Rooted in Pittsburgh. Connected Across Pennsylvania.

Our Community Commitment

Pittsburgh Urban Media believes that strong communities are built through informed, engaged residents. We cover the organizations, leaders, and grassroots movements working every day to make Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania more equitable, more connected, and more just. From the Hill District to Homewood, from Harrisburg to Philadelphia — these are your stories.

“I am excited, inspired and hopeful that we can work together to help make Pittsburgh livable for all. There is much work to do, but together we can create greater opportunities for Black people and other marginalized communities.”

"From day one, my Administration hit the ground running to deliver a city that works for its residents where families can thrive, businesses can grow and we are proud of our vibrant neighborhoods."

"Pittsburgh's path forward depends on how boldly we align infrastructure, innovation, and education around opportunity. The city's success and Pittsburgh Public Schools' success are inseparable."

Get to Know Pittsburgh’s Historic Hill District

A neighborhood built on culture, resilience, and the enduring spirit of Black Pittsburgh.

Few neighborhoods have shaped Pittsburgh’s history — and the nation’s Black cultural legacy — quite like the Hill District.

Perched just above Downtown, the Hill District has long been considered the heart of Black Pittsburgh. For more than a century, it has been home to entrepreneurs, educators, musicians, athletes, artists, ministers, and civil rights leaders who helped define the city’s identity.

A Rich History

Beginning in the early 1900s, thousands of African Americans migrated to Pittsburgh during the Great Migration. By the 1940s and 1950s, Centre Avenue was Pittsburgh’s “Main Street” for Black-owned businesses. National legends including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie performed in the neighborhood’s famous jazz clubs.

The Hill District Today

Today, the Hill District is a neighborhood of approximately 8,000 residents. Major redevelopment projects, new housing, parks, healthcare investments, and business initiatives are bringing renewed attention to the area.

Landmarks Worth Visiting

Homewood Rising: A Neighborhood Shaping Its Own Future

Community-led redevelopment, cultural pride, and resident voices are driving a new chapter in one of Pittsburgh’s most historic Black neighborhoods.

For decades, Homewood has often been defined by headlines written from the outside looking in. But today, residents are writing a different story.

Across the neighborhood, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, educators, entrepreneurs, churches, and residents are working together to create a future that honors Homewood’s history while building new opportunities for generations to come.

A Community Leading Its Own Revitalization

The Homewood Community Development Collaborative continues to bring residents, developers, businesses, and neighborhood partners together through monthly meetings, development planning, and investment initiatives focused on housing, commercial corridors, and economic opportunity.

Investing in People, Not Just Buildings

The University of Pittsburgh Community Engagement Center has expanded programming connecting residents with educational opportunities, workforce development, health initiatives, and youth programming. Organizations such as Homewood Children’s Village continue to focus on improving outcomes for young people.

Looking Ahead

As redevelopment continues across Pittsburgh, Homewood is demonstrating that revitalization is most successful when it grows from the neighborhood itself — not simply around it.

Trailblazing Officer Launches Youth Equestrian Program

Detective Leftwich’s “Riding Into the Future” program pairs Pittsburgh youth with horses and agricultural education at Sunni Bell Stables