By Fiona Lubold – 11th Grade, North Hills Senior High School Imagine a building filled with old toys, sci-fi movies and collectibles,  limited edition collectibles, tables and booths filled with fan art and merchandise, and people cosplaying* as everything from heroes and villains, to anime characters and fairies.  Wall to wall, the Monroeville Convention Center screams "Steel City Con!"  Vendors everywhere, selling everything they can, to anyone they can.  Possibly the most exciting thing of all: celebrity guests selling autographed pictures, autographing merchandise, and taking photos with fans.  Couldn't get any better, right?  Well, it could, and it did!   Read more [...]

By Fiona Lubold – 11th Grade, North Hills Senior High School I grew up loving sculptures that I would see on city blocks and in public parks.  Some were great to look at.  Some I could climb on. Some made me think.  Some caused me to wonder how to create. The Metalsmithing Apprenticeship at the Society for Contemporary Arts located in the Strip District provides students with the opportunity to learn how to create with metal. Read more [...]

By Fiona Lubold – 11th Grade, North Hills Senior High School Pittsburgh is full of neighborhood parks where people can gather, have fun, explore nature, walk dogs, ride bikes, exercise, picnic and play.  Many of these parks have been around for a long time.  The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has been working this summer with youth to upgrade and beautify some of these parks. Read more [...]

By Fiona Lubold - 11th Grade North Hills High School For most kids summer is a break from school, but for those who dream big, summer can be an opportunity to boost skills, try new things, and go deeper into reading, math and science.  That’s what’s happening at Faison Elementary School this summer. Read more [...]

By Arwen Kozak - 11th Grade, Pittsburgh CAPA

  Established in 1996 by Lani Cataldi and Dennis Palko, Gemini Theater seeks to "promote creativity, imagination, and originality, and have a positive effect on the individuals who participate."  In the past 19 years, they have provided interactive theater experiences to over 75,000 people, including students who participate in their theater summer camps. Read more [...]

By Arwen Kozak – 11th Grade, Pittsburgh CAPA In the comfortable, carpeted “living room” of the early learning hub, Ms. Shimira Williams bustled around the kitchen area preparing for the Beauty of Stem Makers Institute closing party on the afternoon of August 23^rd. Read more [...]

By Serena Zets – 10th Grade, Pittsburgh CAPA Hellen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." This power of collaboration was in full display last week at the Hill House for the SOUL Political Education workshops. Read more [...]

By Serena Zets – 10th Grade, Pittsburgh CAPA Throughout the summer, The Mattress Factory, a world renowned installation art museum located in the North Side, hosts a Summer Art Cooperative for Pittsburgh teens to work as artists in residence and guest curators. Needless to say, this is not how the typical teenager spends their summer. Read more [...]

By Matthew Miramontes - 11th Grade, Cornell High School Apprenticeship in Woodworking shows kids in high school a way to learn more about how to use tools, and also more about what goes into making projects that will be around for generations. Read more [...]

By Matthew Ryan Miramontes - 11th Grade, Cornell High School Telenovelas have been around since there was television, They have become a world wide phenomenon thanks to "Marimar." Most of the Telenovelas are to be taken seriously, but this is almost impossible because of overacting and laughable dialog. Read more [...]