Banking Survey for Bloomfield-Garfield-Friendship Residents

If you banked at the PNC that recently closed at 5100 Penn Avenue (15224), there's still time to take a Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. survey about your banking needs. The BGC is actively working to bring a new financial institution to the avenue, but we need your input. Take a few minutes to fill out the survey, and be entered into a drawing to win VISA gift cards! Deadline: June 30, 2011.

Like Grandmother, Like Granddaughter

A story in the local section of the Post-Gazette this morning features Lauren Byrne, the new executive director of Lawrenceville United, and the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.'s own Aggie Brose, Lauren's grandmother and mentor. Read the story here. Lauren is also featured in the January issue of The Bulletin.

BGC in the News... Again

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation and the Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center got a nod in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review yesterday.

BGC Exec Director in the PG

Rick Swartz of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation made the news again.

BGC in the News

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation's executive director, Rick Swartz, was in the news yesterday; you can read about it here.

BGC Partners with PNC

Read about a new 6-year partnership between Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation and PNC Bank in a recent installment of Pop City.

New Website for BGC

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation has a brand-new website design! The redesign was made possible by generous grants from Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, Allegheny Valley Bank, and National City Bank. Visit us at www.bloomfield-garfield.org!

Great Job Opportunity

Title: Community Development Specialist
Salary: $38,000-$40,000 plus health and dental insurance
Start date: ASAP
Contact person: Rick Flanagan, Youth Development Director, 412.441.9833
Email resumes to: rflanag@aol.com
Reports to: BGC Youth Development Director
Position status: Exempt, management position

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation (BGC) is a nonprofit community organization based in the Garfield neighborhood whose mission is to better the social, economic and physical fabric of the Bloomfield, Garfield and Friendship neighborhoods by engaging and inspiring members of the community.

Job Description

Duties and Responsibilities:

This staff person will assist the Youth Development Director with all projects falling under Youth Development component of the BGC. The youth Development component is a complex component that requires a person that possesses strong management, writing and organizing skills as well as someone who is dynamic enough to respond to a wide variety of challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that participants in any of the Youth Development programs can be successful. This position will be assisting with:

· Organizing complex academic development issues for local youth education organizations;

· Coordinating youth employment programs;

· Developing networks on a variety of organizational and administrative levels;

· Managing and coordinating diverse community and neighborhood services;

· Coordinating assigned activities with key stakeholders in the community;

· Strengthening and building upon existing relationships with various foundation, nonprofit and for-profit entities;

· Analyzing situations accurately and recommending effective courses of action;

· Assisting with the development of project implementation schedules and/or timelines;

· Planning and organizing work tasks to meet schedules and/or timelines set for project implementation;

· Routinely monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of programmatic service delivery;

· Creating persuasive written and verbal proposals/reports; and

· Compiling and preparing reports, proposals, and other documents.

Qualifications: Requires a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related area with at least 4 years of experience in the field or in a related area; master’s degree in education, social work or public policy preferred. Additionally, it is expected that the successful candidates will:

· Have current driver license

· Possess strong written communication skills;

· Have access to a vehicle;

· Be willing to work a flexible schedule;

· Be computer literate; and have or will obtain both Act 33 and 34 clearances

BGC President in the Post-Gazette

The president of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation's Board of Directors, Jason Wilburn, was featured in a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week. You can read the article here.

Bloomfield-Garfield Corp. Featured in City Paper

The March 6 edition of Pittsburgh's City Paper features an article on some of the work of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and a nice photo of Deputy Director Aggie Brose:

Blight's Out
A Garfield community group is trying to get vacant property back on the tax rolls, no matter how long it takes
BY ADAM FLEMING

The house, like many in Garfield, is in bad shape. The paint is chipped. Bricks on the front porch are buckling under pressure. A web of dried vines climbs the left wall and sprawls across the roof. The railings are rusted, some of the windows punched out. The innards have been rummaged by anonymous vandals and scavengers.

