Given the failure of several hip-hop events by local promoters, we asked Pittsburgher their opinion. Here’s what you said.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily a failure on the promoters’ behalf. I do believe that it’s a combination of communication on some promoters ends at ‘over promising and under delivering’ in conjunction with artists that oftentimes face the wall of uncontrolled scenarios that are out of their hands.”
Emmai Alaquiva
Emmy award winner, entrepreneur
Shadyside

Emmai Alaquiva, Orlando Marshall, Nadia Souls

The push for strong teachers in schools has become a nationwide trend and Pittsburgh is no exception. The Pittsburgh Public School District recently launched its Empowering Effective Teachers plan to ensure a strong teaching and learning environment in every school.

However, the task of creating, identifying and rewarding highly effective teachers can be difficult when many scholars do not agree on a plan of action. In an effort to address this and many other issues in education, Duquesne University hosted the Third Annual Duquesne Educational Leadership Symposium May 25-27.

ARNETHA BALL

“Education is currently under attack. Schools of education are closing; urban schools are closing,” said Arnetha Ball, Ph.D. “Too many decisions are being made without us being at the table. What will you do to take our rightful place as agents of change rather than objects of change?”

Career fair

JUNE 9—The Career & Workforce Development Center will host its 20th Annual Community Career Fair from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA, 7140 Bennett St., Homewood. Over 30 employers, training and service providers will be in attendance looking for qualified candidates. For more information, email Carena M. Phillips at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Erroll Garner, Earl Hines, the Turrentine brothers, the Betters brothers, Walt Harper, Ahmad Jamal—all are Pittsburgh jazz legends, known the world over. But increasingly, even in their hometown, they seem to only live on the airways of WDUQ radio.

But with Duquesne University’s pending sale of the station license, some fear their work and their place in Pittsburgh history may disappear from local airwaves, lost to future generations.

NELSON HARRISON says losing only jazz station in Pittsburgh would be a disaster.

“I really can’t imagine not hearing the melodic voices of Tony Mowod and Bob Studebaker, as well the other excellent hosts such as Helen Wigger, bringing this community the sounds of this nation’s original art form, jazz,” said Tim Stevens in a letter to the New Pittsburgh Courier. “This station has played more music by Pittsburgh artists than probably all of the other Pittsburgh stations combined, something that I as a Pittsburgh jazz vocalist and writer highly appreciate.”