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Shane Henderson

26th annual Unity Breakfast channels King’s message of being ‘a catalyst for change’

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Gathering at La Roche University inspires attendees to take action

Don’t be complacent but take action was the message from Dr. Paul Spradley, keynote speaker of the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast on Jan. 19 at La Roche University.

Spradley, the executive director of the university’s Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice and Inclusion, shared King’s message as well as his own life experiences.

King’s work was mostly directed “to those sitting silent from a space of apathy to action,” Spradley said.

“There are a lot of folks who will say, ‘I’m a good person … I want peace,’ but they’re not doing anything about it,” he said.

He referred to The King Center’s six-step approach, based on King’s philosophies, for nonviolence, asking the audience to “be a catalyst for change.”

Spradley has hope for the future with the current generation.

“I’m more optimistic than I’ve ever been in my life,” said Spradley, referencing Generation Z. “I believe they will be more socially conscious than any other generation.”

He also is impressed by the number and diverse group of attendees at the event.

“I’m optimistic because change is going to happen with the people in this room,” he said. “Do the small things. These small things add up.”

Spradley invited Faith Mudd, a senior at La Roche, to read a poem at the conclusion of his talk.

While the event registered 180, nearly 200 people ended up attending the breakfast at the university in McCandless, said Geil Wesley Williams of North Hills Ebony Women Inc. Williams helped coordinate the event with Sarah White, La Roche’s dean of students.

“It’s important to celebrate Dr. King and his commitment to equality and human rights, especially in these times. We try to make it diverse to the community,” said Williams of McCandless, who was taking registrations alongside Janice Peischl of the American Association of University Women.

The event also featured a morning prayer by the Rev. Kelli Brownlee of Story Collective Church in Pittsburgh and a performance by vocalists Chloe and Cheyenne Rudder, twin sisters and students at La Roche.

Students from high schools north of Downtown Pittsburgh were invited to participate in the essay contest, which included all the northern suburbs in Allegheny County and the city schools on the North Side, according to White.

First place went to Abdul Kabir Babakar Khel of Northgate Senior High School, second to Naomi Rapp of Avonworth High School and third to Mollie Matous, also of Northgate.

The students were asked to write a 300-word essay to answer the question: “How have you or could you actively work against violence to positively influence your community?”

Tom Baker, chief executive officer of Variety, the Children’s Charity, kicked off a list of nonprofit representatives present at the breakfast, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Glade Run Foundation, Wesley Family Services, North Hills Community Outreach and more.

The day also included service projects, such as creating cards of encouragement and celebration to families and a local nursing home courtesy of the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh, creating a unity banner through handprint art for La Roche University and stuffing teddy bears for the nonprofit Olive Branch to give to children at local hospitals, to name a few.

The event ended with reading of King’s quotes by Sister Carol Stenger of the Sisters of Divine Providence in McCandless, a closing prayer by senior Rabbi Aaron Bisno of Temple Ohav Shalom in McCandless and a song.

Click here for the full article.

Wesley Family Services Opens New Private School in Grove City

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The Wesley Education Center is now open inside Hillview Elementary School in Grove City, and has welcomed its first group of students this year.

GROVE CITY, Pa. – Wesley Family Services, a Pennsylvania-based behavioral health service, has announced a new private school in Grove City.

The Wesley Education Center is now open inside Hillview Elementary School in Grove City, and has welcomed its first group of students this year.

The school serves students in kindergarten through third grade who require a more structured and supportive class environment.

According to a press release, the school was developed over nearly two years of collaboration with local school districts to meet the need for an inclusive, specialized learning setting in Mercer County.

“Opening Wesley Education Center has been one of our organization’s long-term goals because we recognize the critical need in this area to provide students with a more specialized educational setting focused on emotional and behavioral development, which will ultimately lead to their academic progress,” said Wesley Family Services Director of Special Education Shawnda McGroarty.

