When I began CWLCreatives Inc, it was black businesses that first supported me. I just needed an opportunity, Grace and someone to believe in what I was trying to do. “For the love of Black Business” was an incredible event curated by two of the most powerful entrepreneurs in the city of Pittsburgh, @trendabelle and @milkysilky , who took the incredible opportunity to pour into local black businesses who have been making an impact and needing some support along the way.
It was an absolute privilege to document this evening and celebrate the continuation of black business!
#BlackBusiness #entrepreneurship #PittsburghBusinessMarket #Greenwood
This week, nearly 130 people gathered over 3 different days to signal the restart of the #pgh2050 comprehensive planning process. There were maps, maps, maps, maps, Maps we do adore……
There are still 12 more community meetings to attend to contribute to this phase! What corridors, business districts, residential areas do we transform, restore, strengthen, adapt, or stabilize? Still a lot of work to be done, and it’s getting more specific. If you joined us last year, continue to lend your voice! If we haven’t seen you, we would love to!
Cities that are grown up have a comp plan. Pittsburgh is finishing ours. #landuse #planning #urbanplanning #density
Click the link in bio for more info!!
Magic. The power of building something bigger than oneself. What a week I had last week. DJ D Nice played this song in the middle of the 15th celebration for the historic election of President Barack Obama. And everyone went crazy. His hope led me to that very moment. So many types of people coming together in Chicago! I was there to be in community with My Brothers Keeper communities— communities across the country that are documenting and working toward sustainable systems change efforts to support our young people of color across the nation. It was powerful, and movement building. This work gives me so much hope, and to know it was apart of my journey years ago and to still have some connection to it. It is surreal. And so real. I’m honored. I’m grateful. And the work is not done.
When my heart and my consulting collide 🤯❤️❤️❤️
I really wonder how much love I have to give. And then I look at my babies and it just feels endless. My Audre. She is 5 today, born on the same day as her Toot (Grandmother). She is my no nonsense child and will go to war for her siblings. Shes always ready to defend her people! I wonder where she gets that from.
I called myself waking up early to cook breakfast. I enlisted her older siblings to decorate the dining room just so we could ensure that she has some joy at the start of her day. Daddy came with the balloons and the Sephora (my girls love Sephora) and we all danced before school. Happy 5th Birthday, Audre!! More celebrations this weekend!
When I was 17, I got a thin envelope from Harvard.
Not a packet. A letter.
“We regret to inform you...”
I cried. Hard. It was the only school I wanted to attend. Top 10% of my graduating class of 800. IB diploma. 18 college credits earned in high school. And still, that thin envelope.
Fast forward to last week.
A Harvard professor, a Black woman from Chicago, trained architect, former Planning Director in Newark, whose firm authored Detroit’s comeback plan...asked me to present to mayors and city staff that were participants of the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Just City Fellowship, in collaboration with the US Conference of Mayors. I got to share about lessons learned when attempting to center community voice in an ever changing political context. The leadership required, and the stuff that is important to manage...
I had so much to get out. The conversation was rich. And by the end, the professor asked if she could use my slides.
Yall.
"Far from a Harvard student. just had the balls to do it”- Jay-Z
this was one of those full circle moments that only come a few times in a life...
I’ve been working through a lot lately. But the message that I am telling myself is:
“That thin envelope was just the beginning. You can stop carrying it.”
What a day. Staffing Jesse Jackson for 8 hours while working for the Office of the Mayor. This man told me stories, told the Mayor that I was bossy, all because I was trying to get him to a number of locations on time! Do you know how hard it was to make sure we didn’t miss our mark? He talked to everyone! And rightfully so. He was the Reverend!
He was in Pittsburgh urging City Council to support a Right to vote amendment to the constitution, so that every US citizen of legal voting age’s voting rights could be protected by the Constitution, given the rise in Voter ID efforts…
It was a day, that is so vivid in mind til this day. I met him in the lobby of the Omni William Penn. We went to City Hall, we got lunch, and we even stopped by the Steelers Practice facility. Before dropping him off at the airport, he took out a photo of him playing basketball against Marvin Gaye. And he signed it, “I won.”
