Coro Pittsburgh

The 2012 MLK Leadership and Diversity Awards

2012-01-23T12:29:00.001-05:00

Thank you to all who attended, sponsored, and volunteered at the 5th Annual Martin Luther King Jr., Leadership and Diversity Awards last Friday. You support of Coro Pittsburgh, and commitment to transforming our region through ethical and effective leadership is so appreciated.

The MLK Awards seek to put on display the very best examples of leadership and diversity in our region, and that was certainly exemplified by this year's nominees.

We were honored to have Allegheny County Chief Executive, Rich Fitzgerald deliver the keynote address, and Lynn Cullen serve as the event's Mistress of Ceremonies.

Some exciting announcements regarding Coro Pittsburgh were made, with Sala Udin announcing his transition to President Emeritus, and introducing Dr. Gregory Crowley as Coro Pittsburgh's President and CEO. We are so grateful for both Sala and Greg's leadership and service.

Of course, we were thrilled to recognize this year's awardees. The Diversity Award for a small organization (50 or fewer employees) was given to the Women and Girls Foundation.

The Diversity Award for a large organization (more than 50 employees) was given to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Leadership Award was presented to former City Councilman, Doug Shields.

Congratulations to all of the 2012 MLK Awards nominees, and award recipients. Thank you, for the work that you do.

We look forward to celebrating with all of you next January.

All photos by Anna Lee Fields. To view more photos from the event, visit us on facebook.

2012 MLK Leadership and Diversity Nominees!

2011-12-05T10:06:00.001-05:00

We are so excited to announce the Nominees for the 5th Annual Martin Luther King Jr., Leadership and Diversity Awards! The MLK Awards seek to celebrate outstanding examples of Leadership and Diversity in our region.

We hope that you will join us on Friday, January 13, 2012 from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Heinz Field for the event, and to celebrate this year's wonderful nominees.

Tickets can be purchased at www.CoroMLKAwards.org

The Leadership Award will be awarded to an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership results in the business, non profit, or government sector. Past recipients have included: Maxwell King, David Shapira, Mark Roosevelt, and Alma Speed Fox.

Two organizations will be honored with the Diversity Awards, one with more than 50 employees, and one with 50 or fewer employees. The recipients will be selected based on the demonstration of superior achievements in creating an inclusive work place, and which utilize diversity to drive productivity and performance. PNC, Ernst and Young LLC, UPMC’s Center for Inclusion in Healthcare, P&G Pamela's Diner, the Union Project, and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, have been named among the Diversity award winners in the past three years.

The following are the 2012 Nominees for the MLK Leadership and Diversity Awards:

Leadership Award

Tom Baker, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh
Al Condeluci, United Cerebral Palsy
Deborah Fidel, Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee
Heather Mediate, Girls Coalition of Southwestern PA

William R. Neal Jr., Five Starr Champions

Zineb Outnouna, Atlas Dreams Languages, LLC

Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Council

Bernadette Turner, Addison Behavioral Care, Inc.

Mary Esther Van Shura, Allegheny County Office of the Chief Executive

Dwan Walker, Fedex

Diversity Award

Large Organization (More than 50 employees)

Every Child, Inc.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Urban Pathways Charter School

Small Organization (50 or fewer employees)

Pittsburgh Social Exchange

Urban League of Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh

Women and Girls Foundation

Congratulations to all of our nominees, and thank you for the important work you do!

My Thanks to ITL

2011-11-22T12:20:00.001-05:00

Even as Thanksgiving seemed to appear out of nowhere this year, I have found many opportunities in the past week to be thankful. Last Friday night provided an opportunity that was coupled with community members, great food, reflection, celebration, and even some acrobatics.

We began our partnership with the Initiative for Transgender Leadership in early 2011 and have spent the past 10 months working with Rayden Sorock. November 18, came quickly as Rayden’s final celebration and commencement for completion of the ITL Fellowship. It was my pleasure to address the crowd on Friday evening, to speak of Rayden’s work and the impact he and ITL had on our organization. I want to share the gist of what I relayed to the audience, because the appreciation did not stop when we left the Union Project, but needs to live on, and we want our community to know the impact that ITL has had on Coro Pittsburgh.

When we at Coro Pittsburgh first learned of ITL, we were intrigued. We were familiar with the individuals leading the charge, and new that this was going to be something big, something amazing, and something transformational. I can’t say how thrilled we were to be notified that we officially would be a partner to ITL when Rayden selected Coro Pittsburgh and the Regional Internship Center as his placement site.

Rayden spoke in his presentation about changing the world, and I’m excited to say that he accomplished that goal. He had the opportunity to impact our world at Coro Pittsburgh. Rayden and ITL provided education and opportunities to our organization that changed our worlds – he impacted his 20 coworkers, many program participants, and his work will live on far beyond his time in the Fellowship.

ITL has put forth an excellent year, supporting transgender youth, impacting non-profit organizations, and educating the community. Madeleine Hershey, Jen Saffron and R.T. Peck formed the initiative in 2009, and on Friday night it was obvious that their hard work and dedication had changed the world for so many people. I thank ‘the trifecta’ for their dedication to such an amazing program, and for allowing Coro Pittsburgh to be a part of this experience! Thank you from Coro Pittsburgh, and from me personally!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Misti

Rayden presenting at his ITL Commencement.

How Extracurricular Activities Can Give You a Leg Up

2011-11-09T13:58:00.001-05:00

I stumbled across this great infographic called "That extra Push" which outlines the benefits of extracurricular activities.

