At the University’s Community Engagement Center in Homewood, Pitt and community partners collaborate to offer programs in health and wellness, digital literacy, educational support, job seeking, small business and workforce development, civic engagement and more.

The center is part of Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments, an effort to build stronger communities and a stronger University based on long-term, place-based partnerships.

Since the CEC in Homewood celebrated its grand opening in October 2018, programs have been developed to engage children, adults, seniors and families in Homewood and other nearby neighborhoods. 

Among the center’s wide-ranging programming are visits to senior citizen centers where pharmacy students help seniors manage their medications, athletic coach-led programs that discuss healthy relationships with middle- and high-school male athletes, and a partnership that connects computer science students to community organizations that need tech support.

Getting engaged

“The CECs help faculty, staff and students get deeply involved in the community. They house dedicated staff who facilitate mutually beneficial, sustained collaborations between Pitt and community partners,” said Lina Dostilio, associate vice chancellor for community engagement in the Office of Community and Governmental Relations.

Dostilio leads sessions that give Pitt faculty and staff the opportunity to tour the CEC, meet staff and learn more about opportunities to get involved. Faculty and staff interested in learning more about how to become involved in community engagement can participate in one of three taking place this fall:

• Thursday, Oct. 17; 9:30-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 13; 1-2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 10; 11 a.m.-noon.

Participation at each session is limited to 30 people; register online. 

“These information sessions are an opportunity to explore what the CEC is and how it can support your work,” said Dostilio.