Humane Action Pittsburgh

?? Volunteer of the Month: Nick Lanza ?? We are thrilled to announce Nick Lanza as Humane Action Pittsburgh’s Volunteer of the Month! ?? As a talented graphic designer, Nick has been essential in bringing our mission to life through his creative designs and artistic vision. ??? A proud native of Upland, Southern California ??, Nick graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BA in Design. He has seamlessly blended his professional skills with his passion for animal welfare. ?? Outside of his volunteer work, Nick enjoys wildlife and landscape photography ??, exploring new destinations ??, and playing guitar ??. A lifelong animal lover, he cherishes time spent with his pet desert tortoise ??. Thank you, Nick, for your incredible contributions and your unwavering commitment to making a difference! ???? #VolunteerOfTheMonth #HAP #GraphicDesign #AnimalWelfare #ThankYouNick

?? Big Win for PA Families & Their Companions! ?? We're thrilled to see increased media coverage about the passage of HB 1210, a vital step toward protecting animals and their human companions across Pennsylvania. This groundbreaking legislation allows companion animals to be included in protection-from-abuse orders, offering safety and peace of mind to families impacted by domestic violence. The photo shows our Executive Director, Natalie Ahwesh, speaking at the press conference in Harrisburg to support this critical bill. Her voice, alongside countless advocates, helped make this victory possible. After years of advocacy by Humane Action Pittsburgh and a coalition of animal welfare, law enforcement, and domestic violence advocates, the bill passed the state Senate on Nov. 13 (47-1) and now awaits Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature. ?? Did you know? Studies show that 71% of pet-owning women in domestic violence shelters reported there abuser had threatened, harmed, or killed a pet. HB 1210 addresses this heartbreaking reality and ensures abusers can no longer use pets as tools of control. We are deeply grateful for Reps. Natalie Mihalek and Christina Sappey for championing this effort. ?? Read the full story here: https://shorturl.at/0Us2p Let’s celebrate this victory while continuing to fight for more resources to keep families—both two-and four-legged—safe. ?? #AnimalWelfare #DomesticViolenceAwareness #HB1210 #HumaneAction

Celebrating one year of dedication and compassion, Robel Tesfay has been a vital force in our mission to protect and advocate for animals—thank you for making a difference! ????

We are thrilled to recognize Yvonne Bukstein as Humane Action Pittsburgh's Volunteer of the Month for October! Yvonne is an invaluable member of our Grants Team, dedicating her time and talents to helping us secure the funding we need to advance animal welfare and protect our planet. Her dedication, hard work, and passion for making a difference in our community are truly inspiring. Thank you, Yvonne, for all that you do to help us create a more compassionate and sustainable world! #VolunteerOfTheMonth #HumaneActionPittsburgh #AnimalAdvocate #MakingADifference

?? What a fantastic week at Humane Action Pittsburgh! Here are some highlights of our recent activities: ?? Collaborated with the Black Environmental Collective to address key policy priorities ?? Gained valuable insights during the Maddie’s Fund Community Conversation ?? Planned our upcoming Open House with the PC Events Committee ?? Held productive weekly check-ins with our dedicated team ?? Submitted a grant proposal for our 2025 LYWN mural ?? Welcomed two talented web developer volunteers to our team ?? Participated in Spring Point Partner’s Canine Care Certification webinar ?? Kicked off our first Youth Steering Committee session of the school year ?? Hosted a fall cleanup at the Swissvale Pollinator Garden ?? Continued preparations for our biggest event of the year—our annual gala! ??? Want to support our mission while celebrating the year's standout figures in animal protection? Get your HEROES AWARD RECEPTION tickets before early bird pricing ends this Friday! ?? hapgala2024.eventbrite.com #HumaneAction #CommunityImpact #Support

?? Weekly Recap at Humane Action Pittsburgh! ?? It’s been a busy and impactful week! Here’s what we’ve been up to: ?? Interviewed potential volunteers to join our web development team—exciting growth in our tech capabilities! ?? Held a productive Policy Committee meeting for the Plastics Collaborative, focusing on key policies to reduce single-use plastics. ?? Conducted our weekly check-in with our Plastics Collaborative Program Manager & Central PA State Director to keep our initiatives on track. ?? Met with a board member to strategize crucial end-of-year fundraising efforts. ??? Attended the PACE Inclusive Voices event, where Moses Wamalwa led a vital conversation on reducing single-use plastics and our shared responsibility to make a difference. ?? Met with State Representative Joe McAndrew (??) to discuss our wildlife protection priorities for 2025! ?? Participated in the monthly Humane League Animal Policy Alliance meeting to align on farm animal protection priorities. ?? You can sponsor a week of our operating activities for only $50 to keep our work going! You can support us here: https://shorturl.at/Olmh2 #AnimalAdvocacy #Sustainability #WildlifeProtection #PlasticsCollaborative #FarmAnimalWelfare #CommunityImpact #DonateNow