Turns our extracurriculars don't just improve SAT scores, and result in higher salaries, but are also an excellent way to increase and diversify one's skill set. The research outlined looked at the effect of extracurriculars on students, but I would argue that professionals and working adults need extracurriculars as much as their kids.

Just because you've landed a job doesn't mean you have no more capacity for growth or learning, or interests, or no need to continue expanding your skill set. And you can make time for extracurriculars, in fact, looking at this infographic I would say it's imperative that you make time in your schedule for extracurriculars.

The Effect of Leadership Programs

Something else I found particularly interesting was the chart (below) they created that listed which types of skill improvement you can gain from various activities. There is only one activity listed, that helps to develop every skill listed, and that activity is Leadership Programs.

Leadership Programs are important and beneficial. Which is why we at Coro Pittsburgh do what we do. Because we know that achieving our vision of an inclusive democracy can be achieved through good leaders.

There are a lot of leadership programs available out there. Coro Pittsburgh offers some great ones, with a focus on experiential learning, and a developed and supportive alumni network to become a part of after your program is complete.

Apply Today

Right now, we're accepting applications for our Leaders in Learning program, which focuses on the Pittsburgh Public School System. You can apply online here until December 1.

We offer several other types of programs through out the year, with different focuses and for different age and experience levels. Please don't hesitate to contact me (khalling@coropittsburgh.org) for more information on any of our programs.

Pay it Forward With a Nomination

2011-11-03T10:59:00.002-04:00

One of the most meaningful ways we can pay it forward, is by acknowledging people and organizations who do great work. To take a minute and say, "hey, you work really hard, and I just want to let you know that I notice, and think it's great. Thank you, and keep it up."

Even better than sending a note, or email that says that, is to make that gesture public, and say "hey, I notice how hard you're working, and what you're accomplishing, and not only do I want to say you're great, but I want lots of other people to know you're great too."

Nominations are the perfect way to do this.

And here's the terrific thing about nominations; they're free, easy to complete, and it means so much to be nominated and publicly recognized.

Take our Martin Luther King Jr., Leadership and Diversity Awards held every January. We're accepting nominations right now for businesses and individuals. We will celebrate all of the nominees at the event in January, for the work that they are doing in our region. And I know we all see, email with, and interact with potential nominees for these awards - there's too much good work being done in Pittsburgh. We should recognize and celebrate that.

The nomination form isn't long (I know, I made it). Please consider taking a couple minutes out of your day to nominate an individual or organization for the 5th Annual MLK Leadership and Diversity Awards. I have the fun job of calling the nominees to let them know they've been nominated, and people are so excited and honored to receive this kind of recognition. It will be so worth your five minutes, I promise.

You can make nominations here.

Dont hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. (khalling@coropittsburgh.org or 412.208.0251).

I look forward to receiving your nominations, and to celebrating with you in January!

Thank You!

2011-10-11T17:39:00.001-04:00

The Pittsburgh Foundation sent us the results from last week's Day of Giving fundraising effort.

From all of us here at Coro Pittsburgh, Thank You.

Thank you, for your support, your belief in ethical and effective leadership, and for your commitment to transforming our region.

Our Alumni, Board, and Staff literally put their money where their mouth is, and we are so grateful.

Some Quick 2011 DoG stats:

- Coro Pittsburgh raised more than $9,000 before the Pittsburgh Foundation's Match from the Day of Giving

- Over 90% of Coro Pittsburgh Staff made donations

- Over 60% of Coro Pittsburgh's Board of Directors participated in the Day of Giving

- The program with the highest number of Alumni donations was the Fellows Program in Public Affairs

- Coro Pittsburgh's network is nation-wide with 11% of donations coming from out of state, a pretty cool statistic given that the Day of Giving is such a Pittsburgh focused event

- The number of individual donations increased by 33% from 2010

Here is the listing of everyone who supported Coro Pittsburgh during the 2011 Day of Giving:

