Pittsburgh Foundation to invest $50 million toward racial equity, justice-related causes

[FakeNoose]

Lisa Schroeder (Photo credit Maranie R. Staab)

(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/social-services/2023/01/31/pittsburgh-foundation-grants-racial-justice-equity-philanthropy/stories/202301310082

The Pittsburgh Foundation, one of the largest charitable organizations in the region and one that reports assets of more than $1 billion, laid out a new strategic plan Tuesday that places racial justice and reducing social inequality at the forefront of its philanthropic commitments.

One of the most immediate measures is a planned $50 million investment over the next five years toward racial equity and justice-related causes, according to foundation leadership, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated disparities affecting key communities.

In addition, the foundation is setting a goal to ensure at least half of grants from its unrestricted grant-making pool of funds go to organizations led by and serving members of Pittsburgh’s Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities by 2027.

“We'll be prioritizing racial and economic justice based on what data has told us about who has been left out — particularly based on what has been learned during COVID-19, during a time of racial reckoning, in which it's become very clear that we haven't made the progress that we need to make,” said Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation.

- more at link -

[cbabe]

1. For a recent history:

https://www.goodreads.com › book › show › 60021128-american-sirens

American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics

Kevin Hazzard

The extraordinary story of an unjustly forgotten group of Black men in Pittsburgh who became the first paramedics in America, saving lives and changing the course of emergency medicine around the world

…

Until the 1970s, if you suffered a medical crisis, your chances of survival were minimal. A 9-1-1 call might bring police or even the local funeral home. But that all changed with Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh, a group of Black men who became America’s first paramedics and set the gold standard for emergency medicine around the world, only to have their story and their legacy erased—until now.

(Black men saving lives despite stone cold racist cops, pols, patients. Infuriating and inspiring.)

[FakeNoose]

2. Thanks - I knew this but I hadn't realized a book was written about them

I'll definitely look for this book.

[cbabe]

3. Also documentary:

https://m.imdb.com › title › tt1495765

Freedom House: Street Saviors (2009) - IMDb

Freedom House is important to see. The story of Freedom House is the birth of the paramedic system as it is used today. It is a story of innovation, triumph, and unfortunately of lasting bigotry and hate during one of the most restless periods in this country's history. The pilot program only lasted from 1967 to 1975.

(Figuratively answers the question: why reparations.)

[republianmushroom]

4. like it