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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Pittsburgh

Your Pittsburgh-wide community bulletin board.

Do you remember the joy you felt when you were learning to ride a bike, without training wheels, and a parent would run alongside to make sure you didn’t tip over? Whether you need a refresher or you’re completely new to bicycles, 

Ages five and up are invited to give it a go June 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. on the half-mile Bud Harris Cycling Track alongside Washington Boulevard. POGOH will have bikes, as well as a tandem and low-step bike 

If you miss Friday, you’ll have other opportunities to “Learn 2 Ride” later this summer.

Remember what President John F. Kennedy said: “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike.”

Learn To Ride a Bicycle in Pittsburgh This Summer 2024

Learn To Ride a Bicycle in Pittsburgh This Summer

Make Pittsburgh better, one neighbor at a time. Find volunteering opportunities, ways to get involved and give back, and more.

Help Your Pittsburgh Neighbors

Help Your Neighbors

Getting into fights with your landlord over maintenance issues? Going to court might not be your best bet, since the court only sides with tenants 

Just Mediation Pittsburgh offers an alternative to going through the legal system. Mediators from the organization step in as a third party to help tenants and landlords find a solution. Deputy director María Núñez says more than 95% of cases the nonprofit works on lead to an agreement, and she encourages folks to keep lines of communication open after the mediation process ends.

Tenants and landlords can both request a call with Just Mediation Pittsburgh, but there are a few requirements. You can’t have an open court case while going through mediation, and if you’re a tenant, you must live in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County. Find other requirements and income eligibility 

But hopefully, you can find a good landlord in the first place! Adam DiBuo with Neighborhood Legal Services has a 

How To Settle a Housing Dispute With Your Landlord

City of Pittsburgh spray parks opened over the weekend, but residents 

 until at least June 15 before plunging into a city pool. Officials say they’ll announce in early June which locations and exact dates — after lifeguards complete certification.

. Admission is free for children 15 and under who live in the city, as well as disabled veterans, active duty military, and reservist guard members. Residents who receive government assistance can purchase tags for a 50% discount with proof and an ID.

: get a "family of four" season pass and split it among the pool users in your life. Each family pays $60 total, and you can add up to two additional people for $10 more each. At a regular daily rate of $5 per adult, you’ll reap the value in just a few visits! Note: Applications are 

How to Enjoy Pittsburgh Pools on the Cheap

Looking for a fun new passion? The PGH SK8 Collaborative needs volunteers to help with table set-ups, information displays, event check-ins, and skate rentals. 🛼 

Check out this sign-up form for more information

➕ PGH SK8 is a friend of City Cast Pittsburgh! Hear all about 

, the group’s plans for expansion, and why it matters who leads the charge.

🛼 That Pittsburgh Stride

Volunteer With PGH SK8 Collaborative

Want to see your art displayed in a longstanding Pittsburgh exhibit? There’s still time to apply to the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s 110th Annual Exhibition in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The 110th will return to the Space Gallery in Downtown this September — the home of the first ever exhibition in 1910 — and will run through January 2025.

 for completed or proposed works. AAP is looking for a diverse range of media formats and is encouraging artists to reflect on the identity of our city — especially the interplay “between art and sports, activity and movement, rest and play and how these currents may connect us (or not).” Artists selected for the exhibition will receive a stipend for their participation

Apply Here!

The 110th will return to the Space Gallery in Downtown this September.

Apply for the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh’s 110th Annual Exhibition

 dreams of a Black birthing or postpartum recovery center in Pittsburgh. But she says that in order for the support systems to be built, locals need to understand exactly what people of color go through here. According to the 

2019 Pittsburgh Gender Equity Commission study

, Black women's maternal mortality is higher in Pittsburgh than 97 percent of similar cities.

That’s why Gordon is committed to sharing the stories of moms, midwives, and doulas through a new documentary, “

Her Dreams: A Story of The Future of Black Birth

“I want people to be drawn to action. I have to do something about this. It’s like we’re in a third-world country,” Gordon says.

The documentary raises funds for maternal health workers, birth workers, continuing education, aspiring doulas, and midwives. It premiered at Kelly Strayhorn Theater this month; 

, introduced in March by the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus, is a legislative package of eight bills that would require coverage for doula services and blood pressure monitors, mandate ongoing implicit bias training, and establish the Maternal and Newborn Supply Kit program.

 stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair and seeks to end race-based hair discrimination.

