10 Organizations Celebrating Black Excellence

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARREL & FLOW FEST

Juneteenth, the federal holiday that commemorates the official end of slavery in the U.S., takes place each year on June 19. The National Museum of African American History and Culture recognizes it as the nation’s second independence day, as it marks the moment in 1865 that enslaved people in Texas, the last state to relinquish Confederate control and implement the Emancipation Proclamation, were freed.

Pittsburgh will host a Juneteenth celebration later this month in Market Square and Point State Park, but in the meantime, Pittsburgh’s Black makers, vendors and entrepreneurs work year round to provide spaces and curate events that uplift and empower the Black community. Below, you’ll find a list of organizations, shops, collectives and events that celebrate Black excellence day in and day out.

1: Everyday Cafe | Homewood 

Aptly named, Everyday Cafe is a daily staple for folks in Homewood and the East End. According to its website, the cafe “is designed to bring neighbors together, offering hand-crafted food and beverages in a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere.” Its vision, the business says, goes beyond serving meals; it aims to celebrate local art and culture, create meaningful jobs and support the growth of the Homewood Avenue business district. Pop in between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. any day except Sunday for a tasty breakfast sandwich, flatbread pizza, crispy panini or fresh salad. 

2: Barrel & Flow Fest | Strip District

This annual event, which was named the best beer festival in the county in both 2023 and 2024, celebrates Black artists, craft brews and the arts overall. It aims to celebrate and uplift Black creators, makers and community members through a shared love of two things Pittsburgh adores: beer and music. This year’s event will take place on Aug. 8 at the Stacks at 3 Crossing in the Strip District, featuring craft brew collaborations, a uniquely curated collection of vendors, live music and entertainment and networking opportunities. The festival will open from noon to 9 p.m. for general admission.

3: Soil Sisters Plant Nursery | Allentown 

Raynise Kelly and her sister TaRay are the brains — and green thumbs — behind Soil Sisters, a plant nursery on Beltzhoover Avenue in Allentown working to provide the community with not only herbs and vegetables, but also education and economic advancement. Their brick-and-mortar shop, House of Plants, is a hub for gardeners, families and neighbors, with a carefully curated selection of organic and heirloom seedlings, houseplants and gardening essentials. The shop is open from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

Additionally, the Soil Sisters’ urban farm, located nearby in Beltzhoover, was transformed from four vacant lots into a thriving green space offering fresh, locally grown produce, educational workshops and volunteer opportunities for all ages and skill levels. The Soil Sisters aim to serve as an example of how Pittsburgh can take steps toward a greener future — one seed at a time.

4: Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop | Wilkinsburg 

As a Black-, woman-, and disability-owned business, Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop’s owners pride themselves on having something for everyone, but the business also “intentionally prioritizes and elevates the traditions, experiences, stories, and spirituality of Black, African, Brown, Indigenous, women, and Queer practitioners,” according to its website. It specializes in Hoodoo and African Diasporic Religions, and offers a range of products and supplies for spiritual practices and everyday use. Originally founded in 2016 on Penn Avenue in Garfield, the shop moved to Wilkinsburg in 2024. It is open Tuesday-Friday from noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

5: Knotzland | Wilkinsburg

Globally, approximately 92 million tons of textile waste are generated each year, and it is estimated that this number will increase to 134 million tons by 2030. Knotzland aims to be part of the solution. The fashion and accessories shop in Wilkinsburg takes the best part of textile discards and repurposes them into fashionable, handmade bowties, vastly reducing the disposal of fabrics that may otherwise end up in landfills. In addition to selling beautiful, recycled bowties, Knotzland also works with a dynamic network of women throughout the region to produce the pieces, creating economic opportunities through skill sharing through a hyperlocal, community-centric production model. Even if bowties aren’t your thing, Knotzland also sells candles, lavallières and pocket squares.

6: Ujamaa Collective | Hill District 

The Ujamaa Collective, a nonprofit organization based out of Pittsburgh’s Hill District, was founded in 2008 with a social mission to act as a catalyst in advancing Africana women by providing a fair trade marketplace for cultural, artistic and entrepreneurial exchange. 

Over the years, Ujamaa has facilitated various initiatives, including a fair trade retail boutique, an open-air marketplace, agricultural training programs, a catering co-op and shared purchasing models. These efforts have supported over 175 independent artists and entrepreneurs while engaging thousands of customers. The organization aims to create economically vibrant, green, and sustainable communities by empowering artisans and promoting cooperative business practices. 

Its boutique shopping experience represents a wide collection of handmade products produced by Black makers across the region. It also hosts a range of programming and events, including Eco-Essence: A Black Sustainability Fashion Project, which aims to counter the erasure of historical, sustainable practices within the Black community and to combat fast fashion and consumerism.

8: Hit Like a Girl | Braddock

When Juanita Lomax attended a golf outing and realized that she was one of only six diverse people in a crowd of more than 200, she realized golf had a major problem. It was then that Hit Like a Girl was created; the organization provides a space for Black women and girls to learn golf — a sport popular among business executives that provides players with the unique opportunity to network outside of a corporate conference room. Its mission is to increase diversity within the sport by bridging the “gap of missed opportunities on the green” by providing golf instruction and golf socials — something it says can then increase business and networking opportunities for Black women. To get involved, or to check out the programs Hit Like a Girl offers, visit its website.

9: Butler Landscaping | Castle Shannon

A certified Minority Business Enterprise, Butler Landscaping is a full-service landscape provider with a prestigious clientele, including Acrisure Stadium, the Strip District Terminal, Carnegie Mellon University and UPMC Hospitals. The company has been making Pittsburgh beautiful since 1984, and claims no job is beyond its expertise: from trees, shrubs and perennials to retaining walls, rain gardens and green landscaping solutions, it does it all.

10: Stonewall Inn | Downtown

Founded by SisTers, a Black- and trans-lead non-profit established in 2013, the Stonewall Inn opened earlier this year as a dedicated drop-in space that can provide gender-affirming care and support for transgender folks experiencing homelessness or discrimination. Its support services include assistance with housing, employment and legal aid, and its community programming consists of educational workshops, support groups and social events.