Another Semester in Homewood

This past year I taught an after-school ceramics class for middle school kids in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood. Homewood is what most people would call "the ghetto." It used to be home to the richest people in Pittsburgh, now it's home to the poorest. Violent crime, drug dealing and prostitution are commonplace, and the Crips that control the streets like it that way.

In the past year and a half I've come to know Homewood pretty well. Prior to teaching ceramics, I taught a variety of art projects in the middle school. In the process of arranging and promoting a pair of student art sales events at the public library, I've met Homewood residents from all walks of life, from street-people to state representatives. And I've visited every business in Homewood (except for its notoriously dangerous drinking establishments). For the most part, all have been welcoming, kind or at least respectful of an outsider trying to do some good in their community.

So it's with a good bit of anticipation that I prepare for another semester of Thursday nights in the hood. 

Empty Bowls

Yesterday was MLK Day, so I had the day off from work. I went in anyway to volunteer at our company's annual celebration, which included hosting an Empty Bowls workshop. The idea behind Empty Bowls is that pottery studios and volunteers create handmade ceramic bowls for charity. The bowls are collected and then a dinner is hosted where people pay $20 for a meal of soup and bread—and they get to keep the bowl they choose. Some bowls are made by school children (like the Girl Scout troop that came in today) or by master potters like many of the people I work with. Some of the fanciest bowls made by celebrity artists are bid on in a silent auction.

The money raised goes to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest. One of the best reasons to contribute to Empty Bowls is because it helps provide free school lunches for children from low income families. It also helps provide many of these students with free breakfast, so they are better prepared to deal with the day's challenges.