Advancing Ecnomic Mobility in Times of Uncertainty
2025 Impact Report
our impact
In 2025, we invested $6.2M into our neighborhoods and served residents through 15+ programs across 4 impact areas. By connecting people to the resources they need to create positive change in their neighborhoods, we have seen real results—we are improving the lives of thousands of Pittsburghers.
Advancing Economic Mobility in Times of Uncertainty
2025 Impact Report
our impact
In 2025, we invested $6.2M into our neighborhoods and served residents through 15+ programs across 4 impact areas. By connecting people to the resources they need to create positive change in their neighborhoods, we have seen real results—we are improving the lives of thousands of Pittsburghers.
Invested in Mental Health Services for Black Residents
Invested in Minority/Women-owned Businesses or Organizations (MWBE)
Unique Minority/Women-Owned Vendors Funded
Invested in RISE HIGH Grantee-Partners
Social Impact Design Workshops Hosted in Neighborhoods
Neighborhood Development | Stabilizing Pittsburgh Neighborhoods
In 2025, we:
Invested $393K and over 1,300 technical assistance hours into equitable real estate projects through pre-development grants, equity investments, and credit enhancements.
Supported 114 small businesses with funding, education, and technical assistance.
Leveraged an additional $6.63M dollars towards our partners’ real estate projects.
Hosted 25 Real Estate Co-Powerment Series sessions over two cohorts, resulting in 37 graduates with increased knowledge about the real estate development process, access to tools and partners, and post-cohort support such as project-level assistance.
Building Generational Wealth and Creating Community-Driven Development in the Hill District
For nearly 50 years, The Black Beauty Lounge has stood as a welcoming space where neighbors can gather, celebrate, and feel at home — a cornerstone of culture and connection in the Hill District.
In 2025, five decades after opening, owner Roberta “Ms. Bert” Cole Brassel, along with her three children – Tracy, Frank, and Kim – celebrated the reopening of the restaurant as the Black Beauty Bar & Grill following more than a year of renovations.
As a core partner, Neighborhood Allies:
- Granted a $25,000 predevelopment grant in July 2024.
- Assisted in managing the two grants they received from the Urban Redevelopment Authority, serving directly as administrator for a $39,000 outdoor dining grant.
- Assisted in early design concepts for a new outdoor patio and helped with navigating city permitting processes and in complying with structural and environmental guidelines. We also connected them to vetted contractors in our network.
- Contributed over 100 hours of technical assistance over the course of the project, providing both administrative and on-the-ground support.
“I’m so grateful to Neighborhood Allies and to God. And to all the prayers that people gave me for this.”
As summer 2026 approaches, the community is excited to utilize the restaurant’s new outdoor patio for its first full outdoor dining season! Additionally, Black Beauty Lounge will also soon begin the process of renovating the second floor of their building to create several residential units. The Brassel family continues to stay connected to Neighborhood Allies’ resources through recent offerings such as our free small business workshops series.
Economic Mobility | Building Wealth
In 2025, we:
Served 383 clients over 2,216 counseling sessions through the Allegheny County Financial Empowerment Center (FEC), helping them to reach 1,000 significant outcomes such as improved credit scores, decreased debt, or increased savings.
Enrolled 313 new participants in Fund My Future PGH, a children’s savings program that encourages saving for the future.
Hosted 54 financial education sessions, equaling 955 hours of financial technical assistance, through our programming.
Launched two new programs: Fund My Future Academy, a program designed to support parents’ and guardians’ plan for their children’s futures after high school; and Getting Good With Money, a free financial education cohort inspired by the voices and experiences of Black and Brown women in Pittsburgh who are seeking tools to build stronger financial futures.
Expanded our Bank On programming to the Allegheny County Jail, helping participants who are preparing for re-entry to access safe bank accounts and financial education.
A Fresh Start: How Bank On Allegheny County Helps Returning Citizens Rebuild Their Financial Future
In May of 2025, Neighborhood Allies expanded our Bank On Allegheny County initiative—an effort designed to help unbanked and underbanked residents access safe, affordable checking accounts and build long-term financial stability—into a new and critical setting: the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ).
Through a partnership with ACJ and First Commonwealth Bank, participants who are preparing to re-enter the community can now take part in a 6-week, 12-session financial education cohort. The curriculum covers core topics like budgeting, credit building, debt repair, and even entrepreneurship. What makes this program unique is that all classes are taught by front-line bank staff—branch managers, relationship bankers, and other professionals who show up week after week to build trust, answer questions, and help residents envision a different financial future.
In 2025, 40 individuals completed the course.
One participant, who had recently completed the financial education classes, was released with the standard amount of $50 in cash and a check for the remaining balance of his commissary account. As part of the standard release process, the clerk asked if he had a way to cash his check. His response carried a confidence—and a sense of hope—that many returning citizens do not get to experience.
He proudly shared that thanks to the banking classes offered at ACJ, he now knew exactly what to do. He planned to visit Stephanie, one of the bank employees who taught his class, first thing that morning to open his first-ever bank account.
Image of Javier Janik, Senior Program Manager of Economic Opportunity and Investment, presenting about our new integration at the annual national Bank On conference.
He couldn’t stop talking about how the program— and the people running it—had given him the tools and encouragement he needed. He said he felt grateful.
With a trusted banking partner at the table and ACJ leadership committed to innovation, we’re removing real barriers that have historically kept people disconnected from mainstream financial systems.