Daniel Aiello, FPPA Alumnus Tom and Erin Baker, ELPA/WIL Alumni

Emily Blakemore, FPPA Alumna Rebecca Cheung, FPPA Alumna

Alyssa DiLoreto, WIL Alumna James Doyle, RPO/CPS Alumnus

Kathy Froncek and Fran Leap, LIL Alumna Charles Gamper, FPPA Alumnus

Megan Good, RPO Alumna Kelsey Halling, Staff/WIL Alumna

Raymar Hampshire, FPPA Alumnus Barbara James, Friend of Coro Pittsburgh

Cynthia James, Staff Leann Kowalski, RPO Alumna

Karen Levin, Past Placement Partner Antonio Lodico, FPPA Alumnus

Campbell Minister, Staff John Morris, Staff

Melanie Organ, Staff Laura Pollanen, Staff

Jennifer Buchanan Rapach, ELPA Alumna Laura Ristau, WIL Alumna

Alma C. Roberts, WIL Alumna Michael Sider-Rose, Staff

Daniel Soltesz, RPO Alumnus Abraham L Taleb, LIL Alumnus

Heidi Tappe Nevala, Past Placement Partner Chloe Velasquez, Board/WIL Alumna

Megan Walsh, Friend/Past Intern Kristina Wiggins, Friend/Past Intern

Katherine Young, Staff Rachel Burcin, LIL Alumna

Tanya Bennitt, FPPA Alumna Wayne Cobb, Board/FPPA Alumnus

M Conturo, Past Placement Partner Kristina Fausti, WIL Alumna

Jacob Hipps, FPPA Alumnus Rebecca Lee, WIL Alumna

Joe Leinbach, FPPA Alumnus Charles and Judy Lightner, Staff

Mayada Mansour, FPPA Alumna Andrew McIntire, FPPA Alumnus

Todd Owens and Jami Rutherford, FPPA Alumnus Rebecca Pounds DDS, WIL Alumna

Krista Staley, WIL Alumna Misti McKeehen, Staff

Phyllis Barber, Board Member Greg Crowley, Staff

Bethany E Davidson, FPPA Alumna Kathy Flynn-Somerville, LIL Alumna

Lilit Grigoryan, FPPA Alumna Allison Quinn, Friend/Past Intern

Richard Ekstrom, Board Member Shahriar Broumand, Board Member

Chris Farmakis, Board Member Amy Cook, Board Member

Samuel Howze, Staff Antonia Macpherson, Board Member

Diane Fisher, Board Member Leslie Kittenbrink, Friend of Coro

Madeleine Hershey, Friend of Coro

Thank you!!!

So, What Does Coro Do?

2011-10-06T12:59:00.000-04:00

In my years of working for Coro Pittsburgh, this is probably the question I get asked the most. And, if I'm honest, it's a question that took me a while to find a good answer to.

Coro Pittsburgh does, a lot. And this is great, but it also creates some confusion, especially for people who have come to know our work well through one specific program, or event, but may not be aware of all the other ways we are impacting the Southwestern, PA region.

Which is why, I am so excited to introduce our first Annual Community Report, that we debuted at the Day of Giving Celebration this past Tuesday. This report covers what Coro Pittsburgh has done over the past year. What programs we have run, how many people went through them, what those people are doing now, what our goals are for each program moving forward, how you can become involved with us, etc.

We want our donors to understand exactly what their investments in Coro Pittsburgh are supporting. We want our alumni to know what cool accomplishments their programs are responsible for, we want our community to understand what we are doing here. We also want to say thank you, for everyone who supports us in advancing ethical and effective leaders who share a commitment to civic engagement.

You can download the report here, or stop by our offices in the Southside for a visit and I'd be happy to give you one in person, and talk about what's going on at Coro Pittsburgh right now.

A Competition!

2011-09-28T11:59:00.002-04:00

We've decided to make things a little more interesting this year during Pittsburgh's Day of Giving, with a friendly fundraising competition between our Board of Directors, Staff, and Alumni.

The competition is simple. Each group will have a specific fundraising goal for the day. The group to reach their goal first will be the winner.

The goals are as follows:

Coro Pittsburgh Board of Directors - A goal of 100% participation in the Day of Giving.

Coro Pittsburgh Staff - 100% staff participation. Everyone who works here must make a donation on the Day of Giving to reach this goal.

Coro Pittsburgh Alumni - 100 individual alumni contributions. The amount is up to you. Once 100 alumni have made a donation on the Day of Giving, the goal will be met.

We will be tracking donations as they in throughout the day, so be sure to let us know when you've made your contribution, and we will account for it. You can call (412-208-0251), email (khalling@coropittsburgh.org), tweet at us (@Coro_Pittsburgh), facebook (www.facebook.com/Coropittsburgh), or come and tell us in person at our Day of Giving Celebration from 6 - 8:00 pm on October 4.

We'll be recording the competition results throughout the day, and providing status updates on which group is winning. We will announce the official winners after receiving all of the donation information from the Pittsburgh Foundation.

Some questions you may have regarding this competition.

What is the Day of Giving?

The Day of Giving is an event created by the Pittsburgh Foundation, to support the non profit sector in Pittsburgh, and encourage Philanthropy in our region. During the 24 hours of Tuesday, October 4, any donations made to participating non profits through their website (www.pittsburghgives.org) will be eligible for matching funds from the Foundation.

All donations during that 24-hour period will receive a pro-rated portion of the match pool. (As an example, if the match pool is $500,000 and the total amount raised that day is $2,000,000 then the match may be $0.25 on the dollar.) The matching portion will be announced the following morning, October 5, 2011.

Where is this money going?

The money raised through the Day of Giving will provide ongoing support for Coro Pittsburgh's programs. While we receive generous support from the Foundation Community to maintain our programming, there are many costs with running an organization, that are not associated with any one program. Your contribution will allow us to maintain our mission of advancing ethical and effective leaders who share a commitment to civic engagement.

What if I fall into 2 of the competition categories? i.e. I'm a Board Member, but I'm also a Coro Pittsburgh Alumni?

We will count your donation in both groups. So, let us know when you've made your contribution, and which groups you belong to, and we will record your donation accordingly.

What if I don't belong to any of these groups, can I still make a donation?

Of course! Support from community members who believe in our mission is the reason we are able to do what we do. Anyone who wants to make a donation through www.pittsburghgives.org on October 4, is welcome to do so. All of our donors will be recognized through out the year.

Are these donations tax-deductible?

Absolutely. In fact, you'll get confirmation from the Pittsburgh Foundation via email for tax purposes, however, feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions.

Do I have to use a credit card to make my contribution?

For donations to be eligible for matching funds from The Pittsburgh Foundation, they must be made through the Pittsburgh Gives website, which only processes credit cards.

Does the winner of the competition get a prize?

The winning group of the competition gets the recognition, honor, and glory that comes with winning.

Do I have to make my annual donation to Coro Pittsburgh on October 4? Can't I make a donation later in the year?

