Hope springs eternal: Community leaders look forward to better 2022
Seen in a meme: “The fact that 2021 is almost over proves that time also flies when you’re NOT having fun.”
Wasn’t 2021 supposed to be the year that life returned to normal — or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof? At the beginning of the year, it seemed as if it would.
The coronavirus appeared to be in retreat. Restaurants, entertainment venues and schools slowly and cautiously reopened their doors. People rescheduled weddings and vacation plans.
We breathed a collective sigh of relief. But then came delta, and now omicron.
The East flooded while the West burned. Tornadoes ravaged Kentucky and Tennessee. The Great Resignation rippled through the American labor force. Instead of dancing and singing, flash mobs smashed and grabbed.
And that isn’t the half of it. It’s all been discouraging and exhausting.
But we’re not ready to give up, are we? Of course not. Humans are nothing if not resilient, always looking for the silver lining, the calm after the storm, the light at the end of the tunnel.
And so it is with these folks who shared some of their plans, hopes and dreams for 2022.
Bishop Larry J. Kulick
In 2022, the Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg would like to see a return to normalcy.
“My great hope and prayer is that this worldwide pandemic comes to an end,” said Kulick, a native of Leechburg. “My prayers are with those who have been impacted or suffered a loss because of covid-19 over the past two years and for those who work tirelessly on the front lines fighting this pandemic.
“We have a rich history of faith passed along through the generations of those who have gone before us,” Kulick said. “My continued prayer is that we, as a community, share in a renewal of that faith with increased unity and less division, working together in charity to spread the good news of Jesus.
“I also hope that out of this pandemic, we all have an increased respect for life and for the blessings that Christ provides us,” he added.
Dana Hanna
Dana Hanna, 46, of Fox Chapel co-founded Women Leading Women, a nonprofit with a goal of empowering women to build stronger connections through female-led conversations exploring career, family and well-being.
As a busy mother of three juggling mom, wife, philanthropy and professional duties, Hanna said she’s praying for positive energy for all next year.
“I hope 2022 brings winning basketball games, report cards with As and Bs, college tours, family trips, sunny days and a really good bottle of wine,” Hanna said.
Hanna moved to Pittsburgh in 1999 and is a full-time nonprofit fundraising consultant who serves as a lead impact director and ambassador with OneHope.
She described helping others as a “bright spot,” noting nonprofits have been hard-hit because of the pandemic.
“May 2022 bring laughter, friendship, inspired acts of giving, clear minds, career wins and another year on this planet,” Hanna said.
Endicott Reindl
The executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra calls his 2022 goal “Flexibility & Care.”
“Amongst the uncertainty and chaos of daily life recently, it can be easy to make plans, scrap them, make new plans, scrap them, remake new plans, scrap those, think you found an answer and then re-plan yet again,” he said. “Even though you can proverbially cross your ‘t’s’ and dot those ‘i’s,’ 2022 will be marked with an ever-needing plan of flexibility.”
It will be important to stay flexible not only in making plans but also in following new paths that may have sprouted up in the past months.
“While we might be upset for having to spend so much time in planning and exploring options, we can appreciate the opportunity to investigate the situation and learn about what can I do to improve,” he said.
“Consecutively, we must work to improve our own care. Yes, it might be great to safely go out with friends after a long work week, or rush home to start on an arm’s length list of chores, but is it really the care we owe ourselves?” he said. “Do we really take the time for us to simply be in the moment and to recognize when we might be feeling ‘burnt or crispy,’ perhaps even ‘charred?’
“I know that I need to keep listening to what my body or mind is saying when it says to take a break and watch a movie or read a book with a cup of cocoa,” he added.
His final bit of advice for himself and others: “Don’t worry if the house isn’t always pristine; your guests might be disappointed if they don’t see some dust out of place.”
Mayor Tom Guzzo
New Kensington is experiencing an economic revitalization, and Mayor Tom Guzzo said the pandemic hasn’t stopped the people of the Alle-Kiski Valley from “powering through” during the trying and difficult times the past two years.
“The people of New Kensington and the entire Alle-Kiski Valley will always be our biggest asset,” Guzzo said. “I’m proud to say we’ve opened 50 new businesses in the last 24 months.”
Guzzo said he hopes that momentum will continue next year.
The New Kensington Advanced Manufacturing Park has several new manufacturing companies, including Filter Buy, which hired 50 locals and plans to hire 120 more.
“I’m proudest that our business owners include women, minorities and diverse people who bring so much to our town. It’s created a great downtown atmosphere to shop, eat and drink, ” Guzzo said.
Guzzo said covid-19 has changed all of us forever, in many ways.
“These last two years have been trying and difficult for so many. It’s my hope that 2022 brings a healthier year,” Guzzo said.
Guzzo said promoting unity and kindness is another hope for 2022.
“My hope for 2022 overall is that we take the time to work on having civil and mannerly discourse without insulting each other,” Guzzo said. “We are the greatest country in the world and we can solve so many issues and do good work. But we can only continue to achieve greatness if we can communicate with each other effectively, respectfully and honestly.”
