Happy Birthday, Steel Smiling!
When and where: Saturday night at Repair the World Pittsburgh, East Liberty.
The venue was full of smiling faces as community members and leaders came to celebrate Steel Smiling Pittsburgh’s third birthday. This unique mental health advocacy organization works to bring services and connect resources to community members by meeting them where they are.
The free event welcomed guests from all walks of life to enjoy food, music, poetry by Jeff Young, yoga led by Felicia Savage Friedman, live painting by C. B. Perry and access to mental health support and resources. But how does it feel to have this vision realized and to see such growth in three years? “I was watching the slide show documentary that showcased the organization from day one until now and I started to cry,” said Julius Boatwright, founder of Steel Smiling. “I hadn’t really thought about what it meant to have all of these amazing people walk this journey with me. This belongs to all of them,” he added.
This coming year, Mr. Boatwright is focused on creating more pop-up mental health workshops in various communities, strengthening partnerships with organizations, and having a stronger presence in the community. “We have to stay grassroots,” he said. “You don’t know what people need or want unless you ask them, so that is one thing that cannot change. We want to connect with people where they are and help them live healthier lives.” To learn more: steelsmilingpgh.org.
#SEEN: Lauren Stoner, Tiffani Monique, Tara Sherry-Torres and Robert Ware, Tamara and Aerion Abney, Sharise Nance, Tess Kenney, Tacumba Turner, Lannea Adamson, Keygen Bryant, Roland Ford, and Darla Timbo.