Of course, we are so grateful for all the donations we receive through out the year. Donations made on October 4 however, are eligible for matching funds, so by making your annual donation on this date, you further the impact of your donation.

What will be happening at the Day of Giving Celebration?

The Day of Giving Celebration will be a party celebrating the impact Coro Pittsburgh has had on our region over the past year. There will be food, drinks, opportunities to mingle with Staff, Board Members, Alumni, and current program participants. In addition, the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council will be presenting the first annual Distinguished Alumni Award.

I may be biased in saying so, but this will be a fun opportunity to hang out with some pretty cool people, and learn about a pretty cool organization.

What has Coro Pittsburgh done over the past year?

We will be distributing annual community reports at the Day of Giving Celebration, which outline the impact of Coro Pittsburgh's numerous programs over the past year. Learn about all the ways you can be involved with us, what our alumni are doing now, and our goals for the year ahead. The report will be available for download from our website as well starting on October 4.

If I don't have time to make my donation during the day, can I do so at the Day of Giving Celebration?

Yes. We will have laptops available for those who wish to make their donation at the celebration, as well as staff and volunteers on hand should you have any questions.

Do I have to RSVP for this event, or should I just show up?

The event is open to the public, so if you are able to join us, we would love to see you and meet any friends you'd like to bring. However, if you know ahead of time that you can join us, we'd appreciate an RSVP. You can do so on our website: http://pittsburgh.coro.org.events

Thank you for your support of Coro Pittsburgh! We look forward to celebrating with you on October 4!

Introducing WIGO (What is Going On?) Hour

2011-09-12T13:53:00.002-04:00

Coro Alumni,

I am very excited to present a new event offered to our Alumni network. WIGO (What is Going On) hour, is an opportunity for Coro Pittsburgh Alumni to present new ideas, projects, or businesses and receive feedback from the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Network.

The Benefits of Feedback:

One of the benefits to being a participant in a Coro program is the opportunity to receive feedback from your fellow participants, Coro staff, program facilitators, and have direct contact with a group of diverse experiences and perspective.

We want to offer our alumni the opportunity to continue to receive similar feedback, and utilize the talented and diverse Coro Pittsburgh alumni network as a sounding board, to help them continue to succeed in their professional and civic goals.

We also want to offer Coro Pittsburgh alumni the opportunity to connect and engage with one another through working sessions on issues and projects in the Pittsburgh community.

WIGO Hour, offers the opportunity for Coro Pittsburgh Alumni to come to our offices and present an idea, a business, a project, and receive feedback/participate in an active work session with other Coro alumni to help move their idea forward.

The Presentation:

WIGO Hour Presentations will be made in the following format:

- This is my business/idea/project

- These are my goals. This is where I want this idea to be in 1 year, 6 months, etc.

- I have 5 questions (Who should I talk to? What will keep this from being successful? What should my next steps be?)

Each working session will last for an hour.

Presenting Alumni will have access to whiteboards, projectors if needed, and the chance to pick the brains of professionals across sectors in the Pittsburgh region.

Our first WIGO Hour presenter, will be Abe Taleb, LIL '10 and Managing Partner, Operations of TerraShift.

Abe states, "TerraShift, my social enterprise is, is currently re-pivoting our services and would like to receive feedback from Coro alumni. We have been operating in Pittsburgh for the last 16 months, providing project staffing services to several nonprofits in the region. After attending the Unreasonable Institute and receiving feedback from world-class mentors we have decided to delay developing a fellowship program and instead focus on a more robust service offering. "

Please join us on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 6 - 7:00 pm at Coro Pittsburgh's offices to participate in our first WIGO hour, learn more about TerraShift, and offer Abe your feedback.

All Coro Pittsburgh Alumni are invited to attend, please contact Kelsey at khalling@coropittsburgh.org or 412-208-0251 with any questions.

UpHill 5K

2011-09-09T10:55:00.002-04:00

Coro Pittsburgh's Next: Leaders for Green Communities program has organized a 5k event in the Hill District that will be held tomorrow. If you're interested in running or volunteering, there are still opportunities to participate.

Friends,

For the last 6 months I have been working on a team to plan a charity event in the Hill District and Uptown. It is called the UpHill 5K: Building Communities, Strengthening Lives. All proceeds from the event will go towards community development and sustainable initiatives in the Hill District and Uptown (get it...UpHill).

We would love to have a strong showing for the kick off of this annual event. This will be the first of its kind in these communities.

It will be held this Saturday 9/10/11 beginning at 9am at the Upper Mellon Arena Parking Lot. Rain or Shine!

It's not too late to volunteer or participate. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 7:45am and Participants are asked to arrive before 8:30am as the streets will be closed at 8.30am.

There is also a 1 mile fun walk portion of the course for those who don't feel up to 3.1 miles.

This will be a family friendly event with music, giveaways, continental breakfast, etc, and will be a reminder of the life that still remains in our communities.

Attached you will find more info about the event. Onsite registration will begin at 8am. See you on Saturday...Come out and be a part of the Future!

Our race sponsors include:

UPMC, Savoy Restaurant, University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, Macedonia Church, GTECH, Propel Schools, PCKIZ, and Venture Outdoors.

Sincerely,

Brian James Edmonds
Next: Leaders for Green Communities Participant

"Teaching" the Teachers.

