image description: graphic has text that reads “Mon Valley Transit Organizing Fellowship” wth a photo of a PPT Member. Background has a gameboy-like illustration of people waiting at a bus stop.

Apply Today! PPT’s New Organizing Fellowship Will Train More Transit Advocates in the Mon Valley

No matter what place you call home, everyone in Allegheny County deserves safe, accessible, affordable, and reliable public transportation. However, a lack of investment in our public transit, environmental crises, increases in the costs of housing, and social inequity have led to many of our friends, families, and neighbors struggling to get to the places they want to go and disconnecting our communities rather than bringing them together.

But we can take action to reverse it. That is why Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) will launch a paid fellowship program for transit riders who live in communities located in the Mon Valley during Spring 2024. Participants will explore public transit access, infrastructure, financial barriers, and equitable development. Examples of these topics include; the opportunities and need for more bus shelters and safe, accessible sidewalks to transit, improved service through Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT’s) Bus Line redesign process, winning and enrolling Mon Valley residents into Allegheny Go, and the zoning/land use relationship connecting access to housing and quality transit.

Fellows will receive compensation for participating in the program for three hours per week for ten weeks until completion in June 2025, with a special invitation to Pittsburghers for Public Transit’s Spring Training event on April 26, 2025.

The fellowship will consist of weekly modules based on current PPT transit justice campaigns, within classroom learning and field work. The fellowship will begin in late March 2025 and end in early June 2025.

Timeline Overview of the Mon Valley Organizing Fellowship

March 23rd – application closes
March 27th – Fellows are confirmed
March 31st – class week 1
April 7th – class week 2
April 14th – class week 3
April 21th – class week 4
April 25th & 26th spring training
April 28th – class week 5
May 5th – class week 6
May 12th – class week 7
May 19th – class week 8
May 20th – June 8th – Meetings with elected officials
June 9th – Graduation Party : )

Do you live in the Mon Valley and want to improve public transit for your community? Apply today by sending your resume and answers to the following questions to cheryl@pittsburghforpublictransit.org

To apply to the Mon Valley Transit Organizing fellowship, send answers to the following questions to cheryl@pittsburghforpublictransit.org. You can include a resume if you have one!

Phone number
Email
Address
Why is organizing for public transit important to you?
How do you understand the connection between public transit and racial, economic, disability, and environmental justice?
Can you tell us about any past experiences, jobs, volunteer work, or leadership opportunities that have prepared you for this opportunity?
What are you looking to accomplish through your participation with PPT’s Mon Valley Organizing Fellowship?