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Penguins, The 412

Which Is Your Favorite Pittsburgh Penguins’ Holiday Video?

The pandemic prevented the team from producing a new video this year, but it's still fun to revisit ones from previous years.
Richard Cook,

 The National Hockey League will not start its new season until January, at the earliest, because of the pandemic. In addition to no games in December, there also were no opportunities for the players to take part in the team’s annual holiday video. The 2020 Holiday E-Card (above) is a look back at snippets from previous holiday-themed videos parodying…

Franco
The 412

Pittsburgh Pride Includes Protecting the City We Love

In a new public service campaign, Franco Harris, Sally Wiggin and others encourage Pittsburghers to take concrete steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Richard Cook,

Wear a mask, adhere to social distancing guidelines and follow the guidance of health officials. These phrases have been repeated endlessly since the onset of the pandemic. Now they are part of a new public service initiative created by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development called “Proud to Protect Pittsburgh.” The campaign, which includes a video (above) featuring Franco Harris,…

Lasershow
The 412

North Park Laser Show Is Something New in 2020

The 45-minute display, set to music, can be enjoyed from the safety and warmth of your own car.
Richard Cook, Sean Collier,

Celebrating the holiday together has been far from easy this year, but Allegheny County’s Parks Department is up to the challenge. The Holiday Laser Show, created by North Carolina-based Emerald Owl Productions, is set to music ranging from Bing Crosby’s soothing Christmas classics to the raucous rock tunes of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The 45-minute show, with audience members parked in…

Pta
Collier's Weekly

Perspectives: Why There’s Really Only One Thanksgiving Movie

Unlike its film-soaked neighboring holidays, Thanksgiving only requires a viewing of “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.”
Sean Collier,

As the yuletide season continues its inexorable transition to a two-month mode of existence, the movies are keeping pace. Christmas movies were once a narrow subset of drama (“It’s a Wonderful Life”), comedy (“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”), and action (yes, Virginia, “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie). Now, seasonal narratives are becoming a full genre, as the script elves at…

Dean Bog
The 412

Some say He is a Younger Rick Sebak

There is a YouTube documentarian making Pittsburgh look cool through a camera lens. Learn more about him and watch some of his work.
Maggie Susa,

DEAN BOG (RIGHT) AT WORK IN HOMEWOOD Has an exceedingly polite and well-spoken, hippie-ish blond guy ever knocked on your door asking for a quarter cup of sugar? Have you ever passed an unchained bicycle during a stroll through your neighborhood? Maybe one day there was suddenly less garbage lying around your street? That might’ve been Dean Bog, a University…

Jujuthumb
The 412

Watch: JuJu Smith-Schuster and His Pup at Play

The Steelers wide receiver and his best friend share day-in-the-life moments of their special bond.
Sean Collier,

A new Amazon series has dog owners and their four-legged companions competing together. Naturally, they sought out Pittsburgh’s most famous athlete-animal combo to create some buzz. JuJu Smith-Schuster and his Instagram-famous pup, Boujee, show off some of their moves in this clip. It’s part of Amazon’s “Packed Weekend,” tied to the launch of the competition series “The Pack,” which follows…

Hilton
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Adriel Hilton

“I’m proud to be still standing and still persisting. I’m blessed to be in spaces where I can impact change.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Adriel Hilton (39) Dean of Students and Diversity Officer Seton Hill University Adriel Hilton has earned four degrees, edited eight books, published more than 50 academic papers and presented nearly 100 times. But it’s the smallest number that has the biggest impact. In most of his higher education jobs, including his current role as dean of students at Seton Hill,…

Ciuksza
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Albert Ciuksza

“The fun part for me is to build the processes and work directly with the leaders."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Albert Ciuksza (39) Vice President of Growth and Development Solutions 21 In the next decade, Baby Boomers are expected to retire in droves, leaving Generation Xers to assume the country’s top executive roles. But because Boomers have stuck around for so long, Gen-Xers lack the leadership experience that previous generations had at their age. That’s where Albert Ciuksza comes in….

Davis Armani
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Armani Davis

“I want everyone to feel like they belong and add value.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Armani Davis (28) Faculty in the School of Education and Communications Coro Pittsburgh and Indiana University of Pennsylvania As an undergraduate, Armani Davis didn’t always feel at home, even on his own campus. “There was nobody who looked like me,” Davis says. “African Americans aren’t well represented in those spaces.” So he set out to change that, earning a doctorate…

Andrews
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Ash Andrews

“Something in the human spirit needs art and creativity.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Ash Andrews (34) Executive Director Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse Ash Andrews’ grandmother came of age during the Great Depression, when every item, no matter its age or condition, had value. “She taught me about reuse without ever saying the word,” they say. “Reuse was exalted.” Andrews is now executive director of the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, a place…

Chapman Audie
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Audie Chapman

“Always tell them at an early age that new ideas and innovation will be important."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Audie Chapman (38) Quality Control Engineer Conturo Prototyping Audie Chapman is the vice president of the Northside Youth Athletic Association and the head wrestling coach at the Pittsburgh Project. But, for Chapman, coaching isn’t just about teaching the sport. It’s about teaching life. “Our youth today is important to our future tomorrow,” he says. “One day, they will be in…

