It Takes a Neighborhood

By Sarah Bailey

On a Wednesday evening last month, a group of neighbors and business owners gathered along the East Street off ramp in Deutschtown armed with gloves, grabbers, and trash bags. By the end of the cleanup, they had removed more than 1,800 pounds of litter and debris. Among them was Al Grasso, co-owner of Allegheny City Brewing and president of Discover Deutschtown, kneeling in a tree bed pulling weeds alongside residents. Just people pitching in because they care about the place they call home or work. That spirit has been showing up all over Deutschtown lately.

In April, volunteers spent an evening planting flowers around the neighborhood’s Welcome to Deutschtown sign while others weeded and mulched tree beds along East Ohio Street. Every month, Discover Deutschtown organizes a community cleanup that brings together the people who live here and the people who have invested their livelihoods here. Neither group could accomplish these projects alone. Together, they can transform a neighborhood.

The same thing happened around a shared table in May. Nikki Heckman opened the doors of Bistro to Go for Discover Deutschtown’s first Sunday Supper, welcoming neighbors, business owners, and visitors to share a meal prepared by Chef Kevin Herman and his team. Conversations flowed between people who had never met and others who have known each other for years. New friendships were formed. Ideas were shared. A neighborhood grew a little stronger.

The cleanups and suppers are simple, but they represent something much bigger. Strong neighborhoods aren’t built by individuals alone. They are built by people who decide to show up for a cleanup, for a meal, or simply for one another.

That’s the mission of Discover Deutschtown. As a nonprofit organization, Discover Deutschtown works to strengthen and celebrate one of Pittsburgh’s most historic neighborhoods by supporting local businesses, creating opportunities for connection, and encouraging community stewardship. Through events, volunteer projects, neighborhood marketing, and community partnerships, we’re helping ensure Deutschtown remains a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

Whether you’re joining us for a cleanup, attending a Sunday Supper, exploring one of our independent local businesses, or simply stopping by for the first time, you’re invited to be part of what we’re building. Because it takes a neighborhood. And there’s always room for one more at our table.