The Soul Pitt

We would like to thank everyone who has spoken up in support of and about their experience at Miller African Centered Academy, shared a video or a comment, spoken at or attended a rally or public hearing, videoed the work and used their platform, offered advice, a prayer or kind word. Together we have forced Dr. Wayne Walters to respond to the City’s passionate response to the reality that the Pittsburgh Public Schools is attempting to take African Centered Education (ACE) away from Pittsburgh as an option. His response actually proves our entire point as to why African Centered Education is necessary. This battle is far from won. Please join us! But let’s get right into why. There are many reasons why Dr. Walters’ letter has both angered and disappointed so many of us!

Dr. Walters is actively opposed and dismissive of the Black grassroots and broader popular struggle to determine what education must look like for Pittsburgh. The beginning of Dr. Walter’s letter demonstrates his disconnectedness from and disdain for the struggle to take Miller African Centered Academy off of the close list: “Over the past week, we have heard from several families and community members expressing concerns about the planned closure of Pittsburgh Miller.” Several?? Over the last week?? Who is Dr. Walters talking about? The campaign has been building for two months and included several media stories, more than 100K views and hundreds of positive comments and shares online. Just last week about seventy people gathered in front of MACA to rally for it to stay open. This past Monday night at the School Board’s General Public Hearing, an overwhelming number of the forty public speakers, many of whom were there speaking on other issues, spoke in support of keeping MACA open. No, it’s more than several families who have spoken to Dr. Walters. He is trying to undermine us all by acting like he doesn’t hear the growing public opposition to closing MACA, but we know he hears the outcry. Otherwise, he’d ignore us. When we fight, we win!

Dr. Walters’ letter speaks of ACE as a matter of belonging and pride and legacy, but this is not ACE’s main focus. ACE has its focus on the placing of children in a multi-millennia tradition and heritage of African civilization, contribution, achievement and struggle as well rooting them in a rich tradition of social values that prioritize fostering unity among students, families and community in order to serve and build the larger Black community. In addition, ACE will provide insight, rigor and best practices for the existing subjects in the curriculum to ensure alignment to principles and values. Black students will know that they are heirs to the subjects taught. Properly taught, ACE emerges from the historical struggle for Black empowerment and provides children with a method to see the world in African/Black people’s interests, a fact that Dr. Walters seems not to understand and does not appear to support, probably because Dr. Walters, like most, has been taught to uphold white supremacy and preservation. Continue reading →

~ The WPA (Pittsburgh) Juneteenth Celebration is now the largest in nation, per Placer.ai, seeing over 100,000 attendees from across the county ~

Greetings All,

This William B. Marshall, founder of Stop the Violence Pittsburgh (“STVP”) and since 2013, with various partners and donors, we have successfully produced various events and programs inside Allegheny County that has brought in thousands of out-of-town guests, and generated millions of dollars in economic income for southwestern PA.

The attached Report covers our economic impact for our small, minority business community during our 2026 Juneteenth Celebration and Pittsburgh Soul Food Festival events.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Before we talk about our 2026 Economic achievements, we have to acknowledge our major Partners and Donors of this year’s Arts & Culture, Healthcare, and Economic & Tourist programming.

PARTNERS

PA Senator Jay Costa, and Commonwealth of PA | PA State Rep Aerion Abney, and Commonwealth of PA | Allegheny Co. Executive Sara Innamorato, Main Streets Allegheny Co. Program | The Heinz Endowments | UPMC | Dollar Bank | Highmark Healthcare | The POISE Foundation Continue reading →

A major investment is giving new life to one of Pittsburgh’s most important Black historic sites. The National Opera House has been awarded a $1.75 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to continue the restoration and preservation of the historic property at 7101 Apple Street in Pittsburgh.

The house, located in the city’s Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood, was once the headquarters of the National Negro Opera Company and is recognized as the birthplace of classical jazz. It is also the only surviving building directly connected to the National Negro Opera Company, which was founded in 1941 by trailblazing arts leader Mary Cardwell Dawson.

The grant represents a significant investment in preserving one of the nation’s most important Black cultural landmarks. Funding will support the next two years of work, helping move the project beyond stabilization and into its next phase of restoration and activation.

“This grant is a powerful affirmation that this site matters, not only to Pittsburgh, but to the American story,” said Jonnet Solomon, Executive Director of the National Opera House. “Mary Cardwell Dawson built a national platform for Black opera singers at a time when the country tried to shut them out. Reconstructing this house is about protecting that legacy and returning it to public life.”  Continue reading →

Sometimes the smallest moments make the biggest difference.

If you’re 55+, you can become a Classroom Grandparent and help support children in local classrooms while earning a stipend and great benefits.

Your time, wisdom, and encouragement can change a child’s life.

Call today: 412-660-6841 or 412-660-7303
fostergrandparents.wfspa.org

The 13th Annual CEIR Conference returns with the powerful theme “Combating the Winds of Change — And Winning.” Join community leaders, corporate partners, and equity advocates on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 (12–4 PM) at CCAC’s Forrester Student Service Center in Pittsburgh for an impactful afternoon focused on equity, equality, and justice. Hear from dynamic presenters and explore real strategies for inclusion, engagement, and retention.
Registration is $20. REGISTER HERE.