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Pittsburgh Courier NEW
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 116 No.8 Two Sections
FEBRUARY 19-25, 2025
thenewpittsburghcourier Published Weekly $1.00
Salem’s Market in the Hill District closes...but for how long? More questions than answers as community left in limbo by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Even during a windy snow squall in the middle of a Sunday afternoon in the Hill District, where it could have been just as easy to stay at home, there they were, African American men, women and children braving the frigid cold to shop at the only grocery store in the neighborhood, Salem's Market. Even when the entire neighborhood knew that Salem's Market in the Hill District, 1850 Centre Ave., was closing at 7 p.m. that Sunday evening, Feb. 16, possibly never to open again, for some reason, it didn't deter people like Neal Sims, Roydi Suazo, Kamryn Delouvpre and her son, Dion (and his toy truck), or Carolyn Moye. Fanfare was out of this world on Nov. 17, 2021, when Salem's Market hosted a meet-and-greet of sorts inside the Centre Avenue location, as a month earlier, Salem's
was selected over three other applicants to open a new store there, previously occupied by Shop 'n Save but had been closed for a few years. The big stars were out that night; the owner, Abdullah Salem; Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, Hill District Community Development Corporation President and CEO Marimba Milliones; WAMO radio host Kiki; and plenty more. Fanfare was out of this world when Salem's held its grand opening in February 2024, and the store was also celebrated for hiring people from the Hill District. Even Congresswoman Summer Lee and other federal officials visited the store in July 2024, applauding Salem's for moving into the Hill District and providing a grocery store for the community. Little did anyone in the Hill District Black comSEE SALEM’S A5
KAMRYN DELOUVPRE, and her son, Dion, 4. Delouvpre told the Courier that with Salem’s Market being so close to her home in the Hill District, it’s sad that the store is closing, even if it’s only temporary. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
Black men continue to show their ‘vulnerable’ side Mental and physical health is top of mind by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
With every passing week, it seems like there's another meeting, or a forum, or a seminar, meant to unite Black men and allow them to just...be vulnerable. The African American Male Wellness Agency, which was started in Columbus, Ohio, has made its way to Pittsburgh. Some know the group from its inaugural wellness walk that was held last summer at Westinghouse Park in Point Breeze, where 300 people in attendance came out, and roughly 140 men were signed up for free doctor's appointments. On Jan. 14, 2025, the organization held a "Real Men, Real Talk" session at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. A few dozen Black men coming together on
an otherwise ordinary Tuesday evening, but for a formidable cause. "If we don't come together and start dealing with these internal battles as a whole, especially as Black men, then we won't be able to help our Black women, our Black kids and our Black communities," voiced Meleak Potter, one of the Black men in attendance. Potter, a real estate professional, grew up on the East Side of Pittsburgh. He said at the outset of the session, the men took their "masks off." In other words, come to this meeting not as your representative, or as the person the outside world wants you to be, but as authentically, unapologetically you. "The initial start off of vulnerability, looking each SEE BLACK MEN A4
Pittsburgh Courier
SOME OF THE BLACK MEN AT THE “REAL MEN, REAL TALK” SESSION, HELD, JAN. 14, AT THE AWAACC. (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
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