It is no secret that rural settings are often considered an escape from the hustle-bustle of corporate-ladder centric urban centers. This inherently characterizes rural areas as lacking in economy, ingenuity, and drive. Upon arriving at Fayette County’s premier Summit Inn at exactly sunset over the Pennsylvanian foothills, it was transparent to me that this assumption…
Fayette County Site Visit
Recently, our class completed a 3-day site visit to Fayette County, visiting multiple locations in Uniontown and Connellsville. Memorable sites included the GAP Trail, the Penn State Fayette Coal and Coke Heritage Center, and the early workings of a black box theatre in Connellsville. The GAP Trail was the strongest community asset we saw on…
Site Visit to Fayette County
At the beginning of October, we completed the first step of community-engaged research: making contact. We traveled about an hour and a half, south to Fayette County to experience the place we have been familiarizing ourselves with since August. Prior to embarking, we investigated from the outside what assets Fayette County had. We talked about…
Fayette County Site Visit
Sitting atop an archaic coal empire, Fayette County enjoyed vast economic and social prosperity during the early 1900s. Over time, coke ovens went cold while the mines exhausted their final reserves. The affluent industries that once dominated the area’s economy quickly turned Fayette County into another post-industrial fall from grace, a pattern that has become…
First site visit to Fayette County
I found the trip to Fayette County to be very rewarding, informative, and beneficial to better understanding the community that we are working with. Coming in with little expectations and previous knowledge (other than the research we had done before) I was able to learn a lot and understand the community more. There were many…
Fayette County Site Visit
Visiting Fayette County from October 1-3 gave me a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. Throughout our trip we visited Uniontown, Connellsville, and other locations throughout the county. We also spoke with local business owners and learned more about the regions history. Before this experience, I understood that Fayette…
ACRI Introduction
Hi! My name is Andrew Lavin, and I am a fourth-year Media and Professional Communications major with a certificate in Sport Studies and Fundamentals of Business Management. Throughout my time at Pitt, I have been involved in community engagement through Best Buddies at Pitt as well as philanthropic work within my fraternity. These experiences helped…
Weekend in Slovenia
One of the things I have enjoyed most about studying abroad in Milan is how easy it is to travel for a weekend and experience somewhere completely different. This weekend, I traveled to Slovenia, spending most of my time around Ljubljana and Lake Bled. I did not really know what to expect from Slovenia before…
All Roads Lead to Belfast
Hello! My name is Heather. I am a third-year at Pitt, pursuing a dual degree in Accounting and Neuroscience. I am currently in Belfast, Northern Ireland and studying at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) for the Fall 2026 semester. I was initially drawn to QUB because of its top-notch curriculum, especially in business, so I was…
Working for the Weekend
One of the biggest differences I have noticed while living in Milan is how differently people can define professional success. In the United States, success is often closely tied to career progression. Getting promoted, earning a higher salary, taking on more responsibility, or building an impressive résumé are all commonly viewed as signs that someone…