Diverse + Connected Region

1. Visibility, recognition, and representation of positive diverse individuals, cultures, and values in leadership and positions of power.
2. Diverse, inclusive, affordable neighborhoods and communities.
3. World-class, multi-modal transportation infrastructure that supports and fosters community and regional connectivity.
4. Spaces and opportunities for all residents to engage in dialogue and action to address diversity, inclusion, social justice and racism.
5. Protection and support for immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, and other vulnerable populations.
6. Affordable accessible high-speed internet and leading-edge technology for all.

These are a few of the projects PUMP is actively involved in to make the Pittsburgh region a more vibrant, diverse, and connected place for all. Check out our community calendar for additional events and activities to get involved in these and other key regional issues.

1. Act 95 Retroactivity – PUMP joined 40+ organizations to urge Governor Wolf to apply Act 95, which ends the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for non-violent, non-motor vehicle related offenses, retroactively. In 2018, PUMP, as a Partner Organization of the Driven to Work Coalition, advocated for the passage Act 95, but the law currently does not apply to tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians whose licenses were suspended prior to its passage.
2. PUMPed to Run – PUMPed to Run is a weekday morning running group composed of residents of local homeless shelters and volunteer mentor runners. Through the leadership of PUMP staff and an Advisory Council, the program seeks to encourage sportsmanship and a team mentality to help set physical running goals, promote confidence, and encourage self-sufficiency.
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. 40 Under 40 Awards – Each year PUMP and Pittsburgh Magazine host the 40 Under 40 awards to acknowledge the accomplishments and positive impact of 40 excellent, diverse young people in the Pittsburgh region.
5. 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.
6. Steel City World Cup – PUMP, in collaboration with Pittsburgh Soccer in the Community, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Welcoming Pittsburgh, created and hosts the Steel City World Cup, which brings together the region’s global community for soccer and celebration.
7. Coro Pittsburgh MLK Leadership Awards – PUMP serves as a sponsor for the annual Coro Pittsburgh MLK Leadership Awards celebrating those in our community who make significant accomplishments towards the common good by modeling Dr. King’s inclusive approach to leadership.
8. All for All Summit – PUMP serves as a sponsor for the All for All Summit which convenes professionals to discuss immigrant integration in their work.
9. 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.
10. Welcoming Interactive + Welcoming Economies Convening (WIE) – PUMP is part of the local host committee for the 2019 Welcoming Interactive + Welcoming Economies Convening, which will take place in Pittsburgh from May 15-17, 2019. WIE is a national conference organized by Welcoming America and the WE Global Network that brings together more than 400 community leaders from across the US to address immigrant inclusion.
11. Fair Housing – PUMP is a member organization of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Task Force of the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations
12. Transit and Transportation – PUMP endorses the Regional Transportation Alliance’s Seven Principles for a Better Transportation Future through a letter of support that includes additional language about the importance of transportation equity. PUMP is also part of GoBurgh, a program of the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) that convenes communities, organizations, and business to work toward a sustainable and vibrant transit infrastructure.
13. Hate Crimes Legislation – PUMP supports Hate Crimes Expansion legislation that includes malicious intention against the actual or perceived mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity of another individual or group of individuals as part of the definition of hate crimes.
14. Anti-Discrimination Protections – PUMP supports the PA Fairness Act, which would extend anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.