2011-08-24T14:06:00.004-04:00

I was more than excited to hear that Coro Pittsburgh had agreed to provide DiSC training to a group of Pittsburgh Public School Teachers, and thrilled to be a part of the process. Relating leadership behaviors and communication styles is always an interesting process, and can take on different life forms with different groups.

For instance, our Running for Public Office: Emerging Leaders in Public Service program, the group is looking at their leadership styles in relation to their mock election groups, and utilizing the strengths of team members when assigning roles. But how would a group of 37 experienced teachers relate? The facets of their own team of teachers, their individual classrooms, working with parents, and even their personal lives can be informed by a review of the DiSC profile... and we covered them all!

As I come from a long line of teachers and principals, I had a perception of what style teachers tend to be. I know my family is a steady mixture of D's and i's - an I hadn't spent much time thinking back to my other teachers I had worked with - so that's what I went into the training expecting.

I was so happy to see that perception shattered.

With a mix of the dominant, influencing, steady, and conscientious types the room was buzzing with realizations of how their style influences their approach to leading their classrooms and interacting with colleagues. We spent 3 hours talking about what DiSC is, how to apply it, and how to recognize potential conflict situations. As a conclusion, each profile group spent time preparing to host a parent-teacher conference with respect to the style they knew they would be conversing with.

While debriefing with colleagues we reminded each other that DiSC is not something that can sit dormant, with out revisiting, in order to have the ability to assist people in leading and communicating. So, how are you utilizing DiSC? How have you reflected today on your leadership style, or the styles of others to be sure you are having the most productive day for everyone?

The Fellows Are Coming!

2011-08-17T14:18:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe it's already that time of year, but the 2011-2012 Class of Coro Fellows in Public Affairs will officially be starting next week. As always, we're excited to welcome this group of intelligent, ambitious young professionals to Pittsburgh, and are anxious to see the work they'll complete over the next nine months.

We also have some upcoming event opportunities to meet the new class, so please join us in welcoming the Fellows to the 'burgh!

Coro Fellows Community Study of Pittsburgh's Three Rivers

Monday, August 29, 2011

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Gateway Clipper Fleet, Princess Boat

Please join the 2012 Coro Fellows as they present their learning and recommendations for how you can participate in the recent and emerging trends in water policy, all aboard the Princess Boat of the Gateway Clipper Fleet. The presentation will be followed by an expert panel, working to improve the quality of Pittsburgh's three rivers. Following the panel discussion guests are invited to cruise Pittsburgh's three rivers, aboard the boat. This event also provides the opportunity to connect with water advocated and the opportunity to get involved with local organizations.

To RSVP for the Community Study, please click here.

Meet the Fellows Happy Hour

Join Coro staff, and the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council in welcoming the new class with networking at a happy hour.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Local Bar and Kitchen

16th and E Carson St.

Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Leadership Luncheons on Film

2011-08-11T09:53:00.003-04:00

In case you were unable to join us this summer for the 2011 Leadership Luncheon Series, you can still enjoy some of the discussion. Our wonderful sponsors at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh recorded each event.

Below is the recap of our first luncheon back in July, featuring Dr. Audrey Murrell who spoke on intelligent mentoring. Enjoy!

Farewell... but not good bye!

2011-08-08T09:55:00.005-04:00

This internship opportunity with Coro Pittsburgh has allowed me to think and discover a lot about myself and my future career path. Coming from what I now consider a small town background with a somewhat sheltered mindset in an unexposed way, I have been introduced to so many new things I never thought I would be involved in! From tackling Indesign, Twitter and blogging; learning of issues concerning the LGBT community, Marcellus Shale, or our public school system; to trying new restaurants, I have appreciated the truly experiential learning experience I received this summer.

Despite what my competitive business school environment thinks, there is a world outside of the big four accounting firms. I can now see and feel how a career in the non profit sector is gratifying and personally rewarding. Persuing a work day that is inspiring, surrounded by people seriously dedicated to their cause, versus committing to the 9-5 corporate grind, definitely gives me something to think about. Here at Coro Pittsburgh, many staff members are actively involved with outside organizations in addition to being dedicated to the mission of Coro. I am hoping I can make Coro proud in my future by also becoming involved with non profit organizations through out the city.

Through this internship I have not just experienced the office setting, seasoned my skill set, added to my resume, or created physical evidence for my portfolio. I know that my journey does not end here, I have been transformed and what I have experienced learned and gained both professionally and personally will transcend. Since we as people are hopefully always transitioning, I can’t wait for my next step in training, preparing, and discovering myself.

Thank you to everyone I encountered here in the Coro Pittsburgh community for everything. For being so welcoming, and understanding, and encouraging! Coro Pittsburgh is so intertwined with the city and community that this is not goodbye. I know we will meet again, so tata for now!

Students Engaged in Leadership - On Pittsburgh Today

2011-08-03T09:51:00.002-04:00

The Coro Center for Civic Leadership is entering the third year as a partner in the Students Engaged in Leadership Initiative, for students of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The program, a joint venture between Coro Pittsburgh, A+ Schools, and the MGR Foundation, has had many success over the past two years.

Watch Mayada Mansour, A+ Schools Program Manager and Fellows Program in Public Affairs Alumna, with two students on Pittsburgh Today, discuss the daily challenges for students.

Coro Alumnae nominated for the 2011 ATHENA Award

2011-08-02T09:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, we recognized and celebrated our alumnae who have been nominated for the ATHENA Young Professional Award. Today, we would like to recognize the following Coro Pittsburgh Alumnae, who have been nominated for the 2011 ATHENA Award.