But that's not what Chris St. Pierre sees when he looks at the Kincaid Street building. The 24-year-old painter sees room for solar panels and rainwater collectors. [read more]

Garfield in the News

The neighborhood of Garfield garnered a headline in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently - not for crime or gang activity or something else negative, but for graduating from the federal Weed and Seed program as a "turning around neighborhood." Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation's (BGC) own Aggie Brose is featured in the piece - you can read it here.

A Fabulous Martin Luther King Jr. Day Event!

About 150 people crowded the Bloomfield-Garfield Community Activity Center to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 21. Here are some photo highlights:

BGC President Grady Roberts Jr. greets Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who read an official proclamation.


The Dance & Drum Ensemble from Neighborhood Academy Arts Connection were a big hit.

Councilman Ricky Burgess, who represents District 9, gave the keynote address.

J & J Mime ended the program on a thrilling high note.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Event

Don't miss the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.'s 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration! This year's keynote speaker is Rev. Ricky Burgess, the new city Council member from District 9. Also in attendance will be Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, and Council members Patrick Dowd and Bill Peduto. There will be songs, speeches, and performances reflecting Dr. King's words and values, plus light refreshments. And it's all free!

Don't Miss The BGC Holiday Party!

BGC Fundraiser a Success

Last Friday, Nov. 16, approximately 125 community and business leaders turned out for the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation’s annual board fundraiser. This year’s event, a luncheon at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association (PAA) in Oakland, was called “Solving the Puzzle” and honored The Bank of New York Mellon for its 10-year financial commitment to creating economic, physical, and social change in Pittsburgh’s East End. The BGC also paid tribute to Jerry Dettore, former executive director of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, for his 38 years of public service. The event was made possible by generous donations from The Bank of New York Mellon, PNC Bank, National City Bank, Allegheny Valley Bank, UPMC, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

BGC board member Greg Heisler (left) and BGC founder Fr. Leo Henry chat in the PAA lobby.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Tonya Payne (left) enjoys the luncheon program with BGC board member Eileen Kratz Dobraus.

Guests of honor Rose Gabbianelli, Executive Vice President and Global Director, Public Affairs, The Bank of New York Mellon, and Jerry Dettore wait to make their remarks.

New Board for Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation elected a new board last night. Here's the 2007-2008 team:



Front row (from left): Jim Maloney, Freddie Croce, Grady Roberts Jr., Jennifer Quinio, Greg Heisler; second row (from left): Jason Wilburn, Tricia Stuckey, Eileen Kraus Dobratz, Bill Cornell; third row (from left) Gladys Williams, Brian Ritz, Kenya Boswell. Missing from the photo are Catherine Curry, P.J. Maloney, and Stan Ricketts.

The Mayor Comes to Garfield

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl held one of his neighborhood forums last night at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church in Garfield, outlining his accomplishments and agenda. Neighborhood folks got a brief chance to speak about what they like about their neighborhoods and what their concerns are. On hand were staff and board members from the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation.

Mayor Ravenstahl with BGC Board Member PJ Maloney of KQV Radio.

(from left) Matthew Galluzzo, Penn Avenue Arts District Manager; BGC Board Member Eileen Kraus-Dobratz; BGC Youth Development Director Rick Flanagan; and BGC Board Member PJ Maloney.

Broad Street Construction's Lookin' Good

On a hot day in late August, construction workers were busy at work on one of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation's new homes going up on Broad Street in Garfield.

Come Take a Seat at the Table!

As a Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Board Member, you can make a difference in your community!

If you’re interested in finding out more about the duties and responsibilities of being a BGC Board Member, then join us on Monday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Activity Center, 113 N. Pacific Avenue, for a special “Get Acquainted” session. Light refreshments will be served.

Young people, ages 21-35, are especially encouraged to attend!

Please RSVP to 412-441-6950 by noon on Friday, September 14, if you plan to attend. We hope to see you there!

Job Announcement

The Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation has a job opening for a Youth Employment Coordinator

The Youth Employment program coordinator will work in a team effort to stimulate change in the local workforce development system to better service young people ages 14-21. This staff person will case manage the youths in collaboration with the schools, social service providers, employers and others to create a coordinated and effective youth workforce system. This position reports to the Youth Development Director.

www.bloomfield-garfield.org/documents/WorkforceDptCoordinatorjobdescription.doc

DETAILS...