Partner Story: Northside Leadership Conference

Our PULSErs have had such a great impact to our organization and the Northside as a whole.

The Northside Leadership Conference is a coalition of Northside community-based organizations, committed to addressing mutual concerns through a united approach in order to promote and enhance the vitality, quality of life and image of Pittsburgh’s Northside.

Cody Walters is the Main Street Manager of the Northside Leadership Conference. In the following interview he talks about the experience of partnering with PULSE.

CC: Why did your organization decide to work with PULSE?

CW: Originally we decided to work with PULSE when they announced they would be bringing their program to the Northside. We had a bike/ped committee that needed some administrative help that the volunteers couldn’t quite fulfill on their own. It was perfect timing.

CC: What is the most rewarding part of working with PULSE?

CW: The most rewarding part of the partnership is actually getting to know each individual PULSEr and watching them grow and learn as their service year progresses.

CC: How has your partnership with PULSE impacted your organization?

CW: Our PULSErs have had such a great impact to our organization and the Northside as a whole. To highlight a few though, our PULSErs have created a map that was followed when installing bike lanes in the Northside, helped get the city to fund numerous bike racks, helped organize events such as Northside Mardi Gras and Northside Sandwich Week, and organized the making of a promotional video for the Deutschtown neighborhood

CC: What do you like most about your current PULSE fellow and/or other fellows you’ve worked with?

CW: I have had the privilege of working with three different PULSE fellows. Each one has had their own unique skill set and demeanor.
Abe Stucky was amazingly self-motivated and the perfect Bike/Ped advocate. Jackson Bush was a very diligent worker and a fast learner.
Equiana Brown is a joy to be around in the office and eager to learn more about the Northside and in turn teach others as well.

CC: What would you tell other Pittsburgh nonprofits about PULSE?

CW: Our partnership with PULSE has been very rewarding over the last three years. Each fellow is unique. They are all very eager to learn and grow with their organization. They are an amazing addition to our organization, our neighborhood, the Northside, and Pittsburgh as a whole. PULSE’s staff is very easy to work with and they run an amazing program. I would highly recommend working with them.

Check out more great Partner Stories.

This is part of a series of posts about the Nonprofit Partner experience with PULSE. If you would like to learn more about a Nonprofit Partnership, please visit our Partner Page.