Will Thompkins is the recipient of the Dignity and Respect Champion award, a monthly honor recognizing people who are engaged in their communities, live by the principles of dignity and respect, and promote an environment of inclusion.

WILL THOMPKINS

Thompkins, director of community and outreach at The Pittsburgh Project, a nonprofit community development organization with a 25-year track record of developing leaders and serving the city’s most vulnerable residents, was nominated by Saleem Ghubril, executive director of the Pittsburgh Promise, a scholarship program for students in Pittsburgh Public Schools.

President Obama recently signed the historic health care reform bill into law, so we asked Pittsburghers what they thought. Here’s what you said:

Antoinette Turner, Garret Moore, and Mark Lee

“I think the only reason there is a problem is because bigger businesses are losing money. It is the best thing to happen for the poor community. It is going to take a while for it to be implemented but it is great for people to have access to health care.”
Antoinette Turner
Point Breeze
Student/housekeeping

AWARDEES—Twinet Parmer, Patricia Robertson, Michael Goh, Aretha Marbley and Michelle Mitcham.

The Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development held its annual Samuel H. Johnson Luncheon at the Westin Hotel, March 21 as part of the American Counseling Association convention at the David Lawrence Convention Center March 19-22 for councilors from around the country. There were five awardees—Twinet Parmer, Aretha Marbley, Michelle Mitcham, Patricia Robertson and Michael Goh. They also announced the opening of the first 2010 Multicultural Social Justice Leadership Development Academy in Pittsburgh.

Diversity celebration

APRIL 9—The Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise will host their 2nd Annual “Inclusive Voices: Converse. Listen. Learn” from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn Place, Downtown. This event is a celebration of diversity and community involvement. Several community leaders will serve as table conversationalists, discussing topics dealing with diversity and community involvement. Guests include Police Chief Nate Harper, Sylvia Fields, Doris Carson Williams, Dr. Walter Smith and Judge Kim Clark. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, call 412-562-0290.

Forensic seminars

APRIL 9—The Duquesne University Wecht Institute of Forensics Science and Law will host the Forensic Fridays Seminar from 1-4:30 p.m. at Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown. Each month there will be a seminar covering forensics in relation to topics such as medical malpractice, accident reconstruction and sexual assault cases. This series is geared toward attorneys, judges, physicians, nurses, law enforcement officers and athletic trainers. The series is worth credits. The cost is $475 for all six seminars or $75 for each one. For more information, call the Wecht Institute at 412-396-1330.

Speaker series

APRIL 9—The Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies & the Economy of Carnegie Mellon University will host their 2009-2010 Speakers Series from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the university, 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. CAUSE aims to link the historian’s interest in race, work and economic change over time with contemporary analysis of the urban labor force, employment policies and community development. Once a month CAUSE will bring a special guest to give a lecture. This month’s guest is Leslie Brown, assistant professor of history at Williams College. The topic is “Plenty of Opposition...Which Has Been Growing Daily: Gender, Generation and Change in the Jim Crow South.” There will be refreshments prior to the lecture and discussion. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 412-268-8928 or visit www.hss.cmu.edu/cause.

Chili cook-off

APRIL 10—The Braddock Carnegie Arts Program will host their 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser from 1-5 p.m. at the Braddock Elks Lodge, 424 Library St., Braddock. There will be home cooked chili, good company and live entertainment. The winning chili recipe will receive prizes and special awards. The proceeds will benefit the Braddock Carnegie Arts Program’s youth programs. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children and $10 to enter a recipe. For more information, call 412-351-5356.

Celebrity roast

APRIL 16—The Hilton Hotel & Towers, will host the 12th Annual Mel Blount Youth Home All-Star Celebrity Roast at 6:30 p.m. at 600 Commonwealth Place, Downtown. The roast is a tribute honoring Super Bowl XL MVP wide receiver Hines Ward. Dinner will be at 7 p.m. and this is a black-tie affair. Tickets are $350 per person and proceeds will benefit the Mel Blount Youth Home. For more information, call 724-948-2311 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Family tournament

APRIL 17—St. Lawrence O’Toole Church will host the We Are Family Tournament of Bid Whist, Spades and Pinochle at 12 p.m. at the church gym, 140 N. Atlantic Ave., Garfield. On site registration will begin at 10 a.m. There will be a cash prize. The cost is $30 for players and $10 for observers and there will be a late fee for players who arrive after 10 p.m. For more information, call 412-330-9898, 917-805-5030 or visit www.bidwhist-spadestournament.com.

Brunch fundraiser

APRIL 18—The Satchels of Caring Foundation will host their Bags, Bellini’s and Brunch Fundraiser from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Chatham Village Clubhouse, 655 Pennridge Rd., Mt. Washington. The fundraiser is to support those undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. There will be food, a silent auction of designer purses and a variety of items for purchase. Tickets are $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door and $10 for students and children under 14. Reservations are requested by April 9. For more information, call Kathryn Petrie at 412-585-0044 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Alzheimer’s lecture

APRIL 23—The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will host their annual Jay L. Foster Community Lecture in Alzheimer’s Disease at 1 p.m. at the Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Shadyside. The topic is “Caring for Loved Ones Suffering from Alzheimer’s.” Peter Rabins, M.D., M.P.H. and a professor will be the speaker and will discuss how family members can best care for their loved ones with late-stage dementia while also caring for themselves. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jill Ruempler at 412-383-8849.

Monthly meeting

APRIL 24—The Afro-American Historical & Genealogy Society Pittsburgh Chapter will host their Monthly Meeting from 1-3 p.m. at the Homewood Carnegie Library, 2nd floor, Hamilton Ave., Homewood. Memberships are open to historians, genealogists and Laypersons of all races and ethnic groups. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

(To have items listed on Community Calendar, send information at least two weeks in advance to: 315 E. Carson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219; Fax: 412-481-1360 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)