There’s something awesome about home improvement shows that find houses and spaces that need some TLC, invest a bunch of love and energy in them, and restore them to the warm, fresh, welcoming gems they once were. It’s easy to get sucked into those programs and want to be part of a revitalization project—and that’s…

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Many adults struggle to find a way to be a positive light in this tense political climate, but Peyton Klein seems to know exactly what is needed: honest, real, open communication that encourages connections. Peyton’s determined to build bridges between people to expose our humanity…

Mr. Rogers once said in an interview: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am…

Toni Morrison. J.K. Rowling. Emily Dickinson. Maya Angelou. Harper Lee. Next in this list could be a young girl getting her writing start here in the Steel City with Girls Write Pittsburgh. Girls Write Pittsburgh is looking to build strength, skills, and self-awareness for teen girls using the power of the pen. Providing a safe, supportive, and stable…

Imagine that you’re listening to a podcast full of stories from everyone in a neighborhood, now imagine that those stories are set to dope beats, and now imagine that they’re full of poetry, singing, and rapping. Plus, it comes along with a zine full of lyrics, artwork, and pictures. Something like Storycorps, but you can…

Ian Neumaier explained the idea behind the Traveling Accessible Playground in his application: On the playground, what do inclusive groups of children, with and without disabilities, have to build together, throw at one another, and fight over? Often nothing. Ian’s organization, Find Some Flow, believes play and playfulness is for the masses. That attitude won…

We all have a favorite song whose lyrics are indelibly etched in our brains, but would you sing that song publicly and on the street? The Street Side Karaoke project, winner of Awesome Pittsburgh’s latest grant, seeks to find out. This is not your mama’s karaoke. Street Side Karaoke is served up with a twist:…

Awesome Pittsburgh trustees were immediately drawn to Josh Inklovich’s pilot project The Family Farm due to its very personal nature. Fifteen years ago, someone offered Josh a job after he was released from prison and for the past decade, he has worked to “pay it forward.” Upon realizing how unprepared many former inmates are to…