Community Forum on City's Future
Published on April 29, 2025
The Pittsburgh We Love, The Pittsburgh We'll Build: Community Forum on City's Future
How will Pittsburgh balance growth and the needs of established and historic communities?
Pittsburgh, PA – Pittsburgh stands at a historic crossroads. After decades of population decline—from 680,000 residents in 1950 to 303,000 today—our city is finally stabilizing, with new economic opportunities marking a pivot toward growth. As this transition unfolds, a public forum will bring residents together to envision a future that honors what we cherish while embracing what we might become.
On April 30th from 5-8 PM at CCAC Northside, community members from across Pittsburgh's 90 neighborhoods are invited to join a conversation about how our city can grow while preserving the character and communities that make Pittsburgh special.
"The big questions about our future are everywhere," said Mayor Ed Gainey. "From the density and affordability of our neighborhoods, to how we weather the changing climate, to the diversity and inclusion of our growth industries—and most importantly, who gets to have a voice in planning for our shared future."
It is a fact of Pittsburgh's history that city planning policies have been exclusionary and caused significant harm for some communities. African American communities like the Hill District and East Liberty are clear examples of how planning has been used as a tool of segregation and economic divestment.
"If we are going to be a just and resilient city, we will have to be proactive about repairing historic harms and creating a place for all communities to have a voice in how we navigate change and transition," Dr. Jamil Bey, Director, Department of City Planning continued. "This time can be different. This time, we can write Pittsburgh's next chapter together."
For the first time in our city's 200+ year history, Pittsburgh is creating a comprehensive plan encompassing all 90 neighborhoods. If there were ever a time for Pittsburgh to have a comprehensive plan for its future—with all communities bought into the plan—this is the moment. The forum will introduce the "Just Transition" approach – a framework ensuring that as our city grows, the benefits reach everyone across Pittsburgh's diverse neighborhoods. This public forum will help community members understand how the Just Transition approach can guide planning in ways that strengthen existing communities.
The event welcomes all who care about Pittsburgh's future:
- Longtime residents who've witnessed decades of change
- Newcomers who chose Pittsburgh for its unique character and potential
- Business owners invested in their local communities
- Young people who will inherit the city we plan today
- Anyone who believes their neighborhood's story matters
Attendees will get an update on the City’s comprehensive planning process, and discover how everyday residents can help drive this process forward, ensuring that growth and change benefit everyone.
"Whether you've lived here for five generations or five months, your vision for Pittsburgh matters," added Sharonda Whatley. Assistant Director, Strategic Planning, Department of City Planning. This isn't just about buildings and roads – it's about the soul of our neighborhoods and who gets to thrive here."
The forum is free and open to the public. Food will be provided. Event Details are below:
- Date/Time: April 30, 2025, 5-8 PM
5-6pm Refreshments and Networking
6pm formal program begins
- Location: Community College of Allegheny County - Allegheny Campus
Student Services Center Auditorium
839 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
About Pittsburgh 2050
Pittsburgh 2050 is a two-year initiative uniting all 90 neighborhoods to create our city's first comprehensive citywide plan. Through engaging 30,000 residents, we'll craft a vision that honors our heritage while building a more equitable, sustainable, and vibrant future for all Pittsburghers.
Featured Speakers and Panelists:
Jacqueline Patterson, Founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project
Jacqueline Patterson is the Founder and Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project: A Resource Hub for Black Frontline Climate Justice Leadership. The mission of the Chisholm Legacy Project is rooted in a Just Transition Framework, serving as a vehicle to connect Black communities on the frontlines of climate justice with the resources to actualize visions.
Prior to the launch of the Chisholm Legacy Project, Patterson served as the Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program for over a decade. During her tenure, she founded and implemented a robust portfolio which included serving the state and local leadership whose constituencies consisted of hundreds of communities on the frontlines of environmental injustice. She led a team in designing and implementing a portfolio to support political education and organizing work executed by NAACP branches, chapters, and state conferences. Patterson has dedicated her career to intersectional approaches to systems change. Working with frontline communities from Kampala, Uganda to Kansas City, USA to Kingston, Jamaica, her passion for social justice led her to serve as coordinator & co-founder of Women of Color United; Senior Women’s Rights Policy Analyst for ActionAid; Assistant Vice-President of HIV/AIDS Programs for IMA World Health, Outreach Project Associate for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Research Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica.
Patterson holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves on the Advisory Boards for Center for Earth Ethics, Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship, and the Hive Fund for Gender and Climate Justice, on the Governance Assemblies for Mosaic Momentum, and Collectrify, as well as on the Boards of Directors for the Institute of the Black World, the Bill Anderson Fund, Movement Strategy Center, the Just Solutions Collective, the National Black Workers Center Project, and Ceres. Her exceptional leadership has earned her the 2021 Heinz Award for the Environment and recognition as one of Time Magazine's 2024 Women of the Year, along with the Time Magazine Earth Award.
Sharonda Whatley, Assistant Director of Strategic Planning, Department of City Planning, City of Pittsburgh
Sharonda Whatley is the Department of City Planning's Assistant Director of Strategic Planning. Sharonda Whatley serves as the Assistant Director of Strategic Planning in Pittsburgh's Department of City Planning, holding degrees in Anthropology and City & Regional Planning from Ohio State University. Her international experience studying people, culture, and the built environment in Egypt and West Africa informs her belief that mobilized and informed residents drive neighborhood change. Whatley leads major municipal planning projects, facilitates programs building community capital, and works across disciplines to reduce urban disparities. A featured presenter at multiple professional conferences, she currently serves on various boards nationwide focusing on community design, arts & culture, and environmental justice.
Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer, Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Majestic Lane brings over 20 years of experience as a Non-Profit executive, municipal leader, and social entrepreneur to his role as Chief Equity Officer for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, where he leads efforts advancing economic mobility across Southwestern Pennsylvania's ten-county region. Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and inaugural Chief Equity Officer under Mayor William Peduto, establishing Pittsburgh's first Office of Equity. Lane's achievements in government and economic development have earned him recognition as a city innovator from Bloomberg Cities Network and the 2022 Impact 50 award from City & State Pennsylvania. An accomplished speaker who has presented at the United Nations in Geneva and MIT, he serves on numerous boards including the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Green Building Alliance.
Christine Mondor, Principal EvolveEA, FAIA, LEED AP, EcoDistricts AP
Co-Chair, Pittsburgh 2050, Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee
As the Strategic Principal of evolveEA, Christine Mondor has shaped the built environment and public processes for more than two decades. Her body of work reflects a commitment to improving communities throughout the country. In Pittsburgh, Christine has supported that mission by serving as Chair of the City Planning Commission and the Infrastructure Transition Committee (under two different mayoral administrations), and as co-chair of Pittsburgh's Comprehensive Plan Strategic Committee.
Olga George
Press Secretary
Mayor's Office
olga.george@pittsburghpa.gov
412-627-0679