Rest in Peace Rev. Jesse Jackson
As a small business owner, the one thing that has helped me most was support. Support for my first contract (shout out to Remake Learning and the Heinz Endowments), people speaking my name in rooms, and some grace trying to do a thing that I had no blueprint for. There were also number of times when I just needed a little bit of funds to expand my capacity, so that I could actually compete, i.e. to hire some help, get a researcher, for 20 hours or just to improve my web presence. I didn’t need to complete a bunch of paperwork requirements, and I didn’t need to prove my intentions. I just needed a check.
So since 2022, I’ve been doing what I can to share a bit here and a bit there to give to other businesses, individuals, and even students (you’ll hear more about that later) that just could use something to get where they are going.
This Black History Month, Common Cause Consultants, in collaboration with Emerald City Pittsburgh and the The Greenwood Plan is showing love to Black businesses in the Greater Pittsburgh region!
We are awarding 3 Black businesses mini-grants to do whatever they need to with them! These businesses attended Greenwood Week last year to grow their business, and for that energy and initiative, they’re going to get a little more.
We’re also gifting them a three-month membership to Emerald City!
Join us in person for a mixer as we toast to Black Businesses!
Feb 12th
5:30-7:30pm
Link in bio to RSVP! #smallbuisness #blackhistorymonth❤️🖤💚 #bhm #pittsburgh
Just wanted to show yall photos of Pittsburghers doing what they do, engaging civically. In every corner of the city, they have come to not just discuss their neighborhood, to dream about the city that they want. Their voices have been recorded. They’ve shared tradeoffs that they are willing to make to support and protect Pittsburghers. The leadership exhibited from residents, civic groups, churches, coaches, and neighbors from all walks of life that want more than what they have at this moment. Shoutout to Pittsburghers for continuing to lend your voice to the Pittsburgh 2050 comprehensive plan. You all are the MVPs of the moment.
Photos include the public launch where 300 people attended.
June public forum 100+
July and August Workshops 200 people
October and November Workshops 300+ folks
The team was on the ground in the summer engaging! During Slappers and Bangers for example , there were clipboards on the ground and people were taking the survey in real time. We got 150+ survey responses during slappers and bangers….
#pgh2050plan #communityengagement
Great conversation at @aiapgh yesterday with members of the design community!
How do we design a city that creates a thriving future for ALL Pittsburghers?
This is the question driving #Pittsburgh2050 — and we need architects, designers, and creative thinkers at the table during the next phase of this process where we answer,
“How can we turn vision into implementation?”
“What might we adjust to grow the city!”
More virtual + in-person workshop options dropping soon!
Your expertise matters. Join us → link in bio!!!!
#Pittsburgh2050 #UrbanDesign #CommunityPlanning #PGH #AIAPittsburgh #InclusiveDesign #FutureOfCities #pgh2050
We can grow AND protect who’s here. Growth without displacement.
22,000+ vacant parcels. A city people want to call home. Communities that refuse to be erased.
We heard from thousands of Pittsburghers who said: we can welcome new neighbors AND protect longtime residents. Both. Not either/or.
Now comes the hard part: designing how we get there.
Calling developers, business leaders, and residents: Join our scenario planning workshops to transform this vision into reality.
How do we grow population while making Pittsburgh a place where EVERYONE can prosper?
Register now! Link in bio!
#Pittsburgh2050 #InclusiveGrowth #CommunityPlanning #PGH
Shoutout to Cherrell Fulton, Muffy Mendoza and Alyssa P. Lyon sharing the highs and the lows of engagement in the Pgh2050 comprehensive planning process. Cherrell was 1 of 20 chosen out of 300 applicants to advise on this process.
She brings up an interesting point, communities have been planning, and are asking, “what has happened with my neighborhood plan?! We have come to the table and we want to know where is the work? Who is taking ownership of delivering on that work already?”
Additionally, she highlights housing, transit access, and the barriers that parents face in the region.
Check out the full episode in the bio!
This process includes community, government leaders, philanthropy, the design community and development, all working toward the goal of growth for the City of Pittsburgh.
Have questions about the process, ask one of them! Or go to pgh2050.com. It’s all there!
Hope to see y’all in October at one of the workshops and our conversation on scenarios for growth in Pittsburgh!
#cityplanning #comprehensiveplan #pgh2050 #pittsburgh