, an educational symposium at the Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center

 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center

 uplifts Black voices and advocates for systemic changes at the intersectionality of gender and race

 supports Allegheny and Westmoreland County families and communities through community programming, advocacy, research, and training — like the 

 is a reproductive justice organization supporting Black women, Black queer folks, and other marginalized people through leadership development, community care, resources, and mutual aid

 amplifies the voices of Black moms while creating programs to connect them to their communities

 provides doula care and childbirth education for Black families

 is Western PA's first and only licensed, freestanding birth center

 offers pelvic floor support before and after birth

 supports and empowers marginalized pregnant, postpartum, and incarcerated birthing people

Pittsburgh fails Black moms. These organizations are making a difference.

Resources and Events for Black Maternal Health Week in Pittsburgh

A New Film, Resources and Events for Black Maternal Health Week in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh residents can beautify their gardens with free mulch thanks to the city’s annual 

 program. This year, the City of Pittsburgh diverted more than 2,300 Christmas trees from the landfill.

Pick up is at the Pittsburgh Zoo overflow parking lot from dawn until dusk on 

. Don’t forget to bring your own buckets, gloves, and shovels!

Wondering what to use the mulch for? It’s great for landscaping and cover for acid-loving plants like hydrangeas and dogwoods.

 Lots of smaller municipalities in and around Allegheny County offer free dirt, compost, or topsoil for pickup throughout the planting season.

🌱 How To Start Your Backyard Garden

Residents can pick up mulch on April 20 and 27.

How to Get Free Mulch for Your Pittsburgh Garden

Know someone who needs a summer gig? CitiParks is looking to recruit, certify, and train lifeguards for the upcoming pool season. The number of city pools that will open depends on how many lifeguards come on board. Last year, Pittsburgh opened 15 pools, but in 2022, it only opened eight.

 Lifeguards must be City of Pittsburgh residents, at least 16 years old by Sept. 3, be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and be willing to work at any CitiParks Outdoor Pool.

 $16.97 to $19.57 per hour, based on experience

 The job may lead to future city employment; many public safety professionals get their start as lifeguards.

Fill out the 2024 Lifeguard Interest Form

 and CitiParks Aquatics will contact you.

Know someone who needs a summer gig? Help Pittsburgh open more pools by becoming a lifeguard.

Apply To Be a Lifeguard at Pittsburgh’s CitiParks Pools

Home ownership is a key part of building and maintaining generational wealth, but deed and title discrepancies and lack of resources are affecting many Pittsburgh residents.

Clinic for Legal Equity and Repair (CLEAR), a new program from 

, wants to address wealth disparities in underserved communities by directly helping individuals and families living in their homes without a legal title to the property in their name — often referred to as “tangled title” issues.

The term “tangled title” refers to legal real estate ownership problems where the deed of a home is not in the name of the person living in it. This commonly happens when someone lives in the home of a family member who passed away without transferring a title.

The CLEAR program provides free resources to residents of Allegheny County in a tangled title situation. Rectifying the issue can be cost prohibitive, and tangled titles often lead people to lose their homes and create issues like securing home loans in the future. The program will cover the cost of things like legal representation and home repair contractors.

Aside from being located in Allegheny County, there are no eligibility requirements, but Catapult is prioritizing people who are 62 and older, caregivers of children 18 and younger, and veterans or their widows/widowers. The organization is also focusing on preserving Black homeownership.

Learn More About CLEAR

The Clinic for Legal Equity and Repair program helps home owners with "tangled title" issues.

Free Home Ownership Help with 'Tangled Title' Issues

Get Free Home Ownership Help with 'Tangled Title' Issues

Do you know a middle schooler who could use a little boost and a lot of fun? This May, the local mental health group 

 is kicking off a wellness conference tailored to middle school students. 

 will feature inspirational workshops, expert speakers, and practical coping techniques. It’s taking place at Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg on May 8.

The best part? Camp Lucy is completely free. But there are only 200 tickets available, and the organization is encouraging school districts to only register 5-10 students to ensure widespread participation.

The event is led by mental health advocate and Pittsburgh native Jordan Corcoran. Other speakers include 

Julius Boatwright, founder of Steel Smiling

; Ta’lor Pinkston, creator of The Heart Advocate; Julia Broglie, co-founder of BroglieBox; and Gab Bonesso, recognized as a Top 100 Speaker on Mental Resilience.

Find More Pittsburgh Tips!

The May 8 event will feature workshops, expert speakers, and practical coping techniques.