Center Of Life

CENTER OF LIFE (COL) IS A FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE GREATER HAZELWOOD COMMUNITY AND OTHER UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE PITTSBURGH AREA. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH THE LIFE-SKILLS, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO THRIVE AND MAKE THEIR COMMUNITIES STRONG. FOR TWENTY YEARS CENTER OF LIFE HAS PROVIDED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IN MUSIC AND ARTS, EDUCATION, ATHLETICS, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

1.KRUNK MOVEMENT AND COL JAZZ THE KRUNK MOVEMENT IS A STUDENT-LED MUSIC AND HEALTH INITIATIVE THAT USES THE ELEMENTS OF HIP-HOP THROUGH SONGWRITING, BEAT MAKING, RECORDING ENGINEERING, VISUAL ART, AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT TO COMMUNICATE POSITIVE MESSAGES ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH TO PEERS. KRUNK STUDENTS REGULARLY UTILIZE VISIONING STRATEGIES AND MINDFULNESS/MEDITATION PRACTICES TO FOCUS IN ON THEIR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TO INSPIRE THEIR MUSIC. THE KRUNK MOVEMENT AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM IS DESIGNED AS A MICRO-ENTERPRISE PRODUCTION COMPANY, AS IT AIMS TO TEACH STUDENTS THE SKILLS AND PROFESSIONALISM REQUIRED TO SUCCEED IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. AS SUCH, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES RECORDING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COL ARTISTS, PROVIDING INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS AND EXPOSURE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. KRUNK ENGAGES HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER ALLEGHENY COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER. KRUNK HOSTS A SUMMER CAMP, STAR CAMP, FOR STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER. COL JAZZ IS CENTER OF LIFES AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAM THAT NURTURES THE INSTRUMENTAL TALENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF K-12 STUDENTS AND ADULT MUSICIANS. EMPLOYING A DIVERSE, TALENTED STAFF, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ITS YOUNGEST STUDENTS WITH BUCKET BAND SESSIONS TO MASTER THE BASICS OF RHYTHM, AND PRIVATE LESSONS FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP EXPERTISE ON THE INSTRUMENT OF THEIR CHOICE, FREE-OF-CHARGE. BUDDING JAZZ ARTISTS LEARN TO MASTER JAZZ STANDARDS AND EVENTUALLY, CREATE THEIR OWN ORIGINAL MUSIC. ADVANCED STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ON STAFF PERFORM FOR A VARIETY OF CLIENTS THROUGHOUT PITTSBURGH AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. COL JAZZ ALSO HOSTS A SUMMER CAMP, COL JAZZ CAMP, FOR STUDENTS DURING THE SUMMER.

FUSION FUSION IS AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES K-8 YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HOMEWORK HELP, PERSONALIZED ACADEMIC SUPPORT, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THESE ACTIVITIES CONNECT EACH CHILDS SCHOOL LEARNING WITH SUPPLEMENTAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO DEEPEN A STUDENTS UNDERSTANDING OF THE ACADEMIC MATERIAL. THE PROGRAMS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND HOLISTIC STRUCTURE ENCOURAGES STEAM LEARNING, SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND PARENT/FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. EACH SUMMER, FUSION JOINS FORCES WITH SISTER PROGRAM, CROSSOVER TO PROVIDE A SUMMER DAY CAMP (CAMP HAZELWOOD) WITH ACTIVITIES AND FIELD TRIPS RANGING FROM ROBOTICS AND BIOLOGY TO AFRICAN DRUMMING AND SWIMMING.

CROSSOVER THE SISTER PROGRAM TO FUSION, CROSSOVER PROVIDES K-8 YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, HANDS-ON LEARNING, AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, MENTORSHIP, AND RECREATIONAL SPORTS, CROSSOVER PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ENCOURAGES PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AT EVERY LEVEL AND HELPS STUDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR ACADEMICS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON HEALTHY INITIATIVES ENHANCE THE PROGRAMS ABILITY TO EXPOSE STUDENTS TO ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT COL IS COMMITTED TO THE KIND OF COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THAT ULTIMATELY STRENGTHENS FAMILIES IN GREATER HAZELWOOD AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THIS COMMITMENT LEADS TO ADVOCACY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS (SUCH AS THE GREATER HAZELWOOD COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE), AS WELL AS ACCESS TO FUNDING AND RESOURCES. THROUGH VARIOUS PARTNERSHIPS, COL EXPOSES FAMILIES AND YOUTH TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT AFFECT THEIR CAREERS, EDUCATION, FINANCES, AND ABILITY TO OWN A HOME. CENTER OF LIFE HOSTS THREE PROGRAMS THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT EFFORTS AS FOLLOWS: COLS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM WAS CREATED WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND STRATEGIES NEEDED TO MOVE FROM A STATE OF MERELY SURVIVING TO THRIVING. ACTIVITIES OF THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ASSIST FAMILIES IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES TO IMPROVE THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING, AND RANGE ANYWHERE FROM ORGANIZING A FOOD PANTRY, PERFORMING REGULAR WELLNESS CHECKS, ORGANIZING WEEKLY PARENT MEETINGS, PROVIDING FAMILIES WITH INFORMATION ABOUT VITAL RESOURCES AND REFERRALS AND MORE. BY TENDING TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE PARENTS WE SERVE, WE CAN BE SURE THAT WE ARE IMPACTING THE SUCCESS AND THE WELLBEING OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT. TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY UNIT, COL OFFERS WELLNESS WORKSHOPS THAT OPERATE TO GIVE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. TOPICS DISCUSSED HAVE INCLUDED MASK-MAKING, MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION, RESOURCES TO HELP CONSTITUENTS PAY RENT, INFORMATION ABOUT VACCINATIONS AND COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS (HOSTED BY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS), ELECTION INFORMATION, AND EVENTS SUCH AS ASK-A-TEACHER WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS WITH QUESTIONS RELATED TO THEIR STUDENTS VIRTUAL LEARNING. TO FURTHER OUR EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, COL FORMED A SOCIAL JUSTICE RESOURCE CENTER (SJRC) TO EDUCATE AND INFORM COMMUNITY MEMBERS REGARDING SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES. AS A BLACK-LED ANCHOR ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE HAZELWOOD COMMUNITY, COL ALREADY HAS DEEP AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND OVER THE COURSE OF COLS EXISTENCE AS A COMMUNITY-EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ROUTINELY RELIED ON OUR STAFF AND LEADERS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE LIFES TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. THE SJRC SEEKS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE SOCIAL INJUSTICES THEY FACE AND MOVE THEM TOWARDS STATES OF AGENCY, ABLE TO OVERCOME THE ISSUES THAT PERVADE THEIR LIVES. IN COLLABORATION WITH DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY, CENTER OF LIFE HAS BROUGHT SEVERAL COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES OF HEALTH AND PROVIDE REFERRALS AND SERVICES SURROUNDING CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT. COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS ARE HOUSED IN COL OFFICES AND OFTEN VISIT HAZELWOOD COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENTS AND REFERRALS.