About Us PDF Print E-mail
Background and History

The Hilltop Alliance is structured as a collaborative organization comprised of community-based organizations from the following ten South Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Allentown, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Carrick, Knoxville, Mt.OliverCity, Mt. Oliver Borough, and St. Clair. As an umbrella organization, the primary goal of the Hilltop Alliance is to connect neighborhood-based organizations and leverage their individual efforts, creating a shared vision and voice for the Hilltop, hereby preserving and creating Hilltop assets.

In 2007, a deliberative democracy process involving a wide-range of South Pittsburgh Hilltop stakeholders examined the assets and challenges facing Hilltop neighborhoods. As an outcome of this discussion, in 2008, five Hilltop organizations (Allentown CDC, Beltzhoover Citizens CDC, Carrick Community Council, Hilltop Economic Development Corporation, and Mt. Oliver City/St. Clair Block Watch) formally came together to collaborate on improving the quality of life across the Hilltop. In 2009, the Hilltop Alliance began operations (incorporation 3/29/2009), adding the Beltzhoover Citizens Council as its sixth member. The Alliance was granted 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2010.

In 2009 and 2010, we successfully engaged in two Dialogue-to-Action processes based on the Every Democracy model, which consisted of the five community wide dialogues and an action forum at the conclusion of each these dialogues. Three action teams, the Hilltop Community Services Coordination Action Team, Repurposing Vacant Properties Action Team, and, Public Safety Action Team were established through this process


Mission Statement
The Hilltop Alliance's mission is to connect neighborhood-based organizations and leverage their individual efforts, creating a shared vision and voice for the Hilltop.


Vision Statement
We are committed to working collaboratively to create a sustainable and healthy community. We envision a Hilltop that is stable, diverse, safe, welcoming and affordable for its residents.
 
Regardless of neighborhood or borough boundary, we will support:
  • the investment in our existing real estate assets and encourage infill where possible;
  • the expansion of family income;
  • the establishment of market-based, neighborhood-serving, safe business districts;
  • the promotion of access to quality education; and
  • the establishment of healthy and safe environments and lifestyles, particularly for our seniors and the youth of our community.
 
 
Core Values
  • Community engagement is core to all of our work and to our organization.
  • Boundaries do not define our decisions. Rather, we work collaboratively within our membership to solve problems, build on assets and identify opportunities.
  • Our board and staff are committed to excellence, capacity building and ongoing training.
  • Partnership is a hallmark to our problem-solving. We partner with appropriate community development stakeholders to bring solutions to the Hilltop.
  • Preserving existing assets, in both the built and human environment, is our highest priority. In this regard, innovation and new approaches to old problems are welcomed and encouraged.
 
 
Program Priorities
Our program priorities stem from our vision and core values. We will direct resources (staff, board commitment and funding) to the following:
  • Organizing and Community Engagement
  • Maintenance of Existing Assets
  • Coordination of Social Services
  • Public Safety