By Kim Leonard, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Innovators have long called Pittsburgh home. Here’s a look at 20 men and women whose contributions in science, medicine,
journalism and the arts resulted in significant change.

…Bill Strickland (1947 - )
The accomplished pottery maker has founded educational programs and centers that are being replicated in other
cities.
Strickland is the chief executive of the company that runs the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in the city’s North Side, a
center that he founded as an after school program in 1969 and that now teaches ceramics, photography and visual
arts to thousands of students each year. The craftsmen’s guild also hosts jazz performances that have included music
legends such as Nancy Wilson.
Strickland’s company also runs the local Bidwell Training Center, where culinary arts, chemistry, horticulture, medical and office career skills are taught. Students at the centers pay no tuition; donations support the programs….

For the complete Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_644055.html

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Bidwell Training Center
Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild
MCG Jazz

By Dennis Nishi, Wall Street Journal

Bill Strickland turned his love of ceramics into a creative outlet for disadvantaged city kids.

Mr. Strickland started a Pittsburgh program in 1968 called the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild to offer arts classes to kids; now he’s CEO of the 138-employee nonprofit Manchester Bidwell Corp., which also provides vocational training to adults. He won a MacArthur Fellowship “genius” award in 1996 for economic development. Edited interview excerpts follow…

For the complete Wall Street Journal article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204047504574391001969516552.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#