Justice at Work (formerly Friends of Farmworkers) improves the living and working conditions of vulnerable low wage farmworkers, mushroom workers, landscaping workers, and food processing workers in Pennsylvania. We do this through the provision of Legal Services, Education, and Advocacy.
menu
Justice at Work (formerly Friends of Farmworkers) improves the living and working conditions of vulnerable low wage farmworkers, mushroom workers, landscaping workers, and food processing workers in Pennsylvania. We do this through the provision of Legal Services, Education, and Advocacy.
The Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh (BCAP) is a refugee based community organization and a local non-profit established in 2012. It’s a 501(c)3 organization registered in the State of Pennsylvania with a mission to help former refugees integrate and thrive in Allegheny County. It conducts civic education classes in partnership with GPLC, civic engagement, connection to services, mental health outreach, cultural celebrations, exchanges, and preservation.
ARYSE’s work includes advocacy for education equity and pro-immigrant and refugee policies, organizes summer and other out-of-school-time programming including PRYSE Academy, and provides individualized support to immigrant and refugee youth.
ARYSE’s flagship program is Pittsburgh Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment (PRYSE) Academy – founded in 2013, PRYSE is a three-week summer program that combines English and academic classes, creative expression workshops, civic engagement activities, and sports to help immigrant and refugee youth become prepared for the school year and develop confidence in themselves through sharing and celebrating their cultural identities.
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 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.
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).
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.
Betty Cruz is a passionate community advocate and a leader in Pittsburgh’s effort to welcome immigrants to the region. As the founder and director of Change Agency, Betty works to advance civic initiatives that support community change efforts. Through programs like All for All, she forges connections across sectors to ensure that Pittsburgh’s global community is considered and included in policies and programs.
Before founding Change Agency, Betty worked as the Deputy Chief of Special Initiatives for Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, where among her many projects she worked to establish the Welcoming Pittsburgh initiative to cultivate a plan for a more inclusive and welcoming Pittsburgh region.
Betty is a first-generation Cuban-American with a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and nearly 20 years of experience in community outreach, communications, partnership-building, and program management. She is “Miamian by birth, Pittsburgher by choice,” and a member of The Global Switchboard.