Since its inception in 1963, NEED, the Negro Emergency Education Directive, has provided nearly $20 million in grants to college-bound African-American students.

Between now and the end of 2011, the organization seeks to raise nearly half that amount during its annual fundraising campaign, which kicks off with its 47th annual Scholarship Dinner at the Pittsburgh Hilton March 15.

SYLVESTER PACE

“NEED is in the midst of remarkable growth, and we realize that scholarship and grant dollars are only one piece of the college access pie,” said Sylvester Pace. “We are now offering the youth of this region more services than ever before, including mentoring, college advisement in all of the Pittsburgh public high schools, and internships with regional corporations and organizations.”

There were very few Black participants in the recent Winter Olympics so we asked Pittsburghers what their take was. Here’s what you said:

“I wasn’t really interested in the Winter Olympics except for the hockey. The African-American I did know who played hockey is one of the best in the world, although he played for the Canadians. But as a whole I wasn’t really interested because these aren’t sports that African-Americans participate in. 
Brian Smith
Penn Hills
Self-employed

For the past 35 years, Doris Smith-Ribner has worked in public service in Pennsylvania. In the May Democratic Primary she will battle for her next public service position, as Lieutenant-Governor.

DORIS SMITH RIBNER

“I felt the Lt.-Governor position would give me a bully pulpit, if you will, to advocate for our people,” Smith-Ribner said. “I’ve spent many years in public service. It’s something I love and I feel I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve loved my career and I feel I can do even more.”

Her opponents are Philadelphia City Controller Jon Saidel, who received the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee endorsement, Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty and State Rep. Joshua Shapiro of Abington.

Nightly dreams are a likely occurrence for everyone. But Crawford Square resident Rachel J. Poole turned a vivid dream she had in 2007 into an inspiring and uplifting children’s book.

HONORED—Rachel Poole is honored by Pittsburgh City Council.

“I had the dream at the age of 82,” recalled Poole, 85. “It was a vivid, heart-warming dream that was about me. I was transformed from an old woman, which I am now, to a young girl who had hair that was made of green beans that hung to the middle of her back. I was happy to see that I was young and I could go outside and see animals that don’t get along. I was able to feed them. I love children and I love animals so it was great.”