Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff - the good news - going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors...the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

Building community (literally and figuratively), creating connections, making memories...

Our guest today specializes in transforming overlooked and distressed urban spaces into places that unite the communities around them - and he engages with community members to do it. Enriching public spaces on many levels, his philosophy is that public space, done right, lifts everything around it.

“He” is Ben Donsky, Principal at Agora Partners. Agora Partners is a planning and real estate advisory firm that focuses their efforts on the public realm: parks, plazas, streets, sports and cultural facilities and other public venues. They help to create these spaces all over the country.

They concentrate on “placemaking”, as they say on their website: “While placemaking can often sound like a buzzword, it means more than that to us. It’s about creating emotional connections between people and place, rooted in curated experiences and planned serendipity. Beautiful and thoughtful planning is central to our work, but it’s the experience that makes a place memorable. That’s what drives everything we do.”

If, like Tressa, you've never known much about this side of how these urban spaces come to life - the planning, the building of the partnerships, the community engagement behind it - get ready to be enlightened and inspired. Tressa and Ben also chat about his journey and personal connection to his work, as well as his dedication to community service.

Agora Partners: https://www.agorapartners.com/

Contact Ben Donsky: ben@agorapartners.com

⁠⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

*Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube ⁠ here⁠.

*FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

*Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff - the good news - going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

Hi yinz! It’s Tressa here. First, I want to take a quick moment to acknowledge all of YOU - our listeners in 98 countries and territories on 6 continents. I am truly… amazed, frankly, at how far reaching this little podcast has become. And I am heartened by it. I am made hopeful by it. Because it’s proof that no matter where in the world you call home, you know there is good news to be heard, you know there are good people to learn about and be inspired by. And borders don’t matter. You know you will find common ground here. You know you will find the best of our humanity here. And there is such beauty and joy in that. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of our community.

And today’s guest is someone who knows a whole lot about building and connecting communities, that’s for sure… Her name is Danielle Gregor and she is the Owner & CEO of SLIP: Sign Language Interpreting Professionals. This family-owned business has been serving the Deaf community for over 20 years, empowering communication and inclusion between hearing and Deaf individuals. And this company is “family-owned” in the truest sense of the word: You’ll hear Danielle’s family’s story, how SLIP is a direct result of their story, and how family continues to inspire SLIP - and Danielle - each and every day.

Ours is a conversation about communication access, about helping others communicate during ordinary and extraordinary moments in their lives, and we even chat about ASL and the intricacies of the language itself.

SLIP: https://signlanguageinterpretingprofessionals.com/

Danielle Gregor on LinkedIn

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Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff - the good news - going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

Tressa sits down for a delightful chat with the fabulous Shayna Bodi, Abby Lawler-Morycz, Sam Smith and Morgan Sulik, the women at the heart of LeboGreen, the all-volunteer nonprofit based in Mt. Lebanon.

LeboGreen is a group of citizen volunteers devoted to conserving energy, water and waste in their community and they connect with that community through education, initiatives and events. You’re going to hear not only about Lebo Green’s awesome mission and work, but about connection, collaboration, finding your passion, and making a difference.

Lebo Green: www.mtlebogreen.org

___________

Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff - the good news - going on out there and celebrates the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

This episode features a program that is helping the helpers - and yinz know how much we love that.

The program is called Horses Helping Heroes and is provided by the incredibly compassionate folks at Orchardview Stables. Through a connection with these empathic animals, program participants can address some of the PTSD symptoms that plague so many of our veterans, law enforcement, and other first responders. Some participants have said that these horses saved their lives.

Tressa had the pleasure of sitting down with veteran, police officer and program participant Mike Dorsch and Orchardview Stables’ Executive Director, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor & Equine Professional, Tessa Maxwell. What followed was an honest, at times emotional, and hopeful conversation about mental health struggles and how the Horses Helping Heroes program is providing help and offering community.

Orchardview Stables website: https://orchardviewstables.org/

For more information about the Horses Helping Heroes program, email horses@orchardviewstables.org

https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school?

Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff - the good news - going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

Spoiler alert: In this episode, you’re gonna hear a lot about connection, community, and about those who are dedicated to helping our neighbors every day.

Tressa welcomes Mary Jayne McCullough, founder of Global Wordsmiths, to the show to chat about one of our most basic necessities: the ability to communicate. Global Wordsmiths is a social enterprise that provides language services, including interpretation and translation, that empower communities and break down barriers.