Kiya Tomlin
Fashion designer Kiya Tomlin launched her collection of re-imagined sweatsuits in fall 2014. Her vision was to create clothing for women like herself who do it all. Tomlin wants women to feel comfortable in a garment with the feel of a favorite sweatshirt that also has a feminine edge.
One of her designs — the Twisted Tee — was recently selected by celebrity talk show host, television producer and actress Oprah Winfrey as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things.”
“My main goal for 2022 is to prioritize taking care of myself and those around me,” Tomlin said. “For the last two years, we have been in a full-on sprint to stay afloat, personally and professionally. For 2022, I’m going to switch my team to a four-day workweek. This will give us time to focus on our mental and physical well-being, the ability to take better care of those around us and a weekly opportunity to reset — because we are going to sprint even harder for 2022! We have big goals!”
Gene James
The Greensburg resident and co-founder of the free SummerSounds concert series said organizers are in the midst of booking bands for a 14-week concert schedule. That will be the longest run ever for the weekly outdoor concerts in Greensburg’s St. Clair Park.
The shortened 2021 schedule got off to a later- than-usual start in 2021, because of concerns over pandemic crowd restrictions, and consequently ran later than usual.
“We were shifted by covid into September, but people told us they loved those later dates,” James said.
He’s trying to stay optimistic for this year.
“The downside is, of course, that the virus is coming back and we’re all afraid of this new omicron,” he said. “Honestly, I lie in bed thinking, ‘Oh my god, what if we have to cancel SummerSounds?’ But I really think it will burn itself out by summer.
“Unless something bad happens, it’s going to be a great comeback year for SummerSounds.”
Jeremy Waldrup
Jeremy Waldrup joined the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership as president and CEO in May 2011.
Prior to joining the PDP, he worked to support economic development initiatives with the City of New York, serving as assistant commissioner of district development for the Department of Small Business Services.
He said 2022 will require more patience, “a tough lesson for us as we balance our expectations and needs with all of those around us. “
Waldrup said Downtown Pittsburgh will continue to show its resilience and ingenuity as it continues to welcome the return of office workers and visitors back. He said there is a spirit of optimism and renewal and a sense that a bright future lies ahead for our region, and that has us looking forward to a highly successful 2022.
”For our part, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will continue our collaborative efforts that further evolve Downtown into a premier destination for visitors, that create an exceptional environment in which to live, work, and learn, and that also recognizes diversity and inclusion as the keys to creating a place that is welcoming to the entire community,” he said. “We very much look forward to seeing you back in Downtown many times throughout 2022, and look forward to showing you some of familiar retailers and restaurants while also introducing you to new ones.”
Rich Fitzgerald
Rich Fitzgerald is in his third and final term as Allegheny County Executive, during which he has concentrated on economic development and job creation.
The county has seen new construction and growth in health care, finance, education, manufacturing, arts and culture, robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and clean energy. The county’s buildings, facilities, vehicles and parks are being upgraded and becoming greener.
Fitzgerald said the past year and a half has been challenging, but he is hopeful for 2022.
“We are all looking to get on the other side of this pandemic,” he said.
He said 925,000 Allegheny County residents have been vaccinated, with 800,000 of them fully vaccinated. He plans to work on getting as many people as possible vaccinated in 2022.
“We still need to help people with job skills and transportation, and a more sustainable environment,” he said. “There are long-term goals in place.”
He said the region’s growth includes more younger people moving here. He said Allegheny County has double the national average of 25-34-year-olds.
“They are bringing in new ideas and a new energy,” he said. “We hope to embrace the new, while still preserving the great traditions of Western Pennsylvania, keeping the city’s old-world charm.”
In 2022, Fitzgerald said he is looking forward to working with Pittsburgh Mayor- elect Ed Gainey.
“I want to continue the partnership with the new mayor that I had the last eight years with (outgoing) Mayor (Bill) Peduto,” Fitzgerald said. “I believe Ed will bring a new energy and new ideas. It’s all about strong partnerships.”
April Kopas
The CEO of Westmoreland Cultural Trust said she thinks 2020 and 2021 taught us to appreciate the little things, the time we spend together and the people in our community.
“My hope for 2022 is that folks will continue to value each other and cherish the memories made together — whether it is while they take in a show, celebrate the arts, visit our many local retailers or patronize our area restaurants; that they choose to support the local visual artist selling their creations at community events, the musician who is ecstatic to be able to perform in front of a crowd once again, and the local shop owner who greets each visitor with a warm welcome,” she said.
Her wish is for community members to continue enjoying the many exciting things happening in the region.
Erica Nuckles
Erica Nuckles became director of learning, engagement and partnerships at Greensburg’s premier art venue in March 2021.
“My hope for the New Year is to create meaningful, memorable and safe experiences for our visitors to connect with the amazing art, artists and stories of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art,” she said. “I wish for our community to be proud of this incredible museum that attracts visitors from around the region, nation and world to learn, share and grow.”
For her fellow staff members and volunteers, she hopes they “continue to find fulfillment welcoming visitors to this special place.“
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