Category: Uncategorized
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Connected Along the Way
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Last week, I wrote about connection. About choosing it deliberately, especially when the world feels loud and fractured. Which is all well and good in theory. In practice, though, I’m not going to pretend it’s easy to actually DO the things we say matter to us, whether that’s being more Read more
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If You See Me Watching the Road Crew…
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation I was driving through Franklin the other day and passed a stretch of roadwork. There was a big excavator parked off to the side – you know, the kind that makes my fingers itch to hop in and move a little dirt – surrounded by the usual line of orange Read more
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Set Back, Still Moving Forward
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation With how much I’ve been going on about heavy equipment over the last several weeks, you’d be forgiven for thinking that I’ve shifted priorities. You might be looking for the announcement of my new business venture! And…you wouldn’t be completely off, but I’ll leave that for another article. No, my Read more
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From Soggy Bottom to Something Better
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation If you know me, you know I have a hard time sitting still. So, of course, as soon as I felt like I had the hang of the skid loader, my fingers started itching for the next piece of equipment I’d like to learn: the digger. Or, in official terms, Read more
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Small Miracles and Happy Accidents
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation This summer hasn’t just been about things breaking down (belts, bolts, my patience…), but even more it’s been about what got built in between all the repairs. And while I’m immensely proud of my awe-inspiring dragging skills, it’s the little, surprising discoveries that make me smile the most. Take that Read more
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The Humility of Heavy Equipment
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation Here’s a confession: until this summer, I had never driven a skid loader in my life. Not a little one, not a big one – not any one. My husband has been the skid driver up until now. And he’s amazing on one. But, thanks to that persistent early summer Read more
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Just Enough Knowledge to Be Dangerous
By: Selina Pedi-Smith, Pellere Foundation After July’s adventures in mud and malfunctions, you’d be forgiven for thinking the hardest part for me was blindly feeling around through years of built-up grease for that. one. stupid. adjusting bolt (Note to self: tighten the fan bolts at LEAST once a week. That assembly is Not easy to Read more
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Our Community Has SO Many Stories to Tell
These past few weeks, we’ve taken you along with us – into my head (yikes), into sticky-note reminders and sideways video adventures, and into the sunshine on a spring afternoon in Emlenton. We’ve shared what makes us tick, and how different brains, personalities, and experiences come together to shape this work. But here’s the thing: Read more
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Capturing the Stories That Inspire Communities
This week I’d like to introduce you to Devin Zagar, owner of 7 Foot Productions (yes, he’s that massively tall guy you’ve probably seen around town!), and the creative mind behind the camera for Pellere’s upcoming Pellere in Motion video series. For Devin, videography isn’t just about visuals—it’s about strategy, connection, and uncovering the “why” behind every Read more
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Turning Blight into Bright: How Restoring Homes Revitalizes Communities Turning Blight into Bright
You probably see them every day. They’re in every town, sometimes on almost every street. The houses with peeling paint, sagging roofs, and yards where the weeds have taken over. They’re hard to miss, and if we’re being honest, they can feel like a thorn in the side of an otherwise beautiful street, but here’s Read more
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Community Coffee Chats on Tour
Summer is flying by and there has been a lot going on behind the scenes that we are hoping to be able to share soon! Hint: think large-scale 3D printers, agrivoltaics, and new business opportunities. During the month of June, we took a break from Foxburg Fridays at Divani. But now, Community Coffee Chats are Read more
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ORA Staff Member Graduates From Harvard With 4.0 GPA
Published first on the Progress News, June 21, 2022 Oil City, PA— Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism Redevelopment Manager Selina Pedi graduated with “Highest Honors”, from Harvard University, earning her master’s degree in Sustainability with a focus on community resilience on May 26. In addition to her 4.0-grade point average, Pedi’s master’s Read more