Ghandi, King, and Lennon. All 3 men are my heroes and some of the most important men of the 20th Century. And they all believed in the ultimate power of Peace and Love. Peace and Love are the two most powerful forces in the Universe. If you believe in them with all your heart and soul you can do anything in the world. ANYTHING. They are not just some stoner hippie concept. And some look at Peace and Love as weakness. But they are the sword and shield God uses to conquer evil. And they are the only two things of any value you can take with you when you leave this mortal coil.

The very essence of The Pittsburgh Foundation strenghtens and promotes the concept and power of Peace and Love. And each of you at The Pittsburgh Foundation plays a very important part in making this happen. Each and every one of you should be proud that you commit to making Pittsburgh and the surrounding area a better place to live and grow.

I was so deeply touched to know my friends at The Pittsburgh Foundation wanted to know how my family and I are doing. We are OK. You have gladdened my soul and put a smile on my heart.

My wish for “yinz” all comes from Bob Dylan\’s Forever Young.

“May your hands always be busy”
“May your feet always be swift”
“May you have a strong Foundation”
“When the winds of changes shift”
May your heart always be joyful”
“May your song always be sung”
“And may you stay Forever Young”

Peace and Love, Brothers and Sisters of The Pittsburgh Foundation, Peace and Love

Recently I attended one of the most thought-provoking, engaging, and admittedly, at times disturbing conferences that I have in quite some time, if ever.  Over four days in early June, the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and Center on Race and Social Problems hosted several hundred attendees for its “Race in America: Restructuring Inequality”symposium at its Pittsburgh campus.  As I eagerly awaited what was sure to be a prophetic (and historic) account of Race, and the many forms of racism, in our country by Julian Bond the conference’s opening keynote speaker, I found myself pondering the title of the conference and engaging in self-reflection.

Not that I questioned the seemingly benign “Race in America” moniker, but what I found to be of interest was this notion of “inequality” and should this premise be accepted, how to go about the task of “restructuring” a condition that I believe resides in the very fabric of our country.  Needless to say Mr. Bond did not disappoint as he challenged our thinking and attitudes in stating “The racial picture has certainly improved in my lifetime.  Those who say race is history have it backwards; history is race.”  Many Americans, Black and White, view the election of President Obama as the end to race discrimination.  However, Mr. Bond views this historic election as the reawakening of racism in our country.

The next evening’s keynote address by Julianne Malveaux, focused on economic justice, or the lack of, and the dismal economic status of minorities especially African Americans.  Ms. Malveaux conceded that there is indeed a diversity movement afoot but “… diversity is not economic justice.”  In keeping with a primary goal of the conference, to solicit and offer solutions, she stressed that in order to counteract present day economic disparities, it is necessary to endorse policies that would reverse those of the past. 

In addition to these culminating perspectives by two of the world’s foremost authorities on race, the conference drew upon national and local experts who utilized data and evidence-based documentation to provide conversation (and solutions) on race disparities and inequalities regarding health care, education, criminal justice, housing and other issues.  For personal reasons, I have long considered myself as someone who proactively searches for opportunities to further my knowledge about race inequalities and promote activism for social justice; and was surprised that the stirring that I felt at the conclusion of many of the “workshops” wasn’t one of despair or hopelessness but one of pride and embarrassingly, complacency.  Complacency in the realization that there is so much more that I believe that I could be doing to further the conversation and the work in restructuring inequalities, and pride in the University of Pittsburgh for initiating this critical first step.

If there were any doubts regarding the undertaking of such an epic event, those reservations dissipated with the conference’s concluding panel that wrestled with the question: Does or should a post-racial America exist?  The assembled panel of experts evoked both cheers and boos from the filled-to-capacity auditorium.  As for me, the one thought that continued to echo in my mind was the fact that while I may be left with many more questions than answers, as a city, a region, and a nation, there remains much work to do and that the conversation must continue for the sake of us all. 

I invite you to continue the conversation here.  Share your thoughts and ideas on how we can keep a healthy and productive dialogue going in our community and overcome the complacency issue on race.

With the news of official approval for The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) to merge with the Pittsburgh Foundation, many constituents have wondered why a smaller foundation would want to become part of a larger foundation.

The answers are many. The benefits of the merger include shared resources, increased services for donors, staff and community partners as well as lower average administrative fees for CFWC donors, reduction of duplication and greater staff time in the community shaking the trees, not sitting behind the desks. Together, we are able to build better, stronger communities.

Aligning with a resource power-house like The Pittsburgh Foundation and its talented leaders will truly benefit Westmoreland County and expand both of our footprints to more effectively address community priorities that do not “stop at the county line.” Considering each foundation is keeping its original, unique identity and culture, the upside far outweighs the downside!

Thoughtful processes went into the planning of the merger with both foundations steadfast in the objective to preserve and promote local identity and control.

When the plan was announced in late April, I received dozens of communications expressing encouragement and support of this bold, groundbreaking move. Several Community Foundation executives have expressed interest in learning more about the process. One example was in an email from the Community Foundation of Greater Butler County, a small $1.2 million community foundation located in Andover, Kansas.

The Foundation’s President and CEO, Angie Baur, voiced support as we continue our process with the Pittsburgh Foundation and aptly remarked: “Knowing that this merger is setting an example for smaller community foundations is very rewarding. After all, isn’t that the true definition of a community foundation? Helping communities build up to reach their full potential.”