Key features of the Wesley Education Center include a social-emotional learning curriculum, social skills instruction, a specialized sensory room for relaxation and regulation, small-group and individual therapy sessions within a therapeutic framework, a curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania academic standards, ongoing collaboration with families and teachers to review student progress and focused preparation for successful reintegration into public school settings.

Enrollment requires a referral from a student’s home school district.

Wesley Family Services Opens New School for Special Needs

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GROVE CITY – Wesley Family Services has opened the Wesley Education Center, a new private school located inside Grove City Area School District’s Hillview Elementary School.

Wesley Family Services provides behavioral health services, therapeutic programs and supportive educational services to students from kindergarten to third grade who require a more-structured, supportive classroom environment. The center welcomed its first students this school year, opening on Sept. 2.

The program was developed over roughly two years of collaboration with area school districts to meet the growing need for an inclusive, specialized learning setting in Mercer County and surrounding areas.

Enrollment in the center requires a referral from a student’s home school district.

“We are beyond thrilled to be a part of the local community and serve students across the region,” Wesley special education Director Shawnda McGroarty said. “Opening Wesley Education Center has been one our organization’s long-term goals because we recognize the critical need in this area to provide students with a more specialized educational setting focused on emotional and behavioral development, which will ultimately lead to their academic progress.”

The school’s staff are certified and highly-trained in special education and therapeutic support services, the organization says. The school provides a master’s level counselor and an on-site behavioral consultant to assist students navigating behavioral challenges, emotional and mental health needs and learning disabilities.

Key features of the center are a social-emotional learning curriculum, social skills instruction, a specialized sensory room for relaxation and regulation, small group and individual therapy sessions, a curriculum aligned with Pennsylvania academic standards, ongoing collaboration with families and educators to review student progress and focused preparation for successful reintegration into public school settings.

In May, the Grove City school board approved a one-year lease with Wesley to rent three classrooms in the Hillview school. When the new school was first announced last fall, Wesley had planned to locate in a building that would have been built for them in Pine Township.

Read the full article on Allied News.

Wesley Family Services and Transitional Services, Inc. Agree to Affiliation

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Wesley Family Services and Transitional Services have announced an official affiliation aimed at expanding access to transitional housing and behavioral health support for Western PA residents.

The agreement, approved unanimously by the boards of both organizations, is effective immediately/

This allows the two nonprofits to share resources, staff expertise, and improve coordination of services while maintaining their existing governance and operational structures.

“We are thrilled to welcome TSI as an affiliate organization and begin collaborating with their devoted staff members,” said Doug Muetzel, CEO of Wesley Family Services. “We want to continue to evolve by harnessing our innovative approach to services. Simply put, our organizations will be far more effective and efficient together and we’ll be able to reach more individuals that need our support.”

TSI, founded in 1969 specializes in housing and support services for adults navigating mental health diagnoses or intellectual disabilities, often following incarceration or homelessness.

Wesley Family Services, with nearly a century of service, operates more than 50 healthcare and therapeutic programs across Western Pennsylvania.

Its reach includes outpatient centers, autism services, educational support, and residential housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

TSI supports over 250 individuals each year with a staff of 50. Wesley Family Services serves more than 20,000 annually and employs more than 900 staff members.

The two organizations say the affiliation strengthens their mission to serve vulnerable populations more effectively through innovation and collaboration.

Read the full article on WICU-TV.

Fox’s Pizza opens in O’Hara, owner advocates for autism

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Pam Grandizio of O’Hara went through a week-long pizza training boot camp to prep for her latest food and beverage adventure — opening a nationally franchised pizza shop in O’Hara.

“I learned so much in five days I thought my head was going to explode,” said Grandizio, originally from Greenville, S.C.

Grandizio opened a Fox’s Pizza Den on April 2 in O’Hara.

She immersed herself in pizza world by shadowing for several days at a Fox’s in Plum.

