Upcoming Events

August Office Hours at Kingsley
Friday, August 2, 2024, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Did you know my office hosts monthly office hours on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association? Stop by this Friday and say hello to our staff between 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM and get access to all of the services that our District Offices in Ross and Harrison provide:

• Property Tax Rent Rebates
• Senior Photo Connect Cards
• PennDOT Forms
• Connection to Resources
• Unclaimed Property Searches
• Voter Registration
• And much more!

* Please note that we will not have notary services available this month. Please call the office at 412-364-0469 if you need notary services and we will make other arrangements for you!

August Community Days

Come on out to Aspinwall Big Night Out and East Deer’s Summer Celebration this month to enjoy the food and fun. While you are there, stop by my table to meet members of my staff, get resources, ask questions, or let us know what is important to you.

Congressman Deluzio Veterans Resource Fair
Tuesday, August 13, 5-7pm, West View VFW, 386 Perry Hwy, West View

We will be at Congressman Chris Deluzio’s Veterans Resource Fair on August 13th. Come by our table if you need information or help with Pennsylvania resources. We look forward to meeting you!

School Supply Drive
August 1 - 15, 2024, M-Th, 9 am - 5-pm,  5000 McKnight Rd. Ste 405, Ross Twp.

It is hard to believe, but back-to-school time is around the corner. As you are shopping for the students in your life, pick up a few extra supplies for kids in need in our community. We are collecting backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and more for children of all ages at our Ross Township office, open 9-5 Monday - Thursday through August 15.

Questions? Call 412-364-0469 (Ross) or 724-224-2131 (Harrison) or email us at [email protected].

Save the Date! Demystifying Harrisburg: Election 2024 Edition
Thursday, September 12, 2024, 6-7:30pm, Powers Room, McCandless Town Hall

 

Mark your calendars for the next installment of my Demystifying Harrisburg series - Election 2024 Edition! Get your questions answered about the upcoming 2024 General Election and what to expect when you cast your ballot. Special guests will be announced soon.

Good News

American Kidney Fund

Last Tuesday, I was honored to speak at the American Kidney Fund’s luncheon for legislators and kidney patients about my efforts to support organ donation in Harrisburg.  I’ve been proud to focus on legislative efforts that are specific to living donors and kidney disease, like co-sponsoring legislation that would provide tax benefits to living donors and supporting the Living Donor Protection Act.

I also thanked two fierce supporters from the kidney community, Bobbie Reed and Candie Gagne. Their advocacy for the kidney community is one of the reasons I always try to hear directly from impacted communities about how legislation will help or hurt them. It is my job to amplify those voices in Harrisburg and ensure that the laws we pass actually help everyday people. Thank you Bobbie and Candie for your advocacy and for helping shape me as a legislator.

Evolve Coaching Inclusion Center in Garfield

Last week I had the chance to take a tour of Evolve Coaching Inclusion Center’s new site. This facility will allow Evolve to expand their coaching services that provide individuals who have disabilities with assistance in achieving their next goal, whether that's education, job seeking, art, or independent living.

I'm so proud to support this project and the incredible work that Evolve does every day! You can check out their services and read more about the new Inclusion Center on their website.

Intern Appreciation!

National Intern Day was July 25th and we want to highlight our wonderful interns. You may have met Abby or Bre at one of many community days (pictured here far left at Larimer Alive!), or perhaps they helped process your senior bus pass or assisted you with filing your Property Tax/Rent Rebate.

Abby is a rising senior at Chatham University, double majoring in political science and psychology. She’s minoring in pre-law and women’s leadership. She is also the outreach coordinator for the Pennsylvania Center for Women in Politics and on the Chatham soccer team!

Abby’s grateful that her internship with SD38 has not only allowed her to work with our staff and meet constituents, but it has also provided her with the experience and knowledge to make a lasting impact in the world of politics, a field she is passionate about.

Bre is a rising sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in political science with a minor in economics. She’s also a volunteer firefighter for Munhall VFD 1 and the new mom of an adorable cat named Zuri. Bre’s favorite part of interning for SD38 was representing the team at Fox Chapel’s Pride in the Park. Bre hopes to run for Congress someday and advocate for common-sense gun laws and increased protections for the LGBTQIA community.

Abby and Bre, your time with us may be short, but your contributions have been significant. We are grateful for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for choosing Senator Lindsey Williams’ office as part of your career journey!

We’re hiring an intern for the fall semester! The position is open to college juniors and seniors and is a paid position. For more information or to apply, please visit https://senatorlindseywilliams.com/internships/.

Legislative Update

Solar for Schools Bill Signed into Law!

The Solar for Schools Grant Program has been signed into law! This program will use federal climate money to create a grant program to encourage Pennsylvania’s schools to install solar panels on their buildings.

We have about 3,400 school buildings across the state, all of which use a significant amount of energy every year. By installing solar panels on these mostly flat roofed buildings, districts can realize significant energy savings. This money can instead be used to fund academic and other student-driven programming without the need to increase property taxes. The use of solar panels will also increase Pennsylvania’s renewable energy production.

The Solar for Schools Program is a huge win for everyone: allowing schools to focus resources on student outcomes, keeping property taxes low, and protecting our environment!

Cultural and Historical Support Grants

The application window is open for the Cultural and Historical Support Grants Program! This Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission program offers nearly $2 million in funding for eligible museums and historical societies across Pennsylvania.

