troubles of the community were too great for any one of them to address alone.
Through our three core programs — Community Food Services, Children and Youth Services, and Housing and Employment Services – we offer the following to a diverse group of people in the East End of Pittsburgh and beyond:
* Free meals and groceries for those struggling with food insecurity;
* Securing permanent housing for those who are experiencing homelessness;
* Case management for individuals/families struggling with poverty, addiction, and mental health issues;
* Education and training for those with barriers to employment;
* Mentoring to help urban children/youth succeed in school, make healthy decisions, explore new interests, and value themselves.
The Black Women’s Policy Center (BWPC) now houses the Black Women’s Policy Agenda, which they launched in 2020 to build collective power among Black women, advocate for their needs, and advance policy to achieve racial and gender justice. In May 2022, a report of BWPC’s survey and focus group findings was released and has guided the development of their policy agenda and services provided through the BWPC. The mission of the BWPC is to improve the lives of Black women by providing a place of refuge and support through advocacy, navigating systems, accessing resources, training, education as well as policy development and change.
Eden’s Farm exists to provide a safe place, trauma-informed holistic care and resources to survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. They strive to provide education, through outreach efforts and work towards building solid partnerships with existing organizations in order to create a cohesive united community.
DEMASKUS Theatre Collective (fiscally sponsored by New Sun Rising) Pushes through traditional boundaries of the arts by developing unique masterpieces that marry the history, passion, and soul of untold stories with high production values. Amplifying the histories, expressions, and cultures of overlooked societies. They firmly believe in the power of storytelling to bridge communities, spark dialogue, and bring about social change. By excavating what is unique and atypical, they strive to challenge the status quo and push artistic boundaries, providing thought-provoking experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire.
Featured photo credit: Marilyn Barner Anselmi’s “You Wouldn’t Expect,” August Wilson Theater, 2016. Photo by: Martha Rial
Royally Fit’s mission is to support community members as they strive to be fit in every aspect of wellness. They do so by facilitating health screenings, wellness workshops, providing education, treatment and continued care resources in a mobile manner specifically for disproportionately disadvantaged communities. Royally Fit advocates for the equitable availability of mental, emotional, physical, nutritional, and financial health services for allE. Royally Fit is a community-based holistic healthcare organization seeking to aid Pittsburgh in becoming Pennsylvania’s first food secure city.
PeoplesHub (fiscally sponsored by Social Good Fund) is an online movement school that connects groups and individuals across geographies to build strong, resilient and transformative movements. PeoplesHub is founded on the belief that change becomes possible when those closest to the problem work together to build power and identify solutions. We draw on traditions of popular education and grassroots organizing to illuminate the knowledge already held within people and groups. Our unique online training style reflects our values of radical hospitality, disability justice and language access. By creating vibrant spaces for learning and cross-pollination, and working with others to develop their skills for online training and facilitation, we aim to overcome some of the barriers that get in the way of creating inclusive and successful movements.
Sibyls Shrine, fiscally sponsored by the Office of Public Art, uplifts Black artists who m/other with opportunities for radical care, rest, and support in an effort to further develop their craft and presence in the art world.
The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) is a non-partisan collaborative with agency, organization and religious leaders and committed individuals in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region who seek to build economic and social power and influence in and for the region’s African American community. Among B-PEP’s projects are: Civic Engagement; the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence which focuses on the reduction of violence in the African American community; and, the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable which seeks higher levels of inclusion and diversity for people of color in all areas of employment, business ownership and development.
Established in 2018 after a traumatic birth experience, The Birthing Hut (fiscally sponsored by New Sun Rising) is a perinatal health community resource that offers doula services, birth education classes, collaborations with local organizations, and doula training and mentorship cohorts that have successfully trained 16 birth workers. The Birthing Hut’s mission is to fortify the Pittsburgh birth professional workforce by providing intensive training, certification, and mentorship. Their ultimate goal is to guarantee that only competent, knowledgeable, and highly skilled doulas are accessible to collaborate with hospital providers and support birthing families.
World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh convenes and connects people around global issues to build a thriving, competitive, and inclusive Pittsburgh. Ultimately, their vision is to create a globally minded and globally connected world that is equitable and just for all.
