Active + Engaged Residents

1. Policies, programs, and initiatives that help voters become more engaged and knowledgeable.
2. Opportunities to engage with elected officials and influence public policy.
3. Equitable legislative districts that fairly represent all voting populations.

These are a few of the projects PUMP is actively involved in to ensure the Pittsburgh region has active, engaged residents. Check out our community calendar for additional events and activities to get involved in these and other key regional issues.

1. Pittsburgh Parks for All – PUMP supported the “Pittsburgh Parks for All” referendum that passed in November 2019 to create a parks trust fund and provide equitable, sustained, and critically important investments in parks across all of our neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh. We remain committed to ensuring the fund is used to equitably support maintenance, rehabilitation, capital projects, and programming in the parks so that every person, in every neighborhood, can have access to safe recreational spaces and activities.
2. End Gerrymandering in PA – PUMP supports Pennsylvania legislation to establish an independent commission to draw legislative and congressional districts that are representative and equitable. PUMP is an Endorsing Organization of Fair Districts PA. PUMP is also a Steering Committee Organization for Draw the Lines PA, a statewide civic engagement and education initiative that empowers people to draw their own district maps for statewide mapping competitions. The deadline for the Spring 2019 competition is May 31.
3. Census Complete Counts Committee – PUMP is a member of the Census Complete Counts Committee of Allegheny County, which is working to ensure that every person – especially historically under-counted populations – in Allegheny County is counted during the 2020 census. PUMP is part of the “Civic Fabric” subcommittee.
4. Allegheny County Children’s Fund – PUMP was a Steering Committee organization for Our kids. Our commitment., which in 2018 advocated for the Allegheny County Children’s Fund, a ballot initiative to support programs proven to ensure the wellbeing of kids: early childhood learning, after school programs, and nutritious meals. Although it did not pass, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald convened a working group to examine the possible creation of a children’s fund. The working group’s recommendations, which PUMP supports, are for a new county department for early learning and out-of-school time programming.
5. Kickball for a Cause – Kickball for a Cause is an annual event that raises funds and awareness for nonprofit and charitable organizations in the Pittsburgh region that align with PUMP’s advocacy efforts. People nominate and vote for the nonprofits, and PUMP highlights and raises funds for the chosen cause(s) leading up to and during the tournament.
6. Elected Official Forums – PUMP, in partnership with Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh, hosted a Town Hall with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald focused on the issues that matter most to young people in the Pittsburgh region.
7. Candidate Debates – PUMP, in partnership with Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh, presented a 2017 Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidate Forum focused on the issues that matter most to young people in Pittsburgh.
8. Ready to Run – PUMP continues to serve as a promotional sponsor for the Chatham University Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics Ready to Run campaign training for women program on an annual basis.
9. Civic Engagement – PUMP shares information about upcoming elections, voter registration deadlines, polling places prior to the major regional elections as well as details on how to run for office.
10. Community Calendar – PUMP maintains a Community Calendar with events and opportunities happening throughout the region that align with our work to help people get involved in the community. You can submit events to the calendar here.
11. Vote School Board First PGH – PUMP is a member of Vote School Board First PGH, a campaign to educate and engage voters around Pittsburgh School Board elections. In 2019, there were election in School Board Districts 2, 4, 6, and 8.