Need to hear some good news? I’ve got you covered.
I started my “Yinz Are Good” podcast in the middle of 2020 to feature the positive news that rarely made the headlines — stories of neighbors helping neighbors and strangers caring for strangers.
I wanted to create a space where we could connect through stories of kindness and gratitude and be inspired by the people who were lifting others up.
Little did I know how many people I would have the joy of meeting and the honor of talking with — or how many people in our communities spend their days figuring out how to make others’ lives better.
And I’ve learned that those folks don’t tend to talk about all the good they do. They just go out and do it.
These people are all around us, hidden in plain sight. They’re sitting next to us on the T. They’re behind us in line at the coffee shop. They’re scanning their groceries in the self-checkout lane.
They are our neighbors.
In this month’s column, I’ve decided to shine a light on several of these do-gooders who are our neighbors in the truest sense of the word — people who live right here in Lebo and whom I’ve had the great pleasure of featuring on my podcast.
Joel Burstein, CEO and co-founder of BEAM Collaborative
I dubbed the day of my interview with Joel our “Pittsburgh Day of Fun” because it turned into quite an unexpected adventure, spanning several hours and neighborhoods across the city.
Though we had met only once before, it felt as if we had known each other much longer. The conversation — and laughter — came easily, and Joel’s deep care and commitment to supporting and building communities quickly became clear.
A Mt. Lebanon transplant, Joel moved here 10 years ago from Miami with his wife, Callie, a Pittsburgh native, and their family.
Simply stated, the mission of his nonprofit organization, BEAM Collaborative, is to keep local businesses local.
They do this by helping retiring owners transition with purpose and new buyers step in with confidence — keeping businesses open for, well, business.
As Joel said during our interview, “You can drive through a lot of neighborhoods and see empty storefronts. And the reality is that those storefronts are really difficult to refill. … So what we’re doing is figuring out how we can help those retiring baby boomers, those retiring business owners, successfully and responsibly transition those businesses to support their neighborhoods and their communities.”
Through Joel’s leadership, BEAM Collaborative is laser-focused on preserving local small businesses and, of course, the jobs that go along with them.
Joel’s dedication to community goes beyond his nonprofit work. He also serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, Neighborhood Allies and the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, where he continues to champion regional economic development and locally rooted entrepreneurship.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that I was connected to Joel through Caroline’s cousin, a college friend of mine who was born and raised in Mt. Lebanon.
Shayna Bodi, Abby Lawler-Morycz, Sam Smith and Morgan Sulik of LeboGREEN
It was yet another Mt. Lebanon resident, Julie Ann Sullivan, who told me, “You just have to meet Sam Smith and the other fabulous women at the helm of LeboGREEN.”
So she connected us, and I am incredibly grateful that she did.
LeboGREEN, if you’re not yet familiar, is an all-volunteer nonprofit devoted to conserving energy and water and reducing waste in our community. The organization is also committed to connecting with residents through education, initiatives and events.
As Shayna said, “We are basically a group of citizen volunteers devoted to both a greener and more connected community and region. We provide residents with education and tools needed to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and protect our environment.”
Their biggest event is Mt. Lebanon Earth Day, which draws people from across Western Pennsylvania. They also host community workshops, winter sowing events and a sustainability series, among other initiatives.
Sam, Shayna, Abby, Morgan and I gathered around a table in Room B of the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center for our interview. At certain points in the recording, you can hear the faint sounds of a youth hockey game underway on the rink below.
I was inspired not only by their mission, but also by the genuine joy they have for connecting and collaborating with others, their passion for their work and their dedication to making a difference.
So, if you see any of these folks around town, be sure to say hello and thank them for all they’re doing to make our community stronger.
Joel, Shayna, Abby, Sam and Morgan … yinz are good!
Tressa Glover, Creator & Host, “Yinz Are Good” podcast
Who’s doing good in your neck of the Lebo woods? Let me know at yinzaregood@gmail.com.
To listen to my interviews with Joel, Episode 206, and the women of LeboGREEN, Episode 213, visit www.yinzaregood.com.
