In a landslide victory, GSPIA Alumnus and incumbent Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (MPPM ’11) garnered nearly 70% of the votes in the May 16th primary election, securing the Democratic Party nomination. As no Republican challengers have appeared, the path is clear for Peduto to assume a second term as Pittsburgh’s mayor.  

By Mamadou Ndiaye Jr.

On March 28, Dr. Jim Withers received the Exemplary Leadership Award from the Johnson Institute. Dr. Withers was recognized for his work with Operation Safety Net and the Street Medicine Institute. These organizations focus on healthcare provision to the homeless in communities in Pittsburgh and across the globe. At the luncheon held in his honor, Withers spoke about his career path and the need within the healthcare system to become more "humanized.” 

The Johnson Institute’s Case Study Series features the accomplishments of the Institute’s Exemplary Leadership Award Winners. This is the sixth case study in the exemplary leader series and it documents the leadership of Pitt alumnus Bill Strickland, CEO, Manchester Bidwell Corporation.  Mr. Strickland founded the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in 1968 and in 1972 assumed leadership of the Bidwell Training Center. The two now operate side by side in a beautiful facility in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood.

By Nancy Jones, (MPA)

Select cities around the world are acting to mitigate their impact on the environment and must develop plans to adapt to climate change. This past summer I wrote a case study comparing climate adaptation and mitigation policies in the city of Copenhagen.  Specifically I wanted to understand the rationale for the adoption of the two distinct policies. I chose Copenhagen because the city consistently ranks among the top 10 Green City Indices and other sustainability metrics, actively reduces the use of carbon-intensive systems in its portfolio, and must cope with increased flooding as a result of climate change. I applied for funding to carry out qualitative research with industry experts and was afforded the exceptional opportunity to visit the city during the first week of September. 

On October 19, 2016, the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership at GSPIA gave its annual Emerging Leader Award to Alec Karakatsanis. Alec is the founder and executive director of Civil Rights Corps which provides pro bono legal services to those most in need and works to change the systemic issues that create unjustifiable inequalities in the criminal legal system. Prior to this, Alec co-founded Equal Justice Under Law, a non-profit organization dedicated to “ensuring that the legal system protects the important principles of human and civil rights, equality, and fairness.”