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– GAINEY TRANSITION COMMITTEES –

Equitable Development

– Development for All – 

The charge of the Equitable Development Committee is to develop actionable strategies to ensure that  Pittsburgh’s development responds to our communities’ priorities. The Committee will focus on ways to  accelerate affordable housing development and provide the necessary supports, especially for families  whose household incomes fall between 30% and 80% of the area median income. This committee will also  develop strategies to promote entrepreneurship, including using local government procurement  strategies to provide equitable access to opportunities. Further, this committee will explore inclusionary  zoning, neighborhood plans, the roles of RCOs and CDCs and investments in support of the cultural  economy.

Bob Damewood – Co-Chair

Bob Damewood serves as Staff Attorney with Regional Housing Legal Services and works on a variety of housing and community development matters. His areas of concentration include HUD Section 3 (resident training, employment and contracting) and displacement-free development.

Damewood has written various articles on Consumer Law and Landlord-Tenant Law, and has received multiple awards, including: Advocacy Award from the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania for his work to pilot a financing model that gives Section 8 tenants a stake in the future of their homes; Beacon of Hope Award from the Hill House Association, for his work on a Community Benefits Agreement and Neighborhood Partnership Program in Pittsburgh’s Hill District; and HUD Best Practices award, for helping a Section 8 tenant organization build the capacity to engage in housing preservation and development activities.

Prior to joining RHLS in 1997, Damewood was a staff attorney with Northwestern Legal Services in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. While there, he played a key role in helping tenants of mobile home parks take over ownership and management of their parks. Since joining RHLS, his work has included providing legal support for the award-winning Clairton Southside neighborhood revitalization effort, a comprehensive equitable revitalization of what had been one of the most severely distressed neighborhoods in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He is a 1990 graduate of the University of Akron School of Law.

Monica Ruiz – Co-Chair

Moncia is the Executive Director at Casa San José. She was born in Cleveland Ohio and has Latino roots from Guatemala and Puerto Rico, where her mom and her dad are originally from.

Monica holds a master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing and Social Action. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Psychology.

Monica is a powerful advocate for Latinos on legal, housing, development, and educational issues. She fights for those facing deportation proceedings and launches projects to assist women, children and youth. In addition, she partners with political, labor, religious, and law enforcement leadership to make Pittsburgh stronger and more welcoming to all.

Committee Members:

Samantha Black, Committee Member

Jenny Rafanan Kennedy, Committee Member

James Kunz, Committee Member

Maria Montano, Committee Member

George Moses, Committee Member

James Fife Myers, Committee Member

Carl Redwood, Committee Member

Jasiri X, Committee Member

Tammy Thompson, Committee Member

Stephanie Turman, Committee Member

Education and Workforce Development

– Creating Pipelines and Partnerships for Learning and Work  –

The Education and Workforce Development committee is charged with identifying actionable steps to  invest in the education, skills enhancement, and economic livelihood of Pittsburghers of all ages, genders,  and backgrounds to match the needs of a growth economy with a thriving workforce in order to achieve  shared prosperity. The committee should make recommendations to support early childhood and out-of school investments, Community school partnerships, post-secondary education, building and  construction trades, 21st century career development, achieving living wage standards, expanded  unionization in growth industries, and enhancing collaboration between the City and Pittsburgh Public  Schools. 

Regina B. Holley, Ph.D. – Co-chair

Dr. Holley was the Board Director of the School District of Pittsburgh from 2011 to 2019, providing oversight of a school district of almost 25,000 students from PreK through graduation. She served as President of the Board for three years. Dr. Holley, is a long-time educator and school leader who retired in 2010 after 35 years with the Pittsburgh Public Schools. 

Prior to serving on the Board of Directors, Dr. Holley served for 16 years as principal of Pittsburgh Lincoln K-8, a neighborhood school with an emphasis on technology and pre-engineering. During her tenure as principal, Dr. Holley raised the performance of her students to achieve No Child Left Behind-Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), increased student achievement higher-than-district average, earned the Title I School of the Year Award from the PA Department of Education, transformed the school into a technology & pre-engineering academy, initiated a PSSA-prep Saturday academy, and more. Lincoln was the first school in Pittsburgh to be associated with the Freedom School movement with the Children’s Defense Fund. Believing that learning extended beyond the classroom, her legacy at Pittsburgh Lincoln lives on as current leadership honors her traditions. 

Dr. Holley has been an agent for change throughout the Pittsburgh school district. She worked tirelessly with Board and District leaders to ensure a smooth transition as Pittsburgh Public Schools formed an educational partnership to welcome 164 students from the Wilkinsburg School District (WSD) in grades 7-12 to Pittsburgh Westinghouse. 

Dr. Holley led the call for the District’s restorative practice to be implemented in all Pittsburgh Public Schools. Through this work, Dr. Holley helped to establish activities, curriculum, and professional development to improve student and staff safety in a sustainable, effective way. 

In addition to her work in public education, Dr. Holley is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. DST is a sorority of educated Black women who believe in developing programs that build strong communities. 

Dr. Holley is Board President for Naomi’s Place, a non-profit providing transitional housing for young women and their children. She is also a member of the Kingsley Association Board. 

Dr. Holley earned her bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock University, a master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a doctorate degree in Curriculum and Supervision, and Principal certification also from the University of Pittsburgh.

Darrin Kelly – Co-Chair

Before being elected to President of the Allegheny Fayette Labor council in 2018, he served as a Vice-President for 9 years under the Leadership of Jack Shea, Former President.

He also has served as the Political and legislative Director for the Pittsburgh fire Fighters 1 as well as the Pennsylvania professional firefighters association overseeing the political side of the spectrum in Harrisburg and Washington DC.

Darrin is a life long resident and a proud Fire Fighter for the City of Pittsburgh for over 20 years

Darrin is a US Navy veteran and has been highly successful in instituting the Union Veteran’s Council here in Allegheny county , which is a first for the Labor Movement in the State of Pennsylvania.

He continues to serve on many committees such as

Three Rivers Area Labor Management Committee Co-Chair, Partners4Work Board of Directors ( secretary) , the United Way of western pa Board of Directors , AGH cancer center institute advisory board, Pa AFL-CIO executive council, National AFL-CIO labor council steering committee, Pittsburgh firefighters pension and relief fund board (vice president), Union veteran council, to name a few. 

Committee Members:

Rick Adams, Committee Member

Vernard Alexander, Committee Member

Donta Green, Committee Member

Tammy Hughes, Committee Member

Kelauni Jasmyn, Committee Member

Moira Kaleida, Committee Member

Ghadah Makoshi, Committee Member

Kenya Matthews, Committee Member

Steve Mazza, Committee Member

Angela Mike, Committee Member

Jeff Shook, Committee Member

Infrastructure and Environment

– Advancing Sustainability, Accessibility, and Environmental Justice –

The charge of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee is to consider the opportunities to develop  actionable strategies to address environmental health services and sanitation, and the improvement and  maintenance of Pittsburgh’s physical infrastructure with a special focus on environmental justice and to  consider how to take best advantage of the 2021 Federal infrastructure funding. Further, this  committee will make recommendations to advance sustainability and better position the city to live with  water, as well as strategies for accessible mobility and transportation infrastructure.

Dr. Jamil Bey – Co-Chair

Jamil Bey, PhD is the founder and president of UrbanKind Institute, a think-and-do tank committed to advancing policies, practices, and programs that are kind to urban people and environments. Jamil is a human geographer with 10 years of experience research and analysis of policy and practices that improve efficiency and outcomes in human experiences. As a researcher, analyst, and consultant he specializes in challenging common assumptions about ordinary concerns while bringing alternative perspectives for consideration. Trained as both a professional geographer and as an educator, Dr. Bey excels in spatial analysis and synthesis, pedagogy, and instruction. His integrated systems view of the world provides highly contextualized conclusions, and recommendations that consider the interconnectivity of economics, politics, history, culture, health, social movements, and the environment in his analyses.

The UrbanKind Institute is fast becoming one of the most in-demand social science and community-engagement consulting firms in the region. We commit to apply a triple focus of equity, justice, and antiracism to cover a broad spectrum of issues including environmental and climate justice, housing access, equitable transportation, education, and public health.  Our clients recognize the effectiveness of our community interaction and engagement strategies, which inform our practice and help us make equitable and just policy recommendations related to human services, neighborhood revitalization plans, and educational polices.

Christine Mondor, FAIA, LEED AP, ECODISTRICTS AP – Co-Chair

Christine is an eternal optimist regarding the power of design in shaping an inspiring and sustainable environment. Christine has been active in shaping places, processes and organizations in the US and around the world through her work as an architect, educator, and activist. 

Christine brings value to large and small organizations with her ability to seed provocative ideas and build a community of action around them. She is passionate about quality design in the public realm and her collaborations have resulted in nationally recognized ecodistricts and city comprehensive plans, green infrastructure landscapes and riverfront park systems, and architecture that celebrates public life. In addition to her passion for designing inspiring places, her thought-provoking engagement methods help organizations prepare to implement ambitious projects. She has embedded herself in communities and developed collaborative methods shared through the evolveEA’s Community Engagement Strategy Deck.

Her projects are frequently recognized with national and regional distinctions, including the American Planning Association’s Silver National Planning Award for Buffalo Rain Check 2.0 green infrastructure plan and numerous American Institute of Architects awards for diverse projects including the Etna EcoDistrict Plan and the Winterton Residence. Her work has also been broadly recognized outside the profession with awards like the PA Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the Allentown’s Vision 2030 Comprehensive Plan.Christine is a Principal in evolveEA and teaches architecture, landscape design and sustainability at Carnegie Mellon University and has been an invited lecturer and guest critic at many institutions. She supports organizations that promote design and the environment and currently serves as Chair of the Pittsburgh Planning Commission, is a member of the Global Ecodistricts Protocol Advisory Committee, and the Penn State University Stuckeman School Advisory Board. She previously served as Board Chair for the Green Building Alliance Board and the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh. Christine received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University and studied architecture and sustainable design in Scandinavia. Christine is a registered architect and LEED Accredited Professional, and a 2019 AIA Fellow.

Committee Members:

Dan Bain, Committee Member

Scott Bricker, Committee Member

Lisa Werder Brown, Committee Member

James Martin, Committee Member

Khari Mosely, Committee Member

Kelsey Ripper, Committee Member

Mark Schneider, Committee Member

Tiffany Taulton, Committee Member

Mickey Trepolsi, Committee Member

Laura Chu Wiens, Committee Member

Community Health and Safety

– Holistic Approaches to Health and Safety –

The Community Health and Safety Committee is charged with developing actionable and holistic  recommendations to improve the overall health and safety of our neighborhoods and community with  consideration to mental health, substance abuse, public safety, gun violence prevention, and public health  issues such as chronic illness, premature mortality, and adequate responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This committee will consider social determinants of health and approaches to eradicating health  disparities

Kathi R. Elliott, DNP, MSW, PMHNP-BC, RN – Co-chair

Advocacy and giving back to others is a value that has been instilled in Dr. Kathi Elliott by her mother and founder of Gwen’s Girls, the late Commander Gwen Elliott. Since 2002, Gwen’s Girls’ mission has been to empower girls and young women to have productive lives through holistic, gender-specific programs, education and experiences through afterschool, school and community-based programming throughout Greater Pittsburgh. 

In August 2015, Dr. Elliott accepted the CEO position at Gwen’s Girls. Her culmination of education, work and life experiences has assisted her in continuing the legacy of providing a comprehensive approach to address the issues that impact the well-being of girls, women and families. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Chatham University in August 2014. Dr. Elliott also completed dual Master’s degrees in Nursing and Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008. Dr. Elliott has over 25 years of experience in social service, community and individual mental health treatment. Her career began as a victim advocate at the Center for Victims, mostly within the juvenile justice system. As a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, she currently provides psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and clinical consultation service and treatment at the VA Pittsburgh outpatient mental health clinic. 

A visionary leader, Dr. Elliott has positioned Gwen’s Girls in becoming a well-recognized forerunner in the integration of evidence-based clinical prevention and intervention policies and practices that enhance the child and social welfare system. In 2016, Gwen’s Girls contributed in the production of a report “Inequities Affecting Black Girls in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County”, which lead to the convening of an annual Equity Summit for Black Girls to address the racial and gender biases that exist within the juvenile justice, health and wellness, child welfare, and education systems. As a result of the summit, Dr. Elliott spearheaded the formation of the Black Girls Equity Alliance (BGEA), a collaboration of over 75 practitioners, researchers, system administrators, and other stakeholders committed to addressing systemic inequities in the juvenile justice, child welfare, education and health care systems. Over the past four years, BGEA has been leading efforts to address 

Dr. Elliott has served on numerous boards and professional committees throughout her career. In December 2017, she was appointed by Mayor William Peduto to serve as a commissioner on the newly formed Gender Equity Commission for the City of Pittsburgh. She served a three-year term. She was recently re-elected to serve on the Board of Trustees at Chatham University. And most recently in January 2021, Dr. Elliott was elected to serve on the ACLU of Pennsylvania. She is most proud to be the mother of two adult children and a grandmother of a brilliant granddaughter and three grand-puppies. 

Awards and honors: University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Distinguished Alumni Award (2021), The Pittsburgh Business Times’ Women of Influence Award, Pittsburgh (2021), African American Strategic Partnership Equity Leadership Award, Pittsburgh (2021), Athena Award Finalist, Pittsburgh (2020), Pittsburgh Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing- Community Nursing (2020), U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s Black History Month Recognition: Pathways to Hope: Elevating Positive Solutions for Our Children, Washington, D.C. (2020), Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Engagement’s Partnerships of Distinction Award, University of Pittsburgh (2019)

Wasi Mohamed – co-chair

Wasi is the Senior Policy Officer at The Pittsburgh Foundation. He develops short- and long-term policy agendas that parallel the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts. Wasi is the former Executive Director and Food Pantry Director of The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. He also serves on several boards and commissions, including the ACLU PA, 1Hood, the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, and the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. 


Wasi is a community advocate committed to changing systems and structures that perpetuate poverty and inequity. Wasi has focused his career on building bridges across diverse communities and developing campaigns of collective action.

Committee Members:

Father Paul Abernathy, Committee Member

Steve Albert, Committee Member

Lisa Freeland, Committee Member

Tiffany Gary-Webb, Committee Member

David Harris, Committee Member

Miracle Jones, Committee Member

Joshua M. Kivuva, Committee Member

Dan Palka, Committee Member

Adrianna Simon, Committee Member

Terri Minor Spencer, Committee Member

Lauren Stoner, Committee Member

Kevin C. Wilkes, Committee Member