Pgh Ranks High for High School Diplomas, Low for Degrees

Lower unemployment than most, poorer roads than most: those are a couple of the findings of a new benchmark study comparing a 22 county Pittsburgh region with 14 other cities. The report was compiled by the Regional Indicators at Pittsburgh today dot org.
In the 2nd part of our look at this study, DUQ’s Kevin Gavin talks with the director of the Regional Indicators, Doug Heuck about some of the 10 categories including economy, arts, health, education and demographics.

Listen to the interview

Listen to Part 1

PA Rep: Teens Need More Drive Time

State Rep. Kathy Watson of Bucks County says the bill she introduced this week would help to save the lives of young drivers. Her bill carries three main changes to the state’s driving laws. The first would extend the number of behind-the-wheel hours a permit holder needs before moving on to a driver’s licenses, from the current 50 hours to 65 hours. Watson says ten of the additional hours would have to be logged at night and the other five during “inclement weather.” “We have found in reviewing crashes for this age group, these are factors that occur, that often young people are not prepared to handle,” says Watson. She says she hopes parents will abide by the rules and not just sign off on the specialized hours. “If your child is really good at sports you get them out there to practice soccer or baseball, or if you’ve got the concert pianist in the family, or whatever it is, you work with them because you get better with practice,” says Watson, “this is the same thing and this has really deadly consequences if they don’t get that experience.”

The bill would also force anyone from birth to age 18 to wear a seatbelt while seated anywhere in the car and it would make that law a primary offense, which means a police officer could pull over a car based solely on that violation. Watson says more than 50-percent of all automobile accident fatalities among 16 to 18 year olds can be traced back to not wearing seatbelts.

Finally, the bill calls for the number of teens that can be in the car with a young driver to be limited to just one. “They can not text or they can put the cell phone away but they can’t tune out the others who are in the car with them talking, laughing, asking questions,” says Watson, “that is very difficult for a new driver to deal with and process all that is going on on the road around them.” Exceptions would be made for family members.

Watson says she will work hard to make sure the bill is not bogged down with amendments. She says while, issues such as texting while driving and the use of hand held cell phones are important, they should not be added to this bill. She says those items are better handled in stand-alone bills that impact all drivers, not just teens.

Jewish Youth to Convene In Pgh

About 140 Jewish teens will arrive in Pittsburgh this week for a multiple-state convention that includes volunteer work and education on special needs.

Hailing from Ohio and its surrounding states, the youths of the Central Region of United Synagogue youth will gather at the Beth Shalom synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

Beth Shalom youth Director Carolyn Gerecht says the teens will volunteer with Ronald McDonald House, several food pantries, and Thriftique, a Swissvale thrift store run by the National Council of Jewish Women.

Gerecht says the theme of the convention’s workshops will be “viewing special needs through a Jewish lens.”

“For example, they’ll talk about what it’s like to do some of the different prayers or different rituals that are associated with holidays … what it’s like to experience that if you have a physical or mental disability.”

Gerecht says the teens will also experience the “excited” Pittsburgh Jewish community by staying overnight with Beth Shalom families.

“Not all of these kids are coming from a community like that. Some of them are the only Jew in their high school, and I think it will be exciting for them to see what this kind of community looks like.”

Because United Synagogue youth is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Beth Shalom is also seeking past USY members to speak with the group about what the organization has done over time.

City Youth Work Program Twice as Big

The Pittsburgh Summer Youth Employment Program marked its midway point today by taking Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl on a tour of several work sites across the city. The program gives city youth 6 weeks of employment from July 6th through August 14th. They are paid minimum wage while working in mostly public works-type jobs but City Acting Personnel Director Judy Hill Finegan says this year some of the participants are working “white collar internships.” With 554 participants, the program is twice the size it was last year. The expansion comes with the help of federal stimulus finds. Finegan says the $1.6 million in stimulus funds had to go to disadvantaged youth, the $500,000 from the city was used for projects that could attract block grant funds and $150,000 from the Pittsburgh foundation was used to fill the gaps. Students were chosen using a lottery system from all city zip codes. Finegan says not only do the participants get to put more than one thousand dollars in their pocket but they also walk away with work experience and a “Jumpstart Success” certification. The certification is preapproved by the PA Department of Education and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board and recognized by employers across the state. She says the certification process includes education on how to be a good employee. It touches on everything from showing up on time and listening to making a good representation of your self and building interpersonal relationships. About a third of the stimulus money will be held back for a work preparation program for 22-24 year olds later this year.

