Gordon Hodnett

Pronouns: he/him/his
Gordon started out as a ReClaim South Ambassador in 2013 for GTECH Strategies, now Grounded. He now considers himself as a “Father Gardener.” While he was a ReClaim South Ambassador, he created the Garden on Gearing in Beltzhoover. Gordon envisioned the community garden in 2014 and it hasn’t stopped growing since. The once-vacant lot is now an edible garden that provides seasonal fruits and vegetables to passersby, including a fruit tree orchard, colorful mural, and a bench so you can stop and enjoy this special Gearing Street ecosystem. Gordon is part of the Beltzhoover Consensus Group, the Beltzhoover Neighborhood Council and Black Urban Gardeners.

Gordon has a background in interviewing boys starting in their first, third and seventh year of school for The Pittsburgh Youth Study, interviewing clients with dual diagnoses in the psychiatric field, and helping recently released prisoners acclimate to life outside of jail. He decided to join Grounded Strategies’ board because he appreciates their mission and the work of the employees, enjoys helping the larger community and hopes to encourage diversity. He feels inspired by Grounded after the collaboration on his work as an Ambassador in 2013 and truly believes in revitalizing Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

In his spare time, Gordon enjoys doing the “same thing you do: sleeping, eating and drinking.” Additionally, he enjoys reading, walking, and going to lectures, talks, and performances. In his opinion, gardening is not a spare time activity.