Mental Health | Community Healing
In 2025, Steel Smiling:
Secured a two-year, $600,000 investment from the Hillman Foundation that will ensure the growth and stability of core initiatives, Beams to Bridges and Steel Healing, as well as help to launch Wellspring, a Black Mental Health Ecosystem Asset Map.
Received the award for Organization of the Year at the 6th Annual Social Worker Appreciation of Greatness Awards for their leadership in expanding access to culturally responsive mental-health support and training Black mental-health advocates through their signature programs.
Received the Community Service Award from the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace for their work supporting the Community Violence Reduction Initiative Wellness Project, in partnership with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.
Launched and completed the 5th cohort of Beams to Bridges in partnership with Macedonia FACE, serving 15 Black elder residents connected to the Hill District.
Increased capacity by adding team members and transitioning other staff to new positions.
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Julius Boatwright transitioned from Managing Director to Founder Emeritus, while Courtney Abegunde was appointed Managing Director beginning in early 2026.
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Jamilah Lahijuddin and Shawn Thomas joined the team as Program Coordinator for Wellspring and Program Manager of Steel Healing, respectively.
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Meleak Potter and Cheyenne Campbell also transitioned from their fellowships into their roles as Program Coordinator of Beams to Bridges and Program Coordinator of Steel Healing.
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Steel Smiling Celebrates 10 Years of Impact
On December 11, 2025, Steel Smiling celebrated 10 years of impact by bringing together community members, partners, and supporters to honor a decade of healing, advocacy, and relationship-building.
Check out some photos of the evening below!
Impact-driven Partnerships | Driving Systems Change
In 2025, we:
Provided over 2,800 hours of custom advisory services across our programs. This includes everything from technical assistance hours for our real estate clients and partners, to hours of financial education and account opening services.
Gained or maintained 34 partnerships through Fund My Future PGH.
Provided 269 professional development technical assistance hours to Steel Smiling, our Organization-In-Residence.
Held or participated in 84 partnership convenings or events.
Released our first policy position paper, Capital for Community Growth, advancing alignment across policy, funding, and community development priorities.
Advanced Digital Inclusion efforts by delivering digital skills classes and convening 36 cross-sector leaders for Pittsburgh’s first Digital Divide Simulation.
In 2025, we invested 75,000 into 5 RISE HIGH Grantee-Partners.
We were thrilled to invest in five RISE HIGH Grantee-Partners with $15,000 Growth Grants and a commitment to continued partnership that fuels long-term, community-defined impact.
A's Vision
A’s Vision equips inner-city youth with critical life skills that will help them thrive as responsible young adults. Since 2019, the program has supported over 60 individuals, ages 16 to 22, in earning their driver’s license—an important milestone for independence and employment. With expanded interest from regional Trade unions and new Real I.D requirements taking effect, RISE HIGH funds have helped A’s Vision serve residents ages 22-30. Grant funds are covering programming, vehicle maintenance, and administration costs.
Learn more about A’s Vision. Also, read about our previous work with them!
Tech 25
Tech25 opens doors to living-wage careers in event production and broadcast technology by offering free training, mentorship, and hands-on experience. Their programs are helping diversify the entertainment and tech industries while advancing economic opportunity for residents in Carrick, Mt. Oliver, and the Hilltop. RISE HIGH Grant funds helped to expand Tech25’s training program and implement Ableton Live production packs for the Carnegie Library system, providing accessible digital music production resources to the public. Community organizations, event producers, and aspiring musicians will all benefit from this expanded programming.
Artist Talk Mental Health
Artist Talk Mental Health “creates safe spaces for artists to learn and grow in their professional artistry while developing skills and acquiring tools to maintain and take care of their mental health.” (Artist Talk Mental Health | About Us). They aim to eliminate disparities in mental health access by creating culturally affirming programming that fosters emotional well-being, professional development, and collective healing. RISE HIGH Grant funds were used to host two Black Therapy 101 events, which typically feature “BIPOC therapists introducing conversations around the process of therapy, types of therapy, and instructions on how to access BIPOC therapists.” (Artist Talk website | Programs & Events).
T.H.A.W. (Transforming the Health of African American Women)
T.H.A.W. (Transforming the Health of African American Women) aims to “improve the health and quality of life for African American Women and the communities they live in; through education and other interventions that promote health awareness and personal development.” (THAW | About). T.H.A.W. delivers trauma-informed wellness programming focused on physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Their work centers the holistic well-being of women in historically underinvested communities like Homewood, Wilkinsburg, and Larimer. RISE HIGH Grant funds have been used to expand access to T.H.A.W.’s trauma-informed wellness program. The grant allows T.H.A.W. to increase programming capacity, enhance outreach efforts, and provide training for additional facilitators, ensuring that more women can access physical movement, mental health support, and community-building resources in a culturally affirming space.
Ujamaa Collective
Ujamaa Collective promotes cooperative economics by advancing Africana women through entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and community development in the Historic Hill District and beyond. Ujamaa accomplishes its mission through various programs and initiatives, including its Hill District based artisan boutique, pop-up marketplace events, arts an entrepreneurship programming, and advocacy on health, shared wealth and cooperation. RISE HIGH Grant were used to cover programming, administration costs, and facilities costs associated with the Eco Essence program.
*Our programs are designed to advance equitable access to opportunity by addressing systemic disparities within the communities we serve. While our outreach and engagement strategies may emphasize historically underrepresented or underserved populations, participation in all programs is open to all eligible residents in our service areas – regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to serving the entire community with fairness, dignity, and inclusion.
Neighborhood Allies
429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.471.3727
www.neighborhoodallies.org info@neighborhoodallies.org