Now that the end of the semester has arrived, it only feels right to reflect on the work we have done and the project as a whole. I will begin by putting it simply; I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work on this project and would not trade this experience for any other. While there were many moments throughout the project that I was filled with frustration, confusion, and a feeling that we would not be able to add value to the community, all these emotions led us to work harder and create a final project we are proud of.
Before this semester, my understanding of the Appalachian region was very limited. I would honestly say I had a very superficial knowledge of the area, and some of my ideas about the region were based on stereotypes. What I knew primarily revolved around the geographical span of the Appalachian region and the common perception that it is an underserved area. Beyond this, I had heard stories through the media that often highlighted the region’s economic struggles, poverty, and health challenges. On a lighter note, I had also come across some intriguing ghost stories and myths tied to the region. Despite hearing about these issues and folk tales, I never fully appreciated the depth and complexity of the region until I began work with the project this semester. This course and the project it entailed have given me an entirely new perspective on the Appalachian region and the people who call it home. Prior to this project, I have had some experience working with members of a single department in a larger government and with community members as a result of my co-op experience. However, this experience with the members of Uniontown has been much more collaborative and community-oriented than the work I have done previously. It has required me to step outside of my comfort zone and work with people who live very differently than myself.
Throughout this project I had the unique opportunity to meet and work with members of the Uniontown government. These individuals have proved to be some of the most dedicated, passionate, and hardworking individuals I have ever worked with. Their level of commitment to their work and community is evident in everything they do. They proved this to our group through continually working with us throughout the semester, answering our questions honestly, and by providing us with any and all information they deemed helpful. Without this collaborative work our group would not have been able to provide the same level of quality of work in our final deliverables as we did.
This course is incredibly different than any other course and project I have completed during my time at the University of Pittsburgh. This course, in particular, will always stand out as one of the most unique and impactful learning experiences I have had during my academic career. In the sustainability capstone, all of the students were given a choice of seven different projects, each focusing on a real-world problem. I expressed this project as my top choice for the semester because I wanted to have the chance to challenge myself with new types of projects and to broaden my skill set. Throughout my academic career the projects and courses I have taken have heavily focused on technical skills given that I am pursuing a degree in environmental engineering. While these projects have undoubtedly been valuable in developing practical skills and testing applications for my degree, they can sometimes leave behind the soft skills that are covered more in other disciplines. This project has allowed me to stretch beyond my technical background and engage in work focused on community-building, listening, and understanding the needs of people in a different community.
Before starting this project, I had never worked on a project that involved collaborating with a community that I wasn’t personally a part of. The experience was initially a bit daunting. While the University of Pittsburgh has already established a presence in the Appalachian region, specifically Fayette County, and has been working with the local communities for several years, I still felt a sense of unease about stepping into a place that wasn’t familiar to me. I was excited about the potential impact of our work, but I also felt an added weight of responsibility to make sure the work we were doing was respectful, appropriate, and most importantly, wanted by the community. As our cohort has discussed many times, it is one thing to come into a community with good intentions, but it is another to ensure that your efforts are aligned with the needs, desires, and values of the people you are aiming to help. The balance of doing good work without overstepping boundaries or making assumptions about what you feel is best for the community can be extremely challenging. At first, I was unsure how to navigate these issues, but as the project progressed and I had more conversations with other members of the Pitt cohort and our Uniontown stakeholders, I began to feel more comfortable.
The most important lesson I took away from this project is that the voices of our stakeholders had to be at the forefront of everything we did. Listening to the people who were most directly affected by the issues we were addressing became the foundation for our work. Through discussion with community leaders, we learned that what was needed and wanted was not always what we might have assumed or expected. For instance, our group initially came into the area to determine the feasibility of introducing a new industry. Following multiple interviews, we learned that introducing a new industry was not realistic at this point because there were more important things to address. Our role in this project and within this community was to provide support, facilitate discussions, and offer resources. We were not there to force solutions onto the area, rather we worked with leaders of the Uniontown government to create deliverables that would help them progress with work.
As I look back on this experience, I realize that it has reshaped my perspective on the role of an engineer in society. While technical skills are crucial, it is equally important to have soft skills that allow you to approach problems with an open mind and with a willingness to learn from those you are working with. This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for the role of community engagement in sustainable development and has shown me the value of working with people who have lived experiences that differ from my own.
Looking ahead, I am eager to see the long-term results of this project. I am excited to follow up in the coming years to see how the community has evolved and what changes have taken place as a result of our efforts. It is rewarding to think about the potential positive impact our work might have, and I am hopeful that the foundation we helped lay will continue to support the community long after the project concludes. Even more importantly, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such dedicated and passionate individuals from both the Pitt cohort and the Uniontown government. This project has been one of the most meaningful and eye-opening experiences of my academic career and will stay with me for the rest of my life. It will serve as a reminder of the importance of community-based work and the potential for positive change that can come from listening and working together.