On June 10th through the 11th, Members of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Street Team hosted a regional conference with their peers from Cleveland, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Columbia, South Carolina. The two-day event was held as a round table discussion forum facilitated by Charlie Stevens, regional manager from Block by Block. It was a great opportunity for the street team to meet, share ideas, learn valuable techniques, and expand their horizons, thereby enriching a new program that is all ready off to a great start. Conference topics included:
• Panhandling – How we address it;
• Community resources and support;
• Data collection and reporting to our customers;
• Safety – for homeless, our ambassadors, and the public.
Many creative and pragmatic ideas were discussed, and will soon be implemented into the street team’s protocol to help address Downtown Pittsburgh’s 
homeless and panhandling issues.
On the final day, the group was lead by street team member Ken Liendecker, on a tour of Downtown Pittsburgh’s resources available to the homeless and poverty stricken. The following sites were visited, and we heartily encourage their support!
“The Red Door”
Saint Mary of Mercy Parish
202 Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1381
phone: (412) 261-0110
fax: (412) 261-0113
e-mail: services_stmaryofmercy@verizon.net
www.stmaryofmercy.org
Wood Street Commons/Community Human Services
Community Human Services Corporation
301 Third Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412.765.2532
Fax: 412.765.2187
http://www.chscorp.org/WSC.htm
Wellsprings drop-in center
903 Watson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-4709
(412) 263-2545
Bethlehem Haven
Fifth Avenue Commons, 905 Watson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.391.1348
Fax: 412.391.2133
http://www.bethlehemhaven.org/
Attendees of the conference included all four members of the Street Team: Rich Speth, Ken Liendecker, Pam Farbacher, and Riley Baker, as well as:
Chico Lockhart – Downtown Cincinnati Inc.
Helena Miller - Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Daniel Long – City Center Partnership (Columbia, SC)
Overall the conference was a great success and the street team looks forward to utilizing newly learned ideas, as well as expanding their effectiveness and influence. The Street team would also like to thank the downtown Pittsburgh community for its continual support and would happily welcome the invitation of any person or group to meet, educate, and become familiar with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s Street Team.
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