As you’ll hear from Mary Jayne, language access is essential and the presence of it causes real impact - creating strong and inclusive communities where individuals can thrive.

You’ll hear how Mary Jayne’s personal journey led to the creation of Global Wordsmiths. Her devotion to her work and deep compassion for the people who are helped by it is so evident. And uplifting.

Global Wordsmiths: https://www.globalwordsmiths.com/

___________

Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Get ready for an inspiring interview almost 2 years in the making…

Emmai Alaquiva is a Cannes award winner, an Emmy award winner, an NAACP Image award-winner, a Webby winner…He is a film director, photographer, producer, and musician.

Born and raised - and still residing- in Pittsburgh, Emmai's life’s journey has been, in short, remarkable. He sits down with Tressa to share his beautiful and powerful story - from being homeless to accepting multiple awards at the Cannes film festival. His is a story of great joy and great difficulty, of hard work and gratitude. A story of inspiration and love. A story of... believing.

Emmai Alaquiva: https://www.emmaialaquiva.com/, IG: emmai_alaquiva
The Ebony Canal: https://theebonycanal.com/

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Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff, the good news, going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

Our featured guest today, Julie Ann Sullivan, has dedicated her life to doing good in the world by giving back, bringing joy to others, and creating connection. She has done this in myriad ways, with different organizations and groups, in different settings, and in her everyday life. She lives it. She does what she can to make life better for others.

Tressa had the great joy of sitting down to chat with Julie Ann in her home: You’re going to hear about her journey, the work she’s done and continues to do, and she also has some tips for all of us on how to be “good yinzers”. You’re also going to hear how she and Tressa first met which, as Tressa says, "was a reminder that you don’t ever know where your next friend is going to come from, you don’t ever know if folks you pass on the street - maybe even every day - are actually kindred spirits."

Julie Ann Sullivan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieannsullivan/

Action For Happiness: https://actionforhappiness.org/

Highlights of this episode are featured on Matters.com — our show sponsor and where the world goes for what matters. Head to ⁠matters.com/yinzaregood⁠ to see what our guests have shared — and tell the world what matters to you.

___________

Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.

Yinz Are Good shares the good stuff, the good news, going on out there and celebrates all the good people who are making it happen: The people who are lifting others up, who are taking care of their neighbors, the people who are saying, “What can I do today to make our world a better place?”.

We’ve got one very busy docket today…

It’s Tressa here. I had one of the best days a couple of weeks ago - a day that, as I look back on it, perfectly represented the city of Pittsburgh: it involved community nonprofits, sports, and the arts. First, I had the honor of attending the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Annual Community Partners Appreciation Breakfast - where they invite nonprofits, civic leaders, and local partners together to recognize their collective impact. There were many familiar Yinz Are Good faces there: like Marisa Escajeda from Girls, Inc.; Pastor Tim/Tim Smith from Center of Life; the folks from LaRosa Youth Club; Charlie Batch from - of course - the Best of the Batch Foundation… And then, I crossed the Allegheny River to meet with the President & CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Kendra Whitlock Ingram, at Arts Landing - their new & gorgeous outdoor civic space.

So coming up first for yinz is my chat with Kendra, then we’ll head over to the Steelers breakfast, where you’ll hear from current Steelers Outside Linebacker Alex Highsmith, the Steelers’ Senior Director of Community Relations, Blayre Holmes Davis, and then two of their community partners: AJ Jefferson from the Homeless Children’s Education Fund and Charlotte Heyward-Wesley from The Heyward House.

Highlights of this episode are featured on Matters.com — our show sponsor and where the world goes for what matters. Head to matters.com/yinzaregood to see what our guests have shared — and tell the world what matters to you.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Arts Landing: https://trustarts.org/pct_home/arts-landing

Alex Highsmith Family Foundation: https://www.alexhighsmithfamilyfoundation.org/

Pittsburgh Steelers Community Outreach:

https://www.steelers.com/community/community-outreach-programs/

Homeless Children’s Education Fund: https://homelessfund.org/

The Heyward House & Craig’s Closet: https://thecameronheywardfoundation.org/

___________

Watch our Tressa Tries…video series on YouTube⁠ here⁠.

⁠⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FOLLOW US on social media:

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@yinzaregood⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have a story of generosity or kindness to share with us? Want a Kindness Crate dropped off at your business or school? Email us at ⁠yinzaregood@gmail.com.