Christmas Gift Drive Benefitting Urban Impact!

Please help the Riverside Center for Innovation collect gifts for kids served by Urban Impact Foundation, a North Side nonprofit and help change lives one person, one family, one block at a time. Visit www.urbanimpactpittsburgh.org for more info.

Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh is the Pittsburgh affiliate of Everybody Wins! USA, which is a
national literacy and mentoring organization that strives to build literacy skills and a love of reading
among elementary school students.

RIF and Everybody Wins! USA are currently seeking volunteers to read with students at Pittsburgh King Elementary School on the Northside. Volunteers can choose to help on either Tuesday or Thursday, and 1st lunch (11:45-12:25) or 2nd lunch (12:30-1:10).

It is impossible to run this program without the commitment of faithful volunteers. If you are interested
in becoming a mentor with Everybody Wins! or know someone who would make a fantastic reading
buddy, please contact us through the information listed below:

Coordinator Contact Information
Lisa Sharfstein, Everybody Wins! Recruitment Coordinator
everybodywins@rifpittsburgh.org
Phone: 412-321-8022

Duquesne Light - Light Up Night

This Friday the 18th is the 51^st Duquesne Light - Light Up Night!  

It's our BIGGEST celebration ever and it’s all for you!  Join the excitement of the official kick-off of the Downtown Holiday shopping season. Pittsburgh’s stars come out as the stars come up! The entire Golden Triangle becomes the stage for one of the largest holiday celebrations in the nation.

People of all ages will have the opportunity to experience Downtown like never before during TWO BIG DAYS filled with free high-quality family entertainment by some of Pittsburgh’s most memorable performers.

For more information, click here.

Contractor Networking Event

PNC Bank will be holding an informal networking session for Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contractors for jobs at the new Tower at PNC Plaza that will be built in downtown Pittsburgh.  This event will be held at the August Wilson Center at 980 Liberty Avenue, on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm.  The goal of this event is to provide a networking opportunity for PNC Bank and PJ Dick, Inc. to personally meet M/W/DBE firms that are interested in working on the construction of the Tower at PNC Plaza.

The construction budget is estimated $400 million dollars, with women and minority owned businesses making up approximately $40 million dollars.  All individual attendees are required to register for the event, a maximum of two attendees per company may attend.

Follow the link to register: https://www.cvent.com/events/pnc-construction-contractor-diversity-networking-event/registration-60abb63d356546a7baa6dd3b393a6781.aspx

Diversity Business Resource Center Contracts With The Riverside Center For Innovation

The Diversity Business Resource Center (DBRC), a consulting and referral provider for disadvantaged small businesses and entrepreneurs, has reestablished its partnership with Riverside Center for Innovation(RCI), the small business incubator located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.

The DBRC was originally the brainchild of the MWDBE Governmental Committee, which is a collaboration of the diversity procurement officers of the local public agencies like ALCOSAN and the Pittsburgh International Airport as well as private companies in SW Pennsylvania charged with expanding contracting opportunities for women, minorities, and veterans. The DBRC serves the ten (10) county region which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, and Westmoreland.

The DBRC will reestablish its presence at RCI which will add additional support and training for disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Newly hired Director, Judith Woodson McNeil, starts with a database of over 450 qualified vendors and contractors available to connect with government contracting opportunities and will seek new companies to join the network from surrounding counties. Judy has over 13 years of experience working in the non-profit community with a diversified background in financing, contracting and recruitment of disadvantage individuals and entrepreneurs.

The DBRC program will work with its clients seeking new and expanded business relationships with local government agencies that lead to significant increases in sales. This is in addition to advocating for disadvantaged small businesses on important issues such as access to capital as well as continuing to be a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to quickly gain access to business development information. Emily Buka, Executive Director of RCI says, "This venture dovetails well with the mission and re-vision of RCI since our purpose is to create a healthy environment for the region’s entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing incubation support, training, and innovation strategies.". RCI offers entrepreneurial training, workshops, contracting opportunities and shared office services. RCI is a Pennsylvania certified industrial development company that can access state financing programs to assist in the growth of small businesses.

For more information, persons should contact Juan Garrett, Riverside Center for Innovation, (412)322-3523 or Judy McNeil at 412-322-3272