Eligibility:

• Museums located in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets that exceed $100,000 and at least one full-time professional staff person. Maximum award is $65,000.
• Official county historical societies (budget under $400,000). Maximum award is $4,000.

The grant is not available to museums that are eligible for support from other state agencies.

Program Goals:

• Strengthening the Pennsylvania museum community.
• Providing general operating support to museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs.
• Allowing applicants to determine and describe how they will use funds within the scope of the grant program.
• Keeping the application process fair and simple.
• Achieving geographical balance in the distribution of grants.

Applications will be accepted through August 23 and must be completed using the Commonwealth's Single Application for Assistance system. Complete eligibility information and guidelines can be found here.

Questions about eligibility or the application process? Contact Rusty Baker, Executive Director of PA Museums, at 717-909-4951 or [email protected]. PA Museums is assisting with the administration of the grant program.

RESTORE Coaching Helps Counter Hate and Violence

RESTORE is a new program from the Violence Prevention Network created to counter hate and violence and foster harmony in communities. RESTORE has extensively trained community leaders - social workers, school counselors, faith leaders, etc. - available to provide coaching services to support individuals to reject hate, end violence, and embrace positive ways of thinking and acting.

Call the RESTORE Help Line at (412) 756-3643 or email [email protected] if you are personally or professionally in touch with someone who:

• Has high levels of hate and anger directed towards abstract entities or entire groups of people
• Shows signs of conspiratorial thinking pointing to evidence from unreliable media sources
• May be unwilling or unable to discuss their views while expressing disdain towards certain groups
• Is increasingly isolating themselves from family and/or friends
• Seems to be convinced that everyone is against them and needs to defend themselves
• Simultaneously may have very low self-esteem and speaks about themselves in disparaging ways

Violence Prevention Network also offers customized RESTORE coaching sessions on topics such as family or workplace conflicts related to being offensive or aggressive; anger management: hate, threats, or aggression; trouble finding a job because of contentious views and opinions; conflicts related to ideology or worldview differences; or difficulty developing or maintaining relationships because of views and opinions.

To learn more about the RESTORE Project, please visit https://www.restore-project.org.

Undercliff VFD Awarded $160K Grant

Congratulations to the Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company for receiving a $160,000 grant award from Lowe’s Hometowns, a community impact project! This incredibly competitive grant award will be used to make improvements to the fire station, which hasn’t been renovated since 1986!

Undercliff serves as one of our AARP Tax Aide preparation sites every year, and we're very grateful for that partnership. This funding will allow for station renovations that benefit the entire community! We can't wait to see the new look!

You can read more about the award at Undercliff Volunteer Fire Company gets help with renovation costs | TribLIVE.com

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Etna Mayor Tom Rengers

On Monday, the Etna community celebrated the life and legacy of former Mayor Tom Rengers. Mayor Tom dedicated his life to making Etna a thriving, welcoming place to live, and he was an incredible example of service. Thank you to Mayor Tom for all that he did, and to his family for supporting him and Etna. He will be missed.

 

In Need of Services? Go to Pittsburgh’s Neighborhood Services Hub 

Mayor Ed Gainey’s Office of Neighborhood Services is your one-stop-shop for connecting with City departments and making service requests. Visit the Neighborhood Services Hub to connect with your engagement coordinator and request city services!

Free Jazz Wednesdays in Larimer at the Village Green Amphitheater

There is still plenty of summer left and outdoor concerts are one of the best ways to celebrate the season! Don't miss the Larimer Consensus Group and The Jazz Workshop Inc.’s free jazz concert series every Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in August and September at the Village Green Amphitheater (corner of Larimer Ave. and Mayflower St.).  The first concert is next Wednesday. Bring a chair or blanket and sit back to enjoy some of Pittsburgh’s legendary jazz artists. 

Highland Park’s Free Jazz Concerts Start Sunday!

Remember to take advantage of the Reservoir of Jazz Series that starts this Sunday! The series takes place every Sunday in August from 5-7pm on the lawn in Highland Park. Don’t miss these free concerts performed by some of Pittsburgh's finest musicians.

For the full schedule go to: Reservoir of Jazz | pittsburghpa.gov.

Apply Now for Duquesne Light Community Impact Grants!

There is one week left for organizations to apply for the 2024 grant cycle for Duquesne Light’s Community Impact Grants (CIG). These grants aim to support diverse, grassroots nonprofit organizations in Allegheny and Beaver Counties.

To be considered for a grant, organizations must have an annual operating budget equal to or less than $500,000. Please note that organizations with larger budgets will only be considered if applying on behalf of a smaller organization or community group.

Under CIG, nonprofits can apply for microgrants for up to $10,000 to fund various projects and programs in one of three focus areas:

1. Social Equity: including social justice initiatives such as housing programs, programs advancing racial equality, refugee assistance, and access to food for historically disenfranchised communities.
2. Education: including programs that support K-12 education in the areas of science, technologically, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), access or increased access to technology, and purchasing of equipment for educational programming or capacity building.
3. Environmental Justice: including community gardens, park upgrades and restorations, and climate resilience projects.

Organizations can apply for the Community Impact Grants through this online form. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 5^th at 11:59pm.

To learn more about the program requirements and application process, check out DuquesneLight.com/CIG.

Ross Township Office August Hours

For the month of August, my Ross Township office will be open to walk-ins and in-person appointments Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Staff will be working remotely and available by phone or email on Fridays. Please call and leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible! You can contact us at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Natrona), or [email protected].

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

Senator Lindsey Williams