Mayor Ed Gainey and Council President Theresa Kail-Smith have named the members of the new Advisory Committee for Youth and Family Resource Centers in their effort to tackle youth violence in Pittsburgh.
The nine-member committee will be tasked with finding a way to utilize existing city assets to launch resource centers that serve as safe spaces for youth while providing support services for families in need.
“I believe the work of this committee will be critical for our long-term work to bring peace to our city,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “This is about coming up with ways to use all our city resources to help provide new opportunities and pathways for our kids, while making sure their parents have access to the resources they need.”
The makeup of the committee includes five members appointed by Pittsburgh City Council and four members appointed by Mayor Gainey.
Youth and Family Resource Advisory Committee members:
- Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess
- Councilman Anthony Coghill
- Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle
- Ricky Moody – Community Health and Human Services Policy Manager
- Diane Hobson – Community Engagement Specialist
- Lisa Frank – Chief Administrative and Operations Officer
- Kathryn Vargas – Director of Parks and Recreation
- David Jones – Assistant Director of Community Affairs, Department of Public Safety
- Education Coordinator – Office of Mayor Ed Gainey
“This is about saving lives,” said Council President Theresa Kail-Smith. “We need to do all we can to make sure our kids can have someplace safe to be and that we are connecting parents and guardians with the help they need.”
The committee will soon convene its initial meeting, during which it will determine a meeting schedule, outline public engagement plans, and develop a timeline for creating a strategic plan to open city-owned facilities in areas affected by youth violence.