Resources for Engagement

Never A Spectator – A Civic Engagement Forum

Never a Spectator, an annual program offered through the IOP’s Elsie Hillman Civic Forum, is a unique opportunity for Pitt students to network with some of the region’s most prominent leaders, including leaders from government and politics, healthcare, transportation, tech, foundation executives, and nonprofit and business leaders. Students join these visionaries and mentors for an evening and dinner reception devoted to sharing a vision for public service, inspiring action, and developing the pipeline of leadership needed to foster sustainable growth and regional transformation. 

The Never a Spectator Civic Engagement Forum is a unique opportunity for Pitt students to network with some of the region’s most prominent leaders, including leaders from government and politics, foundation executives, and nonprofit and business leaders.

When: Tuesday, October 4, 2023

Time: 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: University Club, Ballroom B

Keynote Speak: Majestic Lane, Chief Equity Officer a the Allegheny Conference

Register Here (Required)

*Students can earn OCC credit for attending this event

Pizza and Conversation - Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

In July the Deans’ Office shared a statement with the Pitt Law community about the Supreme Court’s decisions regarding affirmative action in higher education admissions and the applicability of public accommodations laws to the providers of expressive services. You can find that statement here. The feedback we received following the statement helped us understand that it would be valuable for our community to have a chance to engage in dialogue regarding the statement, the cases it addressed, and the Law School’s ongoing commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all its students.

We invite you to join us on October 10, 2023, at 12:30 PM in Room 111 for pizza and an open conversation about these rulings and the effect that these rulings have had on each of you. We value your thoughts and would appreciate the opportunity to hear your perspectives, gain a better sense of your experiences, and respond as best we can to questions you have.

Deans Crossley, Dickinson, Linsenmeyer, and Sinsheimer

Inaugural  DEI Walk – University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg 

The President's Committee of Pitt Greensburg is inviting you to the inaugural 1.7km Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Walk dubbed “Garden of Hope”.

When: Saturday, October 14, 2023

Time: 9:00am (Sign in)

Where: 150 Finolo Drive

Greensburg, PA 15601

Register here.

Questions? Reach out to Roland Woods at row74@pitt.edu or 724-836-9916

*Please park in the Smith Lot for this event. 

OEIE Student Advisory Council

The SAC will meet weekly in the 2nd Floor Conference Room (aka Room #225) on Fridays from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. from Friday, September 8th through Friday, November 17th  during fall term 2023. 

All JD, MSL and LLM students are welcome to attend and participate in any and all of the meetings. 

We welcome you to attend any and all meetings of the SAC!

University of Pittsburgh On-Campus Demonstration and Protest Guidelines

Please find linked above, as a reference, the current University of Pittsburgh On-Campus Demonstration and Protest Guidelines. The guidelines outline parameters that must be adhered to by individuals who are involved in an on-campus demonstration or protest.

Note: Pitt affirms the rights of community members to engage in peaceful, orderly, and non-destructive demonstrations.

Support  & Connect With Minority-Owned Businesses 

412 Connect Provides easily accessible means by which students can connect with & support underrepresented communities. Participate in the Black Owned Business Scavenger hunt to not only support aspects of our community that face systemic challenges to their growth, but also its an opportunity to earn badges that can be traded for OCC credit. Throughout history the noble college student has risen to face the issues of the day, we challenge you to continue to strive towards a better tomorrow. Together we can all make a brighter shared future.

Get connected at 412Connect Home Page

Law Clerks for Diversity Mentorship Program

Law Clerks for Diversity is a simple but powerful idea that rests on two premises: (1) everybody who "makes it" has help, and (2) our profession, legal system, and country are better when representative of varied backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.  A wider array of experiences and perspectives from people from all walks of life adds immense value to the judicial decision-making process.  

The Law Clerks for Diversity mentorship program matches clerkship applicants (law students and recent graduates) with current and former federal law clerks.

Interested in joining as a mentee?   Apply here.

Interested in joining as a mentor?    Apply here.

For more information, please feel free to visit lawclerksfordiversity.com/blog and If you have any questions, please email lawclerksfordiversity@outlook.com.

The Neighborhood Academy Social Justice Education Initiative

Course Description:   The Social Justice Education Project offers University of Pittsburgh upper-level law, social work, and education students the opportunity to teach 11th grade students at The Neighborhood Academy High School located in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh (see link to article above).  

The Neighborhood Academy is an independent, college preparatory school that provides a holistic education and works to break the cycle of generational poverty.  Currently, all of the Academy students are Black.  

Pitt students will work with Pitt and Academy faculty to develop and teach a core social justice course for the Academy’s junior class.  They will introduce Academy students to selected constitutional law concepts and cases, the social history that informs the cases, and critical race theory.  Pitt students will also prepare Academy students to participate in a national moot appellate moot court competition sponsored by the Marshall-Brennan Center on Constitutional Literacy.  In addition, Pitt students will work with Academy students to develop and implement actual social justice projects in the Pittsburgh community.  

Pitt students will receive 6 credits for successful completion of the program – 3 credits for fall and 3 credits for spring.  They will participate in a weekly seminar meeting and work closely as a team to teach high school class sessions.  Students will be required to maintain a detailed journal of their legal rights research, appellate brief drafting, teaching preparation, and teaching experiences.  The journal will fulfill the W requirement.  

Students will need to arrange for transportation to the Academy.  They will be reimbursed for reasonable transportation expenses.   

Pitt ASA x SASA x Crisis Relief Club Discussion on East / Southeast Asian Violence Tool Kit

This nine page virtual toolkit includes organizations to support, mental health resources and educational resources which combat violence against descendants of East / Southeast Asian and related communities who are located throughout the United States.

We Need to talk about Asian American Hate (YouTube video)

Pitt Prison Education Project

Formed in 2016, The Pitt Prison Education Program (PPEP) is a network of Pitt faculty members from across the disciplines who teach courses in prisons in the western PA region. Courses are taught every semester on a variety of topics at SCI Fayette, Laurel Highlands, and Somerset. They feature small class sizes comprising incarcerated students and Pitt undergraduates. The courses are modeled on the Inside-Out prison exchange program that enables incarcerated and non-incarcerated people to encounter one another as human beings. The emphasis on collaborative learning invites people on both sides of prison walls to learn in a supportive environment. The classes embody Pitt’s commitment to excellence and are grounded in the pursuit of intellectual rigor, social justice, and personal growth.

• Color of Change's Demand #JusticeforJake petition 
• #MilwaukeeFreedomFund

George Floyd 

• Minnesota Freedom Fund
• Color of Change's #JusticeforFloyd petition 

Breonna Taylor

• FightforBreonna.org
• Color of Change's #JusticeforBre petition