4 things to know today
📃 The Black Political Empowerment Project sent a letter to the Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board on Tuesday, pursuing sanctions against Allegheny County DA Stephan Zappala regarding a now-rescinded policy he issued last month that banned his office from offering plea deals in legal negotiations with Milton Raiford, a Black defense attorney. Raiford is refusing to participate in his client’s nonjury trial until Zappala meets with him, resigns, or recuses himself from all of Raiford’s cases. (TribLIVE / TribLIVE)
💉 The Carnegie Science Center’s Vaccine Speaker Series is hosting a webinar tonight at 7 p.m., that will focus on educating and encouraging people to get vaccinated and curb the spread of infectious diseases. The panel includes Paul Duprex, director of Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research and Jonas Salk Endowed Chair for Vaccine Research; Pittsburgh-based infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh Adalja, and other scholars. Pre-registration is required to receive the webinar link. (TribLIVE)
⛪ Two Pittsburgh pastors are leading an anti-racist collective with an emphasis on accountability and action among white churches. Rev. Mike Holohan, 40, and Rev. Gavin Walton, 29, created this group after organizing an anti-racist vigil following George Floyd’s murder. (Public Source)
- Quotable: “When it comes to race, white folks in the Presbyterian tradition often stop at the stage of learning about systemic racism or self-examination. We less often get to the stage of actually doing something to address the system of racism. So that's been our focus: Trying to take some concrete action within our local system.” — Rev. Mike Holohan
♻️ Calling all eco-friendly artisans: sustainablyMonmade is a new initiative that seeks to inspire regional designers, manufacturers, and makers to make a positive impact on the local economy, environment, and social well-being. (Pittsburgh Magazine)
- Want to know how to qualify a product as sustainablyMonmade? Monmade artisans must meet at least one or more of the dimension’s defined requirements, like social equity and circular economy. (Monmade)
