How Can We Help You?
Colorful Background E.X.P.O.
Community Advocacy
Freight Farm
Voter Empowerment
Colorful Background E.X.P.O.
Reentry Program
Summary of Program
Your past should never limit your future. There is often a negative stereotype that surrounds the label of “formerly incarcerated”. We’re looking to counter this way of thinking in every way possible.
Terri Minor Spencer coined the phrase, “Colorful Backgrounds,” to redefine what it means to be an individual who has been formerly incarcerated. It allows acknowledgment of the fact that everyone has a story, and at times, these stories, experiences, struggles, failures, and triumphs can at times create the most impactful legacies.
Colorful Background EXPO is a program chartered by West End P.O.W.E.R. and Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (P.I.I.N) to train formerly incarcerated people to organize for change in the criminal justice system and build their employment prospects with a 12-week class with courses on areas such as:
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Job Readiness
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Including resume writing and mock interviews
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Basic Computer Skills
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Including Internet Security, Social Media Basics and Google Workspace training
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Community Organizing
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Leadership Skills
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Anger Management
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Financial Literacy
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Including Bank Account Basics, Budgeting and Credit Repair
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Expungement Clinic
Community Advocacy
Unity is essential to having strong vibrant communities. However, restricting resources, creating boundaries by neighborhood, or engaging in actions that do not foster or strengthen partnership or collaboration within the community can be detrimental.
What We Have Been Doing
Westside C.A.R.E.E.S.
Communities Actively Reshaping Engagement And Safety
West End P.O.W.E.R. and the Pitt School of Social Work are collaborating on a project to co-create safe spaces, rekindle community connections and relationships, and strengthen supports for young people who are the future of our community. During the first phase of our project we are surveying adult residents in the West Side City neighborhoods about their engagement and connections in the neighborhood, perceptions of and exposure to neighborhood violence, their mental health, and norms and values related to violence prevention.
Questions? Concerns? Contact us:
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Mary Ohmer, MSW, PhD, Associate Professor, Pitt School of Social Work: mlo51@pitt.edu
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Donnell Pearl, Community Researcher: dop25@pitt.edu
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Terri Minor Spencer, Founder & President of West End P.O.W.E.R. 1westendpower@gmail.com
Community Partnership Data Collection
West End P.O.W.E.R. and the Black Equity Coalition are in partnership to gather information surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Focusing on how it adversely effectived Black Americans across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Freight Farm
Combating Food Insecurities
Thinking Outside The Box
In 2022 in partnership with The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, West End P.O.W.E.R. became home to a first-of-its-kind freight farm.
As part of The National Council mission of Reimagining Communities What Different Looks Like work. Their goal is to feed people, empower communities and combat food insecurity.
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Voter Empowerment
Educational Community Civic Series with Weldianne Scales Candidate for Magistrate District 05-2-08
Educational Community Civic Series with Weldianne Scales Candidate for Magistrate District 05-2-08
Community Educational Civic Series with Khari Mosely Candidate for City Council District 9
Community Educational Civic Series with Olivia Bennett, Candidate for County Executive
Community Educational Civic Series with Matt Dugan, Candidate for Allegheny County District Attorney
West End P.O.W.E.R.
Is a community organization committed to strengthening communities through activism, advocacy, education, equity, and promoting unity. We work to transform communities in the Greater Pittsburgh Region, particularly communities of color and other underrepresented communities.
Through the process of continued community building we work with decision makers, community leaders and stakeholders, policy makers and others to bring about the positive outcomes we seek. We take great pride in our work whether it is providing services or working as advocates we believe in providing opportunities with effective resources.