Lynn Brusco

Vice President Pittsburgh

Life Sciences Greenhouse

Women in Leadership, 2006

JoAnn R. Forrester

President

S.I. Business Associates & Celebrate & Share

Running for Public Office, 2009

Brenda Tate

Detective

City of Pittsburgh Police Department

Women in Leadership, 2003

The ATHENA Award was created to recognize outstanding professional women in communities, and encourage leadership opportunities for them. The program's explicit focus on the importance of mentorship, distinguishes the ATHENA Award from other honors for women in business.

We are honored to include the following women in our Alumni Network. Congratulations on your achievements, and thank you for your leadership in our region.

Coro Alumnae Nominated for ATHENA Young Professional Award

2011-08-01T14:35:00.003-04:00

Next month, the 2011 ATHENA Award Program of Greater Pittsburgh will be celebrating outstanding professional women in the Pittsburgh community at their annual event.

This year, a Young Professional Award category was added, celebrating women who are doing outstanding work at the beginning of their career.

We are so proud to count the following Coro Pittsburgh Alumni among this year’s nominees.

Erin Baker

Vice President

PNC Financial Service

Women in Leadership, 2006

La’Tasha Mayes

Founder and Director

New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice

Fellows Program in Public Affairs, 2004

Erin Molchany

Executive Director

Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP)

Emerging Leaders in Public Affairs (now Running for Public Office), 2003

The ATHENA Award recognizes women in our community who:

- Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business profession

- Contribute time and energy to improving the quality of life for others in the community

- Actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential

Congratulations to our alumnae, and all of the nominees for this year’s ATHENA Award! Thank you for all the work you do, and for your commitment to transforming our region.

The Power of Mentoring

2011-07-28T15:24:00.004-04:00

“People need roles models… bad habits are hard to break.”

- Renny Clark.

It’s important to have goals; something to aim for and guide you in your decisions. It can help to admire someone of success or of merit, to model your choices after their career path, their ideas, or their values. In Coro’s first luncheon in the 2011 Leadership Luncheon series, Dr. Audrey Murrell, spoke to a buzzing room of over sixty, of just how important it is to develop effective mentoring relationship. Dr. Murrell feels that, “effective leadership is more important today,” and to succeed we must develop relationships for, in her experience, “people are our most valuable assets.”

Dr. Murrell continued stating, “The power of mentoring comes from those people who cross our paths, fuel us, and help us do what we do.” She shared that there is a return on investment in developing mentoring relationships, “people do better, report higher satisfaction and commitment.”

A mentor to me, Renny Clark currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Community Initiatives and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. More importantly, Clark is someone who lives his life with ethical standards, and therefore stands out as a leader. Ethics is a core value in his university roles as well as in daily tasks.

I had the opportunity in October to get to know Mr. Clark. As a student, my fellow peers and I in the Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics chose our Vice Chancellor as the subject for an “Ethics in the Community” project. To Clark, on a scale of 1-10, “ethical leadership is a 12.” He stated that, “I don’t know how people can lead an unethical life.”

Through listening to Clark’s story and thoughts of what being ethical and a leader means, I really realized the importance of role models. After all as Clark says, “the people you interact with create structure for your behavior.” Clark attributes his positive values from being, personally affected by parents, scout master, and teachers who “guided performance.” These mentors set expectations for him to meet, which helped him succeed and develop.

One Renny’s most influential ideas, was to be vocal. He stressed that a persons’ ethical mindset shows by being “vocal in actions.” That we “Must demonstrate ethics in everyday actions. Show you are dependable, honest upright.”

“You have the capability of doing the right thing.” Clark stated that, “Ethical behavior should be expected, not rewarded.” He also believes that there should be no incentives for being ethical, stating that, “respect is the reward.”

After our meeting with Mr. Clark, I, along with my peers, was overwhelmed with a feeling of pride in Pitt. I felt accomplished just by being a student who attends a university run by such an admirable man. I will always remember the words he said, and the feeling I had while speaking with him in the Chancellor’s executive board room.

Renny Clark is a mentor to me, a man who acts with an ethical mindset, who in result stands out as a leader. He truly is inspirational in the way he leads his life and what he has accomplished. Clark’s success shows the power of mentors, he still attributes his personal success to his mentoring relationships.

Your Reputation Does Not Live Inside of You

2011-07-19T11:18:00.003-04:00

Last week, we hosted the first luncheon in this summer's Leadership Luncheon Series. Our featured speaker was Dr. Audrey Murrell, Director of the Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership. Her remarks on intelligent mentoring were inspiring. We all can typically use pointers on how to make the most of mentoring relationships whether you are the mentor or the mentee.

The take away that really stuck with me however, was her statement, "Your reputation does not live inside of you." With all we try to do to control other people's perception of us; attending the right events, Googling ourselves to make sure nothing inappropriate comes up, and tailoring our cover letters and resumes to make us stand out and be notices, it's still other people who make or break our reputation. One glowing recommendation, or one poor review from someone else decides your reputation.

Especially in a town like Pittsburgh, where we're all connected by the distance of one, maybe two people, our reputations are almost entirely the responsibility of others. And no matter what we blog, or tweet, or state on our Linkedin profiles about ourselves, none of that carries nearly as much weight as what someone else has to say about us.

So, while I'm certainly not going to quit my virtual relationships, or stop being strategic about my use of social media, I am going to remember to focus a bit more on the personal relationships IRL. After all, it's those relationships, the people who know me and work with me, who ultimately manage my reputation. And should you ask, I want to make sure they're answering with good things.

