COPC Minutes

9/28/04

Tracy Soska opened the meeting with general announcements and introductions. He then asked that the community partners give updates:

Matt Gallouzo (GSPIA/HI) their annual October Fest 5K race is Saturday, October 2, 2004. Registration is from 7:30-8:30 a.m. with the race starting at 8:30 a.m. If you have any questions contact him. Matt also reported that Tracy Soska and Angela DeVan (Social Work/Catalysts for Community Building) were currently working with HI to staff the HI HOPE effort with Americorps volunteers.

Netta Agredano (Social Work/Oakhill) is getting ready to hold their Resident Council elections in October. They are also trying to organize walking groups. Tricia Nowalk (Matilda Theiss/Family Medicine) and Martha Pristas (Schl. Of Educ/Leisure Learn) offered help. Tricia Nowalk then said that she was looking for interns that would assist the HOP group in forming/coordinating walking clubs. They have some funding for this purpose.

Martha Pristas then gave a report on the history of the Leisure Learn Program and that they would be focusing their sign up efforts for their Saturday (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon) programs to residents of Oakland versus regionally. They are currently working on programming efforts in: Dance, Basketball and Weight Training for children 13 and up. They are currently recruiting from the 15213 and 15219 zip codes. Where the program was very uncontrolled in the past they are now gearing it towards defined programs.

Ruth Feathers (OCC) said that OCC is currently “walking the streets” of Oakland filling out silent complaint forms which Ruth then turns in to the appropriate City department. OCC’s single largest complaint is with absentee landlords. The City currently is assisting OCC by going after these landlords for business privilege taxes owed. Ruth indicated that she could use some help from interns walking with her and doing research on Lexus/Nexus.

Kelly Hoffman reported that OPDC just sold the last of the renovated homes on Chesterfield and will be starting on 4 new ones. They have again pulled out the Housing Survey and are hoping to get it in a Pitt News. Kelly would also like to connect with someone in Freshman Studies so that OPDC can make presentations to Freshman Studies classes on code enforcement and tenant rights & responsibilities. Erin Ramsey (GSPIA/OPDC) reported that on 9/14/04 (Day of Caring) 60 bags of trash were collected, lunch was donated by the local merchants. They have also been distributing hang tags with tenant’s rights and responsibilities and code enforcement information. Laura Halula said that the first “adopt-a-block” is this Saturday with 7 groups signed up. They are hoping to have 10 by Saturday. Sabina Deitrick (GSPIA/Co-principal investigator) asked how the recycling program was going. Kelly Hoffman said that they were looking into volunteers to empty the containers, working with OBID but the biggest problem was storage space until the City could pick up the recycled goods.

Jocelyn Horner (Honors College/Oak Hill) reported that Oak Hill currently has a voter registration drive underway and they are trying to inform the community about how, where to vote.

Dan Friedson (Law/Community & Economic Development Clinic) introduced _________ and _____________ from PNC bank. They talked about their home ownership program. PNC currently has brochures that educate people on what types of loans are available, what terms are out there. Daniel is also looking this Fall to offer a seminar for Not for Profit groups in incorporation, business plan writing and strategic planning. He introduced two of his student interns Jason and Peter who are working on a program to be poll monitors and offer legal assistance at polling places. They currently have only Law School volunteers but are looking for community volunteers as well. They are also looking into providing sessions on voter rights outside of the polls.

Tracy Soska (Social Work/Co-principal investigator) gave a rundown on the University’s Senate Plenary Session on November 3, 2004. Gregg Behr will also be available to discuss student internship opportunities through CORO and other agencies.

• With PCHE, their will be a morning symposium and discussion on student service learning and applied research and scholarship.

• From noon to 2:00 p.m. there will be a showcase of service learning opportunities at Pitt and hopefully other institutions in Pittsburgh.

• From 2-4:30 p.m. will be the actual Plenary session with the featured speaker being Laurelee Sandman. That will be followed by a reactive panel and roundtable discussions.

Tracy also discussed that in conjunction with the OTMA that on Wednesday October 13, 2004 Professor Carmen Haas-Klau will deliver a lecture on “Enhancing Public Transportation and Pedestrianisation” from 2:00-4:00 p.m. More information to follow.

Tricia Nowalk talked about the services offered at the Matilda Theiss center. There are currently 3 female and on male doctor as well as a social worker. Anyone who needs an appointment can call 412-383-1550:

· Health care for the uninsured

· Sliding scale payments on all services offered

· Dental services will be offered soon

· Prescription drug services.