Career Development Class
    APRIL 19—Pennsylvania Women Work will host a New Choices Career Development Class at the Homewood YWCA, 6907 Frankstown Ave., Homewood. There will be a free five-week Career Development and Computer Class that will give attendees the tools needed to get back into the workforce. Registration is required. For more information, call 412-391-5101.
Gospel Liturgical Dance Festival
    APRIL 20—The Community College of Allegheny County Allegheny Campus Dance Club and CCAC-Allegheny Campus Chapter of Nu Delta Alpha will host the 3rd Annual Gospel Liturgical Dance Festival from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the CCAC Foerster Student Service Center, 808 Ridge Ave., North Side. The theme is “A Time for Renewal.” There will presentations of liturgical dance, gospel music and workshops. For more information, call Dr. Evelyn Kitchens-Stephens at 412-237-2566 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Cancer Survivors Conference
    APRIL 20—The American Cancer Society of Western Region will host its 25th annual Cancer Survivors Conference from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 101 Mall Blvd., Monroeville. The theme is “Celebrating 25 years through music, laughter and courage. The guest speakers will be Charlie Lustman, a singer, songwriter, producer and cancers survivor, and Ronda Hartzel, U.S. Navy operating room nurse and cancer survivor. For more information, call 412-919-1100 or visit www.cancer.org/wrsurvivorconference.
Project Prom Shop
    APRIL 23—The Allegheny County Department of Human Services will host its Project Prom Shop from 3-7 p.m. at Century III Mall, 3075 Clairton Rd., West Mifflin. This is a one-day extension of its offer to eligible high school girls to choose a free gown and accessories. For more information, call 412-350-3428 or visit www.alleghenycounty.us/dhs/projectprom.
Free Health Expo
    APRIL 25—UPMC will host a Free Health Expo from 4-7 p.m. at UPMC West Mifflin, 1907 Lebanon Church Rd., West Mifflin. Health care professionals will provide general wellness information, private screenings, a brief presentation on smoking cessation and more. For more information, email Jordan Woods at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Beer Tasting Fundraiser
    APRIL 25—The National Association of Black Accountants Inc. Pittsburgh Chapter will host the 2nd Annual “Cultivate & Brew” Beer Tasting Fundraiser from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Sharp Edge Bistro, 922 Penn Ave., Strip District. The tasting will feature four exclusive beers and will be paired with hors d’oeuvres. Proceeds will benefit the Chapter of Operations and scholarship funds. For more information, visit www.nabapittsburgh.org.
Bayard Rustin Lecture Series
    APRIL 25—Deryck Tines will host the 2013 Bayard Rustin Lecture Series with Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright at 7 p.m. at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Cultural District. Reservations are required and there is VIP available, which will include a reception. For more information, call 412-983-8895.
Youth at Work
    APRIL 26—YouthWorks will host “Youth at Work: Building Dreams and Futures” from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rivers Club, One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant St., Downtown. This is a celebration of the region’s future workforce. Brittny McGraw will be the mistress of ceremonies and producer, mentor and entrepreneur Emmai Aliquiva will be the special guest speaker. He will speak on “The sky is not the limit.” For more information, call 412-281-6629.
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
    APRIL 27—The Kierra Keeps Caring Foundation will host a Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser from 12-4 p.m. at Ammon Rec Center, 2217 Bedford Ave., Hill District. The fundraiser supports the KKCF 4th annual Walk 4 Life, which will take place in June and honors the memory of Sha’Vaughn Kierra Wallace. Wallace was an innocent victim of gun violence on the North Side. The spaghetti dinner will available for dine in or take out. For more information, call Carla Gaines-Robinson at 412-287-1318 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

 CONNIE PARKER

by Christian Morrow

Courier Staff Writer

Back when steel ruled the local economy and Pittsburgh boast multiple corporate headquarters, the NAACP Pittsburgh Unit could always count on corporate support for its single largest fundraiser, the annual Human Rights Dinner.

HELPING THE INJURED--Medical workers aid injured people at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon following an explosion in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The explosions at the Boston Marathon have city police and organizers of the Pittsburgh Marathon reviewing security for the May 5 race, though officials said security is already pretty tight because of a bomb scare in 2010.

JAY GILMER

On Dec. 14, 2012, 26 people, including 20 children were shot and killed at a school in Newtown, Conn. The tragedy thrust the gun control debate to center stage across the nation and many in the Black community believed the government would finally address the issue of gun violence that plagues them everyday.
After four months some states have already begun to pass gun control legislation, including Connecticut where the governor recently signed a law restricting the sale of high capacity ammunition clips and requiring background checks on gun sales. However, while President Barack Obama has attempted to mirror Connecticut’s landmark bill at the federal level, he and supporters are being met with strong opposition.
“I’m concerned that there has been a weakening of the will. We’ve actually lost some ground since the Newton tragedy,” said Black Political Empowerment Project Chairman Tim Stevens at a forum on gun violence April 2. “When you consider that sending a child to school could be a death sentence to any child in America, it’s frightening.”

The forum at East Liberty Presbyterian Church invited politicians, candidates running for office, and gun violence experts and activists to voice their positions on gun control, solutions to ending gun violence and how to fight against the National Rifle Association, which is resistant to gun control. Among the most popular views were support for universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.
“The founding fathers did not foresee these weapons of mass destruction where as fast as you can pull your finger you can fire out 50 bullets,” said local Congressman Mike Doyle, who added that he wears his F rating from the NRA with pride.
While many focused on federal gun control legislation, Pittsburgh City Council already passed their own gun control legislation in 2008. However, the lost and stolen handgun ordinance has yet to be enforced due to questions of its legality against state law.
“The statistics of gun violence taking place in my district were staggering; they were appalling,” said District 3 City Councilman Bruce Kraus about why he supported the legislation. “Those personal stories of people who are facing the slaughter of their loved ones keep me up at night.”
Others on the panel said government should look at the causes behind gun violence, especially the lack of economic opportunity in many Black communities.
“If we’re going to change this we can’t forget about the everyday violence in our streets,” said State Rep. Jake Wheatley who is a candidate for mayor. “The harder part is how do we get at the culture of violence and do we put our resources behind it.”
This culture also includes a “no-snitching” code prevalent in many communities. This code accounts in some part for the many unsolved murders in the city, including the death of Charlene Walters who was shot and killed at a crowded youth football game in October.
“There’s a reason why there are so many homicides in some neighborhoods and not others and part of that is telling the truth,” said Jay Gilmer, director of the Pittsburgh Initiative to Reduce Crime. “There are a lot of unsolved homicides in Pittsburgh. There’s a lot of killers walking the street.”