KYM GABLE, FORMER KDKA NEWS ANCHOR, LEADS A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR ‘THE BRAVE SPACE’ AT STEEL PLAZA, DOWNTOWN. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

A new space Downtown that celebrates brave women and courage holds special significance for the emcee who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.

Kym Gable, a longtime evening news anchor at KDKA-TV, told the crowd it was the first time she had been behind a microphone since she was abruptly laid off on July 31. She had been a reporter and anchor at KDKA since 2006; her contract was not up for renewal until September.

“I’m a former TV news anchor, but current brave woman,” she told the crowd upon her introduction. “I certainly embody the same spirit and passion that all of you brave women and men have here today.

“That brave spirit is something that can never be taken from me or from all of you.”

The Brave Women Project on Friday unveiled “The Brave Space: A Place for Bravery in Action” in the form of a seating area under a pergola recently created at Steel Plaza on Grant Street. It includes A Little Free Library, sponsored by Aurora Corialis Publishing; furnishings by Workscape, a company founded in 1996 that has a showroom on the South Side; and more.

THE NEW INSTALLATION OF ‘THE BRAVE SPACE: A PLACE FOR BRAVERY IN ACTION,’ WAS UNVEILED AT STEEL PLAZA, DOWNTOWN. | PHOTO BY VIRGINIA LINN

The installation is a project of the Brave Women Project, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, founded in 2021, that serves as a network of professional women supporting each other, existing in kindness, generosity and encouragement. It encourages women to move into brave action, and do brave things. It leans into the five E’s for life: Educate, Empower, Encourage, Engage and Evolve.

“The Brave Space stands as a symbol of empowerment and inspiration, honoring the remarkable strength of women,” Ramona Cain, property manager of the U.S. Steel Tower, said in a statement.

Gable, who was laid off at the same time as KDKA morning news anchor Lindsay Ward, got the news as she was heading out on vacation.

In a Facebook post the day after her firing, she said: “This industry can be brutal, often for women in particular. Lindsay and I have grit, but also grace. And gratitude. … If you are a loyal viewer and tune in to watch the most talented, dedicated, and compassionate journalists in the city, thank you. We will miss those co-workers dearly. Lindsay and I appreciate that you counted on us, but hey, don’t count us out!”

She said before Friday’s ceremony that she had intended to retire soon anyway and had wished the station had allowed her to do so. For now, she’s going to take some time for herself, but also has — like current and former TV personalities — several requests to provide emcee duties and public appearances at local events.

Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, also spoke at the ribbon cutting and said that Citizens Bank had made many of these initiatives possible through Downtown Placemaking Grants. “Brave Space embodies everything our placemaking grant hopes to do — spaces for people, created by people.”

The Brave Space is located next to the food vendor tents on Steel Plaza, which offers a beer garden and office-retreat work spaces in the warmer months.