Center of Life
Center of Life supports the people of Hazelwood as they strive to be strong and to make their community strong.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Est. 2012
Hazelwood has always been a neighborhood of builders, from the steelworkers of yesterday to the dreamers of today. We are the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative, bringing together neighbors, local organizations, and faith leaders to build a vibrant, shared future.
Our Mission
10+
Years serving Hazelwood
500+
Families supported
30+
Community partners
Organizations making a direct impact in Hazelwood.
Center of Life supports the people of Hazelwood as they strive to be strong and to make their community strong.
We promote the socio-economic development of the Native American community and others who experience the same type of economic difficulties in the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Davis Consulting Solutions (DCS) is an award-winning, minority- and woman-owned management and community-economic-development firm—led by Dr. Danielle Davis, rooted in Pittsburgh, and trusted nationwide to turn bold ideas into measurable growth. DCS provides diverse business and workforce solutions to drive collective economic impact.
Fishes & Loaves Cooperative Ministries ("FLCM") is a non-profit organization located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Organization provides food services for those in need in the greater Hazelwood neighborhood and surrounding Pittsburgh area. The MISSION of FLCM is to bring fresh, healthy food into the Greater Hazelwood community at reasonable prices and to meet the need for fresh foods, healthy options, and social support in an urban food desert.
More than your average nursery: striving to expand our customers' knowledge of plants that makes gardening exciting and rewarding. We won't leave you guessing at - Identify the correct plants for a location, Making the best selections, Locating hard to find plants, Purchasing for all seasons, Preparing special projects, Saving time and money. Starting in our back yard growing plants, helping neighbors find answers, and the best plants for their gardens.
Advocating on behalf of American Disability Act Law Awareness and Compliance It is an opportunity to learn and make others feel more included. Our mission: To give attention to the servicing and recognizing of all human kind! Founded in 2017 by Andrea Coleman
Hazelwood Initiative grew out of two groups, the first of which started in 1994 when over a dozen determined residents founded the Hazelwood Neighborhood Maintenance Task Force (HNMTF), which sought to address day-to-day maintenance issues in the community. They maintained vacant lots, secured abandoned houses, and picked up litter in the business district and along the river
Guided by our mission of literacy, exploration and community connections, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is a destination space for information, technology, community building, social connection and fun.
Holy Cross Evangelical-Lutheran Chapel reaches out to the people of Hazelwood and surrounding neighborhoods to contribute to the hope and vibrancy of our city. Holy Cross Chapel is a place where Jesus Christ promises to be present in His Holy Word and Sacraments to forgive our sins and to hear our prayers. The Holy Cross Food and Clothing Distribution serves the community with free food and clothing for any who may need it. Our faith in Jesus Christ and desire to spread the Good News of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through Him are at the center of everything we do
The Industrial Arts Workshop (IAW) empowers Pittsburgh-area youth and adults at the intersection of arts, community development, and workforce readiness. Through the creative process of hands-on sculpture design and welding, students develop skills and have experiences that help prepare them for the workplace – whether that be in welding, another trade, the arts, or some other field all together. Youth and adults who complete our programs will be stronger, more resilient, and prepared for a bright future.
We enable communities to unlock underutilized resources & build sustainable circular economies through a barter system incentivizing social and environmental good.
Jada House International uplifts and empowers generations of people by building programs that strengthen communities. JADA House International was founded in 2014 by Hazelwood native Terri Shields and named for the initials of her eldest grandchildren. While the focus is currently on the Hazelwood and Greater Pittsburgh communities, the International in the name is aspirational. We hope communities worldwide can see us as a model and eventually adopt our kindness, generosity, and love. There are better opportunities for impact when solutions are collaborative and across all sectors.
The Monongahela-Marsden Block Association (or Block Club) is a grassroots, community-action organization in the northernmost section of Greater Hazelwood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (loosely the area north of Hazelwood Avenue). It is formally recognized by the city as a local civic body that advocates for neighborhood revitalization, hosts safety events, and addresses community violence.
Republic Services is an industry-leading environmental services company providing non-hazardous solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, it operates a vast North American network including 207 landfills and 74 recycling centers, offering comprehensive waste and sustainability solutions for residential and commercial customers.
The Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood delivers educational programs, social services, recreational activities, and community support to residents of Greater Hazelwood. Located in the former St. Stephen’s School building, the center accommodates nonprofit organizations such as Meals on Wheels/Fishes & Loves and Center of Life. The Spartan Center collaborates with universities, businesses, and various groups to facilitate meetings and service provision, and offers event spaces suitable for celebrations and memorials accessible to all members of the community.
The Greater Hazelwood Athletic Association club offers a variety of sports programs for youth sports. From basketball and football to soccer and baseball, our programs are designed to cater to all interests. We believe in fostering a love for sports at a young age, which is why we offer programs for kids as young as 5 years old.
Valued partners from outside the immediate neighborhood supporting our mission.
The Community College of Allegheny County prepares individuals to succeed in a complex global society by providing affordable access to high quality career and transfer education delivered in a diverse, caring, and innovative learning environment.
Carnegie Mellon University drives societal transformation through continual innovation in education, research, creativity, and entrepreneurship. The institution fosters a diverse, world-class community that empowers individuals to reach their full potential within a highly collaborative environment. By combining deep academic knowledge with leadership development and personal well-being, the university prepares students to solve complex real-world challenges. This impact extends far beyond the physical campus, shaping progress through strategic partnerships on a regional, national, and global scale.
City of Bridges Community Land Trust is an independent, regional nonprofit that works closely with community organizations and our neighbors in Pittsburgh.
Founded by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne University is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the United States. We share the Spiritans' deep commitment to educational excellence, moral and spiritual values, an ecumenical atmosphere open to diversity, and service to the Church, the community, the nation and the world.
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community is where you are loved, fed, and affirmed as your whole self, because Jesus welcomes all.
Jendoco Construction Corporation is a general contractor and construction manager serving the Western Pennsylvania region for more than 6 decades. Founded in 1957 by Peter C. Dozzi, Jendoco is a privately-held, family-owned business in its second generation of ownership and management led by Pete’s son, Domenic Dozzi.
Mobilify assists communities in securing greater multimodal transportation choices, accessibility, and economic opportunity across Southwestern Pennsylvania. We provide education, advocacy, technical assistance and regional stewardship, in order to advance an equitable transportation vision for our region.
Rising Tide Partners collaborates with neighborhood organizations and residents to implement their community vision by employing restorative real estate practices, laying the groundwork for the wealth building and stability of residents who have suffered from systemic injustices in land-use decisions.
Tishman Speyer is an American multinational corporation based at 45 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. The conglomerate invests in high-profile real estate properties, has developed multiple buildings around the world, and has owned famous buildings and land plots, including the Chrysler Building.
The University of Pittsburgh is a state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Testimonials
There were people who wanted certain contractors to do work in this community and it wasn't clear that these contractors were in the best interest of the community... My kids are Black, my grandkids are Black, my great-grandkids are Black. I want for them to have something in the community that's not only white
Ursula,
Resident of 40+ years
Never let them build around you, and you’re not in the center.
Rev. Michael Murray Sr.,
Pastor of Second Baptist Church of McKees Rocks, Former Chair of the GHCC
Development was coming to the community, and we didn’t want it to just happen to us. We wanted it to happen with us and through us.
Pastor Tim Smith,
By-Laws & Mobility and Transportation Committee
Get in Touch
We’re here to listen. Whether it’s feedback, a question, or an idea to strengthen our community—we’d love to hear from you.
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