Advocates recognized for their leadership, social justice work | The Homepage

By Juliet Martinez

Steelers punter Corliss Waitman surprises Tim Smith, founder and CEO of Center of Life in Hazelwood, with the 2025 Steelers Inspire Change Changemakers award on Dec. 11. Screenshot from Steelers social media

Congratulations are in order for two of Hazelwood’s own who have been recognized for their leadership and advocacy.

Hazelwood-based Center of Life founder and CEO Tim Smith was recognized for his social justice work. On Dec. 11, Mr. Smith received the Steelers Inspire Change Changemaker award. Punter Corliss Waitman surprised him with it.

Mr. Smith said he was humbled by the award.

“So, there’s many hands working here at Hazelwood and Center of Life that are doing everything they can to lift up every single person who is living in this community, as well as some of the other ZIP codes that we serve around the region,” Mr. Smith said. “So, I just do my part.”

This award “recognizes an individual from every NFL city who is making a difference in their communities through social justice work, either individually or as part of a non-profit organization through education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform,” according to the Steelers’ official website. It came with a $10,000 donation to the recipient’s charity and recognition at the Dec. 15 game against the Miami Dolphins.

NFL teams in 31 cities participate in the league’s social justice platform, Inspire Change. The Steelers have participated since 2017, according to the team’s website.

Center of Life offers programming for children, youth and adults. Founded in 2001, its mission is “to provide families and youth with the life skills, education, training, and resources necessary to be strong and to make their communities strong.”

The organization is currently fundraising to build a new community center on Hazelwood Green. To learn more, visit centeroflife.org.

Andrea Coleman-Betts at a cancer gala in 2025. Photo courtesy of Andrea Coleman-Betts

Civic engagement advocacy

Another Hazelwood leader’s abilities have recently been recognized and her contributions sought after. In November, longtime educator and advocate Andrea Coleman-Betts announced that she was named to the steering committee for a new partnership focusing on civic engagement.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work has teamed up with Age Friendly Pittsburgh and Equitable and Just Greater Pittsburgh to promote civic engagement around equitable development issues. The project aims to develop new leaders to advocate for their communities, connect participants to broader conversations about development, improve policies and practices related to equitable development, and spread awareness of participants’ existing leadership, according to a program brief Ms. Coleman-Betts provided.

The 10-member steering committee will help recruit people for training sessions and guide the sessions’ content, according to the brief.

“I am already a community leader and advocate for civic engagement and social justice,” Ms. Coleman-Betts wrote in her announcement email. “Coming from being a former teacher and educator, I will merge these two to bring my skills into activation for the City of Pittsburgh.”

Funding for this project comes from the AmeriCorps National Service and Civic Engagement Research Project. To learn more and find out how to participate, contact Ms. Coleman-Betts by emailing godaisat5112@gmail.com or calling 412-507-6329 during business hours.