If you would like to connect with us on a more personal level, and hear about the leadership and efforts behind the Pittsburgh Promise, I encourage you to attend our next luncheon on Tuesday, July 26 with Saleem Ghubril. You can purchase tickets here. I look forward to meeting you.

Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Association - Letter from the President, Tom Baker

2011-06-30T11:12:00.003-04:00

The Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council met last month to elect a new Executive Committee, which governs the council.

Below is a letter from the newly elected President, Tom Baker.

Dear Coro Alumni,

My name is Tom Baker and I am very proud to be the newly elected President of the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council. I am a 2004 graduate of the Emerging Leaders in Public Affairs program (now called Running for Public Office) and am the Vice President of Programs with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. I'd like to sincerely thank Wayne Cobb for his service as the previous CPAC President. We have a terrific group involved on the Coro Pittsburgh Alumni Council and look forward to coordinating a strong year of enriching events and programs for you.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 20 at the Coro offices if you would like to get involved with the CPAC. I would like to encourage you to take advantage of the alumni discount of $40 for the 2011 Leadership Luncheon series. It should be an excellent set of speakers, and good chance for you to network and learn. Also, we will be releasing details shortly for the Coro Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Award. Please consider nominating a terrific Coro alumnus for this honor.

All of us are Coro Pittsburgh! It is up to us to ensure that we stay engaged with the organization and continue to recruit future program participants that would benefit from the terrific programs that we have completed. Please join me in making the next twelve months memorable within the Coro Pittsburgh community. Feel free to reach out to me at tbaker@bakerleadership.com or connect with Kelsey Halling. Thanks Coro!

Sincerely,

Tom Baker

Discovering the World of Blogging

2011-06-27T11:31:00.005-04:00

My new obsession is Google Reader. Interning at the Coro Center for Civic Leadership has introduced me to the exciting world of blogging. Through this outlet, I've discovered so many new topics in business, non profit, and other industries, leading me to develop new industries. There is a blog for everything. For example, here is where I found a great listing of interesting local blogs.

Initially, I was terrified to create my own blogging content. I mean, what do I know? How can I write something with purpose and meaning? Why would people care what I have to say? Fromreading this article with advice as to how to have a successful company blog, I've realized I do have something to offer. I have a unique voice and perspective to share. I am telling the story of what I am discovering. Even if my revelations are small and topics are light, I'm reflecting on the bigger picture - that my experience at Coro Pittsburgh is transformational. If nothing else, I am definitely expressing my passion.

In light of my new appreciation for the blogging world, I'd like to share some blog posts I've read recently that have stuck with me one way or another.

Some of my favorite blog posts:

- In my classes for the Certificate Program in Leadership Ethics, we are consistently referring to characteristics that are needed be an effective servant leader. In my reflection I noted that am weak in the empathy category. Reading this post helps me understand why empathy is such a necessary skill. The author notes, "Empathy allows leaders to build and develop relationships with those they lead." People want to be heard and understood, they want to feel considered. In order to have a strong team that wants to follow you as a leader and act as a part of your team, you have to please and inspire them to do so. What I'm

learning at Pitt, does apply to the real world!

- Leadership Freak is one of my favorite feeds. I really enjoyed this post of 22 Ways to

Dramatically Increase Your Influence.

I most related to the points of:

- Embrace high standards

- Expect accountability

Even though is may be slightly cliche to use influential quotes, one of my favorites is, "One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised." I believe that a strong code of ethics is crucial to success, and that ethical thinking should not only be demonstrated by those in leadership roles, but also demonstrated in daily tasks by people at every level. I strive to surround myself with individuals of the same mindset, which is what initially attracted me to Coro Pittsburgh. Working for an organization with such a strong mission, vision and core values is important to me.

- Another favorite blog of mine is Living Pittsburgh. Anyone who thinks that Pittsburgh is

boring is just not informed. I hope to start doing more of the things I discover through

this blog.

I hope this has inspired you to start blogging yourself, or at least given you some new additions to your Google Reader. Feel free to leave links to some of your favorite blogs in the comment section!

Start Something.

2011-06-21T10:38:00.009-04:00

One of my favorite things about Pittsburgh, is the ability to start things here. You don't need to be rich, or old, or established, or famous to make an impact in this town. You just need to have a cool idea, tell your friends, ask some folks for help, and do it.

I'm continually impressed with the side projects I've seen my coworkers, friends, and Coro Pittsburgh Alumni start. For example:

- Love of Friends (LoF). Love of Friends began as a pot-luck in my coworker Regina's house. By year 3, when I joined the team, the party had grown into an event bringing out more than 300 people, and raising thousands of dollars for some of our favorite non profits in Pittsburgh. The party continues to evolve, the team continues to grow, and Love of Friends has become a year-long passion project for many of us involved.

- MothUP Pittsburgh Storyside. My coworker Alison Peebles started the MothUP in Pittsburgh a couple of months ago. MothUP is Pittsburgh gathering of a national storytelling open mic project happening in different cities around the country. Every month stories are centered around a theme that is announced ahead of time. The event is free and open to the public, and the last time I attended I laughed so hard my face hurt. It is a great time.

- CF Music Festival. My friend Allison Potter was named this year as one of Pittsburgh's 50 Finest. She will be fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis through out the year, and has organized the CF Music Festival at Stage AE on Friday July 8. She's got an awesome line-up, its all ages, andtickets are only $15.

