Dear Neighbors,

Summer is right around the corner and, for the City of Pittsburgh, it marks a season full of fun activities and events for residents and visitors. A number of activities are available at our City’s parks and recreation centers, from water safety classes for kids to free lunch programs for youth and seniors. Many communities host farmer’s markets and community festivals, and several large-scale events are enlivening our City, like the Three Rivers Art Festival and the International Jazz Festival.

You can create your own events, too. Team up with your neighbors to clean up nearby streets, plan a community gathering or attend local sporting events. Throughout the summer, be sure to pay attention to weather alerts and encourage each other to stay safe and cool during heat advisories.

This summer also marks a milestone in our City’s commitment to educating our students.  The first class of Pittsburgh Promise scholars graduates this year! Throughout the month of June, many events will take place to honor the students’ achievement and encourage them to give back by participating in community service.  To join in the celebrations, please visit www.celebratingthepromise.org to learn more about the exciting events taking place this month and how you can get involved. As a co-founder of the Pittsburgh Promise, I am extremely proud of our students and hope that we can continue to encourage Pittsburgh’s young talent to pursue higher education.

I’m looking forward to a safe, fun and exciting summer, and I hope you will take advantage of the many family-friendly activities happening across our City.