By Devra Hall Levy for Miller-McCune
Bill Strickland hopes to persuade 200 cities around the world to replicate his arts, education and job-training program.

It’s late spring, and Bill Strickland is spending some quiet time in the ceramics studio at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild, the art and job-training center he founded in Pittsburgh’s struggling Manchester area. Later in the evening he and his wife, Rose, will host a dinner for friends of the center, followed by the final jazz concert of its season. But right now, he wants to relax and throw a pot….

For the full Miller-McCune article:
http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/a-poverty-antidote-goes-global

By Melissa Kuntz, Pittsburgh City Paper

“Altered Meanings,” highlights the work of Catherine (Cat) Chow and Jesse McLean. Although their dramatically different styles do not immediately invite comparison, thought-provoking relationships dwell just beneath the surface….

For the full Pittsburgh City Paper article:
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=56738

By Elwin Green, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jeff Guerrero over at the Manchester Craftsman’s Guild is at it again. Jeff is the young man who gave a bunch of kids cameras back in the spring and had them take photos around Homewood, which they made into postcards, which they in turn sold, an exercise that sharpened their visual sense, helped them to see beauty that they might not have noticed before, taught them something about entrepreneurship, let them make some money, and reduced the amount of idle time on their hands that would make them susceptible to nonsense involving drugs, etc., etc.

This time around, a group of 5th through 8th grade students at Faison Intermediate School have been learning pottery. Tomorrow, their work will be on display and on sale at the Carnegie Library in Homewood. A second group of kids studying photgraphy will also have prints on sale. As before, the program is a joint effort of the MCG and the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship. As before, the goal is to teach the children the value of art and education by showing them how they relate to business. And as before, he profits will go directly to the students, though they have been asked to donate 10% to the library. There will be coffee, cookies and hot chocolate as refreshments. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For the original Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article:
http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/myhomewood/archive/2008/12/16/a-tree-grows-in-lincoln-lemington.aspx

By Peter B. King, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When you think “Brazilian jazz,” you think “Pittsburgh,” right?

Well, no, of course you don’t.

Nevertheless, a case could, and will, be made for that connection Friday night at Heinz Hall, when Brazilian star Ivan Lins headlines “An Evening of Pittsburgh-Inspired Brazilian Jazz.” A sprawling cast will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild — first, with a reception/gala honoring local jazz musicians, and then, at 8 p.m., with the concert….

For the full Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08318/927445-42.stm

By Jill King Greenwood, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

…Mentoring programs that involve children in positive activities and provide role models beginning with grade schoolers are a critical component to keeping kids from going down a path toward gangs, guns and violence, said Bill Strickland, founder of Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild and Bidwell Training Center.

For the full Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_594048.html