path to equity

2021 Impact Report

Image of Neighborhood Allies team members and partners wth Thomas Boyd, Sr., at the groundbreaking of Big Tom’s Barbershop’s new building in the Hill District.

expanding opportunity

This report reflects our progress, aspirations and values—as we look to the future of Neighborhood Allies’ efforts to lead reinvestment in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods—equitably, effectively, and efficiently ensuring that we foster neighborhoods of opportunity and social mobility, in service of our most vulnerable populations, and those most at risk of being systemically isolated and removed from economic opportunities.

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Letter from Leadership

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Our Work on the Ground

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Organizational Growth

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Financials

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Thank You

REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS

Our approach to neighborhood revitalization work is centered around co-creating resident-focused solutions that impact affordable housing, small businesses, and placemaking efforts. We believe genuine revitalization only occurs when both a geographic place and its people see positive change. We align resources that support 1) the physical built environment, 2) community-driven neighborhood culture and image and 3) small businesses. 

FOSTER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Our Economic Opportunity work addresses racial wealth equity. We continue to expand, providing more services to greater segments of the population, building long-term financial stability and pathways to opportunity. We also convene a wide variety of community practitioners, who share with us the needs and priorities of the people they serve. Our efforts enable and position families to take transformational actions and have access to the knowledge and support they need to achieve long-term, sustained financial well-being. 

BUILD CAPACITY
We recognize that societal and organizational problems are complex, which is why we work to address them creatively by building connections across our programs, as well as with external partners. By doing this, we help to build the skills and increase the know-how of community organizations and residents to do their best community-serving work. We aim to tackle problems from all angles by deploying our “complete capital model” that works to bring together financial, human, social, and intellectual assets in all of our work.
ADVANCE EQUITY
Picture of a lawn sign that says "Homewood" in the fashion of The Homewood Experience logo
The pandemic has highlighted and worsened deeply rooted and pervasive inequities in our community. While Neighborhood Allies always strives to foster a more just society, we have recently become more intentional about sharing our efforts with all of you. Over the past year and a half Neighborhood Allies has reflected on many things, including how we talk about our work and how we continue to center equity in all that we do.

working on the ground

Our North Star Goal is to expand our resources to Accelerate, Scale, and Sustain the work of our community partners to create healthy neighborhoods of opportunity in Pittsburgh. Specifically, we aim to move 100,000 low-income Pittsburghers up the socio-economic ladder over the next ten years. Here is a glimpse at the progress and impact Neighborhood Allies made in 2021.

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Revitalize Neighborhoods

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Foster Economic Opportunity

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Build Capacity

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Advance Equity

Small Businesses Supported

Dollars of Debt Reduced

Community Building Events Organized

People participating in resident-led projects

Dollars invested in Equitable Development Activities
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Organization-In-Residence

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Fund My Future PGH

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The Partnership Network

organizational growth

Neighborhood Allies stepped into 2021 with renewed optimism and purpose. This is due, in part, to recent successes that demonstrate not only the efficacy of our work, but the regional receptivity to our mission and vision.

organizational growth

Neighborhood Allies stepped into 2021 with renewed optimism and purpose. This is due, in part, to recent successes that demonstrate not only the efficacy of our work, but the regional receptivity to our mission and vision.

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Organization-In-Residence

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Fund My Future PGH

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The Partnership Network

Organization-in-Residence (OIR)

Less than a year in, the OIR model is already demonstrating its value and results – implementing many parallels to business incubators in the for-profit space.

Fund My Future PGH

Fund My Future officially became a part of the Neighborhood Allies suite of programs in 2021, joining our other Economic Empowerment Initiatives, the Financial Empowerment Center and Bank On Allegheny County. 

The Partnership Network

Over the brief five year history, The Partnership Network (TPN), has grown and evolved into a trust-based community of local nonprofits, focused on eliminating systemic inequalities through a more effective ecosystem of service delivery and resident empowerment.

FInancials

Since 2014, our investments have leveraged over $58 million of additional investment towards building Healthy Neighborhoods. In 2021, we grew our organization to $18 million in assets and awarded $1 million directly into neighborhoods through grants.

thank you to our funders

We are extremely grateful to our dedicated community partners and funders. Together, over the past seven years, we have propelled our neighborhoods and residents towards a better tomorrow. Thank you to the following organizations for providing the financial resources and partnerships that make our city healthier, safer, and stronger.

Anonymous Donor

Development Block Grant

2021 Neighborhood Allies Staff

Presley L. Gillespie, President & CEO

Stephanie Chernay, Chief Operating Officer

Violet Graham, Controller

Sarah Dieleman Perry, Director of Economic Opportunity

Talia DePasquale, Director of Communications and Storytelling

Shad Henderson, Director of Equity and Inclusion

Matt Madia, Director of Real Estate Services

Itha Cao, Director of Digital Inclusion and Innovation

Tamara Emswiler, Senior Program Manager for Social Impact Design

Demi Kolke, Senior Program Manager of Corridor Revitalization

Glenn Grayson Jr., Senior Program Manager for Neighborhood Development

Jael Jones, Senior Program Manager for Real Estate Services

Toni Corinealdi, Senior Program Manager of Empowerment and Outreach

DeOndra Parker, Operations and Program Support Manager

Ben Emswiler, Executive Assistant and Office Manager

Chelsea Contino, Communications and Outreach Program Manager

Javier Janik, Program Manager of Economic Opportunity

STEEL SMILING ORGANIZATION-IN-RESIDENCE STAFF

Julius Boatwright, Founder and Managing Director

Cait Lee, Operations Director

Robin M. Sheffey, Program Manager of Wellness Services

Neighborhood Allies
429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.471.3727
www.neighborhoodallies.org info@neighborhoodallies.org

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