Newsletter

October 2024 Edition

Thank you to all of our guests who celebrated Macedonia FACE’s 30^th Anniversary on October 8^th at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The evening was made possible thanks to our generous sponsors: UPMC/UPMC Health Plan, Duolingo and Bernard Mack State Farm. 

Jazz for HOPE attendees enjoyed an interactive experience with Camara Drum and Dance, an awe inspiring performance by the Hill Dance Academy Theatre and marvelous singing by Anyah Nancy. Bistro to go catered the event as our food sponsor and the décor for the evening was designed by Kierfully Planned. 

FACE CEO, Tinisha Hunt, shared highlights from the history of FACE as well as the challenges and opportunities for the future. She said, “It is imperative for us to prioritize our aging population and to figure out how to make sure there is sustainable funding for nutrition, socialization and wellness programs to prevent social isolation and to help us age well, live independently with dignity and within community.”

If you missed the event and wish to learn more about future opportunities, please email info@macedoniaface.org. 

Vaccines – For your Health!

As a member Meals on Wheels of Greater Pittsburgh, Macedonia FACE is a proud partner of the US Department of Health and Human Services “Risk Less. Do More.” campaign. This effort is to encourage everyone, especially seniors and individuals with higher risks to get this season’s vaccines. Flu, Covid, RSV, Tdap, Shingles and Pneumonia vaccines are available at a series of vaccine clinics in the region. Individuals must register for an appointment. 

If you have not received your vaccines, we hope you will take advantage of one of these opportunities:

What is an Ambassador?

Built on FACE’s value of community engagement and assuring agency for those we serve, the role of Ambassador is a staff position that honors the skills, insights and abilities of individuals who live in the neighborhoods we serve. 

According to the dictionary, the definition of ambassador is: “a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specific group or activity.” 

Ambassadors at FACE join in the creation and delivery of agency programs and services, make connections to businesses and groups that bring resources to our efforts, and reach out to their neighbors, identifying community needs and assets.

Lani Mosley is one of the Parent Ambassadors working with the HDELI (Hill District Early Learning Initiative) convened by FACE and joined by local stakeholders to promote reading skills in children PreK to Grade 3. Through her work on literacy in children, Lani realized that some children have challenges to learning. She pursued training through one of the HDELI collaborating partners, the Learning Disability Association of Pittsburgh, and became a certified reading tutor. Lani is now providing tutoring to support children learning to read. 



Lani’s journey with Macedonia FACE began when her daughter brought home a bookbag from school with books and reading aids from the Hill District Early Literacy Initiative. Inside the bookbag was a flyer announcing the opportunity for a parent to become an ambassador with the project. Lani says when she read the flyer she thought, “I love reading. I love working with kids, and I’m not the type of person to sit on the sidelines, so I decided to apply.” Lani spends time in the afterschool hours tutoring children at the Hill District branch of the Carnegie Library, and soon will be expanding her work to offer tutoring at the Bedford Dwellings. Lani wants parents to realize all that the library has to offer – movies, games, as well as books.

In her role as mom, Lani believes it is her job to provide her children with opportunities. Her daughter reminds her to put on the calendar the dates of upcoming Family Nights and Story Time events that she enjoys. As an ambassador and a tutor, Lani says she has a new role as “Ms. Lani” to other children and she is proud to be able to work with them. 

Lani hopes to return to college next spring to finish her degree and become a full time teacher. 

Lani Mosley, Parent Ambassador

Senior Artwork on Display at Local Gallery

Members of FACE’s Active for Life Senior Center worked with artists, Lauren Brown and Theresa Monroe to create paintings that are now on display at Nafasi on Centre, a gallery located at 2145 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. 

Ms. Monroe said, “Working with the elders was such an amazing experience. They did such an awesome job and had so much fun as I did too. The teaching for the class was pouring paint. It was an honor teaching them.”

The Active for Life Senior Center, housed at the Thelma Lovette YMCA, has a wide variety of activities and experiences for older adults. A calendar of events is available on our website at www.macedoniaface.org.

Come join the fun.

Meals on Wheels of America’s (MOWA) “End the Wait” Campaign

Meals on Wheels programs across the country serve over 2 million seniors, but 1 in 3 meals on wheels programs has a waiting list. Meals on Wheels programs are overwhelmed by rising demand and limited funding. More resources are needed to support seniors facing hunger and isolation. Federal funding covers only 37% of the cost of these programs. MOWA is calling for financial support for these critical programs. 

Meals on Wheels offers more than a meal. The direct connection between the delivery person and the senior is a personal connection and a safety check that can be life-saving. Without a Meals on Wheels visitor, homebound seniors are more vulnerable to falls, health emergencies, social isolation and loneliness. Meals on Wheels makes a positive impact on the lives of seniors – better nutrition, less isolation, the opportunity to age at home longer and healthier. 

Macedonia FACE's Meals on Wheels program delivers meals to 200 seniors three days each week. While the program has not yet been forced to create a waiting list, without filling the gap in funding, the program cannot be sustained at this level. 



If you would like to assure that seniors in our region continue to have access to home delivered meals, visit www.macedoniaface.org and contribute by clicking the DONATE button to make a one-time or recurring gift. 

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