p4: tough talk about making Pittsburgh a more sustainable, inclusive city
It was an unsettling, in-another-person’s-shoes scenario that made the point and set the tone for a conference that was unlike any other in Pittsburgh. Straight talk about race. Uncomfortable questions in small group settings. Hard-to-bear statistics about those left behind and story after story—from those attending mostly—of what it’s like to encounter racism on a daily basis in a city that’s not diverse and not known for tolerance.
But there was ample reason for hope. The many talks, panels and workshops that followed at the P4 conference—that’s people, planet, place and performance—on October 18th and 19th were all about enacting change. Big, comprehensive change that requires all-in participation. The intent? To focus on what can be done to make Pittsburgh a sustainable city of the future, a collaborative effort between the City, The Heinz Endowments and multiple partners to forge a model of urban growth and development that is innovative, inclusive and sustainable.