Posted on: May 07, 2019
How does a region successfully engineer its own reinvention? That’s the question more than 100 of metro Atlanta’s most influential civic leaders will have on their minds as they head to Pittsburgh for this year’s LINK trip.
Today, Pittsburgh is regarded as one of the most livable regions in the nation. However, that status was earned with an intentional three-decade transformation to its economy and quality of life. And with today’s success also come challenges related to growth, development, and change at the neighborhood level.
To look at how the Steel City laid the groundwork for its own reinvention and at what it’s doing now to address challenges moving forward, LINK leaders will take part in one of five carefully-curated on-the-ground explorations.
These tracks will provide focused opportunities to learn how partnerships and collaboration are driving positive change in the Pittsburgh region and relate to similar issues in metro Atlanta.
Pittsburgh’s transformation story would not have been possible without leaders from the university, foundation, business, and public-sector communities coming together to chart a new course for the region’s economic future – one anchored by technology and innovation.
Learn more about how Pittsburgh has become a model for bringing these diverse entities together to build a stronger community — and what metro Atlanta can learn in order to advance our own public-private-university partnerships around smart cities technologies to improve residents’ lives.
The Hill District is a collection of African American neighborhoods on the eastern edge of downtown Pittsburgh. Impacted in negative ways by urban renewal policies in the mid-20th century, the Hill is known for the cultural richness and vitality of African American writers, theater, and music — playwright August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle was written and set there.
Learn more about the trajectory of a historic community in the cross-hairs of redevelopment, the partnerships that are paving the way for a brighter future, and what lessons Atlanta can learn from Pittsburgh’s efforts to preserve a neighborhood’s cultural fabric.
Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is the heart of the region’s arts and cultural scene, and one of the clearest examples of the way region reinvigorated its quality of life. Learn more about the impact of long-term targeted investment in cultural resources aimed at transforming a specific geographic area —and consider what metro Atlanta can learn from Pittsburgh’s experience in leveraging arts and cultural assets to build a sense of place.
Like Atlanta, Pittsburgh now stands at a pivotal moment. Residential and commercial development in the city has accelerated on a scale not seen in at least a generation. This development boom presents many opportunities for the region as it continues its upward trajectory. However, this growth also creates challenges in terms of ensuring growth that’s equitable. Learn more about how the city is implementing equity measures to guide growth and development and what ideas we might take back home to metro Atlanta.
The shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on October 27, 2018, was a tragedy on a scale never experienced in Pittsburgh. The attack, in which 11 worshipers were murdered and seven were injured, represents the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in the United States. Learn more about the community response that inspired many across the world, and the lessons that civic and faith communities in metro Atlanta can learn from Pittsburgh.
ARC’s Strategic Partners are committed to fostering collaborative regional approaches that improve quality of life in metro Atlanta. Their support elevates ARC leadership programs, research and events throughout the year. Learn more.
