There was a rash of shootings in McKeesport last month, six in eight days, so we asked McKeesport residents if it affected them. Here’s what you said:

“It’s disturbing that it has been going on. It has touched home. There has been a lot of senseless killing. It makes no sense for young Black men to be doing this and I am leery about where I go.”
Gidget Jones
McKeesport
Home aide

Gidget Jones, Henry Robinson, Emmett Turner

In December when he agreed to serve as acting head of the Hill House Association, Victor Roque said he would follow up on initiatives outgoing president Evan Frazier had in place, while a replacement search was conducted.

The search ended June 10 when Roque was named new president and CEO.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY—That’s what new Hill House Association President and CEO Victor Roque says the agency will focus on. He was promoted by the board June 10.

“It comes at a good time for me” he said. “I’ve been retired a while, been on boards, and I found I like getting my hands on issues. And there are many issues and opportunities here in the Hill District.”

As for putting his stamp on the Hill House, Roque said his vision for the association isn’t that different from Frazier’s. The only real difference, he said, is now that he’s officially in charge he has to follow through on the initiatives they’ve been looking at.

JULY 10—Citiparks will host a Flea Market from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Brookline Memorial Recreation Center, 1400 Block of Brookline Blvd., Brookline. Space is free, but everyone must bring his or her own table. For more information, call 412-571-3222.

Home buying workshop

JULY 12—Dollar Bank and the Pittsburgh Housing Development Association Inc. will host a Home Buying Workshop at 6 p.m. at the Wilkinsburg Borough Building, Auditorium, 605 Ross Ave., Wilkinsburg. Counselors will be on hand to show individuals how one can own their own home and about grant money for closing costs. Affordable mortgage and down payments, programs for public housing residents, credit counseling and a free credit report will be given. Registration is requested and the workshop is free to all. For more information, call 412-687-1197 or visit www.phdainc.org.

In New York City, the Harlem Children’s Zone, a nonprofit organization, has been working to break the cycle of poverty one family at a time. With parenting workshops, a pre-school program, three public charter schools and child-oriented health programs, the organization has helped approximately 17,000 children.

Recently, President Barack Obama’s administration announced it would launch the 20 Promise Neighborhoods program, which hopes to replicate the success of the HCZ in poverty-stricken areas of other U.S. cities.

HOMEWOOD CHILDREN’S VILLAGE—John Wallace gives a presentation during the conference session “Refocus and Reform: Changing Direction in Urban Schools.”

However, for the past two years, John Wallace, Ph.D., a University of Pittsburgh professor, has led an effort to bring HCZ to Pittsburgh. On June 23, the plan moved one step closer to reality when the Pittsburgh Public School District Board voted to add support services to Westinghouse High School, a key component of the Homewood Children’s Village proposal.