About Me
Originally, I am from North Dakota! I came to Pittsburgh for grad school and never left. I had never been to Pittsburgh before I moved here and was transplanted directly into Homewood! Immediately, I felt a strong connection to the neighborhood because of the openness and welcoming attitude of the residents. I've worked in Homewood for the last 7 years and am now lucky enough to be a property owner of a vacant lot where I can continue to invest in the area that I love so much!
About The Project
Working in Homewood has allowed me the opportunity to hear first-hand what one of the most disenfranchised neighborhoods in the city desires to see in its future. Once you meet a resident who has lived in Homewood for decades, one of the first conversation topics will assuredly be about ‘the way Homewood used to be’ – the liveliness, the bustling businesses, and the sense of community.
Presently, Homewood does not have an outdoor community-friendly space to host various activities. Kenny’s will be a platform for these creatives to showcase their product, whether that be artwork, music, or classes for wellness.
The events schedule will reflect the residents’ vision for the site, including regular outdoor yoga classes, an art market, and a music showcase featuring musicians from the community and regional acts. We will also have annual signature events: a fundraiser, an open spoken word community day, and Cancers and Cookies - a summer birthday celebration. The site will also be available for usage by community members for activities such as family reunions, networking events and mixers, community days and cookouts, etc.
Bringing the residents’ vision to life and giving the neighborhood a positive, open atmosphere to promote health and wellness, arts and culture, and entrepreneurs and existing businesses will be a tremendous win for the community.
What We Need
The funding will be utilized to supplement some of the initial grading and landscaping work that will be required to prepare the lot for this season's activities. The site currently has gravel that will need to be removed, the area will need to be leveled, and then subsequent activities include general landscaping, such as planting grass will occur. The big push will be for the existing fence to be rebuilt. It is presently in a state of disrepair, so needs to be upgraded for the summer's activities!
Other Ways You Can Help
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