PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Kelsey Ripper
Executive Director, Friends of the Riverfront

Kelsey Ripper believes Pittsburgh’s most valuable assets are its three rivers and access to the riverfront. For her nonprofit, she leads initiatives to develop a regional trail system that will focus Pittsburgh as its hub.

She spends a lot of time on the trails, so she knows firsthand the impact they have on the region’s health and vitality. Concern for the environment propelled Ripper’s undergrad and law school pursuits at Fordham University in New York.

“A driving force for me is to make sure we are doing whatever we can across all industries to address climate change,” she says.

It is not just about trails and the rivers for Ripper; she wants connection in the communities surrounding the river as well, “There’s all these opportunities happening, and we get to be at the center of it in Allegheny County,” she says.