Pitt aims to expand visibility of community engagement through new ‘Pitt in 67’ initiative

Presented to Pitt’s Board of Trustees on Feb. 5, Pitt introduced an effort called “Pitt in 67” to demonstrate its presence and community impact across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. 

The February launch of the initiative was prompted by Pitt’s history of community engagement, according to University spokesperson Jared Stonesifer. “Pitt in 67” launched as part of the broader Plan for Pitt 2028, an outline of Pitt’s expansion initiatives that includes increasing student enrollment and prioritizing outreach.

Stonesifer said the focus of the initiative is on giving back to the communities around Pittsburgh and beyond.

“‘Pitt in 67” is a platform and storytelling project to help showcase Pitt’s great work, specifically in the Commonwealth,” Stonesifer said in an email. “Our faculty, staff, students and alumni are working in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania.”

Stonesifer said “Pitt in 67” also fits into the broader strategic goals of the Plan for Pitt’s pillars, which include being welcoming and engaged, promoting accountability and trust, and building opportunities. Stonesifer said the new initiative aligns most with the “welcoming and engaged” pillar.

“For generations, Pitt has been an engaged and trusted partner in advancing Western Pennsylvania’s progress and communities near to far,” Stonesifer said. “This captures our goals as a place-based institution to have a powerful, positive effect on the world around us.”

In 2023, Pitt won the C. Peter Magrath Community Engagement Scholarship Award for the University’s engagement work.

The Office of External Relations introduced “Pitt in 67” at the Feb. 5 Board of Trustees meeting. As part of their goal to increase the visibility of Pitt’s public impact, the Office created a new Public Impact website to showcase Pitt’s work in Pennsylvania communities.

According to the website, Pitt’s public impact is broken down into four main roles contributing to the “health and vitality of the broader public.” These roles include an engaged partner in public problem solving, an economic anchor, an engine of lifelong learning and workforce development and a responsive and committed neighbor.

Pitt’s faculty, staff, students and alumni are currently active in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania through programs such as the Child Welfare Resource Center, the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and the Small Business Development Center.

Stonesifer said Pitt’s impact goes beyond Pennsylvania, and “Pitt in 67” is an initiative that aims to uplift and connect all of Pitt’s public impact efforts.

“Our goal is that by 2028, we will reach 500,000 Pennsylvanians — half a million of our neighbors — and tell the stories of the good work happening across the state,” Stonesifer said.