As summer comes to a close, you may have seen more and more activities and interest geared towards Pittsburgh’s beautiful riverfront trails and parks. Have you asked questions like: What would it take to make Pittsburgh’s rivers swimmable? Why aren’t there more rest areas, seating, or places to eat and drink near the rivers? Why don’t we have water taxis? What are some riverfront projects that are going on in the city this year and for years to come?
In this PYP Talk some or all of your questions may be answered by Riverlife’s CEO Vivien Li. First in Boston and now in Pittsburgh, Vivien Li has sought to create vibrant areas along the city's rivers. Riverlife is a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 by people who saw the opportunity to create a plan for the redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s downtown riverfronts. Riverlife’s staff team works every day with developers, land owners, and neighborhood groups on issues of riverfront design, access, amenities and programming in Pittsburgh and the region.
Speaker Bio:
Vivien Li is President and CEO of Riverlife: a non-profit organization with the mission to reclaim, restore and promote Pittsburgh’s river-fronts. Previously, she was at The Boston Harbor Association (TBHA) where she worked to promote a clean, alive, and accessible Boston Harbor. Under her leadership, The Boston Harbor Association helped to secure $30 million in state funding to restore Boston Harbor beaches, and launched the Harbor Bound education program for more than 11,000 inner city students. Vivien has been a major force behind completion of Boston's 41-mile HarborWalk public access system, focusing attention on sea-level rise and climate change affecting Boston’s waterfront, and initiated annual free "Working Port" cruises to highlight Boston's port activities.
Vivien joined TBHA after serving as senior staff to MA Governor Michael Dukakis. Prior to that, she was special assistant to the MA Public Health Commissioner. She also worked for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the National Urban League, and the City of Newark, New Jersey.
Vivien has degrees from Barnard College and Princeton University. She has been recognized by a number of organizations, including by the national Sierra Club with its 2015 Walter Starr Award, by the Boston Society of Architects/Women in Design with a 2015 Award of Excellence, and by the Women's Lunch Place (social service organization helping women in poverty) as its 2014 award recipient.
Location:
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks
500 Wood St
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (map)
Parking: Oliver Street garage and street parking.
Light appetizers will be provided and there will be a cash bar.
Event Contact:
Laura Faust, laura.faust@pyp.org
