The Global Switchboard | Hub | Audiences

World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

November 18, 2017 8:51 pm Comments Off

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to providing a pathway for a more globally minded region, offering students and the community a learning space that covers key international issues. Established in 1931, the Council is committed to informing opinion leaders and decision-makers about developments around the world as they unfold – and to educating them about the relevance of such developments to the region. The Council also has a special focus on secondary schools throughout the region, and works to give students and teachers a more nuanced understanding of the global issues of our time. The Council is a member of the World Affairs Council of America (WACA), a network of more than 90 nonprofit, nonpartisan member Councils around the country.

Idea Foundry

8:50 pm Comments Off

Founded in 2002, Idea Foundry is a Pittsburgh-based, non-profit, economic development organization dedicated to creating living-wage, high-opportunity jobs. They do this by serving individuals – whether they be entrepreneurs, researchers, executives, students, or families. Their main initiatives are investing in and working alongside entrepreneurs to transform innovative business ideas into viable commercial activities and leveraging global programs to attract talent, capital and business to the Pittsburgh region. Idea Foundry’s global initiatives support Pittsburgh as an international innovation hub through investment and collaboration across the globe. Idea Foundry has worked with organizations such as GlobalPittsburgh and the U.S. State Department to host visitors from around the world and develop partnerships with continuing impact. They also work with organizations such as VisitPittsburgh to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming city for the international community. Additionally, Idea Foundry supports local startups which drive a positive impact, such as tackling global challenges or promoting diversity in entrepreneurship. They seek to use their knowledge of the field to strengthen Pittsburgh and foster connections the world over.

Mexico Collaboration- Idea Foundry has launched 4 startups across Mexico by extending Idea Foundry’s expertise and guiding them through business development services.

Russia Collaboration- Idea Foundry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate with the largest Foundation in Russia to help them on their entrepreneurship ecosystem.

China Initiatives- Idea Foundry partnered with the VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance to increase awareness, specifically in the Chinese market, of education, tourism, business, and investment in the Pittsburgh and PA region.

Arthur Daniel Alexander

8:39 pm Comments Off

Daniel Alexander is from Brazil. He began his volunteer work teaching Computer Basics to the children of “Pastoral do Menor”, a community based project in Santarém, one that assists low income working families. As an undergrad student, Daniel and some friends founded a nonprofit organization called GADE Volunteers, which is based in Belem and has the objective to promote volunteerism among youth. A few years later after its foundation, they received an invitation to represent United Nations Volunteers in the Northern Region of Brazil. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication and a Master in Business Administration in Marketing. In addition, he spent several years working as a Designer and Creative Director in various advertising agencies.

Jewish Family & Community Services of Pittsburgh

8:38 pm Comments Off

Jewish Family & Community Services of Pittsburgh, founded in 1937, operates on the principle that strong individuals and families create healthy communities. Our mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families through psychological, employment and social services that help individuals and families meet life’s changes and challenges, and empower them to improve their lives.

Brett Fulesday

8:25 pm Comments Off

Brett has appraised/valued businesses for the past 14+ years.

What drives him, though (and this is something that he realized within only the past 12 to 18 months), is intellectual curiosity — the desire to always want to learn and be learning. To that end, he directs his energy and efforts to — basically, to offer to serve as another set of eyes in — the broad areas of arts, education and entrepreneurship.

No matter the type of service or project, a story must always be told. Whether in writing or in person, he thrives on turning the complex into the easy-to-understand.

GlobalPittsburgh

8:04 pm Comments Off

GlobalPittsburgh brings together globally-minded people in the Pittsburgh region through membership activities and hosting programs, we help universities and English Language programs attract more international students, and we coordinate visits for international delegations through the U.S. Department of State.

GlobalPittsburgh has a network of over 500 members, volunteers, and citizen diplomats who ensure that visiting leaders’ and students’ time in the Greater Pittsburgh region provides value to all members of the community.

Katie Baucco

7:46 pm Comments Off

Katie graduated Penn State University in 2004, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. After five years working as an engineer for a major package delivery company, Katie returned to school to work on her master’s degree. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in December 2010 with an MA in International Development and an MA in Business Administration, and she currently works as the Director of Operations at Amizade.

