On October 3rd through October 5th, I embarked on an adventure with The University of Pittsburgh’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) cohort to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This trip is part of the ongoing 10-year commitment and collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the Fayette County Cultural Trust. I was particularly excited about this trip,…
Tag: Fall 2024
Jusqu’à la prochaine fois, Paris
It is December 31st, one week from when I flew from Europe to Boston and one week until I fly to Pittsburgh, and the last day of 2024: a prime time for reflection. Settling back in at home, into familiar routines with familiar faces, makes me feel the last four months were a very realistic…
Fayette County: A Neighbor a World Away – Final Reflections
At the beginning of the Fall semester of 2024, I was presented with an incredible opportunity to deepen my knowledge about Appalachia through a unique learning experience that integrated academic study with practical community involvement. This initiative was made possible through an inspiring collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh and the Fayette County Cultural Trust….
Our Commitment to the Community: Fayette County Presentation
Friday December 6th, 2025, The University of Pittsburgh’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) cohort comprised of (Urban Studies, Sustainability, Political Science and Business) returned to Fayette County to present our final deliverables to the community. In our continued partnership with the Fayette Country Cultural Trust, these findings we presented to the community members as well…
Vi ses, Copenhagen
When abroad, it is important to visit new places. Over the course of the semester, I visited Sweden, the Faroe Islands, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, and Portugal. I loved learning about each place’s history and finding what makes them all distinct. Amsterdam was a blast because I went with one of my classes. We met…
Reflections on ACRI and Fayette County
Growing up in Fayette County, there was nothing I wanted more than to leave my small town and venture into new cities that were filled with opportunity. Often, I felt that there was nothing I could do in my town. I had this lasting perspective that my hometown was simply a temporary place to live…
Final Word
Pitt has now completed its fourth year of the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative, or what we have been calling the ARC-ACRI. Our sustainability group, consisting of me, Rebecca Jalboot, Katherine Fazzini, and Kelly Nguyen, was one of four that made up this year’s cohort. At Pitt, students get involved with the ARC-ACRI…
ACRI Final Reflections
Growing up in the Appalachian region, I believed most counties within it shared similar qualities, particularly in their economies, landscapes, and community cultures. I assumed Fayette County would be much like my hometown in Tioga County. However, that assumption was challenged when I visited Fayette County and saw the nuanced realities of life there. I…
Reflection of the Semester – ARC ACRI
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….
Final Presentation in Uniontown and Connellsville
Since I’ve last posted here, our project has had some major developments. For one, we made the complete shift to having the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Uniontown as our stakeholder. As I mentioned before, our sustainability group had another site visit in Uniontown in late October to gather information for our new project…