She described the experience as overwhelming, even after decades-long restaurant experience on her restaurant resume that includes most recently, managing Pusadee’s Garden in Lawrenceville and before that, Noodlehead in Shadyside.

The decision to be her own boss was not an initial goal, but she’s happy it’s a reality.

“I loved it and gained so much experience. I didn’t think I’d do something on my own but all of the sudden, the pieces just started coming together,” Grandizio said.

Her decision was spurred on when she visited a Fox’s Pizza Den owned by a friend father’s in Johnstown.

“The minute I walked in, I knew,” Grandizio said. “I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 14. I never thought I would stay in that business.”

A Duquesne alumnus, Grandizio, 49, worked briefly after college as a social worker but returned to the food and hospitality industry.

She went from overseeing almost 200 employees while working for the owners of Pusadee’s Garden to around 10 employees at Fox’s, located along Old Freeport Road.

Her 12-year-old son Deacon is autistic and is enrolled in learning support at Hartwood Acres Elementary School in the Fox Chapel Area School District. He inspired an employment initiative.

“I had this idea because my son loves to cook. He’s non-verbal but can cook by following a recipe,” she said. “If my son can bake a cake with me and make dinner with me, then anyone can help at a pizza shop.”

Grandizio called almost a dozen agencies seeking to partner with a workplace program to assist individuals with autism.

She only heard back from one agency — Wesley Family Services based in RIDC Park in O’Hara.

Wesley provides support services to more than 20,000 individuals in Western Pennsylvania and has offices in Allegheny, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

“I have a lot of plans for community engagement,” Grandizio said. “I’m working with a local job skills training program for individuals with autism.”

Grandizio hired Corey Kidd, a 37-year-old with autism, to work at Fox’s.

The Community Employment Services program Kidd participates in at Wesley falls under the Intellectual Developmental and Disability Department and offers facility based vocational-based rehabilitation.

A job coach accompanies Kidd during his weekly shift and Kidd is paid the same hourly wage as his co-workers.

His once-a-week job duties include tasks such as folding boxes and restocking inventory and supplies.

“I’ve really enjoyed working at Fox’s Pizza,” Kidd said. “As a member of the team, I make sure customers have what they need for their pizzas and help make sure the shop is organized. I also like working with my coworkers and it’s been nice getting to know them.”

Grandizio said the program is running smoothly.

“We’ve been taking it slow but it feels so good to give him a shot. I want someone to give my son a shot one day,” Grandizio said of the reason she wanted to implement a program to help others with autism.

Wesley Family Services Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Program director Tracey McKinnon praised Grandizio’s efforts and compassion to help others.

“For business owners like Pamela Grandizio, their partnership means everything to us and our consumers. Providing a job to an adult with an intellectual and developmental disability can be life-changing for that person. It gives them purpose, independence and helps them foster connections with the community,” McKinnon said. “I would encourage any company — small or large — to consider following Pamela’s business model.”

Local support

She said customers have expressed they’re happy to have another pizza option.

“They’re so excited to have a Fox’s in this area,” Grandizio said. “Fox’s has been around so long it’s nostalgic for some customers. I think it reminds them of their childhood.”

Popular gourmet pizzas include the bacon dill pickle, taco, bacon double cheeseburger and sweet garlic chicken.

Grandizio expressed gratitude for the business and warm welcome she’s received since opening in April.

“Being a female owner — with kids in the Fox Chapel Area District — it’s a franchise, but it’s me, a local person. My name is on the lease,” she said.

Grandizio is married to Shady Side Academy alumnus Bob Grandizio, who grew up living on the SSA campus because his father was a teacher there.

Their daughter Marley Grandizio, 19, works at Fox’s while on summer break from Fairfield University.

Marley Grandizio said the autistic program is a win-win.

“I think it’s great that we can employ people who might struggle working or finding a job somewhere else,” she said.

Read the full article on the Tribune-Review.