Patel
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Bhavini Patel

“This gives people a voice, but it also gives us an opportunity to make sustainable, systemic policy change."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Bhavini Patel (26) Co-founder and CEO beamdata When she ran for Allegheny County Council in 2019, Bhavini Patel spent a lot of time knocking on doors. She wanted to introduce herself and her agenda, of course, but she also hoped to underscore her genuine interest in would-be constituents’ stories. She ended up losing the race, but those conversations inspired a…

Houser
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Brittany Houser

“I love watching people’s faces light up when they try something I’ve made.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Brittany Houser (33) Owner Soul & Sea The first time Brittany Houser tasted a fried lobster tail, she was hooked. “I thought, ‘I can’t be the only one who thinks this is amazing. People need to try this,’” she says. Thanks to Houser, they can. Houser is the owner of Soul & Sea, a restaurant where soul food meets seafood…

Monroe
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Casey Monroe

“I want to help create a world we want our kids to be a part of.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Casey Monroe (34) Senior Director of Cancer Screening and Chronic Disease Adagio Health Casey Monroe began her career in public health as a case manager for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, working one-on-one with clients. “I certainly felt the impact of that work, but I didn’t feel like I was moving the needle enough by helping one person at a…

Thomas Ciora
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Ciora Thomas

“We need to thrive in our communities. We deserve that."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Ciora Thomas (32) Executive Director SisTers PGH At 14, Ciora Thomas was a homeless, drug-addicted, transgender girl sleeping at Point State Park and surviving on sex work. And she wasn’t the only one. “There were no outlets or resources for us,” she says. “There were no permanent solutions to being a marginalized, Black transgender girl in Pittsburgh.” So she created…

Breingan Dave
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Dave Breingan

“It’s so important we have strong connections with our neighbors."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Dave Breingan (32) Executive Director Lawrenceville United David Breingan began working at Lawrenceville United right out of college, running summer camps for kids and helping to strengthen public education and parental engagement for some of the city’s most marginalized students. But then the housing market ballooned, and many of those families he’d been working with were priced out of their…

Taliaferro
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Devon L. Taliaferro

“I did what I did for the kids. It’s an opportunity to listen to them and to hear their voices.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Devon L. Taliaferro (39) Community Engagement Coordinator The Midwife Center for Birth and Women’s Health The boxes of homegrown flowers and produce began showing up on Devon Taliaferro’s doorstep just after Gov. Wolf instituted the statewide lockdown in March. “We want to support you while you support us,” the accompanying notes read. They were from the families who reside in…

Newman
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Elysia Newman

“Fashion affects and touches our lifestyles more than we know.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Elysia Newman (32) Executive Director Style412 A proper, professional photoshoot requires dozens of people filling a number of roles. But as a model attempting to stage shoots in Pittsburgh, Elysia Newman found herself needing to fill every one of them, because, well, she didn’t know anyone who could help. The city’s fashion industry was a series of disconnected parts rather…

Marburger
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Emily Marburger

“The vibrancy of the community is really showing."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Emily Marburger (33) Mayor Bellevue After the 2016 presidential election, Emily Marburger had a revelation: If she wanted the world, including her borough of Bellevue, to be more progressive and equitable, she’d have to be part of the change. So she ran for mayor — and won. Her subsequent initiatives have helped to revitalize the town. A Harry Potter-inspired event…

Korknaz
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Emrullah Korkmaz

“The secret sauce of Pittsburgh is that people here default to yes instead of no."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Emrullah Korkmaz (34) Assistant Professor University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Imagine if getting an annual flu shot or treatment for cancer was as simple as placing a bandage on your skin. Emrullah Korkmaz has developed a device that actually makes that a possibility. Korkmaz is an engineer working as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of…

Winstead Sm
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Gina Winstead

“Companies that have more diversity have higher revenues.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Gina Winstead (37) Assistant Vice President, Membership Development and External Relations Vibrant Pittsburgh As assistant vice president of membership development and external relations at Vibrant Pittsburgh, it’s Gina Winstead’s work to attract, retain and elevate a diverse pool of talent in the region. And that means educating the business community on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. She makes her…

Agnew
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: J. Thomas Agnew

“I want to get Pittsburgh to recognize the talent it already has.”
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

J. Thomas Agnew (36) Co-Owner, Operations Manager BOOM Concepts When his online magazine, Jenesis, began to take off in the late aughts — Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller interviews on the homepage levels of taking off — J. Thomas Agnew had a fleeting inclination to leave Pittsburgh for Los Angeles or New York, where the publication could truly thrive. But…

Kamara Jamillia
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Jamillia Kamara

“The smallest, Black and brown providers are often the least funded and the most needed."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Jamillia Kamara (32) Program Officer for Education The Pittsburgh Foundation When Jamillia Kamara’s parents left Liberia, West Africa, and settled in Pennsylvania, they quickly discovered some daunting cultural and linguistic gaps between the state’s service providers and the African communities they were attempting to serve. So they launched a non-profit that helped to bridge that divide, in the process teaching…

Cho
40 Under 40

2020 40 Under 40 Honoree: Jasmine Cho

“It’s a slow and meditative process. Baking really is love."
April Johnston, Photos by Becky Thurner Braddock,

Jasmine Cho (36) Artist, Author, Cookie Activist Most of the time, a cookie is just a cookie. But in the hands of artist, author and activist Jasmine Cho, a cookie can convey history and identity. Cho is known for creating intricate, hand-drawn cookie portraits of important, but often little-known, figures in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. She uses…