Come January 2026, Mary Nesby will make history as Homestead’s first Black woman mayor. That’s admirable, Mayor-elect Nesby told the New Pittsburgh Courier, but for her, it’s not about titles. In her mind, with all she feels she’s done in the Homestead community, she feels like the mayor already. She told the Courier on Nov. 10 that she’s lived in Homestead for the past 23 years, and after being on Homestead Borough Council for the past eight years, she knows the ins and outs of not only Homestead

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, who never minces words, had nothing but praise to offer about 2025 New Pittsburgh Courier Fab 40 honoree Ashley Cabiness. “In a world where everyone’s fighting and there’s so much anger and meanness going on, she’s one of those people that wants to bring people together,” Councilwoman Kail-Smith said. She wasn’t done. “(Cabiness) always calls people and looks for ways to work together. The things that she does for the community is amazing, and just her presence alone in the community has been such a

Point Park University celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Ph.D. Community Engagement and Leadership program. Seven Black women scholars who named themselves the “Heavenly Seven” from the inaugural cohort were honored for their roles in shaping the foundation of the program. “You all were designing the plane while flying it,” said Dr. Heather Starr Fiedler, the first Vice President and Managing Director, Center for Civic and Community Engagement, Point Park University. In the Alumnae Panel the Heavenly Seven’s Dr. Atiya Abdelmalik, Dr. Sheila Beasley, Dr. Danielle Davis, Dr.

by Bill Neal The Honorable Dwayne D. Woodruff was the recent recipient of the Dr. John E. Murray Jr. Meritorious Service Award, Friday, Sept. 26, at the Duquesne University 73rd Law Alumni Reunion Dinner, held at the University Power Center Ballroom. Judge Woodruff is currently a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, presiding in the Family Court Division since 2005 and appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Section in February 2019, serving in that role through 2023. Judge Woodruff

Kahlil Darden is the force behind Young Black Motivated Kings and Queens. He’s a 2019 Penn Hills High School graduate, a 2024 Clark Atlanta University graduate, and tireless community voice for the youth and young adults of the region. He also received the New Pittsburgh Courier’s Fab 40 under 40 award on May 9, as part of the Class of 2025. He’s just 24 years old. He’s doing a lot and going places - fast. And, just when they say there’s nothing for the kids to do in

The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Dr. Daren Ellerbee has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Pittsburgh Scholar House. Pittsburgh Scholar House (PSH) is an affiliate of the Family Scholar House based in Louisville, Ky. A respected leader and Pittsburgh native, Dr. Ellerbee most recently served as the head of the Pittsburgh Innovation Team for the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins in Maryland. In her new role, she will focus on elevating and expanding PSH as a critical leader and resource within the

Esther Bush. Chris Moore. Sala Udin. Tim Stevens. Talk about icons in the City of Pittsburgh. The political arena. The financial/non-profit sector. The spoken word. Collec­tively, the four aforemen­tioned African Americans have more than 150 years of service and impact in the Pittsburgh region. Collectively, they have not only spoken out against injustices involving Afri­can Americans, but they have created change for the better in the region for Black people. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, one could say, stands on the shoulders of these iconic figures. The city’s first Black may­or