Meaningful Experiences & Speakers at the Meaningful Travel Roadshow in Pittsburgh

Community Experiences

Experience 1 : The Hill District

Experience the rich history and vibrant spirit of Pittsburgh’s Historic Hill District on a guided hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Once celebrated as the “Crossroads of the World,” this iconic neighborhood was home to legendary jazz clubs and cultural landmarks. Your guide, Marimba Milliones, President and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation (Hill CDC), will share powerful stories that connect the past to the present.

The tour features meaningful stops at historic sites such as Freedom Corner, the Historic New Granada, and the August Wilson House. Along the way, you will visit neighborhood businesses including Nafasi on Centre Art Gallery, shop for distinctive local brands like IkeWear Apparel, and explore treasures at Molly’s World Boutique. You will also gain insight into the community’s ongoing revitalization, rooted in resilience and shaped by America’s complex history of urban renewal.

  • Accessibility: Minimal walking required, with most travel by bus. Some walking on city streets, sidewalks, and through historic venues should be expected

Experience 2: Venture Outdoors

UPDATE: Due to weather conditions expected tomorrow all attendees assigned to this experience have been reassigned to other experiences. Please check your email for more details. We will miss our friends at Venture Outdoors, but hope you will be able to come back and enjoy the river with them in the future.

Enjoy a leisurely kayaking paddle along the Allegheny River with Venture Outdoors, Pittsburgh’s nonprofit leader in outdoor access and education. This beginner-friendly tour offers a calm cruise past downtown’s bridges and waterfront landmarks, accompanied by insightful commentary about local ecology, river history, and recent revitalization efforts. Participants receive guided instruction, all paddling gear is provided, and travel spans about 1–2 miles on gentle water.

Attendees on this experience will need to fill out this online waiver to participate.

  • Accessibility: This activity is designed for beginners, with safety instruction at the start and mostly calm paddling. Venture Outdoors emphasizes inclusivity and features an accessible floating dock in downtown Pittsburgh, making the experience welcoming for a range of mobility needs. Please be sure to bring a full reusable water bottle with you.

Experience 3: Burgh Bits & Bites: Pittsburgh Neighborhood Food Tour

Join us for a flavorful afternoon exploring Pittsburgh’s diverse neighborhoods with Burgh Bits & Bites Food Tours. This experience will be guided by Sylvia McCoy, Founder Burgh Bits and Bites Food Tour. The afternoon will offer a taste of the city’s rich cultural heritage through local bites, historic insights, and stories from the people and places that define the region. From long-standing favorites to hidden gems, this tour is designed to highlight a variety of communities and cuisines across Pittsburgh. See the city from the top at a stop at the Mt. Washington overlook.  Stops include Pita Land, Colombino, West End Overlook and Bitty and Beau's.

  • Accessibility: The tour includes walking and multiple stops. It is designed to be accessible and will include seating breaks and transportation between neighborhoods. If you have any dietary or mobility considerations, please let us know when registering so we can best accommodate your needs.

Educational Sessions

Keynote Speaker: Janis Burley Wilson

Center Stage: Building Tourism Through Arts, Music, and Storytelling in Pittsburgh

CEO, August Wilson African American Cultural Center

Janis Burley is President & CEO of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) in Pittsburgh, where she also serves as Artistic Director. A respected arts leader for nearly two decades, she previously spent 15 years with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, where she revitalized the city’s jazz scene, launched the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, and created the popular Gallery Crawl. At AWAACC, she curates acclaimed programs such as Soul Sessions, the Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival, and the TruthSayers speaker series. Under her leadership, the Center has achieved financial stability, expanded global reach through virtual programming, and advanced a bright, sustainable future honoring August Wilson’s legacy.

Panel 1: Flavors of Impact

Explore how local food companies and organizations drive cultural connection and social change.

  • Moderator: Elaine Zedack

    PROJECT MANAGER, VISIT PITTSBURGH

  • Ash Chan

    FARM & PROGRAM DIRECTOR, OASIS FARM

  • Cheyenne Tyler

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAFE MOMENTUM

  • Josh Weiland

    VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, 412 FOOD RESCUE

Panel 2: From Steel to Sustainability

Using Pittsburgh as an example, see how destinations can reshape their identity through innovation, green initiatives, and community-driven design.

  • Quayla Allen-Comella

    IMPACT STRATEGIST AND CREATIVE FREELANCER, WYNN & NOBLE

  • Tress Belesi

    ASSISTIVE RESOURCES AND ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR, PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVATORY

  • Heather McElwee

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER

  • Marimba Milliones

    PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE HILL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HILL CDC)

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