Left to Right:
Marylou Monich Bushyager | Music educator | 27
"I am promoting the positive effects of music on all students, and especially students with special needs," says Marylou Monich Bushyager. She teaches in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, where she directs the All City Elementary Band. She also works with special-needs students at The Woodlands Foundation's "Notes From the Heart" music camp. "Music [gives] students the power to express themselves, build their personalities and better themselves in social and academic areas," she says.
Nathan Wildfire | Sustainable/green-policy promoter | 26
In his role as the sustainable policy coordinator at East Liberty Development Inc., Nathan Wildfire is the city's first community-development professional devoted to sustainability, specifically supporting the greening of East Liberty. "I strive to challenge and empower both neighborhood residents and regional leaders to think outside the box about how we plant trees, plan bike lanes, build buildings and roads, and use vacant space," he says. "I empower people to dream big about where they live, work, play and worship."
Kenya T. Boswell | Funder | 31
"I continue to challenge individuals and corporations to give financially toward the growth and development of our region," says Kenya Boswell. As charitable-giving officer for BNY Mellon, she focuses on economic development, affordable housing, education and literacy, arts and culture, and health and human services. She's vice president of the board of the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., and she's one of the founding members of The Sankofa Fund of Southwestern Pennsylvania, a group of African-American philanthropists who invest time, talent and resources in community organizations.
Left to Right:
Diasmer Panna Bloe | Health care workforce development | 29
As director of special projects and co-director of the Center for Career Learning at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Diasmer Bloe advances health and education. "My work at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation affords me the privilege to partner and work with organizations that are at the front line, bettering the lives of city residents," she says. She focuses on workforce development in the health care sector through her work building awareness with Pittsburgh Public School students and the Health Career Futures program.
Chad Amond | Monroeville business builder | 34
Chad Amond is president of Monroeville Chamber of Commerce - the fifth largest Chamber in Southwestern Pennsylvania. "Our mission is to serve businesses and advocate for a stronger business climate. To have a strong eastern quadrant of the region makes Western Pennsylvania a better place to live and do business," he says. He's involved with organizations focused on business development in Monroeville, as well as with the Rotary Club and Eastern Area Adult Services. And he's a founding member of the Expressway Partnership Initiative, a coalition of leaders in support of the Mon-Fayette Expressway.
Jennifer Ernisse Stancil | Executive director, Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP) | 38
As the Pittsburgh economy increasingly relies on an innovative science and technology-savvy workforce, Carnegie Science Center's Girls, Math & Science Partnership ensures that we are not leaving half of those innovators behind. As its leader, Jen Stancil supports an online community for gender equity (braincake.org), summer science camps, a radio show for girls to interview mentors and a gender-equity tool kit for educators. "I hope GMSP will enable Pittsburgh to be the national model for gender-equity practices in the sciences in all of its education programs - from entire districts to after-school programs," she says.
Ashis H. Tayal | Medical director, Comprehensive Stroke Center | 40
As medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Allegheny General Hospital, Ashis Tayal, M.D., provides comprehensive stroke service - including patient treatment and education for health care providers - with a focus on the continuous quality-improvement process and research. "The program has also been a leading regional provider of stroke education to the community, paramedics, emergency departments, resident physicians and nurses," he says. "[We're increasing the] energy, health care resources and quality care given to stroke patients."
Editor's Note: The nomination form states that honorees must be under the age of 40 as of Sept. 1. Dr. Tayal turned 40 in October.