You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.

If you work or volunteer for a nonprofit organization in any capacity, you won't want to miss our upcoming Nonprofit Symposium. This year's event will be packed with programs to help you maximize grant funding, minimize risk, cultivate small donors, tell your story, strengthen your message through social media, and boost staff health and wellness! Visit this page to see the full agenda. 

Registration is required: please visit this page. 

Apply to win a free scholarship to CCAC’s online Grant Writing and Nonprofit Management Course! To be eligible, you must live in District 34 in a low-income community census tract. Scan the QR code above or visit this page to find out if you’re eligible. To apply, contact Health and Education Alliance at patelk.hea@gmail.com by Thursday, Oct. 1. 

I'm excited to announce that new grants totaling nearly $4.5 million are coming home to the district to fund major transportation and water infrastructure improvements, vehicle and equipment purchases, and facility renovation projects. You'll find a snapshot of those grants below. For more detailed descriptions, please visit this page.

We recently welcomed two additions to our staff! Constituent Services Advisor Rich Engel (above left) has a background in writing, editing, and civic involvement and has worked for organizations including Pittsburgh Filmmakers, the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, and the University of Pittsburgh’s NRG Oncology.

Fall intern Omar Zenati is a University of Pittsburgh student majoring in political science with a concentration in American politics. Omar said he is excited about the opportunity to help residents while learning more about our community and legislative process.

Stop by to find out all the ways that our talented staff can help – or just to say hello!

College juniors, seniors and grad/law students: the PA House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2027 semester. Fellows work at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, receive compensation (which may also include college credit) for their work in House committees or leadership offices, and have a chance to draft and present their own legislation, meet public officials and staff, tour historic places, and more. Qualified applicants will be:

• College undergraduate juniors or seniors, graduate students, or law school students;
• Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university, or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution; and
• Pursuing any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Visit this page to learn more and apply. Applications are due by Oct. 1.

Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf hosted the grand opening of its new playground complex, which features two different play spaces for students ages 3-5 and those ages 5-12. Visit this page to read more!

I was honored to participate in the ribbon-cutting for East Pittsburgh’s new Municipal Building at 506 Bessemer Ave.!

Constituent Services Advisor Rich Engel attended a legislative tour of West View Water Authority’s Neville Island treatment plant.

Our intern Omar staffed our table and met residents at the Heritage Highlands Senior Resource Fair in Rankin.

Our district office director, Aaron, attended Tree Pittsburgh's Tree Walk – an informational event to help residents identify local trees and better understand their importance to our urban neighborhoods. Tree Pittsburgh is hosting more events, including tree adoptions! See below to learn more!

Visit this page to learn more about tree adoption and other Tree Pittsburgh events!

Join the Greater Valley Coalition for Peace & Justice at the Rankin Christian Center on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6:30 p.m. for a coalition-strengthening event to advance their mission to reduce violence and promote peace in the region. The event will include guest speakers, school district and community updates, and resource providers.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Andy Warhol Museum on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free with museum admission and will feature music and dance lessons with Flamenco Pittsburgh at noon, a live performance drag show featuring Calipso and Chi Chi de Vivre at 2 p.m., Spanish interpreted tours at 11:15 and 3 p.m., screen printing in The Factory. Visit this page or click on the image above to learn more.

Celebrate Recovery Month by joining friends and neighbors at the POWER Campus, 7436 McClure Ave., to clean up the neighborhood and enjoy refreshments! Visit this page to learn more and sign up.

Join Nick Stahlman, of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, for the free Fall Migration event this Saturday, Sept. 26 from 6–8 p.m. at the Westinghouse Lodge. You'll have a chance to meet an American Kestrel, a red morph Eastern Screech-Owl, and a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk and learn about raptor adaptations. Bring telescopes or binoculars to enjoy the full Harvest Moon at its peak illumination!

You can support the fight against hunger and the work of Wilkinsburg Community Ministry by joining the Pittsburgh East CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, Oct. 11. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the walk begins at 2 p.m., with both 1.5 mile and 4-mile courses available. Visit this page to learn more and register yourself or a team.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation invites high school students to participate in this year’s PennDOT Innovations Challenge, which encourages students to use their problem-solving skills to solve real-world transportation problems. This year’s challenge is to develop an innovative solution to prevent over-height vehicles from striking Pennsylvania's bridges and tunnels. Visit this page to learn more and apply.

The Nov. 3 General Election is approaching! Here are some key dates to remember:

• Monday, Oct. 19 – Last day to register to vote.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27– Last day to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot.
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters must be in line by 8 p.m. to cast their ballot. Mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by your county election office by 8 p.m.

To check your registration status, visit this page. To find your polling location, update your voter information or find more voter services, visit vote.pa.gov.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is now accepting applications for the Boating Facility Grant Program. Visit this page to learn more and apply.

Nonprofits and local officials: You can find a list of all recent state grant openings here. 

Our talented staff can help with a wide range of state-related matters, including filing applications for state programs and services, resolving questions or problems involving state benefits, assisting with unemployment issues, obtaining a PRT Senior ConnectCard or a disability placard, solving state-related problems, and much more.

Seniors and residents with a disability: if you are eligible for a rebate on property taxes or rent you paid in 2025, please remember that the deadline to apply to the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is Dec. 31! Please contact us if you have questions or need help applying!

District Office

501 Braddock Ave.
Braddock, PA 15104

(412) 273-3400

Pennsylvania State Capitol

123-B East Wing Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-1914