Since 2000, PIIN (The Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network) has been organizing people of faith to change the balance of power for justice and equity in Southwestern PA. PIIN is a power building organization of 31 interfaith congregations, nonprofits and labor organizations focused on affecting change through the practices of community organizing. Through mentoring and training leaders, building relationships with those in power and holding them accountable, and planning and implementing powerful collective action, PIIN creates opportunities for motivated people, especially marginalized people, to build power for justice.
PIIN discerns its issues by holding listening campaigns across our base to reveal the most important winnable ones. Currently, PIIN is effectively organizing to: 1) improve conditions in the Allegheny County Jail and to ensure people returning from prison have a healthy reentry and opportunities to build power through the Colorful Backgrounds-EXPO program (Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing), 2) increase community access to needed services and resources through advocating for and supporting Community Schools within Pittsburgh Public Schools, 3) Monitor and agitate to bring community awareness of the harm that U.S. Steel is imposing upon the populace of the Mon Valley (whose residents have breathing diseases within the 4% most affected US communities!)
In order to expand awareness of the areas’ problems and to invite economically disadvantaged community members to partner in the work, PIIN has been conducting an Interactive Voter Engagement Campaign since June 2024 by which we’ve canvassed the Mon Valley communities of Braddock, Swissvale, and Clairton to gather residents’ concerns and invite them to participate in PIIN upcoming actions. We have knocked on 2000+ doors already and are still pushing!.
(Join PIIN’s Environmental Justice Candidate Forum on Wednesday October 30th, 5pm-8-pm. It will be held at the Jacob Woll Pavilion 2300 Eden Park Blvd., McKeesport PA. PIIN and 12 regional environmental coalition allies are co-sponsoring the event!)