Faces & Places: New Castle Prism Initiative one-year anniversary block party

Photo by Jeff Freedman.

The New Castle Prism Initiative celebrated its milestone one-year anniversary with a block party and vendor fair at the Third Independent Presbyterian Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.

Running from noon to 5 p.m., the family-friendly event brought the community together with local vendors, food trucks, games, and music. The celebration offered vital resources, including free on-site HIV/STI testing provided by Central Outreach. The successful event helped sustain the initiative’s essential, year-round LGBTQ+ outreach services in Lawrence and surrounding counties.  They offer services such as their in-house food pantry and the Pauly Likens Memorial Sanctuary community closet, which provides gender-affirming clothing, hygiene products, and care items.   

Photos by Jeff Freedman.

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Jeff Freedman (he/him) is a Pittsburgh native and is in his fourth decade of volunteerism for the LGBTQ Community.  Jeff is one of the founding members of the Steel City Softball League in 1981 and has been an active member of the LGBTQ Community ever since.  Jeff is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission for LGBTQ Affairs.  He is a past Chair of the Pittsburgh Pride celebrations (’05-’07) and current Pittsburgh Pride March & Parade Co-Chair.  You would recognize him by his voice.  He was the loud one on the megaphone lining up all the March & Parade participants.  Jeff has a lot of great stories to tell and looks forward to sharing the printable ones with the QBurgh Community.