Bill to Expand Foster Care Stalled

A state senator from Philadelphia is calling on her fellow lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow foster children to stay in the system beyond the age of 18. Currently any child in the system must leave upon turning 18, but Sen. LeAnna Washington has proposed legislation that would allow them to remain under foster care until the age of 21. Washington says 36 other states already have some sort of program that allows teenagers to stay in foster care. Washington says many 18 year-olds wind up on the streets after ageing out of foster care. She says they need the education, health insurance and housing support. Washington says the hope is that by the age of 21 they will have, “completed their education, finished any treatment program they may have been in, and are ready to enter the workforce.” As of September,2008, there were some 8,500 children 13 years of age and older in Pennsylvania’s foster care system. Sen. Washington has introduced two similar bills and both are sitting in committee. Washington says it is time for the matter to be called and debated. She hopes this will be the first step toward legislation to provide a free community college education to any foster care child.

Ravenstahl: Open the Curfew Center

Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is calling on City Council Members to listen to the citizens and vote on a contract to open a curfew center. The center would be used as a drop off and social service center for youth picked up for violating the city’s curfew laws. Ravenstahl reached a deal with Three Rivers Youth to run a center at 200 N. Dithridge St. in North Oakland earlier this year. The contract comes with a half million-dollar price tag. Council postponed a vote on the deal last month until they could hold a public hearing. That hearing came a week and a half ago and Ravenstahl says the result was clear that the citizens want the center. He says, “This is not something I came up with. This was requested by police and the people who live in the neighborhoods.” The measure could come up for debate Wednesday. Ravenstahl says he originally wanted to open the center May 1st to make sure it was in place and running before the summer when more youth hit the streets after hours. Three Rivers Youth will not only hold the curfew violators but also will give them and their families counseling and connect them with other social service agencies. Ravenstahl says police will not enforce the city’s curfew law until a center is operating. Council President Doug Shields has come out against the center in the past and Bill Peduto and Jim Motznik are on record as being in favor of curfew enforcement. It is unclear if there are enough votes on council to pass the measure.

Pittsburgh Project Names New Executive Director

The Pittsburgh Project, a community development organization on the city's North Side, today announced that Elizabeth Rosemeyer will now be the group's Executive Director. Rosemeyer, a former a attorney, has been the Project's Associate Executive Director since January. She will be only the second executive director in the 24-year history of the Project succeeding Saleem Ghubril who recently accepted a new position at the Pittsburgh Promise. Rosemeyer says she will rely on her hard-working staff to continue with the current the Project's current initiatives. Currently the Project is involved in youth development, community outreach, urban farming, and homeowners service programs.

Grable Foundation Pledges $5 Million to Pittsburgh Promise

The Pittsburgh Promise, a scholarship program for public school graduates, will receive 5 million dollars over the next five years from the Grable Foundation, and maybe more thereafter. Since UPMC's major commitment last year, the Buhl Foundation, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Heinz Endowments have also pledged millions.

Grable Foundation Executive Director Greg Behr says the gift is a vote of confidence in the superintendent, the school board, and the students.

Behr hopes others will step forward to support the Pittsburgh Promise.

Manchester Students Mark Anti-Violence Week

An annual staff-student basketball game at Pittsburgh Manchester PreK-8 has turned into a week of anti-violence activities. Curriculum Coach Angela Taylor says recent violence in the neighborhood prompted this week's schedule of activities ranging from anti-violence decorations on classroom doors, to a Random Acts of Kindness competition, to a community meeting. The usual basketball game will still take place Friday night. Teachers are also incorporating an anti-violence message into their lesson plans.