About the CEC in the Hill District

The CEC in the Hill District is part of Neighborhood Commitments, Pitt’s effort to build stronger communities and a stronger University based on long-term place-based partnerships. In partnership with residents and stakeholders in communities like the Hill District, the University is making long-term commitments of investment, infrastructure, programming, and staffing in Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods.

What Pitt and the Hill District can do together:

  1. Build capacity
  2. Improve resident’s quality of life
  3. Conduct better research
  4. Support young people

The Pitt CEC in the Hill District’s team, when possible, works as a think-partner and strategic collaborator in the work our university, community, and city are doing. We actively work in the community, attend community meetings, and engage in solution-driven dialogue around the needs for our community stakeholders.

The CEC in the Hill District presents a range of free programming from all of Pitt’s 16 schools and community partners, including career fairs, digital literacy courses for adults, technology training and biology courses for high school students and STEAM Saturdays for third through eighth graders. We also work closely with the entire University to ensure we are providing community resources, intentional collaborations, and opportunities to connect with the University campus faculty, team, and staff.

pittenrich
Gismondi Neighborhood Education Program
1,143
Community visitors to the CEC in the Hill District in 2023-24
197
STEAM Studio participants in 2023-24
45
Intergenerational family programming participants in 2023-24

CEC in the Hill District Team

Kelly Prothokelly protho
Director, Community Engagement Center in the Hill District
klp137@pitt.edu

All CEC in the Hill District Staff

Hill District Neighborhood Advisory Council

The University’s approach in the Hill District is informed at every stage by an internal advisory council that has identified the educational, research, and capacity-building programs Pitt can commit to the neighborhood and a Hill District Advisory Council of community leaders and residents who guide how the CEC in the Hill District benefits local partners and community members.
 
Neighborhood Advisory Council

Our Neighborhood Advisory Council consists of University and community stakeholders who are part of the Hill District, including residents, volunteers, business owners within the community, community advocates, and elders.

  • Paul Abernathy, Neighborhood Resilience Project
  • Brotha Ash, Resident
  • Antoine Bailey, Resident
  • Roy Blankenship Jr., Black Political Empowerment Project
  • Isabel Bright, Macedonia FACE
  • Regina Brown, Resident
  • Diane Day, Hill Community Development Corporation
  • Alicia George, Schenley Heights Community Development Program
  • Rev. Glenn Grayson, CARES
  • Carol Hardeman, Hill District Consensus Group
  • Kenneth Harper, Energy Innovation Center Institute
  • Sherlyn Harrison, Pittsburgh Scholar House
  • Erika Hedin, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Hill District
  • Kira Henderson, Pittsburgh Public Schools - Weil
  • Shayla Holmes, Black Political Empowerment Program
  • Tinisha Hunt, Macedonia FACE
  • Daschinique Johnson, Uptown Partners
  • Shinora Johnson, CARES
  • Cheryl Larry, 2900 Webster Block Association
  • Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, City of Pittsburgh - District 6
  • Justin LeWinter, Macedonia FACE
  • Rhonda Lockett, Grounded Strategies
  • Brittany McDonald, Uptown Partners
  • Marimba Milliones, Hill Community Development Corporation
  • LaRay Moton, Pittsburgh Public Safety - Zone 2
  • Leeretta Payne, Legacy Cafe
  • Jennifer Phillip, Hill Dance Academy Theatre
  • Betty Pickett, Resident
  • Darrelle Porter, Ozanam
  • Marcia Scott, Neighborhood Resilience Project
  • Jenise Shealey, KBK Foundation
  • Brenda Tate, Ebenezer Baptist Church
  • Tyra Townsend, Neighborhood Resilience Project
  • Natasha Tull, Pittsburgh Scholar House
  • Sauntee Turner, Pittsburgh Public Safety - Zone 2
  • Marisol Valentin, McAuley Ministries
  • La'Vette Wagner, RAND - PHRESH Project
  • Rev. Lee Walls, Amani Christian Community Development Corporation
  • Richard Witherspoon, Hill District Federal Credit Union
Spaces in the CEC in the Hill District

The CEC in the Hill District is a welcoming space open to the community and the University of Pittsburgh.

In early 2026, the CEC in the Hill District will be located in its new home in the New Granada Theater. Programming is expected to begin in Mar., 2026. To reserve a room or space at the CEC in the Hill District at its new location in the New Granada Theater, please submit a request online.

Review the CEC Facility Use Rules and Requirements and, if applicable, the University's guidance on Camps and Programs Involving Children prior to submitting your request.

To connect with us to serve/table at an event, have us present about our Neighborhood Commitments, and/or to tour and learn more about our CEC in the Hill District, please email cechill@pitt.edu.

Images of spaces at the CEC in the Hill District at its new location in the New Granada Theater will be available in early 2026.

Visit the CEC in the Hill District
Address & Contact

CEC - Hill District
2007 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Visitors can enter the CEC from the Wylie Avenue side of the New Granada Theater

Email   Facebook   Instagram

Hours

Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Evening hours determined by scheduled programming.

Parking & Transportation

Street parking is available in front of the CEC entrance on Wylie Avenue

Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses 83, 82, and 81 have stops at Centre Ave. and Dinwiddie St./Deviliers St.