Project Summary

Young people rarely play a role in planning the cities in which they will live and work; nor is it usual for kids from low-income and wealthy communities to imagine their city's future together. Adults will support a diverse group of teens in designing a new "green" public space for Pittsburgh.

About me

I have been passionate about the ability of art, books and beautiful spaces to lift the spirit and inspire hope since I was a young child. Now I am a published novelist and an experienced (and excellent) teacher, happy to be teaching in a university but looking to do more as well. When Denys and Terri from "Find the Rivers!" asked if I would like to offer workshops in the Hill, I jumped at the chance. Make It Your Own can help us substantially in developing our plan to involve kids in revitalizing their neighborhoods, and to do so in a way that also opens up the world for them and others, permanently. Denys is a community development consultant and facilitator, who has worked in the Hill over twenty years. He's white, but the residents know and trust him. Terri is a Pittsburgh local, a black woman well-known for her energy and ingenuity when faced with limited resources. They are important partners, because the residents no longer view them as outsiders. On the practical side, this year, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has joined "Find the Rivers!" as a partner and will take the lead in fundraising for the public space, and will help maintain it once built. We want to build our team to include a diverse group of young people as equal partners in the design of what we hope will be a significant new public space..