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Hello Friends,
In my two years as Executive Director of The Pittsburgh Project, I have learned much about the nonprofit world and all the necessary pieces to make a nonprofit move—all the governance pieces: Bylaws, Board of Directors, and Articles of Incorporation. There has to be a need that you are meeting, the people, and a community to serve. Those things all lead to a mission and a vision. And, of course, there are all the logistical pieces of programs, space, funding, and supplies. Over the past few months, as I have been sharing these updates about The Pittsburgh Project with you all, I have talked about many of these pieces, and each piece is vital in its own way. One piece that can sometimes be forgotten is the staff and the leadership that makes up the team to make it all happen.
We have a great team at The Pittsburgh Project, many of whom have dedicated their lives to serving others. They care deeply for the people in our community, those directly impacted by our programs, our neighbors, and the broader Northside community. As I go through the daily grind, I can sometimes forget the gift that we have at The Pittsburgh Project: a staff that believes in the organization's mission and is willing to do the work to bring it to fruition.
Just a few weeks ago, I was reminded of how committed our staff are to sharing hope, empowering youth, and building community. For years, The Pittsburgh Project has been a part of The Pittsburgh Kids Network, a group of youth workers and youth pastors brought together by The Pittsburgh Kids Foundation to support one another in serving kids. The Pittsburgh Foundation has camps at Surf City during the summer and Laurelville during the fall, where kids leave their comfort zones, have fun, and learn about Jesus. The network meets monthly, and at the September meeting, 3 of the people on The Pittsburgh Project team were all honored for at least ten years of taking kids to Surf City. What a gift for the staff that I know works so hard on behalf of our kids to be honored for their excellent work and to be recognized in front of others.
This was one of those great times when the team's work was publicly acknowledged, which was great for me to see because we can often get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to celebrate those who are keeping the organization moving. It might be planning a late-night outreach for teens and driving all the students home at night's end or leading a volunteer group to help a neighbor clean out their home from a hoarding situation. Hosting a family for a repass while grieving after losing a loved one, assisting a program participant's parent to navigate the college application process. Stopping to pray for someone in need, allowing them to feel heard, and then offering whatever assistance they can give.
Some of the things named fall under the team's job descriptions, and some don't. And this is not me boasting about the team having unhealthy boundaries and stretching themselves too thin because we all know you can't pour from an empty cup. But I wanted to take the time in this message to share how grateful I am to work alongside such a fantastic team. To share our staff's dedication to the community we serve, their willingness to love others and walk with them through complex situations, and the hope they have and pass along to all who are a part of The Pittsburgh Project family!
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