Research, Public Policy & Community Development

In order to advocate more effectively for or against issues that affect African Americans within our community, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh created the Research and Public Policy Department in 2000. The Research and Public Policy Department is charged with gathering data, conducting research, coordinating the publications of strategic research papers, and helping to develop the advocacy position of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh on critical issues. The department also presents the Urban League's position as appropriate to government organizations, boards, committees, and community groups and prepares speeches for Urban League personnel as required.

The Research and Public Policy Department oversees and assists in the development of the Black Papers series, which highlights and studies issues of importance to the African American community. The first in the series consisted of three Black Papers on Health, an examination of the health status of African Americans in Allegheny County.

In addition, the Research and Public Policy Department coordinates research-oriented programs, facilitates community outreach for research programs, develops collaborative research efforts, and corresponds with partnering research organizations and contributing researchers. One such project is Heart SCORE (Heart Strategies Concentrating On Risk Evaluation), a community-based clinical research program aimed at reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular risk, which began in March of 2003. This 4-year study is funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health as part of Pennsylvania's share of the national tobacco settlement and is a collaborative effort between the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, the Center for Minority Health, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Pittsburgh Mind-Body Center.

Program information can be found by clicking here.