Suzanne N. Photos ReClaim South Ambassador, 2014 Suzanne has lived in her neighborhood for 38 years and has seen the changes that it has gone through. In particular she misses the former St. Joseph church and the sense of community there was when she was growing up. Through this program, she hopes to restore neighborhood togetherness and increase the number of those residents engaged in the community. Click here to learn more about her project, GameStop at the Corner. ReClaim South Sustaining Momentum…Read More
Quentin Rice Pronouns: she/her/hers Quentin graduated from Chatham University with a Sustainability degree in May 2020. Since then she has worked through Serve the Moment, an offshoot of Repair the World, where she did service at a food pantry and learning focused on social justice issues within the Pittsburgh area. She now works with Grounded through Repair the World Pittsburgh as a two-year fellow! Quentin is excited to work with Grounded because of her passion for engaging others for service work, advocating…Read More
Chitra Gurung ReClaim South Ambassador Chitra moved to the Mt. Oliver neighborhood from Bhutan in 2012. He hopes that through his participation that he can create a community space for his Bhutanese people to help increase their knowledge and understanding of the neighborhood. He also is excited to help make Pittsburgh a greener city. Click here to learn more about Mt. Oliver Community Garden Gathering Space. Read More
Jenna Ruggiero Pronouns: she/her/hers Originally from western Maryland, Jenna moved to Pittsburgh to study at the University of Pittsburgh, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies with a minor in Studio Arts. From a young age, Jenna wanted to study architecture to create tangible change, and she is passionate about intersectionality within the design of the built environment. She is excited to work with Grounded as a Design and Placemaking Intern to continue to expand her community-based design knowledge…Read More
Melanie Pfeiffenberger ReClaim South Ambassador Melanie is no stranger to environmentalism - she studied the subject at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently employed by the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PCR) as an Environmental Program Coordinator. She has only lived in Mount Washington for a few months, but already she loves the uniqueness of her neighbors. Along with the task of reclaiming a lot, she'll be keeping busy training for her first half marathon in the spring. Click here to learn more…Read More
Kayla Brennan Pronouns: she/her/hers Kayla Brennan was born and raised in Calvert County, Maryland. Having an interest in research, she attended Duquesne University and joined a microbiology lab studying bacteria in abandoned mine drainage. During her time at Duquesne, she realized she was mainly interested in environmental science and joined volunteer organizations that allowed her to garden and help clean the Allegheny River. After graduating with a major in biology and minor in environmental science, Kayla continues to pursue her passion for…Read More
David Totten ReClaim South Ambassador Originally from California, David is looking to get more involved in his neighborhood, which is what drew him to apply to ReClaim South. As a Regional Transit Planner, it isn't a surprise that he is passionate preserving the highway of stairs that criss cross his community. Click here to learn more about his project, Little Free Libraries in the Hilltop.Read More
Maia Egan Pronouns: she/her Maia is from central Pennsylvania and is going into her fourth year of Landscape Architecture at Penn State University with a minor in Sustainability Leadership and a focus on Designing Sustainable Communities. She is passionate about helping communities and horticulture. Her experience in the professional world of landscape architecture includes residential and implementation work. She is excited to learn more about urban green spaces, the process of community design and the social justice aspect of the profession. In…Read More
John Niederberger ReClaim South Ambassador, 2014 As an avid antique glass collector, John can tell you all about the glass that used to be produced in his neighborhood at the turn of the century. Cousins with Suzanne, they have reconnected recently to tackle a greening project together. He is interested in improving the quality of life of his neighbors by "declucking" vacant lots in his community. Click here to learn more about his project, St. Joseph's Garden. ReClaim South Sustaining Momentum Ambassador,…Read More
Matthew Nealon Pronouns: he/him Matthew grew up outside of Chicago in Naperville, IL where he graduated from North Central College with degrees in Physics and Political Science. Following graduation, he will be attending the University of Pittsburgh Law School seeking to become a patent attorney. Matthew is eager to put his experiences in the realms of policy, advocacy, and community organizing into practice in Pittsburgh. He is very excited to learn more about the diverse communities within the Pittsburgh area and how best to…Read More
Patti Stewart ReClaim South Ambassador Patti has been a resident of Mt. Oliver City for nearly 40 years. Although the elementary school closed recently, her favorite green space in her neighborhood is the still active Phillip Murray playground. Her favorite bridge in the city is the Roberto Clemente, so it's no surprise that she is a fan of the Pirates. Click here to learn more about her project, Patti's Point.Read More
Wise Allen Pronouns: he/him/his Wise is joins Grounded as a fellow from Repair the World in fighting for social justice and facilitating growth in overlooked places. He is a University of Pittsburgh graduate with a B.A in History and an unabashed nerd! As a staff member of the City Clerk's Office in downtown Pittsburgh, Wise has spent countless hours pouring over forgotten city records and ordinances. A lover of all things outdoors you can often find Wise on the trails and bike…Read More