My point is that, starting something isn't necessarily easy, but it's doable, it's fun, and Pittsburghers take care of their own, so you will find more support than you will know what to do with.

With all of this in mind, I am super excited that next week Coro Pittsburgh is teaming up withBig Brothers Big Sisters as part of their "Start Something Summer Series". Join us at Houlihans in Station Square on June 29, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm, and learn how you get involved in your community through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Coro Pittsburgh. Because starting something doesn't mean you have to throw an event for hundreds of people. Starting something can mean being a mentor, being a community volunteer, or becoming a public servant.

So next week, come enjoy some terrific happy hour specials, some fantastic company, and start something.

Twitter as a Professional Tool

2011-06-14T11:48:00.003-04:00

Through my internship with the Coro Center for Civic Leadership, I’ve gain yet another transformational experience: my perspective of the professional tool Twitter can be. An important aspect of non profits' success is having relationships. Reviewing Coro Pittsburgh’s Twitter community of followers, it was soon obvious to me how connected Coro is. Coro Pittsburgh reaches a significant audience through sharing announcements about our opportunities, the non profit industry, and civic engagement or politics in the Pittsburgh region. We communicate with our partners, and also share tips related to our program’s curriculum. Our audience correspondingly engages. Alumni tweet their success, events, and other opportunities in our shared network. Through being an audience member and content contributor; I’ve personally gained a better sense of the Pittsburgh region, the issues, and the non profits; and overall now see how Coro Pittsburgh is connected to and benefits all of the former.

Previously, I had been using Twitter for the silly social things: celebrities, magazines, networks, brands, and the only sport team I’ll ever be into-The Pittsburgh Penguins. Within my first week interning I quickly followed over 150 new profiles. Correspondingly, I have discovered a Twitter world beyond the nonsense- yes it does exist. I now not only read through of all the “#” hash tags and “@” mentions, but can see a professional aspect of Twitter. It can be used as a professional tool-not just another social platform to share your every seemingly significant thought with the world (or just your 15 followers).

Still, following hundreds means nothing when you don’t take the time to actually use those tweets to your advantage. I feel like I’m sharing my secret to success here, but the key to using Twitter feeds to your advantage professionally and not drowning in the nonsense is- actually organizing those you follow into lists. I have made my Twitter usage useful with categories of: Pittsburgh, non profits, career, events, news, etc. This separates what’s important to keep up with in my position at Coro, so my obsession with British Royalty doesn’t distract me when I’m reading a relevant tweet from Mashable with leadership tips. My colleagues have also introduced to applications such as Hootsuite and Tweetdeck. These tools allow users to further organize by viewing streams or feeds of just those specific lists side-by-side, schedule updates, combine networks and share accounts.

Beyond my duties here, this experiential lesson learned has benefited me as a marketing student. I now follow marketing firms, advertising agencies, and other multimedia companies I am interested in perusing, along with professionals that share relevant advice. Their tweets familiarize me with the industry buzz while providing me with a way to connect and engage in my developing field. Through twitter, I also feel more connected to the city of Pittsburgh finding plenty more to explore and entertain myself with here.

Yes, without strategy in mind Twitter is just another social media outlet to get lost in and can certainly be professionally useless. But my time at Coro Pittsburgh has taught me its all about the connections and network you are involved in. In this sense, Twitter does have value.

2011 Leadership Luncheon Series

2011-06-13T13:09:00.003-04:00

All Lunches are held at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh

301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Registration and Networking 11:30 am - 12:00 pm

Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

$25 per lunch, or $65 for the series

Coro Alumni can purchase tickets at a reduced rate.

Click Here to Purchase Tickets.

Contact Kelsey Halling at 412-208-0251 or khalling@coropittsburgh.org with any questions.

The 2011 Leadership Luncheon Series is sponsored by the

Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership.

The Power of Social Media

2011-06-08T11:36:00.005-04:00

Social Media is everywhere. It’s even on my coffee cup, telling me to, “Log onto Facebook for a chance to win big!” Networking online has gotten to the point that, if you aren’t connected through at least Facebook or Twitter, you don’t know what’s going on, you don’t know who is friends with whom, what events are happening, what games or movies are hot, and what trends are dead. Its striking how I can’t escape the constant need to access and update social media outlets.

Social Media outlets have a way of pulling us in, whether we want them to or not. During finals, I and many of my friends chose to opt out of having the option to fall into the temptations of the exciting world of Facebook. I would simply have a trusted friend change my password for the week. To be serious students, we have to avoid Facebook. Studying one minute turns into “liking” things or looking up events of anything we’d rather be doing rather than focusing on our classes. This is why social media outlets are such great tools for promotion, the majority of most target audiences are online.These networking sites are outlets to talk and create huge buzz quickly.

This attraction to being constantly connected and discovering new things is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to share their work. To have an outlet where you can access your potential customers for free - is exactly that, priceless. It’s so easy to connect with people, and have them actively engaged in your organization. This is what makes social media exciting to me, having interaction and feedback from actual people.

I choose marketing as a field of study because I felt it was the more interactive, “people-side” of the business world. I’ve had experiences in creating student organization groups and events through Facebook before, and was able see and even better- immediately gauge and react to the opinions of the members. I am continually fascinated by the world of online social outlets and thrilled to be actively learning more about the art of converging ideas, through these outlets through my mentor at Coro Center for Civic Leadership. Be sure to connect with us here at Coro Pittsburgh on twitter and facebook.