Private Foundations and regional funders have expressed support for our venture and are considering greater investment in Westmoreland County. Professional advisors are reacting positively and we are being invited into circles that we were normally overlooked. We are cautiously optimistic that The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County is “coming out” versus experiencing so-called “15 minutes of fame.”

And we are confident that this merger will make measurable impacts in Westmoreland and Alleghany communities, also benefiting similar, smaller community foundations nationwide as they consider exploring their options to merge or consolidate with regional foundations in their areas.

Four local foundations, including The Pittsburgh Foundation, have withdrawn a 60-day option negotiated with Duquesne University to suspend the sale of WDUQ Radio. The option was designed to serve as a “breathing space” to allow for comprehensive proposals to be researched and assimilated to safeguard the future of WDUQ.

The foundation group – also comprising my colleagues at The Heinz Endowments, the R.K. Mellon Foundation and a funder which chooses to remain anonymous – has determined that it has not progressed sufficiently with its detailed analysis, and that this would not be completed before the option expires on July 2.

However, The Pittsburgh Foundation emphasizes that while the option has been withdrawn, the foundation has not backed away from its interest in saving WDUQ as a vital public radio resource serving the broad Pittsburgh community.

Our view has not changed that WDUQ is a critical part of Pittsburgh’s media landscape. The purchase of the option period was designed to provide the community with time to assemble a credible bid for the station, and to give us and our partners the opportunity to develop a plan for its sustainability long-term.

We remain hopeful that an offer for WDUQ can be developed by our community that we can support and that is acceptable to Duquesne University or that an alternative solution can be found to ensure the strengthening and long term future of the radio station.

The Pittsburgh Foundation and its funding partners moved to negotiate the 60-day option with Duquesne University after two local bids had been rejected. We were concerned that the station might be sold to a party from outside Pittsburgh with a sectarian broadcasting agenda, effectively removing WDUQ as a community resource.

For the duration of the option, originally due to expire on July 2, Duquesne University agreed to suspend consideration of any offers for the station. Duquesne University was advised of our decision to withdraw our option, and has offered to refund part of the negotiated option fee.

We are extremely grateful to Duquesne University for firstly accommodating our desire for the option period and secondly understanding that we are unable to progress further with that option. This is not the end of the road, and our communications with Duquesne remains open and cordial.

The Pittsburgh Foundation’s intervention on WDUQ comes as we and several other local foundations develop an initiative to strengthen public service journalism in the Pittsburgh region. Our group has been interested for some time in the broad question of how our community gets its news and information in the context of a rapidly changing media environment, and are exploring how to preserve and strengthen local journalism in our community.

Similar initiatives are taking place across the U.S. including the emergence of nonprofit web-based newspapers in locations such as Philadelphia, San Diego and Los Angeles.

The project forms part of one of the Foundation’s areas of grantmaking focus, to Foster a Vibrant Democracy.

Additional News Media Coverage:

Foundations withdraw option on WDUQ – Post-Gazette, June 9, 2010

Group out of option in WDUQ auction – Pittsburgh Tribune Review, June 9, 2010

In recent days, several people have emailed me urging The Pittsburgh Foundation to “save the jazz” on WDUQ, apparently out of concern that the four foundations that recently acted to forestall the station’s sale for 60 days are contemplating a new format oriented more to news and information. Their affection for jazz is clear, and I appreciated hearing about their concerns.

Unfortunately, though, at this stage their emails assume a level of control we don’t have right now. The more immediate challenge for all of us who care about the fate of DUQ is to “save the station,” to keep it as a true community asset working in the public interest. There is significant risk that this community could lose not only a programming format but everything currently associated with DUQ, including the NPR programming that makes it the most listened-to of Pittsburgh’s three primary public radio outlets and is the source of at least two-thirds of its public financial support.

The group of Pittsburgh foundations who have taken an option on the purchase of the station did so in the hope that our community would use this time to develop and put forward a credible, financially sustainable vision for purchasing the station and preserving it as a public asset. If there is to be any hope of saving DUQ, it lies in putting forth a proposal capable of attracting significant resources, at a time when the competition for scarce philanthropic dollars from whatever source, foundations or individuals, is as fierce as any time in recent memory.

It is true that the foundation group’s interest is particularly tied to the expanding role of public radio in providing essential news and information to communities such as ours. We are also mindful that top experts from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, and American Public Radio have all concluded that the presence of a news-and-information public station in Pittsburgh would strengthen not only DUQ but also WQED and WYEP, especially if they can find ways to work together.

What that would mean for jazz, whether it’s financially feasible, and whether it’s the best use of philanthropic dollars in these hard economic times, are just three of the issues our group of foundations is trying to sort out during this hiatus. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Public Media, a group led by the station’s current management, is working to build support for a proposal it has already submitted to the university. It is entirely possible that the two initiatives may eventually converge on a common vision, but whether they do or not, we applaud PPM’s efforts. We hope this time will allow the community to put its best ideas forward for saving DUQ.

As part of our effort, we hope to gather input from others in this community who care about the future of DUQ and of public radio in Pittsburgh. That input will inform our deliberations as we consider what role we might be able to play – if any – in saving the station, and with what sort of programming.

Your thoughts are welcome.