Global Links

7:45 pm Comments Off

Global Links is a Pittsburgh-based medical relief and development organization dedicated to supporting health improvement initiatives in resource-poor communities and promoting environmental stewardship in the US healthcare system.

Since 1989 Global Links has been working to redirect still-useful materials away from US landfills to support public health programs in targeted communities throughout the Western Hemisphere. We share our experience and technical knowledge with international and domestic partners and educate our volunteers, donors and the community on issues of global health and environmental stewardship.

Respect for all people and our planet guides our mission. We believe health for all is a global good.

Sara Noel

7:40 pm Comments Off

Originally from Denver, Colorado, Sara joined The Global Switchboard team as the Director of Operations in June 2018 after 8 years with Amizade as the Assistant Director where she led Amizade’s Youth Ambassadors Program with South America, a US Department of State funded youth leadership exchange program for high school students from Bolivia, Peru, and the Pittsburgh region. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Michigan as well as two master’s degrees in international studies and conflict resolution from the University of Denver.

Global Wordsmiths

7:29 pm Comments Off

Global Wordsmiths provides low-cost or no-cost, high-quality language translation and interpretation services in Western Pennsylvania. We are a woman-owned, HIPAA compliant Social Enterprise headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA and we are dedicated to improving language access in Western Pennsylvania.

Global Wordsmiths’ main language access initiative is The Language Access Project. The Language Access Project provides bilingual students with comprehensive interpreter training and then partners them with local nonprofits to act as volunteer translators and interpreters. Please consider applying if you are a 501(c)3, work directly with immigrants and refugees and would benefit from no-cost language services!

Tyisha N. Burroughs

7:19 pm Comments Off

Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y. Tyisha attended Penn State University, obtaining a dual BA in Political Science and Communications. She went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in International Affairs from New School University in New York City. Upon completing her Master’s Tyisha joined the Peace Corps. She spent two years working in Swaziland, focusing on female empowerment, and education, helping to create the country’s first National Robotics Competition.

Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh

7:11 pm Comments Off

Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh brings people of all ages together to rethink how our neighborhoods are built and to take action to make them more inclusive and respectful of every generation. From the laws that impact building codes to the training we need to secure the jobs we want to how we’re treated on the bus, there is work to do as our region’s age demographics shift and we’re presented with a new opportunity. In the next two decades, the number of residents ages 65 and older will increase by 40 percent in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Meeting the needs of an older population certainly comes with challenges, but as more of our residents live longer lives, it means our region has a new, growing resource—people with buying power, career expertise, lived experience, and diverse skills and interests. The time is now to tap into this resource by coming together and ensuring continued opportunities for all. In September 2015, thanks to work by SWPPA members and partners, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, kicking off a five-year planning, implementation and evaluation cycle. Our AARP network is part of the World Health Organization’s international initiative.

TEDxPittsburgh

7:01 pm Comments Off

We are Pittsburgh’s platform for showcasing the ideas, individuals and innovations that are redefining the Steel City. Pittsburgh is best known for the steel forged on the banks of its three rivers. Bridges and a blue-collar work ethic have come to define our region. Although present day Pittsburgh is devoid of iron furnaces and steels mills, our reputation for hard work remains. We’ve replaced the relics of the industrial revolution with corporate headquarters, co-working spaces, art galleries and idea labs. We are in the midst of a city wide renaissance. Thanks to the efforts of our city’s incredible network of inventors, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians, the innovation taking place in our backyard are once again laying the foundation for the future of our city and country.

Change Agency

November 6, 2017 2:19 pm Comments Off

Change Agency is a Pittsburgh-based social enterprise on a mission to advance civic initiatives that support community change efforts. Founded in September 2016 by Betty Cruz, Change Agency works with municipal leaders, community-based organizations, institutions, and the business community to make sure all Pittsburghers have a seat at the table. Change Agency’s programs instill welcoming and inclusiveness into the policies and practices put into place in government, business, and community in the Pittsburgh region.

Change Agency’s flagship project, All for All, seeks to take action on the Immigrant Community Blueprint through inclusive advocacy, community engagement, and workforce development.

Change Agency operates out of The Global Switchboard.

Welcoming Pittsburgh

September 28, 2017 4:37 pm Comments Off

Welcoming Pittsburgh is an immigrant and Latino integration strategy launched by Mayor William Peduto in 2014. The following year, Mayor Peduto released a comprehensive citywide plan that established nearly 40 community-led recommendations to advance welcoming efforts. The Mayor’s Office is leading implementation of the plan through cross-sectoral partnerships. Welcoming Pittsburgh is rooted in a commitment to ensure a more livable city for all residents.

