This story is part of a bi-weekly series that celebrates people who are reaching across a divide to "build bridges" with those different from themselves. The Get Marty: Community Bridges series is made possible with the support of UPMC.
Supporting our children academically during the coronavirus pandemic has been an on-again-off-again challenge for most families, especially working parents.
Chances are the founders of Sarah Heinz House (in 1901) on Pittsburgh’s Northside never imagined times like these. But then again, history shows us people at the turn of the 20th century did understand the kind of resilience it took to deal with life’s challenges.
Today their building, like their mission, is a blend of old and new. Sarah Heinz House leadership gets that. It’s why they’re continuously adjusting their programming to make sure they’re fulfilling their mission to serve the city’s youth, no matter where or how that happens. They’ve formed a partnership with nearby Allegheny Traditional Academy to create a Community Learning Hub where children come during the day to do their remote lessons with instructors to keep them on track and help when they get stuck on something.
After school programming has gone online where possible (it’s kind of hard to take swimming lessons remotely!). We got a chance to sit in-on an amazing class where kids are learning to create cartoons (it’s part of the SSH “Media Lab” program).
The after-school programs are on hiatus until after the beginning of 2021, but you can sign up now to participate when they resume in January.
If you’d like to support Sarah Heinz House’s mission to support our kids, you can donate, volunteer, and sign up for their programs with the following links:
The Get Marty: Community Bridges project is produced with the generous support of UPMC. Life Changing Medicine.
