University of Pittsburgh Office of Engagement and Community Affairs

10/15/2026

Introducing Greg Griffith as our new director of Community Affairs! Greg is a nonprofit executive, organizational strategist, applied researcher, and U.S. Navy Veteran. Over the course of his career, he has worked across nonprofit leadership, higher education, and public health, building programs, strengthening operations, and deepening community engagement along the way.

Please join us in welcoming Greg to the ECA team!

10/14/2026

Pitt faculty and staff kicked off October with care. 💙💛 On Oct. 2, about 100 volunteers logged around 400 collective hours of service in our neighborhoods for the Day of Caring. Thank you to everyone who spent their Friday lending a hand to our communities!

10/12/2026

Join the Dick Thornburgh Forum for Law & Public Policy on Thursday, October 22 at 12:30 p.m. for the next installment of Reshaping Government: Possibilities and Perils. David Thornburgh and Paul Supowitz will host a conversation with Jennifer Morrell and Harry Black on “Election Integrity in 2026: Facts, Myths, and the Fight for Trust.”

Learn more: https://www.thornburghforum.pitt.edu/election-integrity-2026-facts-myths-and-fight-trust

Register now: https://pittforms.tfaforms.net/424615

10/06/2026

The Pitt United Way Campaign is back! Join us for another incredible year of giving—whether with your time, energy, or resources—to help make a difference in the lives of our neighbors. Make your pledge now and find ways to get involved at unitedway.pitt.edu. 💙💛

10/01/2026

Save the date! The 2027 Community Engaged Scholarship Forum takes place March 2, 2027 >> www.cesf.pitt.edu/2027

The ethos of community-engaged research and teaching have always been rooted in co-creation and community voice. CESF 2027: Rooted in Practice asks what it takes to honor that ethos structurally, by designing institutions as genuine knowledge partners, embedding community knowledge into lasting roles that sustain our work long after the grant cycle ends.

AWARD NOMINATIONS AND POSTER PROPOSALS ARE OPEN!
In addition to hosting workshops and poster sessions, the forum also serves as the venue to honor projects with awards including the Partnerships of Distinction, the Soska and Wilds Outreach and Engagement Leadership and the CESF Collaboration Champion awards. Submit an award nomination or poster proposal today! www.cesf.pitt.edu/2027

09/29/2026

Introducing Jim Griffin as ECA's new senior director of Strategic Initiatives! In this role, Jim (or, Griff, as he often goes by) will advance partnerships that connect Pitt with our valued neighbors and collaborators. His career includes a wide variety of advising and administrating roles in support of non-profit organizations. Griff joined the University in 2019, previously serving in the Dietrich School.

Please join us in welcoming Griff to the ECA team!

09/29/2026

Final block party of the season! Join us from 5-7pm at Dan Marino Field. Let’s party, South Oakland! 🎉

Fall term, meet Be A Good Neighbor Block Party season. 🤝🎉 Join us throughout Oakland every Tuesday in September for fun, food, and community. All are welcome; parties take place rain or shine! ☀️

Save the date(s) and find more info at www.community.pitt.edu/2026blockparties

09/28/2026

Last call for Pitt faculty and staff to sign up to volunteer! The Day of Caring takes place this Friday, Oct. 2. Join us for a day of giving back and engaging with community partners who would benefit from extra help. Sign up to volunteer by Sept. 30 by visiting www.community.pitt.edu/2026dayofcaring

09/24/2026

The Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program (GNEP) is more than just a collection of programming; it's intentional and thoughtful educational support and relationship building--from the young people that participate to the Pitt student tutors that build lesson plans and creative projects.

Last month, we brought together our student tutors, local school leaders, colleagues, GNEP staff, and Pitt Trustee and program namesake John Gismondi to kick off a new and exciting year of GNEP programming and to formally launch our new initiative, the Gismondi Education Corps.

The Corps serves to strengthen our Pitt student workers by offering personal and professional development, networking and career opportunities, and activities that help student workers build relationships with one another.

Thank you to for leading an incredible keynote and to all of our partners and friends who were able to attend.

Learn more about the Gismondi Education Corps, and GNEP, via Pittwire: https://pitt.ly/4yxdEhL

09/23/2026

Introducing Morgan Overton as our new director of the Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment! Morgan is a fifth-generation Pittsburgher who has built a career focusing on strengthening communities and creating more responsive and people-centered systems. She is also an accomplished multidisciplinary visual artist whose work has been exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally.

Join us in welcoming Morgan to the ECA and Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment team!