Welcome to the Community Relations office at the University of Pittsburgh. The Community Relations office manages the complex interactions of the University with neighborhood organizations, community development corporations, residents of adjacent neighborhoods, institutional partners, local businesses, public agencies and governmental entities including the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The office promotes civic engagement through building bridges and developing sustainable partnerships as part of the University's community outreach efforts. Most of our outreach efforts are delivered by our faculty, staff and students working together to improve the quality of life in our communities. Programs such as the University's Community Outreach Partnership Center which utilizes faculty and students, the Faculty Staff Volunteer Pool, the Student Volunteer Outreach Program, faculty research projects with community impact and a variety of our professional schools community practicum's are the primary vehicles that provide a broad array of beneficial community programming and services.

In addition to attending regular meetings of neighborhood organizations, Community Relations also works with local businesses through the University supported Oakland Business Improvement District created to initially to focus on the cleanliness of Oakland streets but additionally focuses on marketing, public safety and aesthetic features of buildings and streetscapes.

Recreationally, the University provides access to its athletic and recreational facilities on a regularly scheduled basis through the Community Leisure Learn Program. Community Leisure Learn also operates a summer camp for youth from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout the City of Pittsburgh, a Saturday's Kids Program and a new program call PAWS (Pittsburgh Athletes Working with Students). The PAWS program utilizes University athletes and coaches from our varsity sports teams to conduct sports clinics for neighborhood youth.

Additionally, the Community Relations office is responsible for the United Way Day of Caring, the coordination of Faculty/Staff Blood Drives in conjunction with the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh, the Pitt Partnership for Food in collaboration with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and organizes University efforts to assist in local and national disaster relief efforts, such as Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina.