“PULSE has made me want to push myself professionally, try new things in the city, and grow as a young adult.” -Louise McManus
Louise McManus, a native of Bedford Hills, New York, completed her undergraduate degree at John Carroll University with a major in Sociology and a concentration in Aging Studies. During her time in school, she helped fundraise for the Fatima Food Drive and served as a tutor with Griot Village Intergenerational After School Tutoring. Additionally, Louis served as Senior Citizen Resources intern, a “Friendly Visits” volunteer and a First Light HomeCare Companion, where she aided and engaged with elderly patients. She also served as an adult literacy tutor with the Cleveland Sight Center. In her free time, Louise enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She is a part of the Northside cohort, and is serving at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh.
Annamae Bolen: What has been the most valuable part of the PULSE experience so far?
Louise McManus: Living in a house with four other girls has been very empowering as women; in terms of food, financials, and support.
Annamae: How has PULSE inspired you to live/think/act differently?
Louise: I definitely want to challenge myself more. PULSE has made me want to push myself professionally, try new things in the city, and grow as a young adult.
Annamae: What do you enjoy most about your nonprofit partnership?
Louise: It’s teaching me how to work with a population that I have never worked with before. I serve with a lot of different people on a day to day basis, and I am learning how to use my skills to the best of my ability.
Annamae: Describe a typical day at your nonprofit partnership.
Louise: I don’t really have a typical day! As the Volunteer Coordinator, I answer a lot of emails, work a lot with big groups of people, and build relationships with the volunteers and the homeless. Also, every Tuesday we host a family style meal for the homeless.
Annamae: What surprised you most about Pittsburgh?
Louise: This is cheesy, but I love how deep the roots run in Pittsburgh. A lot of my family is from the city, so I do have that support, but I like that I have been able to establish myself as an individual. The people here are just nice!
Annamae: What is the most interesting/fun adventure you’ve had in Pittsburgh so far?
Louise: One of my housemates got free tickets to a Penguins game, so being able to go without worrying about expenses was nice!
Annamae: What’s your favorite “family meal” recipe for the house?
Louise: We love eating healthy, so we usually have lots of veggies and chicken. Finding different ways to cook these things on a budget has been a cool learning experience.
Annamae: Anything else about Pittsburgh?
Louise: If you have some free time, check out Badamo’s pizza on the North Side!
Story by PULSE Fellow Annamae Bolen.
Read more Fellow Stories about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: