America’s best weekly Sharise Nance’s ‘S.W.A.G. Awards’ puts local social workers in the spotlight See Page A8
Pittsburgh Courier NEW
www.newpittsburghcourier.com Vol. 114 No. 12 Two Sections
MARCH 22-28, 2023
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THE REVITALIZATION OF THE HILL DISTRICT CONTINUES
Hill District Federal Credit Union expands in more ways than one by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The Hill District Federal Credit Union is expanding, not only in its physical size, but in its financial offerings for its customers. Wednesday, March 15, marked the public announcement that the credit union had acquired the storefront space to the left of its space at 2021 Centre Ave., and in about 10 months, there will not only be a new classroom in that space specifically for financial literacy classes, but four two-bedroom apartments will be housed above the credit union. And the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned exclusively that the Hill District Federal Credit Union will start a mortgage department, giving its customers a chance to purchase a home through their hometown credit union. “We’ve never done mortgages before,” said longtime CEO of the Hill District Federal Credit Union, Richard Witherspoon. “I’m building a mortgage program from the ground up. Our mortgage program is
going to be geared towards us, for us.” Witherspoon said he built the credit union’s small business lines of credit specifically for African Americans, and it’s worked out handily. There are 82 small businesses with lines of credit through the HDFCU. “It’s always a win when longtime community institutions participate in the revitalization of their community,” voiced Marimba Milliones, President and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation. “When we have longstanding institutions participating, owning expanding, fulfilling commitments to the master plan, those are wins.” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey was on hand for the celebration, held on a sunny day in the Hill District. “I always say that as development happens it should be diverse, and it should be reflective of the neighborhood in which the people come from, and you’ve accomplished that by expanding the Hill District Federal CredSEE CREDIT UNION A6
RICHARD WITHERSPOON, LONGTIME LEADER OF A HILL DISTRICT JEWEL, THE HILL DISTRICT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. (PHOTO BY J.L MARTELLO)
CARES CommuniTEA Cafe celebrates two years in business by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Glenn “Rambo” Ramsey and Danielle Parson were just two of the many Pittsburghers who picked up some food at CARES CommuniTEA Cafe, on Feb. 1, 2023, a very special day for the eatery in the Hill District. Feb. 1 marked exactly two years that CARES CommuniTEA Cafe had been in business. The cafe is a workforce development initiative of The Center that CARES, founded by Rev. Glenn Grayson Sr., pastor of Wesley Center AME Zion Church, on Centre Avenue. The organization also runs the popular Jeron X. Grayson Community Center, on Enoch Street in the Hill. At a time when some businesses have left the Centre Heldman Plaza, CARES CommuniTEA Cafe has withstood, of all things, a pandemic. “We’re really excited
about surviving two years in the pandemic, two years with rising food costs, two years of challenging workforce and staff and people switching jobs,” said Shinora Johnson, with The Center that CARES, in an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier. “So, it’s been a struggle, but I feel a sense of pride and people coming here, having meetings...it’s something that the community really needed... there’s really no sit-down restaurants or eateries in the community.” Johnson said as she’s watched local and state politicians and other Pittsburgh notables come into the restaurant, or people having a chance to fellowship at the eatery, “it warms my soul. Sometimes you have really slow days, but when you see that the community needs something that you’re offering, you want to be able to serve.” SEE COMMUNITEA A4
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ANGELO MOORS, DR. ARTHUR WOODS, MELVENA DANIELS, REV. GLENN GRAYSON, NECOLE HULL, SHINORA JOHNSON (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)