Last year, New York City-based criminologist David Kennedy presented his model for reducing gang violence at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Center on Race and Social Problems Summer Institute on Race and Youth Violence. Soon after, Pittsburgh announced its plan to install Kennedy’s model, a method that relies heavily on law enforcement.

This year Pitt brought in sociologist Irving Spergel, who like Kennedy has seen his model for reducing gang violence installed in cities across the country and abroad. Unlike Kennedy, Spergel’s model views law enforcement as only one body in a coalition of several community institutions.

COMMUNITY-WIDE APPROACH—Irving Spergel answers audience questions about Pittsburgh’s youth gang problem.

“Most policy and programmatic responses to gang activity focus on either law enforcement or youth development. A major contribution of Spergel’s work, known as the “Spergel Model,” is its call for a coordinated approach that encompasses law enforcement, community groups, schools, social service agencies and governmental organizations,” said Richard Garland, One Vision One Life project director. “This inclusive gang prevention, intervention and suppression program is based on Mr. Spergel’s national assessment of youth gang policies and programs.”

During the University of Pittsburgh’s 2009 homecoming, the African American Alumni Council announced its fund-raising efforts toward a $3 million scholarship campaign.

With more than $1.4 million raised from 644 donors to date, the AAAC will use the next five years to reach their goal. The campaign will support students of diversity through the Bebe Moore Campbell Scholarship Fund, the Jack L. Daniel Endowed Book Fund and the AAAC Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The late Campbell, a 1971 Pitt graduate, was a nationally acclaimed best-selling author and Pitt trustee; Jack L. Daniel is a Distinguished Service Professor of Communication and former vice provost for undergraduate studies and dean of students at the university.

Have you ever thought, “how’d they do that?” when considering the latest gadget or product, or said to yourself, “somebody should make this,” before you wander into your fantasy of creating the perfect product. Well, it might be a passing thought or dream for you, but for Eric Anderson, an industrial designer and associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University, it’s his jo, to not just think about making products better, but to actually do it. And when he’s not teaching design or conceptualizing a new product, Anderson is advancing the nonprofit organization, Designers for the 21st Century (D421), that he co-founded with African-American designer Joi Roberts, to support Black designers.

ERIC ANDERSON

Anderson admits he stumbled upon his profession, rather than planning for it. “Most folks don’t understand where design comes from, and that was true of me when I was entering college,” he said. “I went to Overbrook High. At the time, they had one of the best art programs in the city. When I graduated, I thought I was going to be an illustrator, but took a class in design.” That one class was the beginning of his path as a designer.