Nathan Darity

12:54 pm Comments Off

Nathan completed his graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh in public health and international development before beginning work with Amizade Global Service Learning in 2009. He was Amizade’s site director in Brazil for a few years before becoming a Project Director responsible for designing health science programs, overseeing Brazil site development, and leading a variety of Pittsburgh-based initiatives. In 2014 he helped launch The Global Switchboard as a project of Amizade and in 2016 accepted the role of Executive director of The Switchboard following our transition to an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Nathan is a former member of the Welcoming Pittsburgh Advisory Council through the Office of the Mayor for the City of Pittsburgh, and the host and organizer of CreativeMornings Pittsburgh, a breakfast lecture series for the creative community.

Alaa Mohamed

September 20, 2017 12:49 pm Comments Off

Alaa is an Egyptian-American who obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Bachelor of Philosophy in Global Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, she became a PULSE fellow and served at The Global Switchboard. Following her year of service, she joined The Global Switchboard team full time.

Alaa loves the city of Pittsburgh and maintains an active role in the community by volunteering at different organizations like the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh (ICP), and serves on the board of Pennsylvania Council for International Education (PACIE).

All for All

September 12, 2017 11:45 am Comments Off

Immigrant inclusion doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires a cross-sector coalition committed to welcoming and supporting immigrants as they settle into a community. All for All was a project of Change Agency that connects people, organizations, and communities to ensure that the Pittsburgh region is welcoming and inclusive for all. Through community collaboration and cross-sector partnerships, All for All advanced economic opportunities, broke down barriers, and promoted institutional best practices to further immigrant inclusion.

In response to the momentum built by the network of its partners for a more inclusive Pittsburgh region, and to ensure sustainability for the future, in 2020 All for All began to transition from team leadership to a coalition-led model. The coalition is now convened and supported by The Global Switchboard.

The All for All Coalition is guided by the Immigrant Community Blueprint, a comprehensive, community-informed plan to help immigrants in Allegheny County thrive. All for All seeks to turn that plan into action through four pillars of inclusion: municipal engagement, families & youth, economic development, and civic engagement. By building trust between immigrant communities, public officials, and law enforcement, engaging youth and families, activating career pathways for immigrants, and advancing citizenship supports, All for All is shaping the Pittsburgh region into a truly livable community for immigrants and refugees.

All for All is led by Lais Alexander and operates out of The Global Switchboard.

Amizade

September 8, 2017 7:28 pm Comments Off

Since 1994, Amizade has worked to inspire empathy, catalyze social action, and link diverse communities through Fair Trade Learning. Over 10,000 individuals have served with local community leaders in 12 countries on 4 continents with 16 partnerships. From working with women and girls on rainwater harvesting initiatives in rural Tanzania to running at-risk youth camps in Jamaica, Amizade volunteers have transformed and been transformed.

Brandon Blache-Cohen

September 6, 2017 2:54 pm Comments Off

Brandon Blache-Cohen, named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40 in 2012, has over ten years of experience in the nonprofit, service-learning, and international education sectors. Blache-Cohen first began experimenting with social entrepreneurship and service-learning while an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh. After sailing on Semester at Sea, he combined his passions of travel and social justice by helping to create a student-initiated NGO, FORGE. As Associate Director of FORGE he worked in three refugee camps in Zambia and Botswana on a slew of small-scale development projects. Since then, Blache-Cohen has worked in development for the Tahirih Justice Center in Washington, DC, as a researcher and program assistant for aids2031 in Worcester, MA, and as a consultant for several other small nonprofits and foundations.

In 2007, Blache-Cohen was named as a Social Change Fellow at Clark University, where he earned an MA in International Development and Social Change, focusing on nonprofit/NGO management. In addition to his work with Amizade, Blache-Cohen was a US delegate to the One Young World Summit in Zurich, Switzerland in 2011, has published several articles on responsible global service-learning in peer-reviewed journals, and since 2009 has sat on a planning committee for the Pittsburgh Holocaust Center. To date, Cohen has worked, studied, or traveled in around 70 countries, and has work authorization in the US and EU.

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