?? Humane Action Pittsburgh was thrilled to attend and participate in the 16th annual PACE's #InclusiveVoices event! ?? As the first forum of its kind in the region, Inclusive Voices has brought together approximately 4,000 individuals from diverse communities and sectors since 2008. This unique gathering fosters meaningful conversations around the issues that shape our culture and community. We were particularly honored that our Plastics Collaborative Program Manager, Moses Wamalwa, was selected as one of 40 "conversationalists" to lead discussions on society's relationship with single-use plastics and their impact on animals, the environment, and all of us. ???? Thank you to PACE for creating this incredible opportunity to connect, collaborate, and drive positive change! #InclusiveVoices2024 #Sustainability #PACE #SingleUsePlastics #AnimalWelfare #HumaneActionPgh

?? Exciting News! ?? We’re delighted to introduce Michele Patterson as our new Central PA State Director at Humane Action Pennsylvania! ?? With a robust background in public policy, including a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from York College of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State, Michele is poised to make a significant impact. Michele will be championing our mission across the state, and when she’s not advocating for animal welfare, she enjoys time with her husband Dave, her horse Charlie ??, and her rescue pups Abbey, Fiona, and Woody ??. Welcome to the team, Michele! We’re thrilled to have you on board! ?? #HumaneActionPennsylvania #MeetTheTeam #AnimalAdvocate

?? Weekly Recap at Humane Action Pittsburgh! ?? Last week was filled with exciting developments: ??? We met with Congressman Perry’s office and are thrilled to announce that he has cosponsored The FIGHT Act following our discussion! ?? ?? We completed a media interview about the upcoming bullriding event in Pittsburgh—stay tuned for more details! ???? We interviewed potential interns for the new school year and are excited to welcome new talent to our team. ??? We had a productive meeting with a state senator’s office to push for HB1210 to be voted on this session. ?? Our weekly check-ins with the Education and Plastics Collaborative Program Managers, as well as our new Central PA State Director, were a success. ?? We explored funding opportunities with a foundation to support our crucial programming. ?? We connected with an advocate in Texas to support their efforts to ban force-fed animal products, sharing insights from our own Pittsburgh initiatives. ?? We spent significant time planning for our upcoming Plastics Collaborative Open House and Gala! ?? We’ve started reviewing applications for our Youth Steering Committee. There’s still time to apply—submit your application today! https://lnkd.in/ehMz2Suy This week is looking just as busy, and we need a sponsor to help us continue our work. A donation of only $50 can support our efforts—can we count on you??https://shorturl.at/ze2Sc #HumaneActionPittsburgh #AnimalAdvocacy #PlasticFreePittsburgh #TheFIGHTAct #EndForceFeeding #HB1210 #CommunityAction #GetInvolved

?? Weekly Highlights at Humane Action Pittsburgh! ?? It’s been another dynamic week for our team, full of impactful activities and progress! Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve been up to: ? Team Check-In: Productive meetings with our Education Program Manager and Plastics Collaborative Program Manager to fine-tune our upcoming initiatives. ?? Farm Animal Protection: Engaged with The Humane League to strategize on farm animal protection priorities for 2025. ?? Spreading the Word at Google: Presented our mission to Google employees and explored opportunities for collaboration. ?? County Collaboration: Discussed sustainability issues with Allegheny County Council members as part of our Plastics Collaborative. ?? Community Engagement: Hosted a meeting to address concerns about the upcoming bull riding event in Pittsburgh and plan our next steps. ??? Legislative Advocacy: Met with PA State Senate leadership to advocate for our key issues before the legislative session wraps up. ?? Welcoming Future Advocates: Interviewed prospective interns from the Pitt School of Social Work for the upcoming school year. ?? Celebration Time: Ended the week by supporting Riverlife at their annual Party at the Pier. Our Executive Director and Director of Operations had a great time reconnecting with friends including former Wilkinsburg Mayor Marita Garrett, District Judge Matt Rudzki, and Kat Weiser from the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Interested in supporting our work? For just $50, you can sponsor a week at HAP and help us continue these vital efforts! ?? Support Us Here: https://shorturl.at/RJEoa #HumaneActionPittsburgh #Advocacy #Sustainability #FarmAnimalProtection #CommunityAction