What's cooking in Pittsburgh!



Things are really busy this month at Sojourner House. Our Executive Director, Norma Raiff (pictured with me on the right), is retiring on June 30 after 13 years leading the organization. The last six months have been really busy doing an executive search to find and hire her replacement. I'm excited to say we made an offer to a wonderful candidate in late May, and the transition to the new leadership is in full swing.


Sojourner House is so much a part of my life these days. I was a member of the Succession Committee to work on the executive search; and earlier this month, I succeeded our Board President, Joanne LaRose, to become this year's president. This is a great honor as well as a great responsibility. I have a great heart for women who are recovering from addiction. Sojourner House is a small agency that helps women AND their children to recover from addiction. We not only provide apartments where the women can work their recovery program and have their children with them, but we stress that lasting recovery means relying on faith in God and loving people to hold you accountable instead of substitute drugs and medications. So this work is a passion as well as a calling for me. I believe I am here at this time for a reason!


The next few months continue to be busy as we complete Phase 2 construction of three additional apartment buildings in East Liberty's Negley Place adding 10 more housing units to the transitional housing side of the organization called Sojourner House MOMS. These units should be ready for occupancy in September, and there is a lot to be done in the next few months.


I'm also excited to be the Co-Chair with Michelle Reese of Nova Chemical (and a former board member) to plan a benefit called "Jazz Explosion at LeMont" for August 16, 2007. The evening features a full dinner at Pittsburgh's famous LeMont Restaurant on Mount Washington overlooking the beautiful skyline of the city. Our emcee is Tonia Caruso of WQED Multi-Media; and entertainment will be a jazz ensemble provided by George Heid and a quartet of local jazz musicians as well as a student group from CAPA. The evening will end with fireworks at PNC Park over the river against the backdrop of the city. Tickets will go on sale on the Sojourner House website in mid-June. This will be a great way to treat yourself or out of town guests to a fabulous look at life in our great city.


Of course, none of this will keep me from my visits to Columbus or welcoming people to Pittsburgh when they pass this way. So let us know if you're coming. There is so much to see and do here! We hope to see you. We also have the best baseball park in the National League and a wonderful children's museum.


I'm looking forward to a BEAUTIFUL summer!