Four new board members elected | The Homepage

Hazelwood Initiative board election and holiday party bring together friends and neighbors

Photos by Juliet Martinez

By Juliet Martinez, managing editor

Friends and neighbors voted, reconnected and had fun at the Dec. 10 Hazelwood Initiative board of directors’ election and holiday party.

All four candidates for the board of directors were elected, bringing the number of 2025 board members to 11.

The new board members are:

• Edith Abeyta, business owner and founder and executive director of Arts Excursions Unlimited.

• Vanessa Hicks, Hazelwood resident and PNC Bank Team Lead.

• Carrie McGinnis, Glen Hazel resident, entrepreneur, “Butter Queen” and community gardener.

• Lori Y. Rue, Hazelwood resident, business owner and co-founder of DeLoJe LLC and nonprofit Main ST.

As voting was underway at the Spartan Community Center of Hazelwood, the greeting, connecting and eating began.

Hazelwood Initiative Executive Director Sonya Tilghman reviewed highlights from the organization’s 25th year. These included hiring Lauren Coursey as the director of engagement and sustainability. They distributed $50,000 in Neighborhood Investment Fund micro-grants to 54 residents, hosted Light-Up Night, and handed out 300 candy bags at the 25th annual Safe Halloween.

The community development corporation also completed five houses, sold two and has sales agreements for the other three. It helped 10 Hazelwood homeowners complete essential repairs through the Discount Home Repair program. And it launched a community input process for the historic Hazelwood Library on Monongahela Street in partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and architecture firm Pfaffmann + Associates.

Serving on the board

Hazelwood Initiative holds board of directors elections each year. The board comprises Hazelwood residents and business owners. It meets monthly to set priorities and vote on properties to be purchased and developed as affordable housing and commercial space.

Board members serve for three-year terms. They can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms. Jourdan Hicks, Fran Bertonaschi and Gavin White left the board in December after completing nine consecutive years of service and four years as officers.

Hazelwood Initiative members over age 18 are eligible to serve on the board. New members must be nominated by a member of the community, which can include board members themselves. A board member and/or the executive director will meet with the nominee to ensure they understand the mission, vision and programming of the organization as well as the expectations and requirements of board members. Then, if the nominee is interested in serving on the board, they will appear on the ballot for the annual election.